Bible Commentaries
Malachi 4

Verses 1-6

Malachi 4:3 Comments - Note these insightful words from Mary K. Baxter regarding Malachi 4:3:

“When the Lord gave me a revelation of hell, I could see with my spiritual eyes that all around my home the Word of God was written in the sky. Around and outside of my home was a great assemblage of angels. Some were sitting, talking among themselves. Another group had a very authoritative look and seemed to be watching. The angels in the third group around the house were standing wingtip to wingtip with their backs toward my home. This last group was composed of the largest angels who all looked like warriors! Each had a large sword at his side. If even a dark shadow tried to creep toward my home, they would pull out their swords and defend my family. Remember, ‘the sword of the Spirit…is the word of God’ (Ephesians 6:17). The Word would come out blazing and go into the enemy. The enemy would be cremated and turned into ashes. The Scripture came to me, ‘The wicked…shall be ashes under the soles of your feet’ (Malachi 4:3). Seeing the Word of God in action continually amazed me.” [11]

[11] Mary K. Baxter, A Divine Revelation of Heaven (New Kensington, Pennsylvania: Whitaker House, 1998), 177.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Malachi 4:5 Comments The prophecy of Malachi of the coming of Elijah was well known by the first century Jews. Elijah did not taste of physical death, but was raptured into heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:1-11). The first-century Jews were taught that he would return physically to Israel, as Peter reminded Jesus (Matthew 17:10). Jesus explained that the coming of John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy because he came with the anointing of Elijah (Matthew 17:11-12).

Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Malachi 4:6 Comments Mankind has rejected God’s call to redemption through natural revelation according to Romans 1:18-31; mankind has rejected God’s call to redemption through his conscience according to Romans 2:1-16; and mankind has rejected God’s call to redemption through the Mosaic Law according to Romans 2:17 to Romans 3:20. Israel had failed to keep the Law since the time of Moses. Malachi predicts that the dispensation of the Law is coming to a close. When John the Baptist comes and heralds in the Messiah as recorded in the Gospels, men will be born again from Heaven by the Spirit of God. At that time the Spirit of God will write the law in men’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:33-34, Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 10:16-17). The birth of the New Testament Church will usher in mighty moves of God throughout the earth. At the close of this dispensation, the Rapture of the Church will usher in the Great Tribulation Period that preceeds the Second Coming of Christ, at which time th entire earth will fall under the judgment and wrath of Almighty God for rejecting the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ.