Why must Elijah return before the end times (Malachi 4:5-6)?

Answer

Malachi 4:5-6 presents an intriguing prophecy: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” To this day, Jewish Seders include an empty chair at the table in anticipation that Elijah will return to herald the Messiah in fulfillment of Malachi’s word.

According to Malachi 4:6, Elijah’s return will aim to “turn the hearts” of fathers and their children to each other, seeking reconciliation. In the New Testament, Jesus reveals that John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy: “All the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come” (Matthew 11:13-14). This fulfillment is also referenced in Mark 1:2-4 and Luke 1:17; 7:27.

Specifically concerning Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 17:10-13 states: “His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. . . .’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.”

The scribes were the Jewish religious teachers, mainly Pharisees and Sadducees, who provided commentary on the Jewish Scriptures. Peter, James, and John were familiar with their teachings and asked Jesus about Elijah after seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). Jesus clearly stated that Elijah had already come, but, unfortunately, he was not recognized.Recognized and had been killed. Jesus then predicted He would likewise die at the hands of His enemies 17:13.

A brief look at the ministry of John the Baptist reveals many notable ways that he was “Elijah.” First, God predicted John’s work as being like that of Elijah «And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. », (Luke 1:17). Second, he dressed like Elijah «And they answered him, He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. », (2 Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4). Third, like Elijah, John the Baptist preached in the wilderness «In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, », (Matthew 3:1). Fourth, both men preached a message of repentance. Fifth, both men withstood kings and had high-profile enemies «And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? », (1 Kings 18:17 and Matthew 14:3).

Some argue that John the Baptist was not the Elijah to come because John himself said that he was not Elijah. “And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not’” «And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. », (John 1:21). There are two explanations for this apparent contradiction. First, because Elijah had never died «And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold,There appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” , (2 Kings 2:11), many first-century rabbis taught that Elijah was still alive and would reappear before the Messiah’s arrival. When John denied being Elijah, he could have been countering the idea that he was the actual Elijah who had been taken to heaven.

Second, John’s words could indicate a difference between John’s view of himself and Jesus’ view of him. John may not have seen himself as the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6. However, Jesus did. There is no contradiction, then, simply a humble prophet giving an honest opinion of himself. John rejected the honor cf: John 3:30, yet Jesus credited John as the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy regarding the return of Elijah.

As the metaphorical Elijah, John called people to repentance and a life of obedience, preparing the people of his generation for the coming of Jesus Christ, the One who had come “to seek and to save what was lost” «For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. », (Luke 19:10) and to establish the ministry of reconciliation «And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; », (2 Corinthians 5:18).