S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Malachi 4:5-6 offers 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,...

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July 01 2013 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Steve Kubenga Supporter

When it comes to the holy scriptures, we need to watch how Jesus Christ refers to the scriptures himself. If we take Isaiah 61:1-2, the Lord Jesus did not read the full text and stopped in the middle of a verse. It was not a mistake or an oversight, because the second part regarding the day of our God’s vengeance will take place when the blood of Jesus Christ will no longer be at the altar. This is what prophets like Joel refer to as the “great day of the Lord” of which John speaks with the sixth seal. 

Coming back, the prophet Malachi speaks about two things which Elijah had to do: 1) to bring the heart of the fathers back to the children and 2) the hearts of the children back to the fathers. The words “fathers” and “children” are not used arbitrarily, they are key words. Remember, God spoke to Elijah and ordered him to do two things, which he never did, but it was Elisha who finally did it. (1 King 19:15 and 2 King 8:12). Likewise, what Malachi said belonged to two different times. “Returning the hearts of the fathers back to the children” was fulfilled in John the baptism’s ministry (Luc 17:11), but the second part had to take place before the dreadful day of the Lord, that is after the period of salvation. 

In God’s plan of salvation, John the Baptist came as Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord (Malachi 3:1), to call the fathers (Jews attached to Judaism) back to the children (the apostles). In this respect, we read: “And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers. He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.’…”. In this verse, we see who Malachi talked when he prophesied about “fathers” and who are the children that is the apostles, why they had to be turned back. 

Glory be to God for the clarity of his word. Speaking about the second part of Malachi 4:7 “To turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers”. This mission had to take place before the dreadful day. We all know that John the Baptist came before the day of grace and because the law came by Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

By the grace of God, we understand that the second part was in the future long after John the Baptist was dead. In Math 17:11 and Mark 9:12, Jesus says “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things.” But speaking of John the Baptist with the mission “to prepare the way of the Lord”, he said “But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands”.

By being watchful, we see that two different verbs are used for the two mission of Elijah: 1) To prepare and 2) to restore. John the Baptist came to prepare but the Elijah we are talking about will come to restore everything. The spiritual destruction took place in the church of God by the introduction of men-made doctrines like the baptism in the title “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” instead of what actually happened with first christian in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5), and more.

In Acts 3:21 we read “Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets. ” We understand that the restoration of all things through Elijah (Mark 9:12, Math 17:11) had to take place before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

July 09 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

George Fitt Spiritual Gift of Discernment

Elijah is sent before the great and awesome Day of the Lord.

The Day of the Lord is the wrath of God poured out on the world, which begins with the 6th seal earthquake (Rev. 6:12). 

Elijah is sent to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers..."

The above is to be taken literally.

Elijah is to end divorce, since Jesus said, "What God has joined together, let no man separate." Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:9.

If Elijah is unable to end divorce, then God will strike the land with utter destruction (cause an earthquake) and pour out His wrath upon the world.

October 25 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report