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LAYING THE FOUNDATION
The Messages of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi
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Messengers, Priest and Teachers
Despite the graphic portrayal of God’s plan revealed through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, which was also enacted in the rebuilding the temple, the remnant in Jerusalem soon lost the vision of what God wanted to achieve through them. In the Book of Malachi we can see how those in authority led the remnant into a form of religion the was devoid of spiritual understanding and knowledge of the true God.
There are Jewish traditions that claim the name ‘Malachi’ which means ‘God’s messenger’ is a title and that the author was really Ezra, or even Mordecai. Other traditions support the claim that Malachi was a prophet in his own right.
Some scholars believe that the Book of Malachi was written when Nehemiah was absent from Jerusalem for a number of years. While the Book of Nehemiah describes his return to find that things had deteriorated and he had to implement reforms, it does not necessarily confirm that Malachi was written at that specific time. Others claim it was written later when the spiritual state of the remnant had deteriorated once again.
At the start the remnant that returned to Jerusalem had gladly sworn by way of a covenant to keep God’s laws and not intermarry with the locals, “And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.” (Nehemiah 9:38). And, “They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:” (Nehemiah 10:29-30).
However, when he returned from Babylon a number of years later Nehemiah had to implement reforms because that covenant had well and truly been broken. He had to clear the gentile Tobias from the temple and cleanse it, “And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers:” (Nehemiah 13:8-9).
Nehemiah had to restore the tithe system so the Levites could tend to their temple duties, “And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.” (Nehemiah 13:10-11).
He also had to restore the Sabbath, “Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?” (Nehemiah 13:17). And deal with the problem of intermarriage, “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:” and “And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.” (Nehemiah 13:23 and 25).
How quickly they forgot their covenant and neglected the very things that had caused the captivity of their forefathers. Is it therefore surprising that four hundred years later Christ found that the temple housed a ‘den of thieves’ and described the religious authorities in his time as hypocrites and vipers, who had obscured God’s purpose and plan with their own traditions, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-13). And, “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13).
They had also killed the prophets including Zechariah, which was discussed earlier in this paper, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” (Matthew 23:33-35).
Somewhere between the institution of the temple worship and the ministry of Christ their attitude toward worshipping God had deteriorated to the extent described by Malachi. Because of this their worship was in vain.
Despite the favour given to Israel over their adversaries, who are personified in the first chapter of Malachi as Edom, Israel failed to honour God by in their worship. Their form of worship, based on the Book of Leviticus, was dominated by sacrificial rituals in which God was respected by sacrificing animals that had no blemish, “And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 22:21-22, see also; 1:3, 10, 3:1).
A blemished offering would have been particularly unacceptable as a Passover lamb (Exodus 12:5, 29:1) which represented Christ, who was the ultimate and unblemished sacrifice that was still to come, “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13-14). And, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (I Peter 1:18-20). It was after all, upon Christ and his future role that the post-exilic prophets were focused.
They would not offer blemished animals to their human governors for payment or taxes, but thought nothing of offering them to God, “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1: 6-8).
It would have been better not to worship at all than to insult God with a polluted form of worship, “And now implore the favour of God! Will He be gracious unto us? This is what you have done - Will He accept any of you? The LORD of hosts has said: If only you would lock my doors, and not kindle a fire on My altar to no purpose! I take no pleasure in you – said the Lord of Hosts - and will accept no offering from you.” (Malachi 1:9-10 Jewish Study Bible JPS Tanakh Translation).
Their vain worship clearly contravening one of the ten commandments, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7).
The covenant God made with His people at Mt Sinai was a marriage covenant. By becoming His people they took his name to themselves in much the same way as a bride takes the name of her husband to herself and accepts him as protector and provider. The people of Israel were happy to have God as their protector and provider, but when they chased after other gods they committed adultery in a spiritual sense. Because of their behavior their promises to be faithful to Him were in vain.
God’s name received more respect from the heathen than it did from His own people, “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:11).
Not only was their worship in vain they insulted God by saying that it is His way that is at fault, “But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.” (Malachi 1:12). What an incredibly perverted state of affairs. After all that God had done for them in extending His mercy and opening their eyes to His purpose and plan through Haggai and Zechariah, they turn around and insult Him by their actions.
God laid the blame for the nation’s lack of respect in the way they worshipped Him squarely at the feet of the priests who were His messengers assigned to teach His people, “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.” (Malachi 2:1-2).
As teachers the priests played an incredibly important role in the well-being of the nation. They were warned that if they did not lay their duties to heart they would be disgraced and discredited, “Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.” (Malachi 2:3). The words ‘I have cursed them already’ in verse two indicates that they had previously been discredited, referring to when the nation had gone into captivity.
God reminded the priests of the Levitical covenant that guaranteed them a life of peace and protection, “And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:4-7).
Like most covenants it was conditional. Their well-being depended on their performance as custodians and teachers of God’s law and way of life. The priests were His messengers (representatives) operating under an agreement (covenant). And their role as teachers was high-lighted by the phrase “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they ‘should seek the law at his (the priest’s) mouth:’. As God’s representatives (messengers) they were to teach His law and the method of worship He required. According to Bullinger this was the first duty of the priests and more important than their ceremonial duties.
The Levitical priesthood began with Aaron along with his sons who were instructed to teach, “And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” (Leviticus 10:11). Later the covenant was confirmed with the Levite Phinehas because of his zeal, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.” (Numbers 25:10-13).
Just before entering the promised land their role was reaffirmed. “They (Levi) shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.” (Deuteronomy 33:10). For which they were to be blessed, “Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.” (verse 11).
Because the priests had failed in their role they had become contemptible to God, “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.” (Malachi 2:8-9).
Once again their lack of commitment had led the nation into spiritual adultery and because of this God said that He would cut them off, “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.” (Malachi 2:11-13).
Their careless treatment of the law which allowed blemished sacrifices to offered and intermarriage to occur, had led the nation into spiritual adultery, “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.” (Malachi 2:14-16).
Because these priestly teachers had not fulfilled their primary function the whole nation had lost sight of the true God, His purpose and His plan. Their very words showed their lack of understanding, “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Malachi 2:17-18).
Because of their failure to teach the people how to worship Him according to the instructions given, God said that He would send another teacher (messenger), “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1).”
That messenger was John the Baptist. Christ said, “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” (Matthew 11:10). John’s father was told that his son, “... shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 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 1:15-17).
John prepared the way for one who was greater than he, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). According to the New Bible Dictionary Jesus also regarded John 'as the last and greatest member of the prophetic succession,’ “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” ( Luke 16:16). As God’s messenger John prepared the way for Christ who introduced a new covenant that promised the Holy Spirit and eternal life.
Malachi 3:1 refers to two messengers; one to prepare the way for the other messenger who will also come to execute judgment, "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1 NKJV).
The Living Bible shows this more clearly, “Listen, I will send my messenger before me who will prepare the way. And then the one you are looking for will come suddenly to his temple – the Messenger of God’s promises to bring you great joy,” (Living Bible).
Jesus Christ was represented by the Passover lamb, he is the lamb without blemish. He came to lay the foundation of the spiritual temple. He was also effectively a messenger. He brought a message from the Father about the Kingdom of God and taught a way of life based on the spirit of the law, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,” (Matthew 4:23). The word ‘gospel’ means good news – it was a message of good news about the coming Kingdom of God. His message will be preached to all the world before the end-time, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14).
Having divested himself of his former glory he came as a human being to lay the foundation of the spiritual temple with his very life and he will also come again to that temple, which comprises his spirit led people in all his resurrected glory to execute judgment on his adversaries, “-And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Malachi 3:1-4).
The last sentence implies that when the messenger of the new covenant, Jesus Christ, comes to his temple of spirit-led people represented in this prophecy by the name ‘Judah’ and to the city of Jerusalem, the seat of his government, he will be pleased with them. Why? Because unlike their predecessors ancient Judah (and Israel) they will be worshipping God as instructed in spirit and truth, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).
Both John the Baptist and Christ were God’s messengers and teachers in their own right, hence the name of the Book of Malachi which means ‘my messenger’. It is a book that prophesies the ending of the old covenant and the beginning of the new. The old covenant, the old way of life, and the old temple all portrayed in physical terms the spiritual Kingdom of God that was the subject of Christ’s message and the way of life he taught.
Christ will not only execute judgment on the adversaries, he will also keep his promises concerning Jacob, “And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:5-6). The Jacob of the old covenant will eventually be resurrected along with the rest of the world in the Great White Throne judgment and be given the opportunity to be part of God’s Kingdom, and the people of the new covenant also represented in prophecy by the name Jacob, will be resurrected when Christ returns. In this way God will keep His promise to Jacob.
In the meantime He gave Jacob of the old covenant yet another opportunity to redeem themselves at that time and to escape the physical punishment that would come upon them, “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:7-12).
Emphasis on restoration of the tithe system was necessary to maintain the priesthood as commanded under the Old Covenant so they could perform their role, “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:” (Hebrews 7:5).
But when the New Covenant was introduced the law concerning tithing was changed. It was no longer necessary to support the priesthood because they had been replaced by a new teacher – Jesus Christ, our High Priest, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”. And, “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.”. Also, “For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” (Hebrews 7:12,18 and 28).
The human priesthood which served under the Old Covenant was a shadow of a better covenant that was to be administered by the Son of God, “For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.” (Hebrews 8:4-9).
In Malachi’s time the inadequacies of the human priesthood under the Old Covenant were apparent by their attitude, “Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” (Malachi 3:13-15).
God said that He was aware of those who had the right attitude toward Him for which they will be duly rewarded, whereas those who didn’t will face judgment when Christ returns at the end of this age, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (Malachi 3:16-18).
God says the day will come when those who respect Him shall flourish and triumph over evil which will destroyed, “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 4:1-3).
This is the theme throughout the prophets reaching right back to God’s promise to Abraham when He said, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3).
He reminded the remnant of Malachi's time to carry out what they had been instructed to do under the covenant that had been ratified in the time of Moses, “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” (Malachi 4:4).
The closing words in the book of Malachi have caused a great deal of speculation over the centuries, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 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 4:5-6). Somewhere between the time the book of Malachi was written and the Day of the Lord someone in the power of Elijah was going to preach a message that would turn the hearts of the children to their fathers and visa versa.
While most commentaries agree that this refers to John the Baptist, some people believe that it is referring to an end-time Elijah. Claims have been made that a specific person is, or was, the end-time Elijah! Does the Bible validate these claims?
Who did Christ name as the Elijah? “And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:7-15). There can be no doubt that John the Baptist was the Elijah referred to in Malachi 4:5-6, but will there also be an end-time Elijah?
Any claims that a specific person is, or was, an end-time Elijah is pure speculation and cannot be verified by the Bible. The Book of Revelation which reveals what will occur at the end of this age does not mention an end-time Elijah! It does, however say that there will be two witnesses in the end-time who will have powers similar to both Elijah and Moses. They will be able to bring fire down from heaven and to instigate plagues, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” (Revelation 11: 3-6).
As mentioned earlier in this paper these two witnesses are described as, “The two sons of the oil, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Darby, and Young’s Literal Translation). ‘Sons of oil’ as opposed to sons of God, or sons of man, which seems to indicate that they are angelic beings who administered to Jesus Christ when He was on this earth. They could have been the same two who witnessed his departure, “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;” (Acts 1:10). And it is also possible that these two anointed ones were symbolized by the two protecting cherubs over the mercy seat in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:18-20).
The two witnesses will appear just prior to the return of Christ, a time when the gospel of the Kingdom of God will be preached to all the world, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14). These are the two Zechariah spoke about, the two anointed ones, “Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?”. And, “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:11 and 14).
After the two witnesses Christ, the Lamb of God, will return as King of Kings to rule the earth and to usher in a new age, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14). “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).
Malachi in modern terms is a ‘state of the nation’ speech from the throne of God with regard to the remnant of His people, Israel just prior to Christ's ministry. He defined the problem that has resulted in the current state of affairs and laid the blame at the feet of those responsible. They were the religious leaders who were meant to be custodians and teachers of God’s law and the way of life God's people were required to live as an example to the rest of the world.
He reminded them of their duties, issued a final warning for them to fulfil their role until relieved of their duties. Yes, they are to be replaced by a new regime for which he is sending John the Baptist (a messenger) to prepare the way. The way for a new teacher and leader who will teach those whom God calls to worship in spirit and truth. A teacher who will take his role to heart to the extent that he will lay down his life so that the rest of the world can succeed. He laid down his life as the foundation of a spiritual temple to which he will return in the end-time to complete the process of salvation of all of mankind.
The Holy Bible, King James Version, NKJV and Living Bible.
The Companion Bible, Reprinted 1964, Samuel Bagster and Sons Limited, London.
The Jewish Study Bible, JPS Tanakh Translation, 2004 Oxford University Press, New York.
The Bible Handbook, Joseph Angus, M.A., D.D. Second Impression 1959, Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Edinburgh.
New Bible Dictionary, Second Edition, Inter-varsity Press, Leicester, England, 1986.
New Bible Commentary, Third Edition, Inter-varsity Press, Leicester, England, 1986.
The Complete Works of Josephus, Flavius Josephus. Translated by William Whiston, A.M. Kregel Publications Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501.
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