Malachi 4:5

The spirit of Elijah, and the spirit of Jesus

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is." (Mt 11:11).

The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist.

Why? Because every true Christian has the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which is greater than the spirit of Elijah! Why would we need the spirit of Elijah when each believer possesses something greater?

Restoration time

Jesus said, “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt 17:11b)

This statement has been interpreted by some to mean that Elijah’s spirit is needed again as John the Baptist did not restore all things.

This presents two problems.

First, this ignores Jesus statement, “that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed… Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” (Mt 17:12-13)

In other words, John the Baptist introduced Jesus Christ, who was the only person able to restore man to their intended condition. When John bore witness of the light, he was pointing the way back to the Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word,”(John 1:1a) and John the Baptist restored that Word to the people.

Second, Jesus said that the Holy Ghost would “teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26). Why would Elijah be needed if we have the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, and if it is the Spirit himself that brings all things to remembrance?

Turning the hearts

An angel prophecied to Zacharias, before the birth of John the Baptist, that he would “go before [the Lord] 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).

The first, second, and fourth parts of this verse are very clear. The third part says, “the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.” Since it is usually children who are disobedient, and usually parents who have wisdom, this part of the verse could be interpreted to read “to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers.” If this is the true meaning of the prophecy in Luke 1:17, there is no half-scripture left for Elijah to fulfil.

The Great and Dreadful Day

Malachi 4:5 says that Elijah will come before:

• “the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” (KJV)
• “the coming of the day of Jehovah, The great and the fearful.” (Young’s Literal Translation)
• “the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” (ESV)

The Hebrew word translated as "dreadful" in the KJV includes the meanings "to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe; or, to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe.”

William Branham, relies on the "dreadful" interpretation of this Hebrew word when he states in the Church Age Book, See, immediately after the coming of THIS Elijah, the earth will be cleansed by fire and the wicked burned to ashes. Of course, this did NOT happen at the time of John (the Elijah for his day.)

However, if the true meaning is “awesome” rather than “dreadful, then this verse is not stating that Elijah will come before judgement. It is stating that he will come prior to the first coming of Jesus. Malachi 4:6 then goes on to say that God will strike the earth if Elijah never comes.

Jesus’ ministry

The following paragraphs are all based on the KJV:

When Jesus was on earth, his ministry was to proclaim “the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:19). Jesus also said that he would send the “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” (John 14:26a). Isaiah 61:2 says that the ministry of the Messiah (Christ, the anointed) was to “proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn”.

• The acceptable year was Jesus’ teaching ministry
• The comforter (the Holy Spirit) came on the day of Pentecost
• The day of vengeance of our God would have to be between these two times, as the scripture is ordered this way.

As a result, the “day of vengeance of our God” is not the tribulation, but the day of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. That was the day that Jesus Christ suffered God's wrath and vengeance for sin on our behalf.

The Law and the Prophets

Jesus said that “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 11:13-15).

Paul taught that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4). So, if the law has no dominion over Christians after Jesus’ righteousness is imputed to us by faith, then the judgment of the prophets (including Elijah) also have no dominion over us by the same faith.

Elijah’s 4th coming

Peter spoke to Jesus on Mount Transfiguration and said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” (Matthew 17:4)

He said this because he had seen Moses and Elijah with Jesus. This is the fourth appearing of Elijah in the New Testament.