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Malachi 4:5: Difference between revisions
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Here are a number of views that most message believers should consider when asking this question. We should also add that we are not pointing to any man, church, denomination or system. People need Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. | Here are a number of views that most message believers should consider when asking this question. We should also add that we are not pointing to any man, church, denomination or system. People need Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. | ||
The questions that need to be asked when looking at William Branham's interpretation of Malachi 4 are as follows: | |||
#If the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (and therefore, also greater than Elijah) why would we need another Elijah prophet? | |||
#If Jesus himself said that John the Baptist fulfilled Malachi 4, why did William Branham say he didn't? | |||
#If we have the Holy Spirit to teach us all things, why would we need Elijah? | |||
#According to a careful reading of the text, there is no half scripture left to fulfill. So is the scripture really saying we should expect another Elijah prophet? | |||
#What if William Branham's interpretation is based on the ambiguous wording of the King James Version, but newer translations confirm his interpretation is doubtful? | |||
#Why should we even expect a Gentile prophet if all the prophets were until John? | |||
These questions and others are answered below. | |||
=The spirit of Elijah, and the spirit of Jesus= | =The spirit of Elijah, and the spirit of Jesus= | ||
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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). | 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 | 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. | ||
1:17, there is no half-scripture left for Elijah to fulfil. | |||
=The Great and Dreadful Day= | =The Great and Dreadful Day= | ||