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Malachi 4:5: Difference between revisions
→The Great and Dreadful Day
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William Branham taught that he was the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6. This is a foundational doctrine of [[The Message|the message]]. | William Branham taught that he was the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6. This is a foundational doctrine of [[The Message|the message]]. | ||
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We were told by a number of message ministers that because Jesus refers to Elijah's coming in the future tense in Matthew 17:11, it cannot be a reference to John the Baptist. This seems to be a reasonable understanding of the passage. But is there another reason that Jesus is speaking in future tense? | We were told by a number of message ministers that because Jesus refers to Elijah's coming in the future tense in Matthew 17:11, it cannot be a reference to John the Baptist. This seems to be a reasonable understanding of the passage. But is there another reason that Jesus is speaking in future tense? | ||
In the Greek, Jesus states “Elijah is coming” and then adds και ἀποκαταστήσει πάντα, “and he will restore everything.” The verb ἀποκαταστήσει, “will restore,” is drawn verbatim from the Septuagint version of Malachi 3:23 (there is no Malach chapter four in the Hebrew scriptures). However, the object clause of that passage is “the heart of the father to the son and the heart of a man to his neighbor”. The future tense, therefore, does not suggest that Jesus expects a future return of John the Baptist. The restoration of “everything” (πάντα) must here refer not to the eschatological renewal of the present order itself (which would make Elijah the Messiah himself, rather than the forerunner of the Messiah), as, for example, apparently in Acts 1:6 (and cf. especially the cognate noun ἀποκατάστασις, “restoration” or “establishing,” in Acts 3:21 in an allusion to the return of Jesus), but to a preparatory work of repentance and renewal (as in the Malachi passage; see especially Luke 1:17 and cf. Sir 48:10). Only an interpretation of this kind can make possible Jesus’ identification of John the Baptist with Elijah in the verse that follows. In short, Jesus responds initially by fully agreeing with the scribes in their understanding of Malachi’s prophecy that Elijah is to come and accomplish his preparatory work. It is only in the astonishing conclusion | In the Greek, Jesus states “Elijah is coming” and then adds και ἀποκαταστήσει πάντα, “and he will restore everything.” The verb ἀποκαταστήσει, “will restore,” is '''drawn verbatim from the Septuagint version of Malachi 3:23''' (there is no Malach chapter four in the Hebrew scriptures). However, the '''object clause of that passage''' is “the heart of the father to the son and the heart of a man to his neighbor”. The '''future tense''', therefore, '''does not suggest that Jesus expects a future return of John the Baptist.''' The restoration of “everything” (πάντα) must here refer not to the eschatological renewal of the present order itself (which would make Elijah the Messiah himself, rather than the forerunner of the Messiah), as, for example, apparently in Acts 1:6 (and cf. especially the cognate noun ἀποκατάστασις, “restoration” or “establishing,” in Acts 3:21 in an allusion to the return of Jesus), but to a preparatory work of repentance and renewal (as in the Malachi passage; see especially Luke 1:17 and cf. Sir 48:10). Only an interpretation of this kind can make possible Jesus’ identification of John the Baptist with Elijah in the verse that follows. In short, Jesus responds initially by fully agreeing with the scribes in their understanding of Malachi’s prophecy that Elijah is to come and accomplish his preparatory work. It is only in the astonishing conclusion the Jesus makes that he disagrees with the scribes. <ref>Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28, vol. 33B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 499.</ref> | ||
With this, the disciples’ understanding was complete. They had come to realize that the prophecy of Elijah was fulfilled in John, and that it was John whom Jesus referred to in Matthew 17:11–12. In spite of Jesus’ announcement in Matthew 11:14, it had taken them this long to realize more fully John’s place in God’s plan. Now they knew that God’s plan was further along in its fulfillment. <ref>Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 271.</ref> | With this, the disciples’ understanding was complete. They had come to realize that the prophecy of Elijah was fulfilled in John, and that it was John whom Jesus referred to in Matthew 17:11–12. In spite of Jesus’ announcement in Matthew 11:14, it had taken them this long to realize more fully John’s place in God’s plan. Now they knew that God’s plan was further along in its fulfillment. <ref>Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 271.</ref> | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
Further proof of this is found in Joel 2:31 and | Further proof for this comes from the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament that Jesus and the writers of the New Testament quoted from. Here is Malachi 4:5 in the Septuagint, which is how Jesus and the disciples would have read it: | ||
:''And behold, I am sending to you Elijah the Tishbite before the great and famous day of the Lord comes, who will restore the heart of a father to a son and the heart of a person to his neighbor, lest I should come and strike the land entirely.<ref>Rick Brannan et al., eds., The Lexham English Septuagint (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, Mal 4:4–5)</ref> | |||
When you read Malachi 4:5 out of the Septuagint, William Branham’s reasoning for separating the prophecy between John the Baptist and a Gentile Elijah completely vanishes. | |||
Further proof of this is found in Joel 2:31 and Acts 2:16-21. Note that Joel 2:31 reads almost identical to Malachi 4:5 in referring to the great and dreadful day: | |||
*''The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before '''the great and the terrible day of the LORD''' come. (KJV)<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Joe 2:31.</ref> | *''The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before '''the great and the terrible day of the LORD''' come. (KJV)<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Joe 2:31.</ref> | ||
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As a result, it can be seen that William Branham's interpretation of "the great and dreadful day of the Lord" does not agree with that of the apostle Peter. | As a result, it can be seen that William Branham's interpretation of "the great and dreadful day of the Lord" does not agree with that of the apostle Peter. | ||
===Another interpretation?=== | |||
===Another | |||
If someone says, "''I don't believe your interpretation. I think it is referring to judgment''", then we don't have to look very far. | If someone says, "''I don't believe your interpretation. I think it is referring to judgment''", then we don't have to look very far. | ||
The nation of Israel was judged in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was sacked and the Temple was destroyed. It was also announced prophetically by Jesus in Matthew 24. Jesus announced that the Temple would be destroyed. | The nation of Israel was judged in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was sacked and the Temple was destroyed. It was also announced prophetically by Jesus in Matthew 24. Jesus announced that the Temple would be destroyed. And so Jesus coming also was a great and dreadful day since the destruction of Jerusalem occurred within the generation (40 years) that experienced the resurrection. | ||
=Jesus’ ministry= | =Jesus’ ministry= | ||
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#One of the two witnesses of Rev. 11 | #One of the two witnesses of Rev. 11 | ||
But in his haste to point to himself, did William Branham forget another coming of Elijah? | But in his haste to point to himself, '''did William Branham forget another coming of Elijah?''' | ||
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) | 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) | ||
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:''Now, we've come through the church ages. But we're promised in the last days, according to Malachi 4, that there would be a return again, a prophet in the land. That's right. Notice his nature, what he would be like. He's alway… '''God uses that spirit five times: once in Elijah; in Elisha; in John the Baptist; call out the Church; and the remnant of the Jews. Five times,''' "grace," J-e-s-u-s, f-a-i-t-h, and it's the number of grace. See? All right.<ref>William Branham, 65-1204 - The Rapture, para. 132</ref> | :''Now, we've come through the church ages. But we're promised in the last days, according to Malachi 4, that there would be a return again, a prophet in the land. That's right. Notice his nature, what he would be like. He's alway… '''God uses that spirit five times: once in Elijah; in Elisha; in John the Baptist; call out the Church; and the remnant of the Jews. Five times,''' "grace," J-e-s-u-s, f-a-i-t-h, and it's the number of grace. See? All right.<ref>William Branham, 65-1204 - The Rapture, para. 132</ref> | ||
{{Pointing to himself}} | |||
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