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Malachi 4:5: Difference between revisions
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The problem with this question is that '''it starts with an assumption''' that a Gentile Elijah must come. But '''is this assumption correct?''' Do we have to look for a Gentile prophet to fulfill Malachi 4:5? | The problem with this question is that '''it starts with an assumption''' that a Gentile Elijah must come. But '''is this assumption correct?''' Do we have to look for a Gentile prophet to fulfill Malachi 4:5? | ||
Here is a summary of the reasons why William Branham's and message followers interpretation of Malachi 4:5 are wrong: | |||
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. | ||
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=Who was Malachi's message directed to?= | =Who was Malachi's message directed to?= | ||
William Branham claims that the message of the prophet Malachi was to both Israel and to the Gentiles. But look at the plain wording of the opening statement of the Book of Malachi: | William Branham claims that the message of the prophet Malachi was to both Israel and to the Gentiles. But look at the plain wording of the opening statement of the Book of Malachi (Malachi 1:1): | ||
:''A prophecy: The word of the LORD '''to Israel''' through Malachi.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mal 1:1.</ref> | :''A prophecy: The word of the LORD '''to Israel''' through Malachi.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mal 1:1.</ref> | ||
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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. | 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: | Further proof of this is found in Joel 2:31 and Acts 2:16-21. Note that Joel 2:31 in the KJV 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), Joel 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), Joel 2:31.</ref> | ||
But when we look at the ESV, another word for word translation we see something different: | |||
*''The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before '''the great and awesome day of the LORD''' comes. (ESV)<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Joe 2:31.</ref> | *''The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before '''the great and awesome day of the LORD''' comes. (ESV)<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Joe 2:31.</ref>'' | ||
We read in Acts 2:16 that the outpouring of the Holy spirit was that "which was spoken by the prophet Joel<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ac 2:16.</ref>and then Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32. It is important to compare Joel 2:31 above | We read in Acts 2:16 that the outpouring of the Holy spirit was that "which was spoken by the prophet Joel<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Ac 2:16.</ref> and then Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32. It is important to compare both the KJV and the ESV when looking at Joel 2:31 above and Peter's quotation of the same verse which is found in Acts 2:20: | ||
*''The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that '''great and notable 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), Ac 2:20.</ref> | *''The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that '''great and notable 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), Ac 2:20.</ref> | ||
*''...the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before '''the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.''' (ESV)<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:20.</ref> | *''...the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before '''the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.''' (ESV)<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:20.</ref>'' | ||
Now we see that the Greek wording that Peter used when he quoted Joel 2:31 is in agreement with the Septuagint and the ESV. So how should we look at Malachi 4:5? It should be in the same way that the ESV looks at the passage and how Peter translated the wording. | |||
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. | ||
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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. | 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= | =Elijah’s 4th coming= | ||