The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

Malachi the Last National Prophet

The temple was completed under Ezra and Nehemiah, who later acted their part in leading more groups of Jewish exiles to the homeland. The streets of Jerusalem were built in troublous times. Civil government was established, and order was maintained. Israel had forever learned one lesson: Never again did they substitute idol worship for the worship of the God who had so wondrously wrought for them in restoring them from the land of the captivity. AGP 157.3

Yet there were other evils that needed to be corrected. There were mixed marriages, that might lead them back to the idol worship of their unbelieving companions. There were oppressions by some in positions of authority. Others were neglectful of supporting the house of God and the worship of Jehovah, by withholding tithes and offerings. Some were questioning whether, AGP 157.4

after all, it paid to serve Jehovah. There was grave danger of formalism and pride in their worship. AGP 158.1

To meet these dangers and evils, there was need of another message from heaven. Accordingly, as a final flush of light before the sunset of direct Hebrew prophecy, before the dawn of the Christian era nearly four hundred years later, the last national prophet appeared in the person of Malachi. AGP 158.2

Malachi was the coadjutor of Ezra and Nehemiah in the work of reformation. The ninth and tenth chapters of Ezra and the thirteenth chapter of Nehemiah form the background of his prophecy. AGP 158.3

At this time, when the first enthusiasm had waned, when faith was sinking in the mire of callousness and skepticism, when the priests were conniving at the lukewarmness of the people, the prophet Malachi was raised up to revive the national spirit. He denounced the social evils of the time. He foretold the sudden coming of God’s Messenger to the temple, and of His work of judgment. To those who questioned the benefits of serving God, he pointed prophetically to a time when it should be clearly distinguished between those who served God and those who served Him not. Their minds were carried forward to the day that should “burn as an oven,” when the proud and wicked should be as stubble, and the Sun of Righteousness should rise upon those that fear His name. AGP 158.4

With a closing injunction, “Remember ye the law of Moses,” and the foreshadowing of the coming of Elijah before “the great and dreadful day of the Lord” should come, this prophet closes the canon of the Old Testament. (See Malachi 4.) AGP 158.5