Malachi 4:5
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.”
King James Version
Fulfillment References
Matthew 11:14 Luke 1:17 Matthew 17:11-13
Archaeological & Historical Evidence
This is the final verse of the Hebrew canon (Tanakh ends with Malachi). Read at every Passover Seder.
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
JewishElijah must literally return before the Messiah — he has not; so the Messiah has not yet come.
CatholicFulfilled in John the Baptist (in the spirit of Elijah); literal Elijah may return before Second Coming.
ProtestantDual: John was 'the Elijah to come' but Elijah also still comes (Matt 17:11).
DispensationalJohn = partial; literal Elijah returns as one of the Two Witnesses (Rev 11) before Tribulation.
Open the full interactive entry →
Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.