Malachi 4:5
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:”
King James Version
More of Malachi 4 on this siteMalachi 4:1-3 · Malachi 4:4-6
Elijah sent before the great and dreadful day of the LORD — applied by Jesus to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14).
Fulfillment References
Matthew 11:14 Luke 1:17 Matthew 17:11-13 Mark 9:13
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.
AcademicA scribal addition linking Mosaic and Elijah traditions to close the Hebrew canon.
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Audio narration (listen to this prophecy read aloud), cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, a prophetic timeline, network maps, 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, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.