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Malachi's Prophecy
February 23, 2013

 

 

So the world is in a buzz with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and references to the prophecy of Malachy show that according to the prophecy the next Pope will be the last Pope. Many are concerned about the end of the world. These same people may know of the Book of Malachi in the Bible, with a prophecy it contains, and it is this prophecy that warrants our attention.

Malachi 4:1-6
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Malachi writes about the Elijah the prophet coming before the end of time, and specific to the work of Elijah will be the ability to turn the heart of fathers to the children and heart of children to their fathers. If for any reason this doesn't happen, the world is cursed. Exactly how Elijah will do this we do not know. These verses show a gap between fathers and children, and a time when fathers may be worried about something else and not the children. These verses also show the way to heal the relationship with children is for the parents to take the lead in making this happen. Children may not be fully sophisticated as adults are, yet can discern when they are loved. What Malachi shares is that this Elijah will restore family relationships that have been stretched thin because of time demands. Even Jesus applied this idea during his earthly ministry.

Luke 18:15-17
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Jesus knew that in order for children to love, that they must first be loved and this is why he allowed the children to approach him. Even up until a few decades ago, it was common to hear that children should be seen but not heard. The teachings of Jesus show a different concept, because Jesus knew by turning his heart to the children, that they would turn their heart to God, and this type of relationship is what is needed for the Kingdom of God, which is why Malachi wrote that if Elijah failed in his mission to turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, the world would face a curse. For those who want to consider the details, while the heart of children is turned to their fathers, the heart of the fathers is broadly focused on the children, and may suggest that in order for this curse to be avoided, all parents need to be concerned with all children, so that children can focus their hearts to their parents.

Colossians 3:20-21
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

In the verses above Paul outlined how to establish the parent-child relationship. Parents must be careful to not provoke children to anger and children must obey their parents. If this happened all of the time, the world would be a happier place and the curse of Malachi would be avoided and all wouldcelebrate what is good, embrace what is good, and do what is good.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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