Malachi ends the Old Testament by introducing one of the key events of the New Testament: Eli is Coming! In about four hundred years, Jesus will begin His ministry. If we connect the end of Malachi with the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, it reads as “Behold I am sending Elijah” in Malachi followed by Mark 1:1-2 which says, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’”

It would seem that the Apostle Peter knew the prophecy of Malachi and made a point of saying “We are picking up where scripture left off.” 

Of course, this verse says something else of great importance too. Elijah’s coming will be prior to the “great and dreadful day of the LORD.” “Day of the LORD” is used in scripture to highlight God’s intervention in human history, bringing judgment and righting wrongs. 

The Apostle Peter referred to a prophecy of Joel regarding the “day of the LORD” in Acts 2:20. He said that the advent of the Holy Spirit related to the advent of Jesus. Rather than bringing judgment to the earth, Jesus took our judgment upon Himself; every sin of humanity was nailed to the cross with Him (Colossians 2:14). 

There is another day of the LORD coming. It is likely that Elijah will play a part in that one as well. Perhaps he will be one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11. Those witnesses can bring drought upon the earth, drying up the rain just as Elijah did in former days. 

This “day of the LORD” will come as certainly as the first one. WhenMalachi ended, the LORD did not add to the Bible for four hundred years. But then history picked up just as Malachi predicted (when Jesus came). 

It is now roughly two thousand years and counting since the New Testament ended. But the predicted day of the LORD will come. Just as certainly as Jesus came the first time, He will come again. And we should be prepared to receive Him. The Apostle Paul had this perspective just before his martyr’s death:

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8. 

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet. Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”
Malachi 4:5