Malachi Introduction

The last book of the Old Testament is called Malachi, the 5th. century John the Baptist. Nothing is known of Malachi accept what is written in this book. The Jews call this Prophet, "The Seal of Prophecy", because with him, the series of prophets came to an end. God wisely ordered that divine inspiration should cease for some time before the coming of the Messiah that that great Prophet would appear the more conspicuous and distinguishable and be the more welcomed.

The name, Malachi, means "my angel", some indeed believe that the Prophet was an Angel and not a man. According to tradition, he was of the Tribe of Zebulun and that he died young.

Haggai and Zechariah had been sent to condemn the people for neglect in the building of the Temple. Malachi was sent to condemn the people for neglecting it after it was built and for profanaing the Temple Worship not by idol worship and superstition, but by impiety and irreligion which were the conditions of Jewish worship at the time of Christ. Now that prophecy was to cease, Malachi speaks more clearly of the Messiah than any of the other prophets had done.

Malachi is an invaluable source of information about social and religious conditions during the 5th. century. It started a new form of education. Previously, most education was done by word of mouth, this book was printed and circulated amonst the people. This form was later used in the schools and synagogues throughout the world.

The book contains 5 oracles, each condemning a condition that Malachi believed needed changing. In our study of this book, we will look briefly at each of these Oricles.

Study of the Book of Malachi

Subject	Chapter
The Burden of the Word of the Lord	1
The Profaning of Two Ordinances	2
A Promise and a Reproof	3
Eternity - Heaven or Hell	4

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