the prophets of the bible were writing under inspiration...sometimes from visions. They wrote accounts of what they saw while under inspiriation. In the case of Malachi, he envisioned a person who he understood to be Elijah, coming at a future time. Malachi 4:5 “I am sending to you people Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and fear-inspiring day of Jehovah.”
Now, just because he wrote it in such a way does not mean it should be literally understood exactly as it was written. I think God deliberately had the bible written in such a way so that only he could reveal the truths of the bible to mankind (through his representatives)
It was infact Jesus who identified John the Baptist with Malachi's prophecy. This is further evidence that his representatives reveal what is written, and they do so only with Gods guidance. If we doubt what they say, then it is as if we are doubting God himself.
Matthew 11: 13 For all, the Prophets and the Law, prophesied until John; 14 and if YOU want to accept it, He himself is ‘E‧li′jah who is destined to come.’ 15 Let him that has ears listen.
Also, when the Angel spoke to John the Baptists father, the priest Zech‧a‧ri′ah, he explained what Johns role would be. Its recorded in Luke 1:
14 And you will have joy and great gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth; 15 for he will be great before Jehovah....16 and many of the sons of Israel will he turn back to Jehovah their God. 17 Also, he will go before him with E‧li′jah’s spirit and power, to turn back the hearts of fathers to children and the disobedient ones to the practical wisdom of righteous ones, to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.”
Notice how the angel reveals that John would have Elijahs spirit? This shows that the prophecy about Elijah coming again was not in the literal sense, but rather a person would come who would perform a similar work to Elijah with a similar spirit. John was that person.
Yes, I totally agree and I do believe that Elijah was the spiritual return of John.
So, you are saying that "In the case of Malachi, he envisioned a person who he understood to be Elijah, coming at a future time"
Let me ask you this then. If God wanted to inspire Malachi and have him to know and understand and explain to people that the prophet who would come in the future, his name would be John and not Elijah, but he would be his spiritual return and not literal, couldn't God have done so? Are you saying that, God was powerless to reveal the words properly to Malachi? Even if you say that, God revealed properly to Malachi, but Malachi didn't have the ability to understand fully, clearly God could have given Malachi the required ability to understand.
I believe surely God could have done that, and surely did. But, the point is that, there must have been a wisdom, that the Prophets, didn't reveal the Hidden Mysteries of God. As it is written:
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory" 1 Corinthians 2:7
So, why is it written that, the Book was sealed? What's your understanding of that? I mean, if everyone can understand the mysteries of the Book, then why it says, it is sealed? and if it is sealed, why should God seal the Book?
Anyways, the point that I am trying to make is that, I believe the same rule was applied to the return of Christ, and the mysteries of resurrection, which we discussed before.
The Mysteries of the past Age is revealed in the later Age.
