The prophet Malachi foretold that Elijah would return before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). This prophecy is confirmed by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:17, who told Zechariah that John the Baptist would go before Christ “in the spirit and power of Elijah.” John the Baptist was not literally Elijah reincarnated, but he ministered in the same spirit and power as Elijah. Still, the prophecy in Malachi 4 implies a future literal return of the actual prophet Elijah as well. Why is this return necessary?
To Restore All Things
In Matthew 17:10-11, Jesus confirmed that Elijah “will restore all things.” The ministry of John prepared the way for Christ’s first coming, but the prophecies in Malachi and Matthew indicate Elijah himself will return before the Second Coming. One of his major tasks will be restoration. He will restore proper understanding and practice of God’s law, turn fathers and children to each other (Malachi 4:6), and restore prophetic vision before the coming judgment (Malachi 4:5; Revelation 11:1-13). Elijah was taken to heaven alive (2 Kings 2:11-12), and did not see death. God preserved his physical body to enable his future return to earth.
To Turn Hearts to God
Malachi 4:6 says Elijah will “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Fathers represent ancestral faith and tradition, while children represent the rising generation. Before the Lord returns in wrath, Elijah will bring reconciliation, turning the hearts of both groups toward each other in preparation to meet their God. The ministry of Elijah and Moses will call the people of Israel to repentance (Revelation 11:8). Their miracles and message will move the hearts of many, just as John’s did at Christ’s first coming.
To Bear Witness Against Antichrist
The book of Revelation reveals that two end-time prophets will oppose the Antichrist and bear witness for Christ for 1,260 days before they are martyred. Then they will be resurrected and taken to heaven (Revelation 11:3-12). Most scholars believe one of these two witnesses will be Elijah. The miraculous power exhibited by the two witnesses (Revelation 11:5-6) recalls the ministries of Elijah and Moses. God will send Elijah, accompanied by Moses or perhaps Enoch, to call the world to repentance and bear witness to the true Christ in the last days.
To Announce Christ’s Return
Malachi 4:5 declares that Elijah will come “before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” His prophetic preaching will announce the Second Coming and prepare people to receive Christ (Matthew 17:11). Some scholars believe Elijah will be one of the two witnesses killed by the Antichrist halfway through the tribulation. Three-and-a-half days later he will be resurrected, and then “come” in power announcing Christ’s arrival and judgement (Revelation 11:11-12). In this way Elijah will herald both the beginning and middle of the tribulation, as well as the Second Coming itself.
To Minister to the Jewish People
The prophecy about Elijah in Malachi 4:5-6 is explicitly addressed to the people of Israel. It says the Lord will send Elijah “before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” God will send Elijah to restore His relationship with the Jewish people and call them back to belief in the Messiah. Many Jews have an empty chair and cup awaiting Elijah’s return at Passover. Elijah will fulfill these Messianic expectations.
To Lead People to Repentance
Elijah was an example of true repentance. His ministry called people to turn their hearts back to God (1 Kings 18:21, 37). Likewise, Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come again “before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” to bring people to repentance. His end-time ministry will be accompanied by signs and miracles to arrest attention and cause people to recognize their sin and need to get right with God.
To Minister in the Spirit and Power of Elijah
Even if Elijah does not literally return, the prophecy in Malachi indicates God will raise up prophetic voices in the spirit and power of Elijah. Those who attain to the same level of faith and prayer as Elijah will minister to God’s people in the last days and prepare them for Christ’s return (Luke 1:17; Matthew 11:14). Many Biblical prophecies have multiple fulfillments and applications. Whether or not we see the literal return of Elijah, God will use “Elijah-type” prophets to call the world to repentance in the end times.
To Announce the Day of the Lord
The Old Testament prophets described the “day of the Lord” as a day of God’s judgment on sin and human rebellion. Malachi 4:5 says Elijah will come “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” to call people to repentance. The day of the Lord refers to end-time events beginning with the tribulation period leading up to Christ’s return in power and glory. Elijah will prepare people for this imminent outpouring of God’s wrath by announcing the day of the Lord and turning hearts back to God.
To Minister Before the Rapture
Many scholars believe Elijah and his companion witness will minister during the first half of the tribulation, before the rapture of the church. Their miracles will protect God’s people through the seal and trumpet judgments of Revelation. Elijah will call people to repentance and preach the gospel, counteracting the lies of the Antichrist. He and the other witness will announce Christ’s coming until they are martyred and resurrected at the end of their 1,260 day ministry.
To Fulfill Prophecy and Scripture
The Lord gave the prophecy through Malachi that Elijah would return before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Even if we don’t fully understand the specifics of how and when, we can be confident this word will come to pass because God’s promises are true. The return of Elijah in the end times will fulfill this prophecy as well as other Scriptures indicating another appearance of the great prophet (Matthew 17:11, Revelation 11:3-12).
To Make Way for the Messiah
At his first coming, John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy of Elijah “coming first” to prepare the way of the Lord (Mark 1:2-3; Matthew 11:10). But John did not restore all things as the real Elijah will do at Christ’s second coming. Malachi’s prophecy indicates the literal Elijah will return before the Messiah’s return to establish His kingdom on earth. Elijah will prepare the people to receive their King and make the paths straight for the triumphant coming of the Lord.
To Minister With Signs and Wonders
The end-time ministry of Elijah will be accompanied by miraculous signs, just as his first ministry was. He will have power to call down fire, stop the rain, and disable the forces of the Antichrist (Revelation 11:5-6; 1 Kings 18:1, 41-45; 2 Kings 1:9-12). His prophecies will be proven true by powerful demonstrations of God’s Spirit. His miraculous works will attract attention and validate his urgent call for the world to repent before the Second Coming.
To Complete His Earthly Ministry
Elijah’s ministry was cut short the first time because of Jezebel’s threats against his life. But God preserved him from death, transporting him directly to heaven in a whirlwind. At that time, Elisha cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” (2 Kings 2:12). Elijah did not experience a normal earthly death. His return will allow him to complete the ministry God intended for his life.
In summary, the prophet Malachi foretold Elijah’s return to restore all things and turn hearts to God before the Second Coming of Christ. Though some aspects of the prophecy were partially fulfilled by John the Baptist, the full fulfillment points to a future literal return of Elijah himself. His end-time ministry will call the world and the Jewish people to repentance, announce the day of the Lord and Christ’s coming, counteract the Antichrist, and prepare the way for the Messiah to establish His kingdom on earth.
