The question of whether God continues to send messengers to His church in the last days is a topic that divides Christian denominations. From the Iglesia ni Cristo to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and various “End-Time message” believers, some churches firmly believe in the ongoing role of a divine emissary. Within this group, further questions arise regarding the exact nature and purpose of such a messenger: Is their role to lead the church, reveal mysteries, clarify doctrines, or prepare the church for the Lord’s return?
This article aims to explore the biblical understanding of a “messenger” and examine scriptural indications of an end-time messenger, drawing primarily from Malachi 4:5-6.
What is a Messenger?
At its core, a “messenger” is someone dispatched to deliver a message. In Hebrew, the word is malakh, while in Greek, it’s aggelos (transliterated as “angel”). Significantly, a messenger can be either a human or an angelic being.
The Bible provides numerous examples of both:
- Human Messengers:
- 2 Samuel 11:18 illustrates Joab sending a human messenger to King David with news of the war.
- Philippians 2:25 refers to Epaphroditus as a “messenger” (and minister) sent by Paul.
- Haggai 1:13 explicitly states, “Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke by the commission of the Lord to the people.”
- Angelic Messengers:
- Numbers 20:16 describes God sending an angel to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
- Daniel 10:10-11 recounts an angelic being touching Daniel and delivering a message.
- Luke 1:19 features the angel Gabriel identifying himself as “sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”
Throughout the Old Testament, prophets often served as God’s primary human messengers. Moses (Exodus 3:10), Obadiah (Obadiah 1:1), and Malachi (Malachi 1:1) are all identified as those “sent” by the Lord to convey His word. John the Baptist, in Malachi 3:1, is prophesied as a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord.
It’s crucial to note that not all “messengers” are prophets in the strictest sense. The apostles, for instance, were “sent ones” (Luke 10:3), tasked with spreading the gospel. The Apostle Paul, in Acts 22:17-21, recounts his divine commission to be “sent far away to the Gentiles.”
Does the Bible Teach of an “End-Time Messenger”?
While the term “end-time messenger” isn’t explicitly used, several biblical passages suggest the presence of God’s emissaries in the final period of history.
Jesus, in His parables, implied the involvement of end-time messengers. In Matthew 13:36-43, explaining the parable of the weeds, He states, “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness… at the end of the age.” The use of “angels” (plural) suggests multiple servants of God involved in this final harvest.
Furthermore, Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 instructs His disciples to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations… and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The promise of Jesus’ continuous presence with His “sent ones” (apostles/disciples) indicates their continued work and presence until the very end of the age.
However, the most direct and debated scripture concerning an end-time messenger is found in Malachi 4:5-6 (NASB 2020):
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and strike the land with complete destruction.”
This passage speaks of “Elijah the prophet” being sent before the “great and terrible day of the Lord,” which refers to God’s judgment. The prophecy contains two distinct parts.
The first part of this prophecy found partial fulfillment in John the Baptist. Luke 1:15-17 describes the angel telling Zechariah about John:
“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to THEIR children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Notice that the angel only quotes a portion of Malachi’s prophecy. John’s purpose was to “turn the hearts of fathers back to their children” – interpreted as a spiritual reconciliation between Israel’s spiritual leaders (“fathers”) and the ordinary people (“children”), leading to humility and repentance.
In Matthew 17:10-13, Jesus confirms that “Elijah is coming and will restore all things.” He then states, “Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted… Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.” While Jesus affirmed John as the fulfillment of Elijah’s coming, He also implied that John did not fulfill the entirety of the prophecy – specifically, the “restoration of all things.”
This “restoration of all things” is further affirmed by Peter in Acts 3:20-21:
“and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.”
This suggests that a complete “restoration of all things” is yet to occur, implying a future fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy beyond John the Baptist’s ministry.
Conclusion
While the Bible does not explicitly use the phrase “end-time messenger,” various scriptures strongly indicate that God will send “angels” (in the sense of messengers, both human and angelic) in the last days to accomplish His purposes, particularly concerning the “harvest” of the Gentile church. Furthermore, the prophecies in Malachi 4:5-6, particularly the aspect of “restoring all things,” suggest a future fulfillment that extends beyond John the Baptist. Just as John’s role as Elijah was affirmed by historical accounts, it is only through unfolding history that the full extent of this prophecy’s completion can be truly understood.
The discussion of “messengers to the seven churches in Asia” (Revelation 2-3) offers another compelling avenue to explore this topic, which we will delve into further in a subsequent examination.
