Unlock the mysteries of Malachi 4 as we delve into the weighty implications of this ancient prophecy for our modern world. Joined by renowned theologian and biblical scholar, our guest expertly guides us through the scriptural narrative that intertwines the storied past with the imminent future, shedding light on Elijah's dual role that spans the testament of time. Expect to gain profound insights into the transformative power of prophecy and its enduring relevance as we traverse the paths leading to both the first and second comings of Christ, and understand the necessity of mercy before judgment within the eschatological framework.
In a riveting discussion, we examine the authority of vindicated ministry, using the resurrection of Jesus as the paramount example of validation. The episode dissects the contemporary theology surrounding the prophecy of Malachi 4 and the restoration of Biblical truths, with special focus on Brother Banim's teachings and the criticality of aligning prophetic ministry with scripture. We emphasize the imperative of adhering to such teachings, just as the early church was called to do, drawing parallels that highlight the urgency of being prepared for the Lord's return. This exploration is not just informational but a clarion call for a revival in foundational Biblical principles as revealed through God's chosen messengers.
Unlock the mysteries of Malachi 4 as we delve into the weighty implications of this ancient prophecy for our modern world. Joined by renowned theologian and biblical scholar, our guest expertly guides us through the scriptural narrative that intertwines the storied past with the imminent future, shedding light on Elijah's dual role that spans the testament of time. Expect to gain profound insights into the transformative power of prophecy and its enduring relevance as we traverse the paths leading to both the first and second comings of Christ, and understand the necessity of mercy before judgment within the eschatological framework.
In a riveting discussion, we examine the authority of vindicated ministry, using the resurrection of Jesus as the paramount example of validation. The episode dissects the contemporary theology surrounding the prophecy of Malachi 4 and the restoration of Biblical truths, with special focus on Brother Banim's teachings and the criticality of aligning prophetic ministry with scripture. We emphasize the imperative of adhering to such teachings, just as the early church was called to do, drawing parallels that highlight the urgency of being prepared for the Lord's return. This exploration is not just informational but a clarion call for a revival in foundational Biblical principles as revealed through God's chosen messengers.
Speaker 1:
The Importance of the Vindicated Ministry of Malachi 4 in the Last Days. Malachi 4, verses 5 and 6 Behold, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. There are many end-time promises to the people of God. This is one of them. The Jews of Jesus' time emphasized this and even used it as a proof against the messianic ministry of the Lord Jesus. In Matthew 17, verses 10-12, his disciples asked him saying why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things. But I say unto you that Elias is come already, and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the son of man suffer of them. Jesus tells his disciples Elijah will come future tense, and then says he has come. So Elijah already came in the form of John the Baptist. And yet since there are two comings of Christ, there are two comings of Elijah. Malachi 4, verse 6 tells us that Elijah will do two things turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. As we establish, there are two comings of Christ. Therefore there are two comings of Elijah. So we see the twofold work of the spirit of Elijah. Notice what the angel of the Lord says to Zechariah Luke 1, verse 17,. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Malachi 4, verse 5 and 6 shows that Elijah will do two things, but here the angel of the Lord quotes just one of them. John the Baptist turned the hearts of the fathers to the children. Thus we understand at the end time there will come a man in the spirit of Elijah to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. So what did John the Baptist do to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children? He simply turned the people from following the law of Moses to following the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ. He introduced the people to the coming Messiah. Malachi 4, verse 5,. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Here we see that Elijah is in fact sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. But what is the great and dreadful day of the Lord, brother Branham?
Speaker 1:
In the scriptures, answer this clearly. For us, the Lord's day is when the days of man are over. The kingdoms of this world will then become the kingdoms of our God. The day of the Lord is when the judgments fall and after that comes the millennium. 2 Peter 3, verse 12, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. So we see, the day of God is when the fire will fall from heaven, as it did in Sodom, and it will burn up the earth and the works thereof. In fact, in Malachi 4, verse 1, it speaks of this burning. For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day cometh shall burn them up, sayeth the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Just at the end of the tribulation period and just before the millennium, there is a time called the day of the Lord and in it the fire burns up the wicked. Remember, god always gives a warning and mercy before judgment, before he sends Elijah to bring grace to the world. Many state that this is not right, but you are bringing out the Scripture that is only applicable to Jews, not to Gentiles. I want to show you, according to the Scriptures, that Malachi 4, 5, and 6 is for Gentiles also.
Speaker 1:
Let's compare the coming of the two witnesses in Revelation 11, one of whom is Elijah, to this Elijah of Malachi 4. I want to emphasize what it says in verse 6. Lest I comments, might the earth with a curse. Lest in Hebrew means a removal and in this sense, in order to prevent. Therefore, the Elijah of Malachi 4 is coming to prevent God's judgment. Notice the Elijah in Revelation 11, verse 6. These have power to shut heaven, that it reign not in the days of their prophecy, and have power over the waters to turn them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will. So the Elijah of Malachi 4 is coming to prevent the earth from being smitten with a curse. The Elijah of Revelation 11 is smiting the earth. One grace age, lest I smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4. Two tribulation period these have power to smite the earth. Therefore, the Elijah of Malachi 4 must come during the age of grace. The reason for that is that he is sent to prevent judgment, or give away of escape from the judgment spoken of in Malachi 4.1, wherein the earth will be burnt.
Speaker 1:
Elijah comes with a message to repent and return to God. This is God's grace and compassion. Second Chronicles, chapter 36, verses 15 and 16. And the Lord, god of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up, betimes and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, until there was no remedy. Throughout the ages, god sends his messengers in order to bring the people to repentance. This is his compassion for us. But if this mercy is rejected, then only judgment can come. Malachi 4 is to bring the compassion of God to the world, calling it to repent, and it is fulfilled before the two witnesses appear on the scene in Revelation 11 during the tribulation period.
Speaker 1:
The tribulation period is when God turns from dealing with the Gentiles to dealing with the Jews. Only Brother Banim says so. He knew that it would take more than just an ordinary theology. It would take more than any ordinary message. It would take more than just preaching the word to crack their stony hearts. He noted it took the saith the Lord to send that judgment down upon that people. So he noted that when he went out with the saith the Lord and it was the saith the Lord to spurn that was judgment. We see that in our day too. We see that in any day there's nothing left but judgment. When you step over the line of mercy. Let's break it all down then.
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Brother Banim's ministry was so thoroughly vindicated by signs and wonders, fulfilled prophecy, that one would have to be willfully blind to walk away from it. But this is the normal condition of the mainstream Orthodox group that is in power in the Christian or Jewish world. They have always rejected those that were sent to it. Did the religious group in Jerusalem accept Jeremiah, isaiah, john the Baptist, jesus, paul, peter or James? They were always rejected throughout the ages. These men of God were rebuke to those organizations and they were also considered false teachers who took the people away from the truth. So when God sends the spirit of Elijah in the last days, it will have to be the exact same way. He will have to be a rebuke to the mainstream Christian world and it will have to be rejected and considered a fanaticism by the mainstream Christian world. It was about 120 people that followed Jesus and his disciples to the upper room. Out of hundreds of thousands of Jews. It is always the minority of people.
Speaker 1:
The incredible omniscience that was seen in Brother Banim's life was such a vindication of his ministry. He would know your very thoughts from days, weeks or years ago. He could even tell you what you were praying about in your room and give you the answer. This was not him. It was and is not about the man William Banim. He always pointed to Christ and told us to live for and follow Jesus Christ. He foretold seven things in 1933, and six of them have come to pass already. He foretold happenings in people's lives and there are thousands of witnesses to his ministry.
Speaker 1:
In many cases, like Joseph Smith of the Mormons and Muhammad of Islam, they claim to have met an angel, but no signs follow or vindicate this is true. But in the case of the ministry of a prophet. The public should witness the power of his ministry and the public should be able to testify to it. This was the case for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was seen as killed by the public and the public witnessed his resurrection and the public testified of his ministry. The same is the case for Brother Banim, but the purpose is not to start some new religion or to follow Brother Banim.
Speaker 1:
It is to follow Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever, and to come back to the original truth of the Bible. We find out in Malachi 4 that he promised us a message in the last days that would restore the faith of the people back to the fathers again. Now it won't be nothing outside the word, because you can't add to the word or take from the word. It's got to remain always the word. But the revelation is to reveal the truth of it, what it is, to make it fit with the rest of the Scripture. It is not a revelation outside of the Scripture, but it is the revealing of the Scriptures in such a way to bring us back to the true understanding of what it has been all along. This is the message of God's mercy to the end time in order to make us ready for the coming of the Lord. Now, when we embrace this vindicated ministry, we cannot merely use it to establish our own interpretation. Rather, we submit to its revelation.
Speaker 1:
As a man, brother Banim made mistakes. He talks about them all the time. He was a sinner, just like you and I, but God used him to bring a revelation to the church. He may have mused poor grammar and he may have made errors in his relating of various stories, but even these things were ordained of God in order to sift the wheat from the tares. The elect can see the revelation contained in the words of the Prophet, take it back to the Bible and watch the truth live out through them. When Brother Banim teaches a certain doctrine, then as believers we submit to that, just as Paul taught the Corinthians In 1 Corinthians 14, verse 37,. If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. How would God let me tell you something wrong and stand up with my very message? These things are only to indicate a divine of indication that my theology is right. That's exactly right. The word of the Lord came to the prophets.