Malachi 4:6 NASB1995 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
The last verse of the Old Testament brings a warning of a curse. However, as God in His mercy always does, He provides a way to avoid the curse. To see how to avoid this curse that He speaks of we must go back one verse. Malachi 4:5 NASB1995 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
God says before this curse I will send Elijah. What is Elijah's purpose? It is to "restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers." The word "to" can and is translated in other places as, with, on behalf of, or above. What it is essentially saying is that Elijah is coming to restore all from fathers to children, and from children to fathers. God is telling Israel that Elijah is coming to restore ALL to GOD. He is coming to restore fathers to God, above their children, and on behalf of their children. So as to lead the children to be restored to God also. This also goes the other way as children can be restored to God, above, with, and on behalf of, their fathers. To guide their fathers to be restored to God also. Elijah would come to restore all who will be restored. So that God will not come and destroy the people of the land with a curse.
We know from the word of God that this verse is speaking in some form of John the Baptist. He came in the spirit of Elijah. Speaking of John the Baptist, scripture says in
Luke 1:17 NASB1995 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
So we see that scripture ties this verse to John the Baptist who was not Elijah but came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Scripture also says, as Jesus described John the Baptist. Luke 7:27 NASB1995 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
He prepared the way by preaching repentance. Matthew 3:1-2 NASB1995 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
So to avoid the curse, we should listen to the one who came and preached repentance in the spirit and power of Elijah. So as to restore us to God in the Messiah, which He declared is Jesus.
John the Baptist said. John 1:34 NASB1995 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
A great prophecy of God that was partially fulfilled in John the Baptist's proclamation of Jesus. Please listen to him and repent before the rest of the prophecy is fulfilled.
Love Bro. Scott