Malachi 4:6 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

I cannot but suppose that Elijah, and not John the Baptist, is intended here. I do not presume to say so much, but I venture to think it. Malachi had already declared the coming of John the Baptist, as the Lord's forerunner, in the days of his flesh; and therefore there needed no note of admiration, saying, behold! in speaking of him again. Moreover, the awful day of God here spoken of, as burning like an oven, should seem to refer more to the day of judgment than to the first coming of Christ, which is always called glad tidings of good and great joy to all people. And as at the resurrection of Christ many saints arose from the grave: Why may not Christ's second coming be so commemorated? Add to these, that as Elijah did not die the natural death of all men, but was carried up to heaven in a whirlwind, is it not possible, that when Christ returns to reign on earth, Elijah may be among those that shall reign with him? What the events of that reign upon earth may be, I presume not to say; but from the book of the Revelations, which describes in some measure the wonderful history, I can see no objection to the idea, that Elijah is here meant, and not John the Baptist. See Revelation 20:1 throughout. However, I beg the Reader to ponder well the subject, and look to God the Spirit for instruction in it. I only add on this Chapter, and indeed on the whole volume of the Old Testament together, that it is somewhat remarkable the close of it should be with the word curse, as the New Testament, in the word Gospel, implies in its very title at the opening, blessing. If, however, Reader, it meant to say, that out of Christ everything is a curse, it is certainly as true as it is significant. And then it will equally follow, that in Christ everything is a blessing, which is a glorious and incontestable truth. The Lord hath united both Testaments, that while in one we read our condemnation, in the other we may, through grace, discover our deliverance; and as in Adam all die, in Christ all shall be made alive. Amen and Amen.