MALACHI, BOOK OF

Malachi is the last prophet of the O.T. record. In the final era of O.T. history (mid to late fifth century B.C.), the people of God fell into a state of spiritual lethargy. They were insensitive, immoral, and inactive. There was corruption among the priests and among the people. Though the temple had been rebuilt, religious duties were neglected egregiously. The prophet blisters these people with a series of penetrating questions (some twenty three in this brief, four-chapter book). The narrative concludes with a prophecy of the work of John the Baptizer.