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Old Testament Survey III

The Prophets from Isaiah to Malachi

Heritage Discipleship Institute PO Box 7925

New York, NY 10116-7925 212-947-5316

Email: MRecker@hbcnyc.org

Course taught by Matthew Recker Beginning January 29: Class will meet at 336 W. 37th Street, NY, NY 10018

January - April, 2018

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

You must keep up! If you fall behind, you will feel overwhelmed. The read-ing is not difficult. It is a survey, so read to get an overview of the book. Class Textbook: A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman Geisler. You will be required to read pages 230-304

1. January 22, First Class

2. January 29, Read Chapter 31, pp.230-235

3. February 5, Study Chart, pp. 236-237, Read Chapter 32 pp. 238-240, QUIZ 1

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4. February 12, Read Chapter 32, pp.240-245

5. February 19, Read Chapter 33, pp.246-253

6. February 26, Read Chapter 34, pp.254-261, QUIZ 2

7. March 5, Read Chapter 35, pp.262-266

8. March 12, Read Chapter 36, pp.267-273

9. March 19, Read Chapter 36, pp.273-276, QUIZ 3

10. March 26, Read Chapter 37, pp.277-286

11. April 2, Read Chapter 38, pp.287-295

12. April 9, Read Chapter 39, pp.296-304

13. April 16, Final Exam

Introduction to the Prophets Whereas the Books of the Law established the FOUNDATION for Christ, the Books of History reveal the PREPARATION for Christ, the Books of Poetry give an ASPIRATION for Christ, the Prophets show forth an EXPECTATION for Christ. The Prophets were spokesmen for God from the years of 840 BC to 400 BC (Obadiah to Malachi), speaking “thus saith the LORD.” They confronted the peo-ple with their sin, condemning it, and called the people to return to the Lord and live in obedience to Him. They forth-told the will of God and foretold the coming judgment and captivity, but most of all, they tell of the coming Kingdom of the Messiah. • Key dates to keep in mind as we study the prophets: 1. 732 BC: The Assyrian invasion in which they take some of the Northern King-

dom of Israel into captivity, 2 Kings 15:29. 2. ______________________ BC: The Assyrian Invasion upon the Northern

Kingdom of Israel, taking them in captivity, 2 Kings 17:6.

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3. 605 BC and 597 BC: The first and second Babylonian Invasions upon Judah. 4. ______________________ BC: the final Babylonian Invasion upon Judah and

the captivity of that nation. 5. Three main periods during which the prophets ministered:

A. Pre- __________________________ Prophets:

1.) Three early prophets: Obadiah, Jonah (to Israel) and Joel (to Judah) 2.) Prophets leading up to the Assyrian Captivity: Amos and Hosea (to Is-rael); Isaiah and Micah (to Judah) 3.) Prophets leading up to the Babylonian Captivity: Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk.

B. _____________________________ Prophets: Ezekiel, Daniel and Lamen-tations.

C. POST-Exilic Prophets: Zechariah, Haggai & Malachi.

“The Book of Isaiah can be called ‘a Bible in miniature.’ There are sixty-six chap-ters in Isaiah and sixty-six books in the Bible. The thirty-nine chapters of the first part of Isaiah may be compared to the Old Testament with its thirty-nine books, and both focus primarily on God’s judgment of sin. The twenty-seven chapters of the second part may be seen to parallel the twenty-seven books of the New Tes-tament, and both emphasize the grace of God.” (Warren Wiersbe) Isaiah prophesied (approximately) between 740 BC to 690 BC and wrote this book in about 700 BC. This is before and during the Assyrian invasion and well before the Babylonian invasions, of which he also prophesies. Isaiah 40-66 all predict the future from Isaiah’s standpoint. He prophesies of the captivity, and the return from captivity, but that is not all. He predicts the very name of the Persian King Cyrus about 150 years before he lived and ruled, and told of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. In Isaiah 40-66 Isaiah looks 170 years into the future and sees Jerusalem rebuilt. But He sees further than that. He looks 700 years into the future and sees the Messiah is born and is crucified. But He still sees further than that. He looks to

Isaiah: The Prophet of the Coming Messiah

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the end of time and sees the new heaven and the new earth built for the glory of God! This is a comfort for all those who are HIS PEOPLE. 1. The Man and His Times

A. Isaiah means “Yahweh is Salvation.” B. Isaiah was the “__________________________________” for his

majestic prophecies of the coming Savior.

C. Tradition tells us he was cousin of King Uzziah.

D. Tradition also tells us Isaiah was martyred by King Manasseh by being __________________ asunder. (Heb. 11:37)

E. Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and

Hezekiah (From 739-681 B.C.)

F. During these days the Northern Kingdom fell to ________________________ and it appeared the Southern Kingdom might fall too, but it withstood the assaults (Isaiah 36-39).

2. Unique Features of Isaiah

A. His ________________________ to the Prophetic Ministry (Isai-ah 6)

B. Messianic Prophecies: These features establish the absolute ac-curacy of the Scripture. They also ensure against anyone claiming to be the Messiah who is not. Only one man in all history clearly fulfills each of these prophecies: Jesus of Nazareth. Among many prophecies, Isaiah reveals Jesus as the Lord, hight and lifted up (Is.6:1-3; John 12:41), the One born of a virgin whose name is Emmanuel (Is.7:14; Mat. 1:23), the Wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of peace (Is.9:6) and the One wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Pet. 2:24).

1. The Virgin Birth of Messiah: Isaiah 7:14, Matt. 1:18-23

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2. The Messiah would be both a _____________________ Stone and a Chief Cornerstone: Isaiah 8:14; Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Matt. 21:42

3. This Messiah of Jewish descent, would be rejected by Israel but accepted by the ________________________: Isaiah 11:1,10; 6:10; 53:1-4; Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; 60:3; Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47; Acts 26:23; 28:28. That Gentiles would believe in a Jewish Messiah is truly miraculous!

4. The _______________________ of the Messiah: Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:8.

5. The Eternal _______________________ of the Messiah: Isai-ah 9:7; Luke 1:32,33

6. The Messiah will be called a ______________________: Matt. 2:23; Isaiah 11:1, 53:3; The word “branch” is “nehtzer,” or sep-arated one, a synonym with a Nazarene. Nazareth was a des-pised and lowly city. “Can anything good come out of Naza-reth?” (John 1:46)

7. The Spirit Power and Perfect Character of Messiah: Isaiah 11:1-3; 42:1-4; 61:1,2; Luke 4:18,19; Matt. 12:17-21.

8. The Works of Messiah: Isaiah 35:4,5; 61:1,2

9. The ______________________________ of Messiah Isaiah 50:6; 52:13- Isaiah 53:1-12

10. The Resurrection of Messiah: Isaiah 53:10-12

11. Prophecies of Tribulation (Isaiah 11:4-9)

12. Millennial Kingdom of Messiah (Isaiah 11:4-9; 35:10).

C. Liberal scholars have questioned Isaiah’s authorship of the entire book.

1. Jewish tradition has ascribed the entire book to Isaiah (In both

the Tenach, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint). 2. ___________________________ believed Isaiah wrote the

entire book (Luke 4:17-19).

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3. Internal evidence for Isaiah’s authorship include

___________________________________ in each major sec-tion of the book:

a. “Highway:” Isaiah 35:8 and 62:10. b. “The Holy One of Israel:” Isaiah 12:6 and 51:5.

D. Isaiah 40-53 features four “__________________________: Isai-ah 42:1-17; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12.

Outline of Isaiah

1. The Judgment of God (1-39) 2. The __________________________ of God (40-66) (Isaiah 49:13, 51:3, 52:9, 54:11, 61:2, 66:13) We can rightly call this section of Isaiah the “New Testament in _______________________________.” It has 27 different chapters (and Hebrew sections in the original text). It begins where the New Testament begins, with a voice crying in the wilderness. It ends where the New Tes-tament ends, with a new heaven and earth. And its middle section is the suffering of the Messiah, in Isaiah 53!

A. Your TIME is Come: Isaiah 40:3-5, Isaiah 40:12-Is. 48:22 “Her warfare is accomplished” carries the idea that her period of severe trial and travail is come to an end. *Note the ending of this first section with the verse in Isaiah 48:22, There is no peace, saith the LORD unto the wicked.” This is similar to the ending of the second section in Isaiah 57:21.

B. Your INIQUITY is _____________________________: Isaiah 40:6-8, Isaiah 49-57:21

Her Iniquity is pardoned! “Iniquity” speaks of all the sin that brought guilt and grief; sadness and madness; death and destruction; both now and for eternity.

C. Your JOY is Complete, Isaiah 40:9-11, Isaiah 58-66:24

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“For she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” Jerusalem had received the cup of wrath from the Lord and now receives double blessing.

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1. The Man and His Times Jeremiah was one of the most successful men in history from God’s per-spective, but a failure by human standards. He prophesied during the last five kings of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah.

A. He prophesied therefore during the final ____________ ________________ of Judah, into the ____________ ___________, for he witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BC.

1. Jeremiah was born during the reign of the wicked Manasseh;

his father served as a priest. 2. He preached from 627 B.C. (the 13th

year of Josiah) until the ex-ile of those in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and beyond.

B. Jeremiah preached during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah (2 Kings 22-25).

C. He was a weeping prophet to a wayward people; whereas Isaiah

boldly proclaimed of judgment to come, Jeremiah compassionately spoke of a judgment ______________________________________. 1. The people of Israel misunderstood Jeremiah as a traitor to Isra-

el. 2. He was thrown in jail. 3. Jeremiah’s ministry was sad, stormy and

_____________________________ (Jer. 11:18-23; 12:6; 18:11-18; 26:1-15; 32:1-3; 38:6-13, 28).

D. He was a Prophet like ______________________________:

Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet of Judah

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1. Like Jesus he preached the temple had become a __________________________. (Jer. 7:11; Matthew 21:13)

2. Like Jesus he __________________ over Jerusalem (Jer. 9:1;

Luke 19:41) 3. Like Jesus he was rejected by his own people. (Jer. 12:5; John

1:11) 4. Like Jesus he was cursed for his righteous stand (Jer. 15:10)

E. Christ in Jeremiah: HE IS the fountain of living waters, the balm of

Gilead, The Lord our righteousness (Jer. 23:6; II Cor. 5:21) 2. Unique Features of Jeremiah

A. Jeremiah’s prophecies are not given ________________________________________.

B. There is a mixture of poetic discourses and narrative discourses.

C. The amazing prophecy presenting a nearly impossible paradox:

No one of the seed of ____________________ (of the royal line of David) would sit upon the throne of David: Jeremiah 22:28,30. This prophecy is given even though God promised David that One would sit on His throne through this line of physical descent. How could this roadblock erected by Jeconiah’s sin be circumvented?

By the __________________________________! Jesus was of the literal seed of David through Mary; Jesus was the legal son of Joseph, who was a descendant of Jeconiah, but Jesus was not born of the physical seed of Joseph.

An Outline of Jeremiah

Theme: Judgment and restoration. 1. Introduction & the Call of Jeremiah (1) 2. Prophecies relating to Judah (2-45)

A. Jeremiah ________________ _________________, Jer. 20:7-9

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B. Jeremiah reveals the _____________ ________________,

Jer.31:31-37 (Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 10:16-19)

C. Jeremiah is arrested and _____________________________, Jere-

miah 38:6-10 3. Prophecies relating to Gentile Nations (46-51) 4. Conclusion (52)

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1. Date of Lamentations

A. Whereas Jeremiah warns of judgment to Jerusalem in his large book; Lamentations _______________________ the fall of Je-rusalem.

B. It was probably written shortly after 586 B.C.

2. Unique Features of Lamentations

A. Lamentations is a book of poetry.

B. It is a set of five _____________________; he follows an _____________________________ pattern with each line begin-ning with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapters 1,2,4,5 each verse begins with the descending letter of the He-brew alphabet. In chapter 3, every three verses begin with the descending Hebrew letter.

C. Christ in Lamentations: HE IS the Man who has seen affliction

(3:1), the Laughing stock of all people (3:14), One whose eye runs down with rivers of water over Jerusalem (Mt. 23:37-38)

D. The key verses appear in the center of the book: Lam. 3:22-26.

An Outline of Lamentations Theme: A lament of the downfall of Jerusalem. 1. Desolation of Jerusalem: 1 2. God’s Punishment for Jerusalem’s Sin: 2 3. Jeremiah’s Response of ______________________ in the Midst of Af-

fliction: 3

Lamentations: Mourning over Affliction

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4. The Lord’s Anger: 4 5. A Prayer of the Remnant: 5 Whereas Jeremiah was a prophet mainly to the Jews in Jerusalem before the city fell, and Daniel was a prophet mainly to the kings and rulers in Babylon, Ezekiel was the prophet to the ______________ in Babylon, be-fore and after the fall of Jerusalem. Daniel looks forward to the political restoration of Israel focusing upon the world kingdoms, while Ezekiel “previews their religious restoration” and is interested in the restoration of the temple (Geisler, p.277). 1. The Man and His Times

• He ministered from 593-570 BC, writing this book within that time.

A. Ezekiel means “_________________________________.”

1. Ezekiel was a strong and fearless prophet (3:8,9). Whereas Isai-ah felt his personal uncleanness (Is.6:5), and Jeremiah felt he was too young (Jer.1:76), Ezekiel went with _____________________________, in the heat of his spirit and with astonishment (Ezek.3:14). Note that God calls people out of different circumstances with differing personalities.

2. Ezekiel was a ______________________ (1:3).

B. Ezekiel was the prophet of the _______________________. When Ezekiel was 18 years old, in 605 BC the Babylonians made their first invasion into Judah. Daniel was taken captive during that invasion. Eight

Ezekiel: The Prophet of God’s Glory

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years later, in 597 BC, Babylon invaded again, this time taking Ezekiel cap-tive. 2. Unique Features of Ezekiel

• The theme of Ezekiel is the “___________________ of the LORD.” • Key phrases: • “Son of Man,” (about 93 times) which stands for Ezekiel’s identity with

the people to whom he was sent. • “And ______ __________ _____________ that I am the LORD.”

(Ezek.6:7,10,13,14, 39:22, etc and appears more than 60 times.) God works even in removing His glory that we would know Him.

A. An Amazing _________________________: 2:1-3:27

B. Amazing Visions:

1. Vision of the Cherubims (1:4-28) 2. Vision of God’s Glory __________________________ (1:28; 9:3;

10:4, 8, 18, 19; 11:22-25; Ezekiel 43:2-3; 48:35)

In 10:4, He is standing over the threshold of the house. In 10:18, He moves and stands over the cherubim; at 10:19, He is at the door of the east gate. In 11:22-23, He pauses upon the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem, as though bidding farewell to the city where He had set His name. In 43:2,3 He returns and in 48:35 He remains.

3. Vision of _______________________________: (37) National Is-

rael restored to the land.

4. Vision of the Millennial Temple: (40-48)

• Three possibilities of what this temple is:

a. The temple built during Ezra’s time after captivity.

b. Figuratively speaks of the church.

c. It is a literal temple, still future, and the temple of the Millen-nial Kingdom (best answer).

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C. Amazing Symbols and Allegories

Perhaps more than any prophet, Ezekiel taught by symbolic actions and signs. He used bricks (4:1-3), laying upon his left and right side (4:4-8), and baked bread with dung (4:9-17). He also used barber’s razor and hair that he cut (5:1-2) to make a point. Ezekiel also made use of vines (Ezek.15), two eagles (Ezek.16), boiling pots (Ezek.24:3), the death of his wife (Ezek.24:15) as parables and teaching tools.

D. Amazing ______________________________: 38-39

1. The Nations who fight against Israel: Russia (Magog); Iran (Per-sia), Sudan and Northern Ethiopia (Ethiopia), Libya (Libya), Tur-key (Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah) perhaps all led by a pact with Russia (the north quarters).

2. When will this battle be fought:

It seems best to place this battle at __________ ____________of the Millennial Kingdom when Israel dwells in safety. (38:8,11)

3. The Outcome of the Battle:

a. God Himself will judge Gog and Magog. (38:17-23) b. This will cause Israel to turn back to the Lord and the Gentile

nations to also see God’s glory.

E. Christ in Ezekiel: HE IS the GLORY of God, the True Shepherd (34:23; Heb. 13:20), the LORD who is THERE.

An Outline of Ezekiel 1. His ______________________________ to Come

A. Judgments upon Judah and His Glory Departs

B. Judgment on Gentile Nations: 25-32

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2. His BLESSINGS on National Israel: 33-48

A. The Nation ______________________, (33-39 Culminating with the sprinkling of clean water {36}, vision of dry bones living again {37} and the Battle of Gog and Magog {38-39})

B. The New Temple (40-47, With God’s Glory returning)

C. The New Land (48, With God’s Glory remaining)

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What is the difference between the major prophetic books? Isaiah empha-sizes the SALVATION of the Lord, Jeremiah the JUDGMENT of the Lord, Ezekiel the GLORY of the Lord, and Daniel the _________________________ of the Lord. Daniel was referred to by Eze-kiel (Ezek.14:14,20; 28:3) and Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14), so there is no reason for us to doubt the authenticity of this book. One man has described Daniel as the greatest book in the world on godless king-doms and the Kingdom of God. 1. Daniel was written and completed by 530 B.C. Daniel was about 90

years old at the time. 2. The Man and His Times (606 BC-530 BC)

A. Daniel means “________________________________.” B. Daniel was of royal birth being of the tribe of Judah.

C. Babylon took Daniel into captivity in 605 B.C. during the first deporta-

tion. He was in captivity when Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar. 3. Unique Features of Daniel

A. Part of Daniel was written in _____________________ (2:4-7:28) and shows forth his ministry to Gentiles in Babylon and other Gentile nations as well as to Israel (cf Dan. 2:21).

B. Daniel contains famously unique _______________________: The

three men in the fiery furnace (3), the handwriting on the wall (5) and Daniel in the lions den (6).

C. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the four great world

empires: __________________________, Media-Persia, _______________________, and Rome (Daniel 2).

Daniel: The Prophet Who Saw God’s Sovereign Rule

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D. Daniel prophesies of the Inter-testamental period with amazing accu-racy. He foretells what would become the ________________________________ story (Daniel 8:1-27).

E. Daniel prophecies the exact timing of the ___________________

coming of the Messiah and summarizes the entire program of God’s dealing with national Israel in a ________________________________ period (490 years).

F. Daniel is the “Apocalypse” of the Old Testament.

G. Christ in Daniel: HE IS Great Stone without hands that will crush the kingdoms of men (2:34, 44-45)--The Son of man (7:13-14)--Messiah the Prince (9:25; Jn. 1:41; 4:25, 26)

An Outline of Daniel

1. Introduction: 1-2:3

2. The Times of the ____________________, 2:4-7:28

A. This is written in Aramaic B. It is mainly Historical with some dramatic miracles {Three men

rescued from fiery furnace (3), The healing of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride (4), The handwriting on the wall (5), Daniel in Lion’s den (6)}

C. _____________________ interprets the dreams of others

3. The Times of the End, 8:1-12:13 A. Written in Hebrew

B. It is mainly Prophetical

C. An __________________ interprets Daniel’s Dreams

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The Minor Prophets

840-400 BC

The Prophets to Israel: (Remember 722 BC, the date Israel was invaded and taken into Captivity by ASSYRIA)

1. Jonah, 780-760 BC 2. Amos, 755-750 BC 3. Hosea, 760-710 BC

The Prophets to Judah: (Remember 586 BC, the final Babylonian Invasion)

1. Obadiah, 840-830 BC 2. Joel, 830-820 BC 3. Micah, 735-700 BC 4. Nahum, 650-612 BC 5. Zephaniah, 630-620 BC 6. Habakkuk, 620-605 BC

The Prophets After Exile (Captivity)

1. Haggai, 520 BC 2. Zechariah, 520-480 BC 3. Malachi, 450-400 BC

Amos: The Prophet of Judg-ment on Sin

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1. The Date of Writing: Toward the end of Jeroboam II’s reign around 755

B.C. 2. The Man and His Times

A. His name means “Burden-bearer.” B. Amos was a __________________________________:

1. Herdman: Amos 1:1; 7:14: a “sheep-breeder” and one who raised

cattle.

2. Gatherer of __________________ __________________: a farmer of sycamore-fig trees. Amos was a breeder, rancher, and farmer. A respected man but not from a priestly family or tribe.

3. But he was not one of the ____________________________ (2

Kings 2:1-10) and was not a student in one of the schools started by Samuel and revived by Elijah (Amos 7:14).

C. Amos lived in prosperous times during the reign of Uzziah in Judah

and Jeroboam II in Israel (2 Kings 13:25; 14:25). A spirit of self-sufficiency and complacency prevailed even though the nation was on the brink of _____________________.

1. Jeroboam II led to Israel to great prosperity and

____________________________________:

a. He reigned for 41 years. 2 Kings 14:23 b. “He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath

unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jo-nah, the son of Amittai, the prophet…2 Kings 14:25

c. He “recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Ju-

dah…” 2 Kings 14:28. 2. _____________________________ thrived. Many had more than

one home; some of these homes were beautiful: 3:15.

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3. An upper class emerged only to live __________________, indo-

lent lifestyles: 6:1-6.

4. Idolatrous “Religion” flourished and many considered themselves ________________________ to disaster: 4:4, 5:5, 8:3, 8:10. Ul-timately the people did what they loved to do (Amos 4:5).

5. The rich exploited the poor and standards of morality were low:

2:6-7; 2:7.

D. Amos boldly ____________________________ the idolatrous coun-terfeit religion established by Jeroboam. BETHEL is where the king’s personal religious shrine was, and Amos faced up to the error direct-ly (Amos 7:10-17).

3. Christ in Amos: HE IS The LORD of the armies of angels (hosts) (6:8; 9:5; Zech. 14:4; Rev. 19:14).

An Outline of Amos 1. Introduction: 1:1-2

2. Judgments Against the Nations: 1:3-2:16 3. Judgments Against Israel: 3:1-6:14 4. Five Visions telling the Results of Judgment: 7:1-9:10 5. The Restoration from Judgment: 9:11-15

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1. The Man and His Times

• Written 780-760 BC, just 50 years or so before Assyria would take

Israel into captivity in 722 BC.

A. Jonah means “______________________________.” B. Jonah prophesied to the idolatrous Northern Kingdom Israel during

the reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-25).

C. God calls Jonah to go to the pagan city of _____________________, the capital city of the Assyrian empire (Genesis 10:11-12).

2. Unique Features of Jonah

A. God has the _________________________________ word in the book of Jonah.

B. The key characters in this narrative are God, Jonah, and

________________________________.

C. God desires to show His love for the world through National Israel (Isaiah 49:3).

D. God demonstrates His Sovereignty in accomplishing the salvation of

souls (Jonah 2:9).

1. Jonah is a _______________________________ manual: we have a responsibility to go to Jew and Gentile to deliver the mes-sage of salvation.

2. God prepares a man and prepares hearts for that man to reach.

Jonah: The Disobedient Prophet

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E. Jonah’s descent into the belly of the great fish parallels Christ’s de-scent into the grave for __________________ (Matt.12:41).

F. Jonah shows the indifference of God’s children to fulfill His will: eve-

rything in this book obeys God except Jonah! (The wind and storm, the fish, the vine, the east wind, and the people of Nineveh). We are not to love ___________________ or _____________________ more than God or the souls of men. God’s people risk becoming selfish, angry, and indifferent when they put building earthly king-doms before God’s Kingdom!

G. Christ in Jonah: HE IS The Prophet of the nations, the Lover of men's

souls (4:10-11). He is the One risen from death on the third day from the heart of the earth as Jonah was in type risen from death from the heart of the whale’s belly (Matthew 12:40)

An Outline of Jonah

1. You Can Run But You Can’t _____________________: 1

2. What to Do When You Hit the ____________________: 2

A. ______________________ up, v.1-7

1) When you are CAST DOWN, v.3 2) When you are CAST OUT, v.4

B. ______________________ of lying vanities, v.8

1) Sinful activities 2) Selfish ambitions 3) Worldly anxieties

C. Lay down your life, v.9,10

3. God Gives a Second Chance: 3

4. Obstacles to a Kingdom Heart: 4 A. ___________________________ Anger: “…he was very angry”

(v.1) “I do well to be angry” (v.9)

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B. Spiritual _________________________: “It is no better for me to die than to live…” (v.3). “It is better for me to die than to live” (v.8).

C. Selfish Busy-ness, “Jonah went out…sat on the east side…made

him a booth…sat under it…till he might see…” (v.5).

D. Superficial Gladness, “So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd” (v.6). It was a joy based solely on circumstances.

1. The Date of Writing: About 725-720 B.C. before and just after the As-

syrian invasion of Israel in 722 B.C. 2. The Man and His Times

A. Hosea means “_______________________.” B. Hosea prophesied for several decades after the political stability of

Amos’ times during days of rapid change, anarchy, and confusion.

C. Israel was in a covenant relationship with Jehovah God and they were to

D. Hosea’s role as a prophet was to expose the breach of this covenant and to reveal the curses of disobedience.

E. Israel (often called “________________________,” the largest tribe

of Israel) was to worship God by offering sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem. Since the kingdom divided, worship centers placed in Dan and Bethel. These cities were the center of a counterfeit religion that Jeroboam “devised of his own heart” (1 Kings 12:25-33). Every king of Israel was evil because they continued this false worship practice. Hosea reminds Israel that their father Jacob worshiped the true God in Bethel (Hosea 12:3-6).

Hosea: The Prophet of God’s Love to Backsliding

Israel

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F. Hosea mentions _______________ worship more than any other Minor Prophet. What are the characteristics of Baalism? Hosea 2:8, 13, 17; 9:10;11:2; 13:1;

1. Baal worshippers were obsessed with the ___________________________________: Baal was the Ca-naanite’s supreme god: the god of sun, thunder, lightening, rain, and fertility.

2. Baal worshippers sacrificed their _____________________: 1

Kings 16:34 indicates that Hiel buried two of his sons in the foun-dation of the rebuilt city of Jericho.

3. Baal worshippers were moral _______________________: They

tolerated everything but the truth!

G. Hosea makes a diagnosis of Israel’s __________________________________________ condition.

Hosea 4:16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer… Hosea 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me… Hosea 12:7 He is a merchant (Canaanite).

1. No _______________________________ or knowledge of God in the land: 4:1-6

2. ____________________________: Hosea 4:16,17 3. Partial dedication: 7:8 4. Unconscious deterioration: 7:9 5. Seeking ____________________ from vain sources: 12:1 6. Worldly _____________________, Hosea 12:7. “Merchant=

Canaanite!” 7. At Hosea gives a hopeful end that God will “heal their backsliding”

and “love them freely” (Hosea 14:4). 3. Unique Features of Hosea

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A. Hosea’s marriage ______________________, an unfaithful spouse, pictured Israel’s unfaithfulness to God (Hosea 1:3-2)

Hosea 1:2 And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and the children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

B. How can God command Hosea to marry a harlot?

1. Some suggest this was not a literal marriage but only a vision or allegory.

2. The best interpretation: Gomer was sexually pure at the time of

her marriage and later became an adulteress. The expression “adulterous wife” does not describe her condition at the time of her marriage, but anticipates what she ___________________________ to be. Thus the command of the Lord can be understood to be, “Go, take to yourself a wife who will prove to be unfaithful…” (

C. Just as Gomer does return to Hosea, Israel will ultimately be recon-

ciled to God. Hosea 14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine an-ger is turned away from him. Hosea 14:8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

D. The practical counsel one can give to a person married to an unfaith-ful spouse:

1. Pray a _____________________________________ around the

unfaithful spouse: Hosea 2:6 a. Pray for a loss of direction b. Pray any lovers would leave the spouse c. Pray troubles will prompt their return to their legitimate spouse.

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2. Plan a time to be with the partner: Hosea 2:14 3. Speak words of acceptance: Hosea 2:14 4. Re-establish hope: Hosea 2:15 5. Reestablish friendship: Hosea 2:16 6. Reaffirm a commitment to marriage: Hosea 2:19 7. Learn the truths of Scripture: Hosea 2:20

E. Christ in Hosea: HE IS The One who Ransoms us from death who

heals the Backslider (13:14; I Cor. 15:55; 11:4; 6:1) --The Perfect Isra-elite, God’s Son called out of Egypt (11:1; Mt. 2:15)

An Outline of Hosea

1. Hosea’s Marriage: A Portrayal of God’s Dealing with Israel (1-3:3) 2. Hosea’s Message: God’s Judgment and Restoration of Israel (4:1-14:9)

A. God is Holy: (4-8) B. God is Just (9-10) C. God is Love (11-14)

1. The Date of Writing: Written between 840-830 B.C. making this the _______________ ______________ written among either the major or minor prophets.

2. The Man and His Times

A. His name means “servant of the Lord.”

B. He lived in Judah during the reigns of Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash.

Obadiah: God’s Prophet to Edom Rebukes them for

Pride

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C. Obadiah prophesies to _________________________, the de-scendants of Esau. The animosity between Esau and Israel is one of the oldest examples of conflict in human relationships. (Edom = Red, the color of the stew he traded for his birthright).

D. Obadiah probably refers to the invasion of Jerusalem by the Arabi-

ans and Philistines (2 Chron. 21:8-17). It was this invasion that shows Edom’s pride.

3. Unique Features of Obadiah

A. The Edomites want nothing to do with the God of Israel and were a __________________ people, desiring to live independent of God. (v.3)

1) Pride is ________________________ (v.3) and destructive

(v.4). 2) The root word of “pride” means to “_________________.” It

reminds us of Jacob cooking the stew and trading it to proud Esau for his birthright. Esau thought he could be saved without faith in God. He did not believe he needed a Savior or Messiah to take away his sin.

B. Pride is an inordinate ______________________________. A

proud person wears their sin as a crown for God says, “woe to the crown of pride” (Isaiah 28:1,3). A proud person lifts themselves up as better, smarter, wiser, more important, more attractive, or more competent than another person.

C. Obadiah is the ___________________ in the Hebrew Scripture.

D. Christ in Obadiah: HE IS The LORD, and the kingdom is His (v. 21)

An Outline of Obadiah

1. Edom’s Destruction (v.1-9)

A. Edom was a mountainous country about 110 miles long and 30 miles wide, southeast of Israel. The two major cities of Edom are Teman and Bozrah.

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B. Esau prided herself in her secure location, v.3-4. Edom’s geographic location gave her security, and God likens her to an eagle nested high in the cleft of the rock (Jeremiah 49:7-22).

2. Edoms’s ________________________ (v.10-14)

(cf, 2 Chronicles 21:8-17) A. Rejoiced in Israel’s losses, v.12 B. She entered Jerusalem with sinful intentions at a time of weakness,

v.13 C. She stood and watched Israel’s calamity without compassion, v.13 D. She looted Jerusalem, v.13 E. She spoke proudly, boasting and magnifying themselves. F. She killed Jewish fugitives, v.14 G. She handed over survivors to the enemy, v.14

3. The Day of the Lord (15-21)

A. God’s Judgment on Israel’s Enemies v.15,16 B. God’s Blessing on Israel v.17-21

1. The Date of Writing: He was one of the earliest prophets, and wrote this

book around 830 B.C. 2. The Man and His Times

A. Joel means “Jehovah is God.” B. Joel wrote to the nation of Judah and particularly to the city of Jeru-

salem.

Joel: The Prophet of The Day of the Lord

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3. Unique Features of Joel

A. Joel presents a comprehensive overview of God’s prophetic pro-gram: he shows a chronology of Israel’s prophetic history from the Babylonian captivity to the _____________________ Kingdom of Messiah!

B. He uses the phrase “_____________________________

_____________________________.” (1:15; 2:1, 11,31; 3:14).

C. Joel gives hope that God ____________________ what the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25).

D. Joel’s challenge to call on the Lord’s name is quoted by Paul in Ro-

mans 10:13 (Joel 2:32). E. ____________________________ quotes Joel 2:28-32 on the day

of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).

• This passage causes great controversy in our day because of the modern day Pentecostal movement. There are at least five different ways this passage is interpreted:

1. Historical Fulfillment View: Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled during the

writing of his book. 2. Pentecost Fulfillment View: Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled on the

Day of Pentecost. 3. Perpetual Fulfillment View: Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled on the day

of Pentecost and will continue to be fulfilled throughout the Church Age and the Millennium.

4. Future Fulfillment View: Joel’s prophecy has not yet been fulfilled but awaits fulfillment at the Second Glorious Coming of Christ.

5. Partial Fulfillment View: Joel’s prophecy has been partially fulfilled in different times of history (Return of Israel from captivity, the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2), but the ultimate fulfillment will be during the Millennial Kingdom.

• I believe the best view of these five is the fifth position. This posi-

tion gives validity to each of the views, but recognizes there is an ul-

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timate fulfillment that has never happened in the literal way that Joel tells us.

F. This prophecy awaits COMPLETE fulfillment at the

_________________ coming of Jesus Christ: Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. Rev. 6:12b: There was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood. Matthew 24:29,30 …the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…

G. Why Pentecost does not fulfill Joel 2:28-32:

a. What happened at Pentecost was __________________ in

some respects to the ultimate day of God, but it was not the ul-timate fulfillment. Peter never says Pentecost “fulfilled” Joel 2 but that Pentecost was similar (“this is that”). Some believe that Peter understood Pentecost to be the _____________________________ in of the Kingdom of God for Israel. In other words, the Kingdom could have come had Israel accepted their Messiah

b. The ___________________________ in the heavens were not

fulfilled on Pentecost. (The modern day charismatic movement has no miraculous signs from heaven as there were on Pente-cost, the rushing wind or tongues of fire. There are only manu-factured signs.)

c. During the Millennium following the Lord’s return, God’s Spirit

will be poured out on all flesh. At Pentecost, God’s Spirit was poured out on a select group, the ______________________________.

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Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.

H. Christ in Joel: HE IS the One who pours out the Holy Spirit upon His

people and The Judge in the Day of the LORD (2-3; Rev. 16:14-19, 19:11-21).

An Outline of Joel

1. Insect Plague (What was Present): 1:1-20 2. Invasion Predicted (What was imminent): 2:1-11 3. Restoration Possible (What was conditional): 2:12-27 4. Return of the Messiah (What was Distant): 2:28-32 5. Wrath of God (What was ultimate): 3:1-17

A. The Purpose of Armageddom: v.1-8 B. The Awesomeness of Armageddon: v.9-17

6. The Kingdom of God: v.18-21 (What is eternal) 1. The Date of Writing: Micah was written after the Assyrian conquest of

Damascus and before the fall of Samaria (between 734-722 B.C.). 2. The Man and His Times

A. Micah means, “Who is like Jehovah?” B. Micah was a “country-boy” from Moresheth, a small Judean town

about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, but he had an _________________ ______________________, preaching about what he saw in Samaria and Jerusalem (the capital cities of Israel and Judah).

Micah: The Prophet of the City

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C. Micah preached contemporarily with Isaiah about the Assyrian de-

struction of the Northern Kingdom and the coming defeat of the Southern Kingdom by Babylon.

D. Micah exposes the ______________________ of his times: Idolatry

(1:7), covetousness (2:1,2), oppression (2:2), violence (2:8,9), cor-ruption of leadership (3:5-11), witchcraft (5:12), political corruption (6:2), family disintegration (6:5,6), cheating (6:10,11), lying (6:12)

3. Unique Features of Micah

A. Micah contains ______________________________, each begin-ning with the exhortation to “hear” or “listen.”

B. Micah emphasizes how cities affect the _________________ and

_________________________ of nations, Micah 1:5-9.

C. Micah’s messages center upon the two capital cities of the land: _________________ and ______________________, Micah 1:1.

D. Micah gives vital information about the

“___________________________” of the Messiah: he would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2.

E. Prophecies fulfilled in Micah (Jensen, p.433)

1. The fall of Samaria (722 B.C., Micah 1:6,7) 2. The invasion of Judah by Sennacherib (702 B.C., 1:9-16) 3. The fall of Jerusalem (586 B.C., 3:12; 7:13) 4. Exile in Babylon (586 B.C., 4:10) 5. Return from Captivity (520 B.C., 4:1-8,13) 6. Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (5:2)

F. Jesus referred to Micah 6:8 in Matthew 23:23.

G. Jesus in Micah: HE IS The Judge of the Nations (Micah 4:3), the Ruler

born in Bethlehem, who is from everlasting (5:2; Mt. 2:6).

An Outline of Micah

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1. God’s Plan of Demolition (1,2) Micah 1:2: Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 2. God’s Promise of Salvation (3-5) Micah 3:1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? 3. God’s Plea for Repentance (6,7) Micah 6:1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 1. The Date of Writing: It was written between 650 B.C. and 620 B.C., be-

fore the fall of ______________________________ but after the fall of Thebes (The Egyptian city, No) in 661 B.C. (Nahum 3:10). It was written about 150 years after the book of Jonah records Nineveh’s repentance.

2. The Man and His Times

A. Nahum means “consolation” or “comfort.” B. This book is a sequel to the Book of ____________________.

C. It shows God’s judgment upon Nineveh and His protection of Judah.

3. Unique Features of Nahum

A. With amazing accuracy, Nahum predicted the fall of a great power of his day, ______________________________ (The capital of the Assyrian Empire).

Nahum: The Prophet of Woe to Nineveh

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Here are some of Nahum’s predictions that were fulfilled historically (The Bible Knowledge Commentary

, Vol. 1, p. 1495).

1. Nineveh would be destroyed by a flood (2:6,8). 2. Nineveh would be destroyed by fire (1:10; 2:13, 3:15). 3. Plundering and pillaging would accompany the overthrow of the

city (2:9-10). 4. The Ninevites would be _____________________ at the time of

the attack (1:10; 3:11). 5. The fortresses would be easily captured (3:12). 6. The city gates would be destroyed (3:13). 7. The Ninevites would prepare bricks and mortar for emergency

defense walls (3:14) 8. Ninevite officers would _____________________ the city and

king (3:17).

B. Here are some characteristics of Nineveh, the mighty capital city of the Assyrian Empire:

1. It was a ___________________ and idolatrous city which had a

world-wide effect (Nahum 3:1, 19). 2. Israel looked to Assyria to strengthen their decaying nation, only to

be destroyed by the ones they looked to for aid (2 Kings 15:19; Hosea 5:13; Hosea 7:11; 8:9)

3. Shalmaneser V defeated Samaria in 722 B.C.

4. Sennacherib invaded Judah and destroyed 46 Judean towns be-

fore his soldiers were miraculously killed in 701 B.C. (Isaiah 37:36)

5. Judah continued to be a vassal kingdom to Assyria

6. Babylon defeated Nineveh in 612 B.C. Nahum prophecies this destruction.

C. Christ in Nahum: HE IS Our STRONGHOLD in the day of trouble

(1:2; Heb. 10:30)

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An Outline of Nahum

1. The Judge of Exalted (1:1-7) 2. The Judgment is Exposed (1:8-2:13)

A. The crushing of Nineveh prophesied, 1:8-15 B. The combat to the wall, 2:1-5 C. The combat within the walls, 2:6-13

3. The Justice Explained (3:1-19) 1. The Date of Writing: Conservative scholars differ whether Zephaniah

wrote this book before or after the reforms of Josiah. (2 Chronicles 34,35) It is best to say it was written before Josiah’s reforms in 627 B.C. because of Zephaniah exposing the sins of Judah.

Zephaniah 1:4b …I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests. 2. The Man and His Times

A. Zephaniah means “Protected by Jehovah” or “Jehovah Hides.” B. Zephaniah preached during the godly reign of

_____________________, the last of the good kings of Judah. C. He is one of the last prophets of Judah before the fall of Jerusalem.

D. He condemns the same sins over which Josiah lamented.

3. Unique Features of Zephaniah

Zephaniah: The Prophet of Desolation and Deliverance

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A. Zephaniah prophecies of the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (1:2-2:3; 3:1-7)

B. Zephaniah tells of the ________________________________ King-

dom of Messiah, Zeph. 3:8-20.

C. Christ in Zephaniah: HE IS the Mighty King of Israel who joys over His people with singing (3:15-17)

An Outline of Zephaniah

1. Retribution of God is Assured (1) Zephaniah 1:2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD. 2. Repentance unto God is Commanded (2) Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger. 3. _______________________________ of God is Promised (3) Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

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1. The Date of Writing: The most likely date is around 605 B.C. around

Babylon’s victory at the Battle of Carchemish (605 B.C.). It seems Babylon already has emerged as a world power (612 B.C.)

2. The Man and His Times

Habakkuk means “Embracer.” The key verse of Habakkuk is Habakkuk 2:4; “The just shall live by his faith.” This is quoted in __________________, _____________________ and _______________________.

3. Unique Features of Habakkuk

A. Whereas other prophets declare God’s message to the people, Hab-akkuk talks ________________________________ about people. We see the human side of the prophets.

B. Habakkuk teaches us vital lessons about life (From Jensen, p.450)

1. Iniquity does not ________________________________. 2. God does not overlook ___________________________. 3. The truly righteous man lives ______________________.

C. Habakkuk may have been a musician of the Levitical office (3:3;

3:19) as chapter three is like a psalm or a Hebrew hymn.

D. Christ in Habakkuk: HE IS The HOLY ONE who justifies the righteous by faith (the theme of Habakkuk)

An Outline of Habakkuk

1. The Prophet Wondering: His Faith is Tested (1) Why? 2. The Prophet Waiting: His Faith Trusting (2) Watch!

Habakkuk: The Prophet Who Lived by Faith

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3. The Prophet Worshipping: His Faith Triumphs (3) Worship

A. Revive Your People! Hab.3:2 B. Reveal Your Power! C. Remember Your Mercy!

1. The Date of Writing: Haggai preaches after the exile in Babylon in the

second year of Darius, which was 520 B.C. 2. The Man and His Times

A. Haggai means “festive.” B. Haggai appears in Ezra 5:1 and Ezra 6:14 challenging the people to

________________________________ the temple.

C. The foundations of the temple are laid in 536 B.C., but opposition causes the work to cease until 520 B.C; so the people were at a spir-itual _____________________________ and needed to break out of the rut of inactivity.

3. Unique Features of Haggai

A. The temple project is the focal point of Haggai. B. This is a book that challenges us to break out of our spiritual stand-

still and apathy. C. Haggai delivers four specific messages which he dates according to

the day and month. D. Haggai 2:6 is quoted in Hebrews 12:26. E. Christ in Hagga: HE IS The Desire of all nations (2:7)

Haggai: Consider Your Ways and Be Strong

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An Outline of Haggai 1. Be ________________________ (1:1-15) 3. Be ________________________ (2:1-9) Haggai 2:4 Be strong…be strong…for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts. 3. Be Holy (2:10-19) 4. Be Patient (2:20-23) 1. The Date of Writing: 2. The Man and His Times

A. Zechariah means “The LORD remembers.” B. He was a Levite born in Babylon, so like Jeremiah and Ezekiel be-

fore him, Zechariah was both a prophet and a priest (Zech. 1:1; Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh. 12:4, 16).

C. Two months after Haggai delivered his first sermon, Zechariah ap-pears encouraging the people to spiritual renewal and motivating them to rebuild the temple (Zech. 1:8-18; Zech. 4.)

D. Zechariah challenges the people to not despise the day of small things and that the power to rebuild is “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:10,6).

3. Unique Features of Zechariah

A. The longest of the “minor prophets.” B. His prophecies concerning the _________________________ (HE IS

The Righteous branch, The Coming King, and The smitten Shepherd

Zechariah: Serve by the Power of God’s Spirit

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(13:7, cp. Mt. 26:31)--The One "they have pierced" (12:10; Jn.20:37), and much more! Zechariah contains more prophecies related to Christ than any other prophetical book except Isaiah).

1. Messiah is the Servant, the BRANCH, 3:8 2. He is the King-Priest of the Temple during the Millennium, 6:12,13 3. He is the Lowly King who will come upon a donkey, 9:9,10. 4. He will be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, 11:12,13 5. His hands will be pierced, 12:10. 6. When the Shepherd is smitten, the sheep will scatter, 13:7-9. 7. Jesus will return upon the _________________________

______________________________, 14:4; cf Acts 1:12. 8. Jesus will reign over all the earth, 14:9-21.

An Outline of Zechariah 1. Visions (1-6)

A. The Red Horse among the Myrtle Trees, 1:7-17 B. Four horns and four carpenters, 1:18-21

C. Measuring Line, 2:1-13

D. Joshua Cleansed and Crowned, 3:1-10

E. Golden Candlestick and the Two Olive Trees, 4:1-14. (See also

Rev. 11:3-12)

Zech. 4:6 This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

F. The Flying Roll, 5:1-4

G. The Woman in Ephah, 5:5-11

H. The Four Chariots, 6:1-15 (Reminds us of the four horsemen of

Revelation 6).

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2. Commands (7,8)

A. Have compassion (7) B. Have character (8)

3. Prophecies (9-14)

A. The King Revealed (9,10)’

B. The King Rejected (11)

C. The King Reigns (12) 1. The Date of Writing: Malachi’s reference to a Persian governor (1:8, the

word was used for Persian governors in Palestine in postexilic times) shows the book was written after 538 B.C. Conservative scholars agree it was written around 450-430 B.C. It was the last book written in the Hebrew Scripture.

2. The Man and His Times

A. Malachi means “My Messenger.” B. Malachi ministered in the fifth century B.C., about 100 years after

Cyrus decreed the Jews could return from exile. C. The people are both indifferent and resentful toward God. “The days

had become increasingly drab and dreary. It was a period of disap-pointment, disillusionment, and discouragement, of blasted hopes and broken hearts” (Jensen’s Survey of the OT, p.468).

Malachi: Dealing with Deception in God’s People

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D. The priests violated the Mosaic Law regarding the offerings, harvest were poor and subject to locust damage, the people were intermar-rying with pagans and divorcing their spouses (Mal. 1:6-8; 3:10,11; 2:11, 15,16).

3. Unique Features of Malachi

A. Malachi’s message is similar to that of other prophets: covenant blessing requires covenant faithfulness.

B. Malachi repeats an arresting phrase throughout the book,

“___________________________” (or and, but, or something simi-lar )…” (1:2,6,7,12, 2:14, 17, 3:7, 8.) Israel is disputing with God!

C. Malachi refers to a coming of “Elijah the prophet” before the coming

of the great and dreadful day of the LORD (4:6). See also John 1:21-23; Luke 1:17; Matt.11:14; 17:10-13. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah and fulfills this prophecy.

D. Malachi concludes the Hebrew scriptures and LINKS the Hebrew

writings with the New Testament by finishing his book with A CURSE. The Old Testament finishes and the CURSE has not been lifted.

E. Christ in Malachi: HE IS The Messenger of the Covenant, the refiner’s

fire, (3:1; cp. Mk. 1:2, 3)--The Sun of Righteousness who comes with healing in His wings (4:2)

An Outline of Malachi

1. Introduction, 1:1 2. Respond to God’s Love, 1:2-5 3. Respect God, 1:6-2:9 4. Be Holy to God, 2:10-16

• Israel was disobeying God by: D. Intermarrying with Unbelievers, v.10-12 E. Divorcing their Wives, v.13-16

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• Five reasons to Stay Married: 1.) Because of the Divine Covenant of Marriage: It is a one flesh covenant relationship: Did not he make ONE? 2.) Because of the Infinite Power of the Holy Spirit: yet had he a res-idue of the Spirit. 3.) Because of the Momentous Goal in Marriage: to raise a godly seed 4.) Because of the Loving Heart of God: He hates putting away: 5.) Because of Destructive Nature of Divorce, v.16b

5. Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming, 2:17-3:6 6. Do not Rob God, 3:7-12 7. Serve God with Reverence, 3:13-4:3 8. Conclusion, Be Prepared for the Lord’s Coming, 4:4-6