What Is the Curse God Warned About in Malachi 4:5–6.

Scripture Focus:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

Malachi 4:5–6, ESV

What Is This “Curse”?

The word translated as “curse” in Malachi 4:6 is the Hebrew word “cherem,” which often implies something devoted to destruction or placed under a ban (see also Joshua 6:17). This isn’t merely a general curse; it’s a declaration of divine judgment that results in complete devastation. God is saying that if the people do not repent and turn back to Him, the entire land would face irreversible judgment—total destruction.

This echoes what happened in earlier biblical judgments, such as:

The Flood in Noah’s time (Genesis 6–9): When humanity’s wickedness reached its peak, and God saw that “every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5), He cleansed the earth with a flood, sparing only Noah and his family.

Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18–19): These cities were consumed by fire because of rampant immorality and the refusal to repent, even when warned by angels and the intercession of Abraham.

Why Elijah? The Role of the Forerunner

God’s solution to prevent such destruction is to send a prophetic forerunner—”Elijah the prophet.” This doesn’t refer to the literal Elijah being resurrected (though he did appear at the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:3), but rather to someone coming in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17).

Elijah’s biblical ministry was marked by:

Calling Israel to repentance during a time of deep idolatry under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 18).

Confronting false prophets and re-establishing true worship.

Restoring covenant faithfulness between God and His people.

Jesus confirmed that John the Baptist fulfilled this role in part:

And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 11:14

But Malachi’s prophecy looks beyond John to a final Elijah-type ministry before the return of Christ—a prophetic voice that would once again call hearts back to God, restoring families, relationships, and most importantly, true faith.

A Pattern in Both Covenants: Prophets Before Judgment

Throughout Scripture, we see this pattern: Before judgment, God sends warning.

For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

Amos 3:7

In the Old Testament, God sent prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, and Ezekiel to warn Israel and Judah of coming judgment unless they repented.

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself warned of coming destruction—especially regarding Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (Matthew 24:1–2; Luke 19:41–44).

After Christ’s ascension, He poured out the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17) and sent out apostles and teachers to call the nations to repentance.

What Happens If the World Refuses to Repent?

If the world ignores these prophetic calls to return to God, the result will be the outpouring of God’s final wrath—what the Bible calls the “Day of the Lord.”

The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar…

2 Peter 3:9–10

This day is also described in Revelation as the time when the Bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on a rebellious world (Revelation 16). God’s long-suffering will eventually give way to justice. The same God who is merciful is also righteous and holy (Revelation 15:4).

The Spirit of Elijah in the Last Days

Many Bible teachers believe that before Christ’s Second Coming, God will again send men and women who operate in the spirit of Elijah—calling the Church to holiness and the world to repentance. These forerunners will preach the true Gospel, urging people to reconcile with God before it’s too late.

Some believe that the ministry of people like William Branham in the 20th century was part of this Elijah-type calling, though opinions vary. Regardless of specific individuals, what matters is that the Elijah ministry is still active today—through preachers, missionaries, and every believer who calls people back to truth and righteousness.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14

A Final Word: The Window Is Closing

The time is coming when this message of mercy will no longer be preached. The Holy Spirit will be withdrawn from the earth’s affairs in the same way He was in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:3). When that happens, judgment will fall.

Let us not ignore the voice of the Lord. The curse mentioned in Malachi is not just about physical destruction—it’s the final judgment on a generation that rejects God’s grace.

Conclusion

Malachi 4:5–6 is not just an Old Testament prophecy—it is a last-days warning. God is sending voices in this generation—like Elijah—to call us back to Himself. The question is: will we listen?