In the last scripture before Christ’s first coming we have a short view to the second coming of Christ when He will send all the unbelievers to hell, their first and second death. And one should be fearful of the one that can kill the body and send the soul to hell, which is the beginning of wisdom.
Malachi 4
[1] “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. [3] And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.
[4] “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
[5] “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. [6] 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.” (ESV)
And there is the touching view that the believers left to go into the Millennial Kingdom will be like calves released from the pen into the sun who leap for joy. And believers will tread down the wicked like ash that is put on trails when the ground is wet to make their way more firm. But the Elijah the prophet reference is the interesting element. It could be that a prophet like Elijah will arise like John the Baptist, but there are some that believe the two witnesses of Revelation will be the two prophets that were with Christ at His transfiguration, Elijah and Moses, who have already come back to earth as witnessed by those Apostles. And they would be fitting witnesses given how they withhold rain and destroy unbelievers that try to harm them with fire from their mouths. Consequently, Elijah never died and was taken directly into heaven, and Moses likewise had an unusual end, taken to heaven and his bones covered and hidden by God. And in reference to Moses’ death, we have this interesting scripture in Jude about archangel Michael contesting with Satan over Moses’ body.
Jude 9
[9] But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” (ESV)
It’s believed to be a lost book’s account Jude is referencing and confirming, but you have to wonder if there is something to the two witnesses in Revelation being Elijah and Moses. And given they wield so much power from God during their time on earth when Christians are being killed, you would have to think they are more than just human recruited prophets. Consequently, it could be just a few years before the two witnesses are here and we find out if they are the very same Elijah and Moses. Maranatha!