The Prophet Malachi, repeating the Lord's words to him concerning His coming in glory, says:
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3: 1).
The following verse shows that this prophecy does not refer to Christ's first coming:
"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap." (Malachi 3: 2).
It appears from this prediction of Malachi that the Lord will send a messenger to prepare the way for His second coming, as was done at the time of His first coming. It is reasonable to believe this, for it is in full harmony with the teachings of the scriptures. The Prophet Amos says:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3: 7).
ABUNDANCE OF SCRIPTURE TO PROVE IT.
The whole Bible history bears witness to the truth of these words of Amos. It is a record of God's dealings with mankind through the agency of "his servants the prophets," The sacred book tells us nothing concerning the things of God but what has been revealed by His holy prophets. In connection with all important events it relates, we read of some inspired men appearing. These prophets were raised up to deliver special messages from the Lord direct to the people. From time to time the Lord has such messages to declare to mankind. In all past ages He has proclaimed them by the mouths of His prophets. The Lord spoke to these men with His own voice, sometimes face to face, sometimes from the midst of a cloud or from a burning bush, and at other times by a voice from heaven.
Before the Lord destroyed the inhabitants of the earth with a flood, He raised up the Prophet Noah to warn the people of the danger they were in, and to point out to them a way of escape.
When the Lord was about to raise up a chosen people of the posterity of Abraham, He told that patriarch of His intention. He also renewed the promise to Jacob, by speaking unto him, and Jacob prophesied concerning his posterity.