Malachi’s exact date is not known.

Note: Some of these 'historical' notes are from Hayle's Handbook, but their 'prophecy' or 'interpretation' is often wrong, so I do not use their 'thoughts' - only their historical facts.

• It is generally accepted that he lived nearly a century after Haggai and Zechariah and that he worked with Ezra and Nehemiah in their reforms.
• His date is placed at approximately 450–400  b.c.

• A remnant had returned from captivity in 538 b.c.
• Under the prophetic ministry of Haggai and Zechariah they had rebuilt the temple (520 - 516 b.c.).
• Then, 60 years later (458 b.c.), Ezra came to help reestablish the nation.
• 14 years after that (444 b.c.), Nehemiah came and rebuilt the wall.

• had been home from Babylon for about 100 years,
• were cured by the Exile of their idolatry,
• were still prone to neglect the house of God.
• The priests had become lax and degenerate,
• sacrifices were inferior,
• tithes were neglected.
• reverted back to their old practice of intermarrying with idolatrous neighbors.

• had settled down in a lethargic state of mind to await the coming of the promised Messiah...
• ...who, they thought, would restore the nation to its former glory under King David.
• Malachi assured them that the Messiah would come...
• ...but it would mean judgment for them rather than glory.
• Keep in mind - this can't be referring to Christ's arrival in Matthew, but to the Revelation 19 arrival.

• End of Old Testament / End of New Testament is idential.
• except the Lord has provided all the 'payback' while we are reconciled back to God and to the Jews, etc.
• Malachi's days - today's modern Christianity AND Bible Believers increasing in similar lethargicness!
• cured - saved!  Dead to law!  Dead to sin!  Made free, etc.
• priests - pastors lax and degenenerate in preaching and presenting wrong gospel, worldly guidance, OT traditions, building buildings and enrollment, etc.
• sacrifices - our life is still inferior to what Paul would have us do now that we are saved, even though the ultimate sacrifice has been paid!
• tithes - people still think they 'only' have to tithe, but today is to be giving according to Paul. I Corinthians 16:2 - just how appreciative are you?
• reverted back - just living the worldly ways again, the parenting ways taught by our own lost parents, back to flesh after Spirit - Galatians 3:3 etc.
• lethargic - just have given up and just waiting for the Lord while the kids go on with life as they get brought up and caught up in the flesh and fall for modern 'fun' and 'flesh' Christianity - and maybe even the Tribulation.
• judgment
• judgment seat for us - fear of God is hating evil enough to turn from it;
• white throne for them - fear of God for eternal damnation!
• payback from God - Reap what you sow but there is no judgment of God - it has all been paid for - do right now for your love of Him for what He did!
• Yet ye say...
• 1:2 - I have loved you, saith the LORD.
• Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?
• 1:6b - ...O priests, that despise my name.
• And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
• 1:7 - Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar;
• and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee?
• In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
• 2:17 - Ye have wearied the LORD with your words.
• Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him?
• 3:7 - Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
• But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
• 3:8 - Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.
• But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?
• 3:13 - Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD.
• Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
• 3:14 - Ye have said,
• It is vain to serve God:
• and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance,
• and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
• 3:15 - And now we call the proud happy;
• yea, they that work wickedness are set up;
• yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
• How much do we say even though we can know EXACTLY what God said and says today!