Haggai, Zechariah & Malachi

The title “Prophets of the Restoration,” requires for its full comprehension the presentation of some thoughts concerning the nature of prophecy, the position of the prophetic office in the Old Testament economy, and the organic connection between prophecy and history in the development of the great work of redemption. This discussion is the more necessary, because of the narrow view that is commonly taken of the whole subject of prophecy. The general notion of prophecy is simply, that it is the prediction of future events; and the prophet is regarded as merely the predicter, whose words are left on record as a proof of the divine origin of the Bible plan of salvation. These are, however, but narrow views of the prophetic function, and views which must often materially affect the attempt to expound the prophetic writings. This is especially true of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, in whom the distinctive character of the prophetic office is very clearly marked, and to understand whose writings it is absolutely necessary to comprehend the relation of the prophetic office to the Old Testament history.