How many years were there between Malachi and the angel announcing John the Baptist's birth?
There were 400 years between the close of Malachi and the angelic announcement of John the Baptist’s birth. This interval, often called the 400 years of silence, elapsed after Malachi completed the Old Testament until God’s next move with Israel.
Les explains that between the book of Malachi and the appearance of the angel announcing the birth of John the Baptist, and to Joseph and Mary, is 400 years. He calls this period the 400 years of silence. Up until that time, from Abraham until Malachi, God had been revealing Himself through the prophets and through various other means to the nation of Israel. But after the book of Malachi was written, completing the Old Testament, 400 years elapsed until God makes His next move with the nation of Israel. Les notes that this is a historical fact and that he finds it interesting.