Who is the messenger of the covenant in Malachi?
John the Baptist is identified as the messenger of the covenant in Malachi. He was promised to come on the scene as the messenger to announce the King, who is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The Lord would suddenly come to His temple, and John would announce the King.
Les explains that Malachi's prophecy of the messenger of the covenant refers to John the Baptist. He was promised to come on the scene as the messenger to announce the King. That King is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, which included a nation of people, a geographical area of land, and God coming to be their King and Redeemer. Les also notes the subsequent covenants—law, Davidic, and Mosaic—all under the Abrahamic covenant. After 1,500 years since Egypt and the return from Babylon, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."