Words of the last prophet: But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble. Malachi 2:8

It can be said with certainty that the age of the prophets in the Bible ends with the prophet Malachi. This remarkable figure preached during the rule of the Achaemenid Persian dynasty in the Middle East. The memory of the Davidic dynasty had faded, and the temple in Jerusalem, as recounted in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, had been rebuilt.
Thus, while Malachi found a stable political situation due to the universal peace that the Persian empire had built in its domains, the religious situation in the holy land left much to be desired. The practice of the law had been distorted, and this increased oppression among the simple and humble people, and this was something that did not please God as happened with Cain's offering in the Book of Genesis; that is why the last prophet warned to the spiritual leadership of the country: "Now, you priests, try asking God to be good to us" Malachi 1:9.
The prophet wrote that one of the most serious problems was favoritism and the incorrect teaching of the law. And this is a very common problem that arises when people lose their fear of God, and hardness of heart, along with greed, prevails in people. The situation that Malachi described regarding religious oppression is very similar to the one Jesus encountered when he condemned the Pharisees and Sadducees; the priests, by reducing religion to a source of profit, made lying and deception a tool for their hidden ends. This is why the prophet wrote these words: "But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi" Malachi 2:8.
The prophet continued his teaching and condemned the arrogant and the swindlers because they are rejected by God, and so Malachi prophesied a day of judgment for the righteous and the sinners. Malachi ended his book prophesying the arrival of Elijah before the Day of the Lord, a prophecy with great influence on the Christian faith, because according to Jesus, this second coming was fulfilled with the life of John the Baptist. Malachi is ultimately one of the most important prophets, despite being considered a minor prophet.

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