The Forerunner Announced

Luke's is the only Gospel to give us details of John the Baptist's birth. He opens with the historical setting- -In the days Herod, King of Judea- -1-5-. This period of history ends the four hundred silent years between the close of the Old Testament with Malachi and the opening of the New Testament era with Gabriel announcing the birth of the forerunner of Messiah, John. He was the Elijah promised at close of Malachi. His father, Zechariah, was a godly and faithful priest, serving at the altar of incense when God sent His angel to tell the old priest that his prayers were heard and that wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son. This announcement was accompanied by some great promises and a clear reference to Malachi's closing words. Sadly, Zechariah did not believe him.