There are an important group of books at the end of the Old Testament. Because some of these books are small, the group has become known as the Minor Prophets. I have long chafed at this description and recently have become convinced that these books of prophecy should be known as the “Messianic Prophets.”

Every one of the twelve books in this group refer to the Messiah, Jesus. Every book prophesies about Jesus or His kingdom. The only book that does not contain a Messianic prophecy is Jonah, but Jesus specifically used the picture of Jonah “in the belly of the great fish” for three days and nights as a sign of His own burial for three days and nights. (Matthew 12:39-40)

Another reason for the importance of the Messianic Prophets is their location in design of the Bible given to Moses almost 3500 years ago. That design is the Menorah, or Golden Lampstand, with its seven branches and sixty-six decorations. (Exodus 25:31-40) The seven branches each have nine decorations representing a group of nine books within the Bible. Please click HERE to see The Lord’s Golden Lampstand.

The center grouping is the exception with twelve decorations and represents the Messianic Prophets. This grouping of books is in the center in the Servant Lamp position. The Servant Lamp represents Jesus, and these books prophesy about Him.

So this section of the Bible is not minor. Let us look at the prophecies of each book.

Hosea 2:16-23 refers to the “Day of the Lord”, an Old Testament term referring to the End Times. Hosea 6:2-3 – “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” (I believe the days referred to here are Millennial days.) Hosea 11:10 speaks of the Lord’s kingdom – “They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.”

Joel 3:14 – “for the day of the LORD is near . . .” Joel 3:17 – “then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.”

Amos 5:18-24 refers to the Day of the Lord as a dark time for Israel. Amos 9:11 speaks of restoring the Tabernacle of David (an event of the Messianic kingdom) – “In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen.”

Obadiah 15 refers to the Day of the Lord – “For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen . . .”

As mentioned earlier the Lord Jesus used Jonah as a sign of His burial.

Micah 4:1-5 offers the wonderful promise of the Lord’s kingdom. Jerusalem and the Temple Mount will be the most important place on earth and peoples from all nations will stream to the Mount to be taught. This passage contains the famous “they shall beat their swords into plowshares” prophecy, which was also prophesied by Isaiah and Joel.

The three chapters of Nahum speak against three facets of Nineveh. In the Old Testament, Nineveh is a type or picture of the gentile world. The three facets are spiritual (Nahum 1:14); political (Nahum 2:3-10); and commercial (Nahum 3:16). These three facets, spiritual, political and commercial describe Mystery Babylon, which will be destroyed by the coming of the Lord Jesus with great power and glory.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 clearly speaks of the End Times – “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie.”

Zephaniah 1:14 – “The great day of the LORD is near. . .” Zephaniah 2:1-3 offers hope to gentile Christians. “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; ... Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.” The word “nation” in the Hebrew is “Gentile.” We Gentile Christians will be sheltered in the Day of the Lord’s Wrath.

Haggai 2:6-7 – “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts..” The Lord Jesus is the desired of all nations.

Zechariah 12:2-3 – “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces . . .” Zechariah 14:4 – “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.” Zechariah 14:16 – (the survivors) “shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

Malachi 3:1 speaks of the coming of the Lord – “Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his Temple;” Malachi 4:4-5 – “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” The last chapter of the last book in the Old Testament refers to Moses and Elijah, who many believe will be the “Two Witnesses” of the Revelation.

Each and every book within this group of twelve books of prophecy refer to Jesus or His coming kingdom. These books are clearly not minor, and they are clearly about the Messiah. Therefore, they are Messianic Prophets.

What a wonderful Bible the Lord has given us! May His name be praised forever!