Malachi is the final book of the 12 Minor Prophets, which the Jewish scholars viewed as one book although recorded by 12 different scribes over a period of perhaps 350 years. These 12 books are called minor not because they are less inspired or of less importance, but because the prophecies are shorter. God loves his people, but because of their sins, his people (specifically the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) are taken into captivity by the Babylonians, with Jerusalem and the temple being destroyed in 586BC. The theology of Malachi for is vital and relevant for us today. This prophecy teaches us of the loving nature of God. We see the depravity of man in the cold expressions of dead religion. The people have a general knowledge of God but there is a great decline of godliness in all areas of life. Spiritual blindness is expressed with every accusation that questions the goodness of God. In a sense the theology of Malachi takes us back to Eden when the serpent caused Adam and Eve to doubt the loving nature of God. "Has God really said?" (Gen 3:1) is still the question on the lips of God's people in Malachi's day. God patiently explains his love to his disobedient people (1:2), and the rest of the book explain the realities of those who have genuine love for YHWH. The consistent message of Malachi and of the entire Bible is God's grace to sinners. He will save believing sinners (the righteous) and forsake unrepentant sinners (the wicked) when Messiah Jesus consummates the world in judgment (3:18; 4:1-3; cf Mt 25:31-33). Malachi's message is: God loves you, but do you love him? It is a wakeup call and invitation to be blessed and transformed by God's love.