The word "angel" in the Bible is defined by teachers as a messenger. An angel appeared to Zacharias next to the altar of incense while he was ministering in the temple (Lk 1:11). The angel said, "'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news'" (:19). The news was that "'your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son'" (:13). Cornelius was told, "'Your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God'" (Ac 10:31). This is "the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end" (Ecc 3:11) and he "has made everything appropriate in its time" (:11). It goes down to the detail of "'you will give him the name John'" (Lk 1:13). It also goes to the larger context that "'he will be great'" (:15) and "'will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God'" (:16). Zacharias was also told that John was the "'forerunner'" (:17) prophesied by Malachi. "'I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse'" (Mal 4:5-6). "This is the One referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, 'The voice of One crying in the wilderness'" (Mt 3:3). The angel said John would "'make ready a people prepared for the Lord'" (Lk 1:17). Later John would preach, "'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" (Mt 3:2).