Malachi, 3v1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2: But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4: Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Let me put the passage in context…
A The Present
1v1-5 The Love of God for Israel
1v6-2v9 The Priests rebuked for profanity
2v10-17 The People rebuked for social sin
B The Future
3v1-6 The Two Messengers
3v7-18 The People rebuked - Religious sins
4v1-6 The Day of the LORD
Malachi is speaking to Israel regarding the Day of the LORD. The day of the LORD is the return of (Jesus) The Messiah of Israel to bring judgment first on the house of Israel and then on the Gentile world. (Matt 25 the Judgment of the living nations) This all occurs at the end of the Tribulation But before the day of the LORD God describes the waywardness of his people Ch1-2 and then he describes first the coming of John the Baptist. (the death and resurrection and the church age are not foretold here) and of the coming of Christ to Israel. (God promises that ever word will be confirmed by two witnesses. That’s why Gods servants are always in pairs. Moses Aaron. Paul and Barnabas etc, etc) Johns ministry is briefly described in verse 1… Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: then the Prophet immediately goes on to The ministry of Christ… and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2: But who may abide the day of his coming? (Now this cannot be Johns ministry because it says… the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come).
So how does Malachi describe Christ’s ministry…
Christ will come to this temple (to examine Israel’s worship)
His coming will be in judgment (Who shall stand, Only the righteous stand)
He will be like a refiners fire to the sons of Levi (After Levi the priests are purified then they will be able to offer sacrifice to the Lord) that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then An offering will be made unto the Lord (This is in a future day! So the idea that all sacrifices are over is incorrect! However this is not an offering of atonement, That has been offered once for all at the cross but it is an act of consecration probably for the temple or the throne of judgment which will be in Jerusalem.) However in judgment there will be mercy. Judgment for sorcerers etc but mercy in that not all Israel will be consumed.
Then we have the call for a national repentance again. Return unto me says the LORD of hosts. This is the gospel of the Kingdom. (Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand) Notice the message is legal (based on the Law) return unto me and l will return unto you! (This is never, ever said to Gentiles and it is not the Gospel we preach) How do l know this because he goes to call on Israel in that they have robbed him of the tithes that are Israel’s due – He says… for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Then comes the promise of kingdom blessing (One of the most beautiful passages in scripture…
10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The LORD then promises the binding of Satan in the Kingdom – I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, etc etc
And he promises blessing to the nations in the kingdom through Israel…all nations shall call you blessed
Then Malachi describes More of Gods dealings with Israel and the destruction of the wicked. But in destruction God will remember those who fear him (Whose names are in the book of remembrance (The thief on the cross quotes this when he said, Remember me when you come into your kingdom)
In the day of the setting up of the Kingdom these righteous are called my jewels. - in that day when I make up my jewels.
Then when God has dealt with Israel he will return to deal with the Gentiles – Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
The wicked will be judged but the righteous will be blessed - But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings
Then the prophet reminds Israel that he will send Elijah to prepare Israel. – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
And so the Old Testament ends and 400 years pass with now word from God and then in the wilderness of Judea a man stands up and says…
Matthew, 3v1: In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2: And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3: For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Steve
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