3.19.17 ~ Malachi 4:1-6, ”The Day of the Lord: Part One.”
Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Malachi
Last week (Malachi 3:16-18) we read how God declared He would spare those who fear and honor Him.
The first three verses of chapter 4 tell us how God will destroy all those who do not fear and honor Him.
Read Malachi 4:1-3… I believe this is a reference to the Day of the Lord when Christ will return at the close of the 7-year Tribulation period to end the battle of Armageddon described in Revelation 19, which will usher in the Millennial Kingdom (see Isaiah 13:6-9; Joel 2:1, 11, 31-32; Zephaniah 1:14a).
Intense heat will destroy all the enemies of God living at that time, (Malachi 4:1) that day will “burn like a furnace,” all those who opposed God will be set on fire; none will survive “not a root or a branch will be left” (total destruction by fire / eternal punishment = lake of fire).
In God’s sovereign plan, the intense heat of His judgment will destroy the wicked, while (Malachi 4:2) at the same time bringing healing warmth to the righteous. After having experienced the horror and destruction of 7- years of Tribulation and the great Battle of Armageddon, those who served God will be made to feel like calves released from the confinement of their stalls, leaping for joy, running free in the open sunshine.
Those who suffered at the hands of the wicked during the Tribulation period will enjoy victory over their enemies, as God brings total defeat and destruction upon them. God’s people (Malachi 4:3) will trample down the wicked, as one walks on ashes at the scene of a great fire; these ashes are the remains of those who opposed God and caused God’s people to suffer. Read Malachi 4:4-6… Malachi exhorts the people (Malachi 4:4) to remember the laws and decrees given to Moses on Mt. Horeb [Mt. Sinai], for all of Israel, that they would take to heart their responsibility to know and obey that which God has instructed them as His covenant people.
Moses and Elijah are mentioned as having something to do with preparing the arrival of the Day of the Lord.
Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) appeared on the Mt. of Transfiguration with Christ (see Mark 9:2-4); they may very well be the two witnesses of who precede Christ’s Second Coming (see Revelation 11:3-6, sackcloth = sorrow; trees/lamps = God’s light, provision, power, presence).
God’s prophet (Malachi 4:5) will proclaim God’s message with power so that men might hear, believe, and turn to God, so as not to have to face the judgment of the eternal lake of fire.
Christ’s first coming caused sons to turn against fathers, daughters against mothers, daughter-in-laws against mother-in-laws; the members of man’s own household became his enemies (see Matthew 10:34-40). Devotion to God must be first, not to a family, a nation or a religion.
Instead of embracing Jesus and the message He brought, most of Israel rejected Him; those who did trust in God’s Son and believe His message were excommunicated by their own families and by the nation of Israel as a whole.
Prior to Christ’s second coming (Malachi 4:5), Elijah, or one like him, will proclaim God’s message “before that great and dreadful day of the Lord,” and the result will be much different than that at Christ’s first coming.
Notice (Malachi 4:6) there will be widespread repentance, the hearts of the fathers will turn to their children, the hearts of the children to their fathers; and God won’t have to completely destroy the earth.
Malachi is prophesying about a time yet to come, just prior to the Millennial Kingdom (the thousand year reign of Christ on earth), immediately following the Battle of Armageddon that will end the Seven Year Tribulation Period.
Near the end of the 7 year Tribulation, the Antichrist will display his hatred toward God by focusing his rage on Israel, causing her to suffer horribly. If Christ did not return, all the redeemed would be killed (see Matthew 24:15, 21-22, 29; Revelation 12:17; 13:1, 5-8; 17:14).
Suddenly, when everything seems lost, Christ will appear in His glory (see Revelation 19:11-21). Christ will have ultimate victory over the Beast, the Antichrist, the False Prophet and all those who oppose God.
All the other judgments in the book of Revelation are carried out by angels, but this one is carried out by Christ Himself, and He alone will bring death and destruction upon all the unbelieving who are living at that time.
Satan will be dethroned and put away (see Revelation 20:1-3), and Christ will take His prophesied position as King, to rule over the earth for 1000 years.
All the Gentile survivors of the Tribulation (those who believed in Christ) will enter the millennial kingdom along with all the Jews who believed in Christ.
All unbelievers will be put to death to await the Great White Throne judgment, at the end of the millennial period (see Revelation 20:7-15).
Malachi humbly, compassionately, and urgently delivered God’s message to Israel, and yet the majority of Israel turned a deaf ear to what God said.
God didn’t speak again to Israel for 400 years, and when He did break
the silence, He did so with the birth of His own Son, who came to offer
redemption to sinful mankind, from the holy and righteous God of Creation.
Malachi 3:2, “But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears?”
Do not turn a deaf ear to God; take to heart, apply to your life, obey what God commands, only then will you know true life, joy, peace and success for all of eternity.
Matthew 22:36-40, “Which is the first and greatest commandment in the Law? ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… The second greatest commandment is to Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”
Mark 12:29-31, “Which is the most important commandment? ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind and with all your strength… The second most important commandment is to Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’”
Luke 10:25-28, “What must one do to inherit eternal life? ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Do this and you will have eternal life.”
Let us each commit to honor God, to find out and to do that which pleases Him, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, i.e., with everything we are and all that we have; and let us treat others as we ourselves want to be treated; in doing so, we fulfill all the Law and the Prophets and draw near to the heart of God, who has granted us eternal life; we now look with anticipation to the coming Day of the Lord.
Pastor Mike <‘(((><