Book of Malachi - Ch.3, Vs. 2-6 (05/14/2023)

Malachi’s Prophecy of the Coming Lord and Purified Offerings

Well dad, I hope you enjoy my Mother's Day tribute. We don't have any moms in the room just yet, that's all right. Where do you go? You just went outside? Yeah, it's good good morning guys. Good morning, there's Viviana with one of my kiddos.

She's really been glued to you lately hadn't she. Yes, it's a really cute on. I think it was Wednesday that Bible study she's just leaped for Viviana. Good morning. Well, good morning again and happy Mother's Day.

I've got a great Mother's Day topic today is second coming of the Lord and his judgment perfect. I Have it prepared special for today now we I was gonna pick it up right where I left off last week, but In kind of looking at the notes.

I think I'm gonna have to backtrack just a little bit. It's not gonna make a lot of sense. So We're Malachi chapter 3. I'm gonna start in verse 2 and just read straight through verse 4. Which is where we stopped last week.

And then we'll pick it up from there. Okay, so Malachi chapter 3 starting verse 2 it says but who may abide the day of his coming and Who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiners fire and like a Fuller's soap.

Hey dad, if you want to turn mic number four down just a little bit in verse 3 says 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. Then shall the offering of Judah in Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old as in former years and that was the verse we left off last week and Of course, that's a really cool verse in and of itself as in the days of old as in former years.

The Millennial Kingdom as a Memorial of Christ’s Work

So the result of God's purification During this time that it's referring to. And we talked about this just a little bit at the end of last week. It would result in basically a pure class of Levites the very tribe of God that was ordained to serve him and lead his people and yet have Gone so far astray at this point at the time of Malachi that It was a totally defiled class.

It was a totally defiled office at this point the priests. It was they were priests in name only essentially because the actual acts of temple worship that they were engaging in. Were far from what they were commanded to do and so Malachi now is prophesied prophesying of a time in which those Offerings will be pure again, which they will be pleasant to the Lord and righteous as it says in the days of old now at the time in the future that Malachi is talking about because in these verses that we're in right now Malachi steps away from Putting a spotlight on the sins of the people at this time.

And again, he's prophesying way out into the future of these Spectacular events that are have yet to take place and it says let's see here. Yeah, again, he's speaking of his righteous and pleasant offerings or I should say the Levites righteous and pleasant offerings and if you guys recall it in verse 11 of chapter 1 it actually prophesied about the Gentiles offering a pure and righteous sacrifice and As well, and so it's interesting that Malachi is now bringing the Levites back in the forefront in regard to offerings sacrifices being pure again because we now realize that the the well without getting ahead of myself too far, it's essentially a it's essentially a prophecy that the Priestly class is going to be expanded to some degree.

There's gonna be some differences, but it's gonna be expanded. You're gonna have the Levites which again were the ordained a tribe of God to conduct the priest's office all along but We as Gentiles are gonna have an offer an opportunity to act as priests ourselves and to offer Ourselves, it'll be a little bit different.

There will be a distinction but Malachi prophesies of both. Which is really cool again. Malachi 1 11 is his prophecy of the Gentiles doing so and now here he is prophesying once again about the Levites being purified and Offering that pure offering when the Lord comes back and this is really interesting stuff.

Offerings will be sacrificed once again in his millennial kingdom and Jesus's millennial kingdom. However, the offerings during this time will not be for the same purpose as they were in the Old Testament.

This is where we ended last week. I'm just rehashing this this thought. Rather than being a picture of the crucifixion to come which of course is what the sacrifices of the Old Testament represented. The sacrifices and offerings in the millennial kingdom will commemorate The ultimate sacrifice that was made at Calvary as we know that made possible The peaceful kingdom of the Millennium after his return.

That's where we left off last week now. It's important to remember here that the church has we have had our own Ways of commemorating the death of Jesus. Since of course, he he died rose again and ascended.

And we were given these by Jesus himself and we've been doing them for thousands of years now. That that's the church the body of Christ to the bride of Christ. Which of course includes us as well up to this very day and Those things to name just a couple of them.

Of course are the Lord's Supper. We do that. It's as a way of remembering his sacrifice. We also remember it Through baptism being a picture of his death burial and resurrection that is one of the ways that we proclaim our faith when we come to know him and In addition to it being a proclamation of our faith that again, it's a picture of his death burial and resurrection.

So we've had these things ourselves For thousands of years at this point to commemorate what Jesus did for us these pictures. That we can use to commemorate that but if you think about it Israel, and of course, I'm not talking about individual Jews who of course can at any point come to know the Lord as dad's mentor brother Rocky Freeman did I'm talking about Israel as a nation.

They have not had any memorials of his work at least that they are aware of that. They are deliberately doing they have not had any memorials of his work on earth during his first advent in all these centuries since he died and again, of course was risen and ascended.

There's been a couple thousand years at this point of Israel's unbelief In Jesus as their Messiah the the Jesus that we all know that again came to earth and in fulfilled So many of the prophecies that we were given in any that weren't or because they will be fulfilled Upon a second coming so they've had multiple centuries now the the nation of Israel of not commemorating what Jesus did His first coming his work on earth and so the sacrifices that Malachi is now telling us they will bring to the table in the Millennial Kingdom those sacrifices Will perform the function of that memorial of Jesus's work for his nation, of course.

We know it was for the world in the sense that the Gentiles were included as well but it was very much a part of his promises to Israel as a nation his covenants with them and The Jews have failed to commemorate such such a work in these couple thousand years since his death on the cross and in resurrection.

But after he purifies the Levites, which he just told us that he will do in verses 2 3. I'm sorry 3 4. No, it is 2 3. After He purifies them they will begin to do these sacrifices as a proper commemoration of his work for them.

And of course at that point they will be fully redeemed. It's not going to be the nation as it currently stands or the nation as it was in the Old Testament. It will be a completely redeemed nation and those sacrifices will come back a lot of people.

You know look at this with some Form of confusion in in terms of why would there be sacrifices in the Millennial Kingdom? Why would sacrifices ever return? You know, they weren't. They weren't efficacious in regard to their salvation in the Old Testament.

Wow, and at this point, they're already redeemed. We're there. Jesus is back. Why would the sacrifices be back? Well You know, the sacrifices weren't necessarily efficacious for their salvation. I believe the Old Testament Saints were saved just like we are in regard to faith in God.

And of course ultimately his as election of those Saints. But the sacrifices were there to commemorate or I'm sorry to to foreshadow what was to come. Well, if that is true Why can't it be true in the Millennial Kingdom that those sacrifices will return again to look back on the cross rather than forward?

And so again, there's a lot of people a lot of commentators that Point that out the the confusion around why sacrifices would ever need to return in the first place. It makes perfect sense if you tie it in with why the sacrifices were there in the Old Testament.

Yes, some of them were there to atone for their sins year after year until Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, but they pictured the cross. The sacrifice in the Millennial Kingdom will picture the cross, but it'll be looking back rather than looking forward.

So that'll be cool. And again, it says that it'll be the sacrifices will be pleasant and righteous as in the days of old. So it's gonna be a very similar Format very similar in terms of how it's delivered.

The Judgment of Sorcerers, Adulterers, and False Witnesses

Verse 5 of chapter 3. We did not get this far last week. It says and I will come near to you to judgment and I will be a swift witness against The sorcerers and against the adulterers and against false swears and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages the widow and the fatherless and That turn aside the stranger from his right in fear not me.

Say it the Lord of hosts. Now I'm gonna get back to the way that I believe Malachi has Kind of sequenced the events of the last several verses verses 2 through 5 specifically here in just a second. But in just reading this first really quickly we can see here that we can see clearly that God will harshly judge Those living in direct opposition to him in his word.

I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers adulterers false swears and so on and so forth. So he's going to be a harsh judge against those people direct opposition to his word to his name to to himself.

So we get we can gather that easily but the question is when is this specific judgment that it's talking about where he is swift a swift witness against these people and Will be coming near to his people as a judge.

When will this particular judgment take place. When will he? Be this swift witness against those opposing his word now. Again, I have some thoughts on verses 2 through 5 and the way that the events kind of unfold.

The way they're they're sequenced the order that they they fall in. But I want to ask a couple of questions really quick. Number one who's being spoken to in this context in Malachi. Obviously we can read this Ourselves and we can pull perhaps secondary application in some regards or as in chapter 1 when it's talking about us the Gentiles.

We could take primary application from it. But right now who is Malachi talking to in throughout really the whole book who is he primarily talking to? What do you guys think? Perhaps Perhaps the group of it the the nation of Israel at the time now.

We do know that there is a good portion of what we've covered so far where he's talking directly to the priests. But at this point, it's all encompassing by the time you get to the midway point of chapter 2.

It's all encompassing all of Israel in the book starts that way as well. By the way, because he reminds them of his love for them and we covered that in detail. I Jacob have I loved he saw have I hated so he opens the book addressing the nation he Kind of microscopes into the the priests specifically for a while.

But at this point He's talking to the whole nation again. So, you know that kind of also answers the second question who would receive the primary application of these words at the time? They're given it would be the Israelites, right?

What Matt? Did you have a question? Well right at this point he's talking to everybody to my everybody I mean the nation of Israel. Now at some point, I believe he does later in chapter later in this chapter I believe he does go back to the priests for a couple of verses but from this point forward Most of what Malachi is addressing is directed to the nation of Israel as a whole.

So that is I'm sorry. Go ahead. And Dad's point there is when he gives this broad list of People types that oppose his word. You know sorcerers adulterers false witness. One of the things he throws in there in this list is They that turn aside the stranger from his right in fear me not Dad's point is that throughout the Old Testament that term stranger and maybe even in the New Testament perhaps in a few places, but certainly in the Old Testament that term stranger is a direct reference to Gentiles the the Jews or the Hebrews view of the Gentiles them being the stranger so Malachi is talking to Israelites that are doing these terrible things false witness adultery sorcery turning aside the stranger.

Ignoring the widows and the fatherless he's talking to Jews doing these things and in Dad's point is this is one of the takeaways as to who is who's being taught being spoken to here. Who's getting the primary who's going to be taking the primary application for Malachi's words at this point?

It is the Israelites. So let's start get back start back at verse 2 for just a second ask. The phrase that says who may abide the day of his coming. This is a question that Malachi asked who may abide the day of his coming.

Well in a sense and we talked about this a couple weeks ago. I think no one can no one can abide that day and you could put a period there and You know case closed but We do know that No one can abide that day unless They are seen by Jesus in his return as righteous through the regenerate regenerative work of the Holy Spirit it's the only way that a person could ever abide that particular day because everyone else will be Begging for the rocks for the boulders to crush crush them.

So that they do not have to see the vengeance and wrath that is coming in the clouds and Remember think about the context for a second. What is Malachi doing? He's trying to turn his people back to the Lord, but he's doing so he's trying to get them to fear him once again to revere him in a fear in a healthy fearful way as They should in Conducting their worship, especially the priests but all of them at this point.

And so what would be a good way to? Infuse Some of that fear well number one in verse 1 of chapter 3 and we covered this extensively a couple weeks ago. He prophesied the messenger coming John the Baptist the forerunner to prepare away and in that same verse He says and he the messenger of the covenant will suddenly appear in his temple so he starts.

Malachi starts by infusing some of the fear in Prophesying that but now he's talking about again the second coming who can abide the day. That's how verse 2 starts now next in verses 2 and 3 we learned that Jesus upon his return is going to be refining and purifying.

Now for the unregenerate, what do you think that means as he returns in the clouds? He it'll be a purifying a purifying event for sure, but unfortunately For the unregenerate what that means is ultimate judgment the separation of the sheep and the goats.

Which is talked about I believe dad in Matthew 25 as we talked about the other day Jesus is going to put the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left hand and That is what is going to look like for the under generate at the time of his purifying refining.

Having to pay the just price for their actions if Jesus didn't pay for them, they have to and that is. What's going to take place there now? So that's one side of the purification and one side of the refining that will take place, but We have a really interesting passage in first Peter if y 'all want to go look at I'm just gonna read one verse.

But in in first Peter 4 17 We find out Peter lets us know that there are times when the refining is for the elect as well, not just the Not just the Unregenerate not just the the goats that will be put on his left hand.

There are times when the elect by necessity are Refined it says in chapter 4 first Peter verse 17 for the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God and If it let's see here. And if it first began at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God.

Can you imagine if We have to be refined and purified can you even imagine what it's going to be like for those who are not of the house of God and As it says that obey not the gospel and if the righteous scarcely be saved Where shall the ungodly in the center in the center appear?

It's a very bleak foreshadowing of what's to come. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as Into a faithful creator and just a little bit of context prior to chapter 4 ending in this way.

You go up a little bit and Peter is talking about is is telling Christians To not find it strange and we go through the the fiery tribulations that that come from the Lord paraphrasing big-time. But we will face persecution for his name's sake and then it goes on to tell us that judgment will come first for the house of God and there are times where we Where the elect have to be refined and purified as well think about the necessity of the great tribulation for a second.

Now a lot of people who Who scribe to the the pre-trib rapture? Theory would find no purpose in it, but they're not looking deeply enough because there's actually a great purpose in The church in the bride of Christ specifically going through the great tribulation and it is to purify it is to refine.

It is to make her ready for her bridegroom That will be coming in the clouds To get her and to save her and to marry her, but she has to be clean first. And so While we can look at verse 5 we can look at we can look at I'm sorry verses 2 through 5 and we can certainly Conclude that this purifying in this refining will be pointed at the heathen at the unregenerate Will purify and refine them by removing them From God's kingdom altogether again putting the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

There's a part that's directly applicable To the elect as we will see here. Let's take a look at Romans 11 for a second go to Romans chapter 11. Again, he's gonna refine and purify for the unregenerate.

That means ultimate judgment having to pay the just price for their actions, but The refining at times is also for the elect. And so we have to ask ourselves the question as he returns in the clouds. How is that refining how is that purifying going to look?

Well, the first thing we have to do is we have to determine what is the state of Israel at that time because remember Who is Malachi talking to? He's talking to the Israelites the direct application of these words as they are given at that point in history are to the Israelites.

So we have to ask when the day of the Lord happens and he appears who may abide. What is the state of Israel at that time? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us in the New Testament Romans chapter 11. I'm gonna start in verse 25, but if you guys recall, I don't I think I took the notes out Way back when we were talking about chapter 1 verse 11 in Malachi where it prophesies the Gentiles offering a pure offering Of incense to the Lord.

We went into Romans chapter 11 there and we went we went all the way up to verse 25 talking about the branches being broken off the natural branches being broken off from The vine and the wild branches being grafted in that is a that is a Picker of the Jews because of everything that's happening at the time of Malachi all the way up to Jesus in their unbelief being broken off in the Gentiles the wild branches being grafted in it says but don't get high-minded talking to the Gentiles because If it was if he was gonna if he will break off the natural branches.

What makes you think he wouldn't break off the wild branches that aren't natural? He certainly will and then he even says that one day the natural branches will be graft back in as well. So that is the context leading up to what we're about to read.

It says in verse 25 of Romans 11 for I would not brethren that ye should be ignorant of this mystery in the mysteries talking about is the wild branches being grafted in and Then in it at a later point the natural branches Being grafted back in as well.

I Would not that you be ignorant of this mystery lest you should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is Happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. What is the fullness of the Gentiles?

At what point does that take place? The fullness the completion of the Gentiles of the age in which they are Adopted into the the into the family of God via the Abrahamic Covenant. Well, yes for sure the fullness the fullness of the Gentiles of a component of that will be when every single elect of God Gentile elect of God will be saved.

That the fullness won't be complete until that had happened for sure in Within the church age and when do we think that'll happen? Well Shortly before if not at the moment of Jesus's return in the clouds.

I would say I would say before because this is the end of the church age and when Jesus comes back. What is synonymous with that? It's the rapture of the church. Well at that point the fullness of the Gentiles has taken place so that they can be raptured as he comes back.

Okay, so That blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. So If they were blind in part so that that could happen. What do you think happens when it's over?

When the fullness of the Gentiles has taken place. It tells us right here in verse 26 and so all Israel shall be saved. Probably one of the most beautiful verses in the whole Bible considering the promises and the covenants and that God made for that nation that chosen nation and Every promise and every covenant will be is kept will be kept and will be fulfilled at this point.

All Israel shall be saved as it is written. There shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins as concerning the gospel.

They are enemies for your sakes. He's talking to Gentiles right now. They are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election. They are beloved for the father's sakes. For the father's sakes for the gifts in calling of God are without repentance now.

Let's see here. All right a little bit of time prior to what Paul speaks of taking place right there. He says all Israel shall be saved. Prior to Paul saying that of course he is prophesying out into the future.

But before that future event can take place. The quote-unquote dross of the nation Will be removed During the Great Tribulation period just as the bride will be will be made white as snow during that time.

The dross of the nation of Israel will be removed during that time as well. So that at the point when Jesus starts coming back in the clouds and all that remain of the entire nation of Israel looks up and are saved.

They are then the refined gold. Remember the the analogy that's being used in Malachi. He is a refiner. He's a purifier as of silver and gold. The tribulation leading up to his return as we know is going to be remarkable For the entire world.

It's going to be. It's going to be making the the bride of Christ white as snow and it's going to be. It's going to be a time of judgment for the heathen of the world as well. But at the time that they look up and they see him coming back in the clouds.

They will there at that point. They are purged. They are purified they are redeemed as They see the Messiah and the king that they have been waiting for so many millennia to To return to come to save them as it's happening.

They will look up and they will be purged. They'll be redeemed and their sins they'll be purged of their sins and there of course will prepare a new generation of righteous Levites to offer sacrifices once again as Malachi tells us so part of the refining in verses 2 3 is done.

Necessarily to cleanse God's priests and prepare them for proper service. Once again It says in verse 3 he shall be he shall sit as a refiner purifier of silver. He shall purify the sons of Levi. Specifically it mentions the sons of Levi specifically there.

He is setting up a pure priestly class once again that will that Sits here in stark contrast with the way the priests were conducting themselves at the time of Malachi. So there's again a reason why Malachi is bringing this to the forefront.

He is showing them. This is what God is going to do because y 'all have totally totally wrecked it yourselves. So now okay, you've had Jesus return who can abide the day of his coming. Jesus returns. He is Like a refiners fire and like Fuller's soap according to verse 2 and he is now sitting in verse 3 as a refiner and purifier of silver.

He refines and purifies the sons of Levi. He purges them as gold and silver that they may offer. What's the purpose that they may offer? Into the Lord and offering in righteousness. So now at this point and again the sequence of these events that is that are being unfolded in these verses.

He's now sitting is that great purifier and refiner not only having cleansed his people. But this is the key part. Now ready to judge the heathen. But get this in. This this is important. Because we think millennial kingdom we think his second coming and then the millennial kingdom and what do we think we think perfection?

Literally heaven on earth. I'm sitting on his throne.

Ruling and.

The church, of course his bride at that point is totally glorified and Not only that but all of Israel is saved going in the millennial kingdom. It's perfection. But what we sometimes forget but what is so vividly laid out in Revelation near the end of Revelation is That the heathen will come back.

The heathen aren't totally done at this point. Because the interesting thing is that when he's coming back in the clouds and the rapture takes place. All of Israel and anyone else that looks up and sees Jesus coming back and is saved at that moment.

They're not glorified. They're not raptured like the rest of us will be and therefore not in their glorified bodies. They are still in their natural human form just as we are sitting here today. What that also means is that as they go into Jesus's kingdom on earth the millennial kingdom with him sitting on the throne of David.

Enrolling is that those people? Will have kids in the new generations will be born on earth. And what that also means is that there will be some heathen there will be some there will be some People that will in their hearts rebel against their ruler who sits on the throne of David.

Which of course is the most mind-boggling concept. The devil will be gone the world system totally abolished because Jesus is the ruler. There's only one enemy left and it's the flesh and it's so strong.

That even then and even still there will be some that rebel in their hearts against Jesus sitting on his throne, so He is sitting as a refiner and purifier and he is ready to judge any unregenerate heathen in his established kingdom.

Which will happen as people begin to be born in those days now it's really interesting because I was going through this and Everything I had read up to this point is kind of the way I was breaking down again the sequence of events, but Verse 5 was a little interesting because verse 5 as you guys recalled it says.

And I will come near to you to judgment and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and it goes into naming on.

These people a.

Lot of commentators all every commentator I've read first of all agrees that these verses verses 2 through 6 are referring to Jesus's second coming and That there will be some judgment associated with it.

They all agree on that but they they then just kind of Kind of go through it somewhat swiftly judgment Will will be upon Israel. They will say and then they'll move on. Well, I'm reading these commentaries, I'm like that just doesn't quite make sense in those Simplified terms because of what Paul tells us all of Israel will be saved so At the time of his second coming.

So who is he talking about in verse 5 as dad pointed out earlier? He's talking to Jews. Because he mentions that one of the things they're doing is turning aside from the stranger which in the Old Testament is An expression used to refer to Gentiles, so he's talking to Jews but this is after Jesus's second coming and at that point we know because of Paul's words that all of Israel will be saved and.

So I had to take this to dad and We're talking this through and I and I told dad what I thought this meant. What what I what the way I thought that verse 5 could be. The way it could fit with the previous verses and with what we know from Paul's teachings and in Revelation.

Paul's teachings and Revelation. And then dad threw out some ideas as well. He did he you know quickly realized I mine was a little bit incomplete and so he's thrown out some of his ideas. And so thankfully though I did a little bit of help.

But her name was not David Mitchell. Her name was Ashton Mitchell. Because she happened to be sitting in the room as well and she's over there reading and cross-referencing and doing a number of things but dad and I are just going back and forth and It's perfectly clear after she said something and after I've thought about it quite a bit by the way ash is the way that.

This is totally consistent with. The way this is the way that verses 2 through 6 unfolds again the sequence of events. It's perfectly consistent in a lit in a linear pattern. First of all as far as like a progression of time.

Which is how Malachi is talking anyway, but it's also perfectly consistent with what we know takes place in the book of Revelation from the time of the Great Tribulation to his second coming to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom and How all of that works?

The Lord draws near to Israel with the intention of judging and the Hebrew word for judging there and this is at the beginning of verse 5 is Mishpah and All it means is the act of deciding a case so when we hear the word judging we immediately think you know bringing the hammer down and You know who knows what what could follow you know wrath.

And it can mean that for sure the act of deciding a case it could it can be a You know a person being brought forth to a judge into maybe a jury and they're on trial. Their actions are brought forth to that judge in the judge then Mishpah at He he engages in the act of deciding a case.

This is what Jesus it says will be doing in verse 5 there. But who will be he be judging exactly. I'm almost done believe it or not. I have five minutes go to Psalm chapter 2 for a second. Remember, what do we think about we think the Millennial Kingdom?

We think we think well first of all it starts with Jesus coming back awesome greatest day of human history. Then we think about the Millennial Kingdom, which is just gonna be heaven on earth. It's gonna be perfect.