The Book of Malachi The Day of The Lord 04/24/2022

First Baptist Church Leominster

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Ephesians chapter 4 I Therefore a prisoner for the

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Lord Urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called

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With all humility and gentleness with patience bearing with one another in love

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Eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace There is one body in one spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call

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One Lord one faith one baptism One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all

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But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift Therefore it says when he ascended on high he led a host of captives and he gave gifts to men

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In saying he ascended. What does it mean by that? He had also descended into the lower regions the earth

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He who descended is the one who also ascended far above the heavens that he might fill all things and He gave the

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Apostles the prophets the evangelists the shepherds and teachers to equip the

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Saints for the work of ministry For building up the body of Christ Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the

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Son of God To mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ So that we may no longer be children

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Tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine by human cunning by craftiness and deceitful schemes rather Speaking the truth in love.

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We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ From whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped when each part is working properly

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Makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love Now this

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I say and testify in the Lord that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do in the futility of their minds

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They are darkened in their understanding Alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to their hardness of heart

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They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality Greedy to practice every kind of impurity

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But that is not the way you learned Christ Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him as the truth is in Jesus To put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful

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Desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self

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Created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness Therefore Having put away falsehood.

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Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor for we are members one of another Be angry and do not sin.

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Do not let the Sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil Let the thief no longer steal but rather let him labor doing honest work with his own hands

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So that he may have something to share with anyone in need Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths but only such as is good for building up as fits the occasion that it may give grace to those who hear and Do not grieve the

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Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice

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Be kind to one another tender -hearted Forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you

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Let's pray Our Heavenly Father.

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We thank you for this passage We thank you for its truth and we thank you for how practical it is and how relevant it is to our lives

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And Lord, I pray that we would no longer walk as the Gentiles walked in the futility of their minds being calloused

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But I pray Lord that we would walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have called us

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And so Lord, please help us with all humility and gentleness with patience help us to bear with one another in love

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Help us to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace I pray

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Lord that we would use our gifts with one another that we would grow up in every way into him Who was the head into Christ?

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We pray Lord that we would look at these things as something that we need to do and We need to do it in the power of your spirit

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So help us Lord walk in this manner and Lord we pray that you would give us wisdom as we

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Hear the sermon being proclaimed as we hear your word being taught Help us

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Lord to understand what it says Help us to evaluate our own lives in light of it and we pray

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Lord that there would be great change in our lives To your glory in your honor Thank you

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Lord in Jesus name. Amen Well, let's turn to the last chapter of the

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Old Testament Malachi chapter 4 and there's only six verses here

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So we've tried to time it We'll deal with the first three verses today of chapter 4

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Malachi and then Lord willing next Lord's Day We'll conclude the book of Malachi dealing with verses 4 through 6

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Now when we left off our study two weeks ago the week before Easter we addressed

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Malachi 3 verses 13 through 18 and There we read of two groups of people the majority of the

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Jewish people in Israel were living in rebellion to the Lord God and that was Indicated by the

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Lord himself Declaring that they had spoken hard words Against their

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God That was the majority of the people of Israel in Malachi's day

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There was a minority However, a remnant of the people those who feared the Lord who spoke with one another of their faith and their commitment to the

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Lord Malachi 3 16 through 17 and the Lord promised them

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They shall be mine says the Lord of hosts in the day when I make up my treasured possession

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Or as the King James says my my jewels when I make up my jewels as like a display of jewels

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That's how Christians will be when the Lord comes for us and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him

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But then in verse 18 God declared that he would one day distinguish Or separate as it were the righteous from the unrighteous

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Separating them from one another and With that verse that declaration the time would come

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When the Lord would separate these people from one another chapter 3 concludes

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That is chapter 3 in our English Translation of the book of Malachi We come to chapter 4 now

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But our chapter division may lead us to assume that a new subject is being introduced we make that assumption commonly and Often it is the case the chapter divisions were put in place when there was a shift to change in subject

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But sometimes chapter divisions are placed really wrongly and that's what we have here.

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By the way It's an unfortunate Placement of chapter division. In fact one commentator wrote there is no reason whatsoever

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Why the Septuagint that's the Greek translation of the Old Testament The Vulgate that's the translation

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Latin translation by Jerome in the 5th century and all modern versions should start a new chapter at this point

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In other words, he's saying that it can lead to confusion result in confusion.

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It shouldn't be the case Well, interestingly, I noted that the text of the

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Hebrew Bible does not contain a fourth chapter The verses designated in our

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English translations as chapter 4 verses 1 through 3 as well as 4 through 6

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Are in chapter 3 in the Hebrew Bible. It's the same content just a different designation and So in the

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Hebrew Bible, there's no chapter 4 all 6 verses of chapter 4 are Put on the end of chapter 3.

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There's only three chapters in the Hebrew Bible and Actually when you read it that way it it conveys the connection

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It's one continuous message rather than a disconnection that it ended with chapter or verse 18

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Of chapter 3 and a new message opens with verse 1 of chapter 4

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And so actually verses 1 through 3 of chapter 4 are a conclusion or a concluding statement

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Of the message it went before and so in order to read it in context

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I want us to go back to verse 13 of chapter 3 read the two paragraphs that precede it and then we'll just read straight through Malachi 4 verses 1 through 3

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Your words have been hard against me says the Lord but you say how have we spoken against you?

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You have said it is vain to serve God what is the prophet of our keeping his charge or walking as in mourning before the

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Lord of hosts and Now we call the arrogant blessed They're getting away with it

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You know the ungodly seem to be prospering Evildoers not only prosper, but they put

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God to the test and they escape they don't seem to be suffering the consequences God doesn't seem to be administering justice rightly

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But in contrast to that majority of Israel that Were rebellious against God spoke hard words against God We read in verse 16 and those who feared the

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Lord spoke with one another Now we know from the context this is a remnant a relatively minor number of those in the nation

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And the Lord paid attention and heard them and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the

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Lord and esteemed his name God Gave great attention to these

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Believers talking with one another about their faith about their God and about their life before God God delights in the true

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Interaction the fellowship of his saints They shall be mine says the Lord of hosts in the day when

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I make up my treasured possession and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him and then verse 18 is a prophecy of What God intended to do at some point in the future then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked

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Between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. The Lord is going to distinguish them separate them

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So it'll be come apparent who are true to God and then we read right into chapter 4

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For behold the day is coming burning like an oven when all the arrogant and all evil doers will be stubble

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The day that is coming shall set them ablaze Says the Lord of hosts so that it will leave them neither root nor branch

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But for you who fear my name, there's that expression again. The Son of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings

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You should go out leaping like calves from the stall not exactly a present -day figure of Joy and whatnot, but it was then

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Calves all of a sudden being released out into the field and they're leaping and jumping around That they're free and you shall tread down the wicked for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when

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I act says the Lord of hosts And so it's one continuous Prophecy these verses that we just read

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Now as we consider these first three verses of Malachi 4 we may see really three announcements

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First the announcement of the day of God's judgment upon the unrighteous verse 1 second the declaration that the day will bring deliverance and great happiness to the

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Lord's people verse 2 and then third is the pronouncement that the righteous will be vindicated as the wicked are subjugated to them

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Well first consider the meaning of the words in these three verses and then we'll attempt to show forth the fulfillment of this prophecy

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And I might just say at this point at this outset Its fulfillment is a really rather elusive to understand in my opinion, but we'll explain

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And so considering the meaning of the prophecy verses 1 through 3 first We have the announcement of the day of God's judgment upon the unrighteous verse 1

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Malachi 4 1 reads for behold the day is coming Burning like an oven when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble

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The day that is coming shall set them ablaze says the Lord of hosts so that it will leave them neither root nor branch

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Now back in verse 18 Chapter 3 God declared that today was coming when the

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Lord would make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked between one who serves God and one who does not serve

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God and In this verse we read of the judgment event when this distinction would be realized

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Here the fate of the wicked within Israel is pronounced all the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble

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Let's examine these words and the phrases of this prophetic oracle It opens of course with the words for behold

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The first word is a conjunction and it's really explanatory It draws its relation and connection with what went before verse 1 follows

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And flows from the verses at the end of chapter 3 this is the event that will distinguish the righteous from the evildoers and the

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Action of God the event is accentuated with the opening particle behold

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It Suggests a tremendously significant event that catches people unaware and unprepared

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Matthew Henry addressed this the demonstrative particle behold show certainly

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Behold I come the present time is put here for the future a common thing in Hebrew Notice it set forth as a present tense.

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The day is coming as it were its future Yes, but it set forth in the present tense but the

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Prophet called the attention of the Jews as it were to what was present that this prophecy might not appear doubtful and that they might understand that God's vengeance was not far distant, but already suspended over their heads and Sometimes that's referred to as a prophetic presence speaking about a future event, but in the present tense for emphasis

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Then we read for behold the day is coming This day, of course is an occasion for God's judgment it should be understood as parallel similar to other passages of the

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Old Testament that speak about the coming of the day of the Lord and When we read of this day, we should understand it in terms of the day of the

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Lord One wrote the day is the well -known day of the Lord which nobody would be able to endure as We read back in chapter 3 verse 2

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Which the Lord will make or create chapter 3 verse 17 Which is characterized as a great and terrible day and that's later on in chapter 4 that we'll be addressing next week

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The expression the day of the Lord is used in a number of places in Scripture in Which God declared his judgment was about to fall upon a people in fact the complete phrase the day of the

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Lord is used 20 times in the Old Testament and there are five instances of the use of the day of the

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Lord in the New Testament and In addition, there are other words and phrases frequently used that are synonyms with the day of the

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Lord That's what we have here in verse 1 the day Including that day or in that day.

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Those are also references to the day of the Lord Now it's a common belief

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But an incorrect one I would argue that every time the phrase day of the

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Lord is found in the Old Testament it's a prophecy of the second coming of Jesus Christ and You can there are study

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Bibles that will point that out in every passage where you read the day of the Lord They'll say this is a prophecy of the second coming of Jesus Christ, and that is incorrect

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The day of the Lord is an expression that describes a great intervention of God in history to execute his judgment on wickedness

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An example of this is the common but errant Interpretation of Isaiah 13 that it's a prophecy of the second coming of Christ But actually it's a prophecy of God overthrowing the

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Babylonian Empire Using media Persia as his instrument of judgment. This was realized or fulfilled in the 6th century

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BC Now as we read it, I imagine most of us are going to think in terms of the second coming

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But that's not what the prophet was addressing Whale for the day of the Lord is at hand

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It will come as destruction from the Almighty Therefore all hands will be limp every man's heart will melt and they will be afraid

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Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them. They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth they'll be amazed at one another their faces will be like flames and Behold the day of the

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Lord comes cruel and both with both wrath and fierce anger To the land desolate and he will destroy it centers from it for the stars of heaven and their

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Constellations will not give their light. That's apocalyptic language The Sun will be darkened and it's going forth and the moon will not cause its light to shine.

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I Will punish the world for its evil the wicked for their iniquity I will halt the arrogance of the proud will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible

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I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold a man more than the golden wedge of Ophir therefore

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I will shake the heavens and the earth will move out of her place in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of his fierce anger

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And as we read over those those verses it again this apocalyptic language.

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It speaks about these great cosmic Forces and movements that God is is bringing about to bring judgment.

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William naturally Assumed that this hasn't happened yet. So it must refer to the second coming

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But again, this is not a prophecy of the second coming of Christ But rather of God overthrowing

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Babylon by the media Persian Empire and so in the in the same Section of Scripture we read in verses 17 and 18 behold

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I stir up the meads against them everything that we've already read is the destruction of Babylon by the media

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Persian Empire That took place in the 6th century BC These meads who will not regard silver as for gold

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They will not delight in it and also their bows will dash the young men to pieces and they will have no pity on the fruit

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Of the womb their eye will not spare children What Isaiah was prophesying was the time when

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Babylon would be overthrown and the Jewish exiles within Babylon would be released allowed to return to their homeland like a second exodus

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Coming from the east rather than from Egypt Well, the fact is the Old Testament records a number of days of the

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Lord that occurred in history quite similar to this one The phrase is used that is the day of the

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Lord is used to describe God Intervening in the affairs of nations in order to punish sin and deliver his people

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Perhaps it could be explained in this way man has had his way Man has had his day and that long enough as far as God is concerned

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And now the Lord will have his way that he'll have his day the day of the Lord when he intervenes it's as though God says enough no more and he executes justice in punishing evildoers and Relieving the oppression of his people and so God intervenes

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God acts and he does so in such a way that all know that it was he who brought it to pass

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He alone is exalted in this day when he brings judgment Perhaps a good description of this is in Isaiah 2

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We're going to pull out a few verses because of the time But there we have the prophecy the lofty looks of man shall be humbled the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the

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Lord alone Shall be exalted in that day for the Lord of hosts For the day of the

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Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty Upon everything lifted up and it should be brought low and that it and in that day a man will cast away his idols of silver

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And his idols of gold Which they made each for himself to worship to the moles and baths to go into the clefts of the rocks into the crags of the rugged rocks from the terror of the

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Lord and the glory of His majesty when he arises to shake the earth mightily now

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The language in a passage like this is often used to describe this day

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It's filled with graphic imagery and prophetic symbolism. And this is what is called apocalyptic language

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It was common in the Jewish world and the early Christian world as well Men hide in caves the earth shakes great hailstones fall stars fall from heaven the splendor or glory of God is revealed

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Because the day of the Lord depicts an event We should realize that the Bible indicates that there have been a number of days of the

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Lord in history God has intervened in overthrowing kingdoms punished the wicked bringing relief to the oppressed and Great harm

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I would argue comes when this expression day of the Lord Is associated with a single date and that being future that being the second coming of Christ Many Christians I would argue are greatly because they see this expression is always in every instance

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Referred to the second coming and it doesn't It was used historically to describe great intervention of God in history overthrowing kingdoms for the relief of his people's suffering but also for the punishment of Evildoers and so the day of the

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Lord is used to describe a number of historic events in the biblical record a Day of the

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Lord occurred when God judged Egypt in 605 BC This is found in Jeremiah 46 a day of the

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Lord occurred when God judged Edom about 600 BC as Isaiah 34 sets forth a day of the

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Lord occurred when a God judged Babylon we read about that Isaiah 13 a day of the

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Lord occurred when God Israel and Judah according to Amos 5 and a day of the Lord occurred when

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God judged Jerusalem in the early 6th century BC when he brought the Babylonians upon them and so since the idea expression day of the

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Lord is common to Old Testament historic events and Although the second coming of Christ is also set forth as the day of the

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Lord It's difficult to assign a specific event To this prophecy of Malachi 4 1 in which this day refers

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But we'll consider the various suggestions as to the specific fulfillment after we deal with a few more details of these verses

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It's not an easy passage And I have to be forthright with you when

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I came to this passage in preparation for this morning I thought immediately it was a reference to the second coming of Christ and I proceeded

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Working through that and then I discovered as I worked through it. It doesn't I Think it fits more with the first coming of Christ than it does the second although we should recognize all those manifestations of the day of the

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Lord in history Were written and described in such a way that they look beyond that historic event

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They portend or suggest a fuller and greater day of the Lord that obviously points to the end of history when

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Jesus Returns a second time. You follow what I'm saying? and so through history the people of God this expectation of the day of the

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Lord increased and grew and these historic events of God's judgment in history

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Conditioned them and caused them to look forward and what we see in the New Testament Of course the full realization of the second coming of Christ as the day of the

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Lord but what I'm saying is is the problem is when people read back into these passages and look at all these details and see that They're exact prophetic events of what must literally happen yet in the future at the second coming of Christ And I would argue that we're reading into it when we when we do that Well, let's work through this so again

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We read of this day notice the day will be burning like an oven

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Here in Malachi 4 1 the judgment of God is set forth as a great fire, which would be burning like an oven

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It's not an oven But the fire will be hot as an oven is hot The fire depicted is that of say a prairie fire or a forest fire

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The stubble is burnt as well as the root and the branches of the trees

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Everything is burnt the proud and arrogant will be a stubble in this fire That is they'll be destroyed and consumed this speaks of the condition of the surface of the burnt ground

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But the fire is a conflagration and that it burns the trees and both their roots and branches

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Malachi had used the imagery of a fire earlier in his prophecy But that fire was not to destroy but rather to purify his people

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We read back that back in Malachi 3 verses 2 and 3 who can endure the day of his coming

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Who can stand when he appears for he is like a refiners fire? See, he's not a here

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It's not the like the fire of an oven to destroy but rather the fire of a refiner to purify

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And like launderer so he'll sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver

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He'll purify the sons of Levi and sure purge them as gold and silver that they may offer to the

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Lord an offering of righteousness Notice back in chapter 3 verse 2 the

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Lord himself is that fire But the fire in Malachi 4 1 is quite different in degree and purpose one rightly wrote

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Malachi had used the imagery of a refining fire Chapter 3 verse 2, but now speaks of a destructive fire the day will be one of tropical heat when parched vegetation

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Suddenly catches fire and dry fields become one vast oven into which even the roots of plants are reduced to ash the arrogant and all evil doers who refuse to repent will find no escape and Again, it's a it's a metaphor talking about God's judgment upon this

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Majority of Jewish people that spoke hard words about God and the uselessness of serving

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God and worshiping God Now the use of the metaphor of a consuming fire is a rather common one

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When the judgment of God is set forth in the Old Testament For example, we read in Isaiah 5 of God's judgment that the

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Prophet foretold that was realized in the 8th century BC Woe to those who call evil good and good evil who put darkness for light light for darkness who put bitter for sweet Sweet for bitter woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight

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Woe to men mighty at drinking wine woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink

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Who justify the wicked for a bribe and take away justice from the righteous man and look at the similarity of language here?

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to Malachi 4 4 2 Therefore as the fire devours the stubble and the flame consumes the chaff

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So their root will be as rottenness their blossom will ascend like dust because they have rejected the law of the

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Lord of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One and So this language of a fire consuming people wicked people is double is found

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Way back here in Isaiah Before the Babylonian exile Malachi was after the

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Babylonian exile and a remnant had returned And it was back in the land Similar words were declared regarding the inhabitants of Babylon for having oppressed the

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Lord's people and this would have been the 6th century BC Behold, they shall be a stubble the fire shall burn them.

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They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame It shall not be a coal to be warmed by nor a fire to sit before It's a consuming fire

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Again, this is a common imagery image in the

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Lord declaring judgment Well in our passage all the arrogant and evildoers will be judged

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God declared the day that is coming shall set them ablaze as the Lord of hosts so that it will leave them neither root nor branch

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They are depicted as having been incinerated This is not a direct reference to hellfire for in this image the tree with its branches and roots are consumed wholly

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Eternal hell is not a consuming fire, but an everlasting fire punishment This is a depiction of the intervention of God acting within history to judge

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Evildoers and to preserve his people as we see in the next verse This is verse 2 the day of God's judgment will bring deliverance and happiness to the righteous

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And so in contrast to the arrogant and evildoers we read of the blessed existence of those who fear the

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Lord But for you who fear my name The Son of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings

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You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall Let's consider the first clause but for you who fear my name

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Here we see another connection with the verses at the end of chapter 3 in Verse 18 we read these words then those who feared the

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Lord spoke with one another The Lord paid attention and heard them and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the

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Lord and esteemed his esteemed his name and You recall that book of remembrance?

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Was drawing on an Old Testament common practice of Kings Who had put down the good deeds of his subjects in a book so that at a later time?

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he hoped to reward them as King Azarias did with Mordecai in the book of Esther and here it says the

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Lord is put his recording taken to heart and remembering the words of his people as they speak with one another those who fear the

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Lord and It suggested that they're going to be rewarded for this in the future for they remain faithful to him

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But again, we read of for you who fear my name Notice the conjunction the word but sets forth these people in contrast to the ones consumed by fire in verse 1

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There are two groups of people in this judgment event the arrogant and the evildoers of verse 1 and those who feared the

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Lord verse 2 Where as the first ones were metaphorically consumed by fire the second group the ones who fear the

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Lord Escaped the fate of the others Wrote one the day of the Lord will be the ultimate stroke of judgment for the evildoers

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But at the same time the crown of salvation for those who revere the name of God On the one hand his judgment will burn like a furnace, but on the other hand his righteousness will shine forth like the

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Sun on This day the distinction between the righteous and the wicked

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Then he is referencing chapter 3 verse 18 will reach its climax. In other words, this is when that distinction will be made

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The ones who feared the Lord received great blessing in this event they're delivered as it were and Separated from all the wretched ones the wicked

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For them the son of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings

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This is the only place in the Holy Scriptures in which this expression the son of righteousness is found

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It probably carries the idea that the righteousness of God will shine forth upon them as the bright

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Sun shines upon them As one wrote on the day of the

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Lord righteousness will become apparent just like the shining Sun and all its brightness and Blessedness the same idea is found in Psalm 37.

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He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn the justice of your cause like the noonday

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Sun and in Isaiah 58 Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear

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Then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard there is the common belief that sunshine would bring about healing and Relief from disease and whatnot healing in its wings

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This would suggest perhaps that this fire is the Lord himself the Sun The Sun also may be regarded as the

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Lord, but perhaps better as righteousness Just as the she can a cloud of day and fire by night separated the

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Israelites from the Egyptians So here the fire and the Sun will separate the righteous from the wicked

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But Again the main idea is that the righteousness of God will shine forth as the Sun justice is rendered

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Whereas the glory of God's righteousness consumes the wicked the glory of God's righteousness is as the

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Sun giving warmth and life to his people What about the expression with healing in its wings?

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That's a little unusual The wings that bring forth healing is a metaphor It probably refers to the

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Sun rays emanating from the Sun the wings healing in its wings this

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Sun Or it may reflect the common idea of the ancient world that the Sun was viewed as flying across the skies from morning till dusk and You know,

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I got to thinking as I was reading this and reading the commentaries some of the old Puritan headstones

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Commonly will have a disc of the Sun with wings on the side and you think what us what a strange emblem that is

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I think it has to be based on Malachi 4 verse 2 in my thinking It was a common.

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It's a common image that you find on many older headstones And so with healing at its wings the wings bring forth a healing as a metaphor the the wings are the metaphor

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Again as the Sun emanating this Sun rays emanating from the Sun Thirdly you shall go out leaping like the calves from the stall

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People of God are so enthused with what had they have received from the Lord that they are as young calves that have been confined

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In their stall, but who were then released into the open air and so they leap for joy for their newfound freedom

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They've been cooped up as it were Having to be bound or tied up with these wretched wicked people who denied the

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Lord But now they're set free as one wrote This is an older commentator pair of commentators on the on the

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Hebrew Testament Kyle and deletes the wings of the Sun are the rays by which it is surrounded not a figure denoting swiftness as The rays of the

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Sun spread light and warmth over the earth for the growth maturity of the people plants and living creatures so will the

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Sun of righteousness bring the healing of all the hurts and wounds which the power of darkness has inflicted upon the righteous and then they will go forth from the holes and caves into which they withdrawn during the night of Suffering and where they had kept themselves concealed and skip like stalled calves

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Which are driven from the stall to pasture and not only will those who fear God be liberated from all oppression

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But they will also acquire power over the ungodly they will tread down the wicked who will then have become ashes and lie like ashes on the ground having been completely destroyed by the fire of judgment and So the victory of the righteous over the oppressor the wicked is set forth then in verse 3

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The righteous will be vindicated as the wicked are destroyed before them The Lord continued to speak directly to his own people

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The ones that he had purposed to deliver and give victory over their oppressors the wicked and you shall tread down the wicked

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The Lord is saying to this to those who fear the Lord You shall tread down the wicked for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when

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I act says the Lord of hosts and So not only are these people delivered from the from their oppressors

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But they will stand forth as conquerors of them and survivors of the maltreatment.

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They had endured from the wicked ones They'll walk all over them as one's walking over the ashes of the stubble of the field that the

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Lord's fire consumed I Thought about the days of Joshua when reading this you might recall when

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Joshua God had given victory of Joshua over five Kings and They at first had put him in a cave and blocked the cave and then after the battle

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Joshua brought these five Kings out had him lay on the ground and then had all his men come up and put their foot on the necks of each of the

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Kings to show their complete overthrow and Subjection and that they no longer did needed to fear these five

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Kings that so troubled the nation in times past And so it will be in this day

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That Malachi is speaking about the Lord will cause his people to be seen and regarded as victorious conquerors

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Over them that had marginalized and afflicted them in this life Jesus said to his church and this is one of the seven churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 3

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Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan Who say they are Jews and or not?

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But lie indeed. I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you

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And the Lord's gonna do that Matthew Henry wrote of the glorious destiny of the faithful remnant of the

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Lord the wicked being made Christ's footstool or made theirs also and Come and worship before the feet of the church

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Notice he references Revelation 3 9 the elder shall serve the younger and when believers by faith overcome the world when they suppress their own corrupt appetites and Passions when the

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God of peace bruises Satan under their feet a reference to Romans When they tread down the wicked

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When it came to the turn of the Christians to triumph over the Jews that had insulted over them Then this promise was fulfilled.

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They shall be ashes under the soles of your feet They shall not only be trodden down but trodden to dirt

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When the day that comes shall have burnt them up They shall trample them upon them as ashes when the righteous shall rise to everlasting life

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The wicked shall rise to everlasting contempt and though they shall not triumph over them

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They shall triumph in that God whose justice is glorified in their destruction The Saints in glory are said to have power given them over the nations to rule them with a rod of iron

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This you shall do in the day That I shall do this speaking on behalf of God By the way,

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I just might might say that Matthew Henry suggests at this point to the second coming of Christ as many do

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But now let's consider the fulfillment of this prophecy Malachi 4 1 through 3 After examining the words and phrases of the prophecy, it's now our test to speak of its fulfillment

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Among commentators. There's not agreement as to what? Events this passage of Malachi 4 told foretell some reason.

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It's a prophecy the second coming of Christ That's common Others give reasons that this is a prophecy of the first coming of Christ This was

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John Calvin's view, by the way Interpreters differ concerning the identity of this day according to Calvin it refers to the first coming of Christ And when

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I first read that I thought that's strange and then I read all the arguments

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While many others think of his second coming especially as the day of judgment Hengstenberg was a noted

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Old Testament scholar de more have a comprehensive interpretation including all God's judgments until the last day all the days of the

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Lord and then of on Bulmerink's view is that Malachi is here referring to an imminent catastrophe in other words in Malachi's day

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Which is his contemporaries with themselves experience and then? this commentator their hope a modern

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Commentate commentary on Malachi says none of these excellent explanations is exclusively correct

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So, you know even he had the opinion that none of them really had it wholly, right?

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The fact is the two major views is that this prophecy was either of the first or second coming of Christ and So we'll address these two

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First of course the view that this is a prophecy of the second coming of Christ There are those who argue it speaks of the second coming in which the general resurrection of mankind will occur and the

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Lord will then distinguish and separate his people from all others They would cite our

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Lord declared in John 5 27 and following Do not marvel at this the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice a general resurrection

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And come forth and then there are two destinies those who have done good as Defined by the

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Bible to the resurrection of life those who have done evil According to the

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Word of God to the resurrection of condemnation here. There's a distinction made isn't there in the final?

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resurrection general resurrection It speaks of one future event, which is set forth as a single happening an hour the hour is

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Coming in which this event will take place a general resurrection all the graves will be open the dead summoned by Jesus Christ the

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Son of God and brought before him to be judged and There will be a distinction made between the righteous and the unrighteous some come forth unto resurrection of life all others rise to a resurrection of damnation and So they would say that the

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Malachi passage Points to this is prophetic of the second coming of Christ They would also perhaps cite the parable of Matthew 25 as a

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New Testament prophecy at the end of history the Lord Jesus just before he was Arrested and crucified gave this parable to his disciples telling them what was in their future

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When the Son of Man comes in his glory referring to the second coming and all the holy angels with him

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Then he'll sit on the throne of his glory. You'll be seated on a throne of judgment All the nations will be gathered before him

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This is all the peoples of the world and he'll separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats

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He'll set the sheep on his right hand But the goats on the left then the king will say to those on the right hand come you blessed

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Of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was hungry.

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You gave me food. I was thirsty. You gave me drink. I was a stranger You took me in I was naked you clothed me.

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I was sick. You visited me I was in prison you came to me. The judgment is according to their works

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They're not saved because of their works, but on the day of judgment their works revealed that they were righteous.

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They were Christians they were believers in the Lord Jesus But the righteous will answer him saying

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Lord. When did we see you hungry feed you or thirsty give you drink? When did we see you a stranger take you in or naked and clothe you?

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When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you and the king will answer and say to them? Assuredly, I say to you in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren

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Talking about Christian brethren. You did it for me did it to me? But then he will say to those on the left hand apart from me

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You cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels for I was hungry. You gave me no food

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I was thirsty. You gave me no drink. I was a stranger You did not take me in naked and you did not clothe me sick and in prison

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You did not visit me and they will They also will answer him saying Lord When did we see you hungry or thirsty or stranger naked or sick or in prison and did not minister to you?

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And he will answer them saying assuredly I say to you in as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these you did it not to Me and these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal a general bringing together of the human race and a separating them as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats and the standard of judgment is how they treated their neighbor

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This is this is the indication of what a true Christian is. He not only loves God, but he loves his neighbor he loves his

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Christian brothers and sisters and The Lord puts it in your heart to love the

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Christian brethren That's one of the first evidences of being being a true Christian you have an affection for them and a delight to be with them and you want to help them and serve them and It will be it will be a an indicator on the day of judgment that you're a true believer

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Now again every historic event of the Old Testament that was described as a day of the Lord Suggested and pointed indirectly to the full realization of the final day of the

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Lord when Jesus Christ returns a second time To judge the human race to bring an end of it to this physical

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Cosmos and create a new heavens and a new earth in which he and his people will dwell together in peace and righteousness for eternity

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But again, we would say that this use of the day in Malachi 4 1 through 3 was it was also a prophecy of something that took place in history and Therefore, even though it portends the final day the second coming it had a more immediate and direct fulfillment

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I Would argue in the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, how is that?

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So How is this prophecy a prophecy of the first coming?

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of Christ This is my opinion take of what it's worth This is not to dismiss the prophecy portending or pointing to or suggesting a future

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Final day of the Lord a second coming We've already stated every day of the Lord that occurred in history points ultimately to the final day of judgment of the human race

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That will be adjudicated executed by the Lord Jesus, but this prophecy of Malachi Was rejected by most but embraced by a ramp this prophecy of Malachi It's foretelling directly what occurred as a result of the coming of Christ as the promised

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Messiah Who is rejected by most but embraced by a remnant of Jewish people?

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And so consider these matters that confirm this understanding first within the context of this prophecy

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Malachi foretold the ministry of John the Baptist is the messenger to prepare the way of the coming of the of Christ Next week in verses 4 through 6.

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There's a prophecy of the coming of John the Baptist It seems that the very context is pointing to the first coming of Christ and The next verses of our context prophesy of John the

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Baptist appearing as the forerunner the preparer the people For the arrival of King Jesus behold

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I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord and he'll turn the hearts of the fathers to the children hearts of the children of their fathers lest I come and strike the earth with a curse and The Lord Jesus Christ made it very clear to his disciples that Elijah The prophecy of Elijah was fulfilled in the life and ministry of John the

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Baptist Jesus said to his disciples that John was the promised Elijah to come and I won't read that passage, but Jesus said if you're able to receive it

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John was Elijah. He came in the spirit and power of Elijah a second reason that these verses of Malachi 4 1 through 3 may be understood as a prophecy of what occurred during our

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Lord's first Coming is that Jesus is declared to be the one who will separate the righteous from the wicked in Israel This is a prophecy of the people in Israel that are separated

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The aged Simeon filled with the Holy Spirit foretold the outcome of our Lord's earthly ministry as he uttered a prophecy over the infant

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Jesus Then Simeon blessed them said to Mary his mother behold This child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel.

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There's your distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous Jesus would bring this about and for a sign which will be spoken against yes

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A sword will pierce through your own soul. Also a reference to Mary the mother of Jesus and the pain

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She would suffer and seen her son crucified so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed And as you read in the

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Gospels of the ministry early earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus it resulted in a division a distinction between those who believed on him and those who did not clearly the

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Lord Jesus Separated the people of Israel between those who believed and those who didn't

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Third John the Baptist declared that Jesus would separate the Jewish people into two groups

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Just as a winnower sifts wheat from chaff and so here are John's words to unbelieving

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Jews But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism He said to them brood of vipers who warn you to flee from the wrath to come

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Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance and do not think to yourselves. We have Abraham as your father

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Just because you have somebody as your as your father who's a Christian does not qualify you for baptism John wouldn't baptize them

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For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones and even now the axe is laid to the root of trees even now say as John is introducing and Declaring the ministry of Jesus even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees

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Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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There you have the metaphor judgment. I Indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals

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I'm not worthy to carry. He'll baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand

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He will thoroughly clean his flesh his threshing floor and notice he gathers his weed into the barn

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But he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire the Lord Jesus did that through his earthly ministry and The reference to unbelieving

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Jews here in Matthew 3 of being burned up like chaff Maybe quite consistent with Malachi who said in the

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Day of Judgment Malachi 4 1 behold The day is coming burning like an oven when all the arrogant evildoers will be stubble

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That word stubble is a reference or allusion to chaff John the

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Baptist declared that Jesus would be as a winnower burning the chaff after Distinguishing it from the grain and then forth the

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Lord Jesus performed this separating of the Jewish people throughout his ministry Separating the people according to their faith

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Jesus had taught and declared that faith in him distinguished the true children of Abraham from the children of the devil

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He declared he was sent to distinguish that is separate the Jewish people accordingly

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Do not think I came to send peace on the earth I did not come to bring peace but a sword for I have come to set a man against his father a

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Daughter against her mother a daughter -in -law against her mother -in -law and a man's enemies will be those of his own household

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He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me

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He who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me who finds his life will lose it

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He loses his life for my sake will find it. He was separating the people the wheat from the chaff

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His disciples from all others and there are numerous passages that can be cited to show forth this reality that throughout

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Jesus's ministry he declared and demonstrated that Jewish ethnicity was no longer the determiner of Who would receive

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God's promises to Israel and so based on the faith of the Gentile Roman Centurion?

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Jesus pronounced that many Gentiles would be part of Israel seated with the Patriarchs in the kingdom of God Even while Jewish unbelievers were cast out

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I'll not read the passage And Then fifth at the end of his ministry the

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Lord Jesus put in place the distinction between Jews Who believed on him and all who did not and when the

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Lord Jesus brought the Roman armies to lay siege at Jerusalem in? 8070 this separation took place

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And I would argue the direct prophecy of Malachi 4 1 through 3 was realized

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Through the Lord Jesus earthly ministry and then the judgment that fell on Jerusalem in 8070 look at verse 22 carefully this passage that we cite here for these are the days of Vengeance and notice this clause that all things which are written may be fulfilled

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Jesus is talking about 8070 He's talking about things are written He's referring to the

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Hebrew Scriptures and I would ask you the question where in the Hebrew Scriptures is the judgment of God on Jerusalem and Judea in 8070 foretold

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And I would point to Malachi 4 verses 1 through 3 The Lord Jesus said the destruction of Jerusalem for these are the days of vengeance that all things which are written may be fulfilled

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What Old Testament Scripture was our Lord referred to when he said all things which are written may be fulfilled

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And we would argue that it would at least include this prophecy of Malachi 4 1 through 3

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Again for behold the day is coming burning like an oven when all the arrogant all evildoers will be stubble and the day that's coming

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She'll set them ablaze at the Lord of hosts so that it will leave them neither root nor branch But for you who fear my name the

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Son of Righteousness She'll rise with healing in its wings and you should go out leaping like calves from the stall

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I would argue that our Lord was speaking of the fulfillment of prophecy that occurred in the overthrow of Jerusalem in the temple in 8070 you recall

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Jesus told his disciples when you see the Roman army surrounding Jerusalem flee to the mountains and When that event occurred, that's what the

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Christians in Jerusalem did The Roman army surrounded Jerusalem and there was no way out

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But then because of some political intrigue providence of God the armies were called away for just a few days

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To go settle a problem in the north the zealous The the

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Jewish zealots in Jerusalem thought God brought a great deliverance for them So it steeled them in their commitment to stick it out the

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Christians in Jerusalem took off for the hills And so Josephus the historian who was an eyewitness said no

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Christians perished in Jerusalem the Lord distinguished his disciples from all others through this day of the

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Lord this judgment that was brought upon Jerusalem in 8070 this was

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John Gill's view and we'll close with this this chapter contains an account of the destruction of the wicked

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Jews and the happiness the righteous by calling by the coming of the Messiah an

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Exhortation to regard the law of Moses as next week and a description of John the Baptist in his work

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The day of Christ's coming reached to Jerusalem's destruction is compared to a burning oven

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The wicked Jews to stubble whose ruin would be utter and complete The appearance of Christ is signified by the horizon of him the

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Son of Righteousness the manner with healing in his wings The effects of which are going forth in the exercise of grace and the discharge of duty and the spiritual growth and triumph over their

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Enemies in which will lie the happiness and then fear God Who were put in mind of the law of Moses on whore again a reference to next week verse 4

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The sending of John the Baptist under the name of Elijah before the coming of Christ is prophesied of and his work pointed out

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With the end of it Malachi chapter 4 verse 6 It's not an easy passage frankly, but as I weigh

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Tried to weigh things and the arguments of the different positions Clearly the events of the first century there was a separation a distinction that God made

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Before 80 80 70 Israel, of course was viewed entirely as the people of God all these

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You know the majority of them, of course and rejected Jesus he had his disciples who feared the

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Lord were few in number and the Lord true to his word made a distinction between them separated them and from that moment on with 80 70

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Jewish believers and Gentile believers were viewed as the true people of God.

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It was no longer an ethnic Identity But rather it was a identity

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That was a born out of saving grace and faith in Jesus the Messiah so Let's pray.

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Thank you father for your word, and we thank you our God that you are accomplishing your purposes in Christ through history and That you clearly have through history made a distinction

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Lord between the wicked and the righteous and we know our God that this is your work in history and that you are doing so even today in this world our

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God as you're separating those who love you who believe on you from all others our

01:02:55

God who reject you and Disavow you and Yet we know our

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God that there will be a final day the day of the Lord when Jesus Christ returns and this separation

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Will be full and final for eternity And we thank you our God for the glorious promises that we will dwell with you with your son in eternity in Peace and righteousness and that will be a glorious time.

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May that day come soon and yet father we have Many for whom we are deeply concerned

01:03:28

We have loved ones family members our God and we desire to see come to true saving faith in Christ help us our

01:03:36

God to be faithful to them and Faithful to the world our God as we proclaim this day coming for we do pray in Jesus name.