The Book of Malachi

The two messages of Malachi are relating the believer to the plan of God and for the nation, what causes it to rise, what causes it to fall, and how this relates to the Word of God. In interpretation, this refers to Israel and Edom. In application this can refer to the United States of America. The timeline of the content of the Book of Malachi is during the time period of Nehemiah.

Historical Background of the Book of Malachi

In 586 BC, the Jews went out under the fifth cycle of discipline. In 516 BC, the second temple was completed and the fifth cycle of discipline was over. From 516 to 323 BC, there was fantastic prosperity from learning Bible doctrine except for one period of apostacy, 420-400 BC.

This is the period of time for Malachi, a decline of positive volition to Bible doctrine. The nation was about to be destroyed and Malachi’s use of the Word of God saved the nation. About 420-400 BC, the Jews turn their back on doctrine and the priesthood was made up of unbelievers during this era.

In crises, the prophets communicated the verbal Word. The priests communicated the written Word. During this time, the priesthood was apostate and very similar to the National Council of Churches today. Malachi came onto the scene after 100 years of prosperity. Suddenly a generation appeared that was negative. They had a priesthood that was not functioning because they were unsaved and therefore, had nothing spiritual to feed the people.

Because of this apostacy which intruded into this prosperity period, Nehemiah in 445 BC received permission from the King of Persia to go to Jerusalem to get things reorganized. This is known from the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah set up “project wall building.” He was objective and able to straighten things out. He was not a prophet, a priest, nor a preacher, but a political leader with a lot of Bible doctrine and he was a contemporary of Malachi.

After 12 years of governing Jerusalem, Nehemiah went back to Babylon in 433 BC. It didn’t take 12 years to build the wall, but 12 years to straighten everyone out. But as soon as he left, all the kooks, all the legalists, the religionists came out of their holes. Neh. 5:14.

“Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance.” (Nehemiah 5:14, NASB)

Anyone who has risen to fame in America has always been criticized by much lesser people. Examples are great generals like McArthur and Patton. Other examples are great ministers or pastor-teachers. You may receive similar treatment at work if you try to do your job as unto the Lord. The legalist scum rise up and try to tear down anyone who has achieved some greatness. Bible doctrine can take anyone and build them up and through the grace of God and positive volition make them something great.

During the absence of Nehemiah, there was a spiritual decline in the Land as described in Malachi. Malachi described Jerusalem after Nehemiah left. As long as he was there, things were fine. When he left, things fell apart after three terms of office.

When a great leader leaves, all the legalists come out of their holes. So God raised up a great prophet, the last one until John the Baptist 400 years later, and then our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the last prophet of Israel. There are no prophets today and Israel remains dispersed among Gentile nations under the fifth cycle of discipline – the Diaspora.

After an unknown lapse of time, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem. With his return, they again had a great team with Nehemiah the political ruler and Malachi the spiritual leader. One hundred years earlier, Zechariah was the spiritual leader and Zerubbabel was the political leader. Neh. 13:6-7.

“But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.” (Nehemiah 13:6-7, NASB)

Nehemiah’s ministry in Jerusalem did not all occur at the same time. The last dated prophecy was 518 BC in Zechariah 7:1. His ministry was to bring the people back to Bible doctrine during the construction of the temple, which was completed in 516 BC.

“In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.” (Zechariah 7:1, NASB)

The ministry of Malachi was to bring the people back to Bible doctrine with the temple. The spiritual decline in the Book of Malachi was a foretaste of what would eventually destroy Israel. By application, a parallel situation exists today, a situation which could very easily destroy our nation.

The Domination of Religion - Malachi 1

The Burden of Malachi

This is the title of Malachi. In Malachi 1:1, “oracle” מַשָּׂא (massa) and is the strongest Hebrew word for divine judgment and means cursing. It is used for the sin unto death, for example, Saul. It is used of the destruction of a nation under the last and most severe stage of national divine discipline, the fifth cycle of discipline. The fifth cycle of discipline is coming.

“The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.” (Malachi 1:1, NASB)

“The word of the Lord” means that grace precedes judgment. Not even good leadership is going to change our country today. Bible doctrine will do it or nothing! Socialism started in England before World War II and the socialists and liberals were having a heyday under Mr. Neville Chamberlain who was very similar in thinking to liberals in the United States today.

The bowler and the umbrella and peace at any price. When Mr. Chamberlain came back from meeting Adolf in the Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps, he made this wonderful announcement, “We will have peace in our day.” That was a big day for the liberals. You see, Socialism was very strong at that point in England. The trend to Socialism was already there.

Then what happened? Adolf pulled the rug out from everyone and the next thing they knew, the British had their back to the wall. With their back to the wall, no liberal can ever cut it. There never has been a liberal that could do anything under a desperate situation.

That meant that Mr. Chamberlain had to go and they looked around for a conservative with moral courage. So that famous conservative, Mr. Winston Churchill, was called back. The situation was a total mess. The liberals had disarmed the country. When Mad Adolf’s German legions took over France in May of 1943 using a massive Keil and Kessel maneuver, the German troops were on the shores of France, just a short hop from England. Mr. Churchill couldn’t even find weapons for the troops. They had been destroyed. They had to rob museums for flintlocks. They were doing troop drills with wooden weapons. Gun legislation had taken its toll.

Where do you suppose they were able to find guns? American citizens who owned weapons gave up their weapons and sent them to England. I think I sent a 38 special with a four-inch barrel. They didn’t have anything. The liberals had taken everything. Their factories were creaking and groaning under Socialism.

Socialism had taken their weapons. The only weapons they had were attached to their naval vessels. The situation was horrible. What did Winston Churchill have? He had the mind of a conservative. Winston Churchill was a man who operated on principle. So he stated the principle, “We will fight.” With principle and with words, he built back a confidence in the people. With American weapons and American help and with a conservative administration the British went from zero to ninety-nine in a short period of time.

With the end of the war, the crisis was over and the United States of America had bailed out the world by rearming Russia, England, and France and practically everyone else. Everything was peaceable again. What did England do with Mr. Churchill? They promptly dumped him. The British took up right where Mr. Chamberlain had said “peace at any price.” They didn’t miss a beat. Once that great man was voted out of the picture, the kooks again came out of their holes, the liberals, the cowards, and draft dodgers all spouting their socialist propaganda. Great Britain continues their Socialist decline. A great man was on the scene for five years, but when the great man left the scene, the whole heritage of conservatism disappeared.

Liberals aren’t even good businessmen. They never are. If it weren’t for conservative businessmen, there wouldn’t be any way to get taxes. The point here is that no man today on the scene can change this country, no matter how great he is. We need such a man, but a man can’t do it. God has to honor and bless and the principles of Bible doctrine have to get back into American life.

The Degeneration of Israel

In Malachi 1:2, “I have loved you” is the qal perfect of a אהב ('âhab). This is a dialogue between Jesus Christ and the Levitical priesthood which is supposed to teach the Word of God. When a nation begins to go sour, it goes sour spiritually before it affects anything else.

“"I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have You loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob;” (Malachi 1:2, NASB)

These unbelieving priests were just like Esau. “But you say” is negative volition with no response to God's love. In what way have you loved us? What did you ever do for us? He compares them to Esau which was a horrible insult to the Jewish priesthood. The Jewish nation was founded on the basis of spiritual birth, not physical birth.

God is said to hate Esau and love Jacob. Why? This is an expression of the divine attitude toward Esau’s rebellion, hatred of Bible doctrine, negative volition and spurning the grace of God. However, Jacob utilized the grace of God. God loved Jacob in a special way because he was a believer in the plan of God. “Yet I have loved Jacob” is the qal active participle of אהב ('âhab) and means “I keep on loving Jacob.”

In Malachi 1:3, Jacob’s name became Israel and Israel goes on forever. Esau became the father of the Edomites who were wiped out totally in 70 AD. One side of the fence had Bible doctrine, the other had none. The Jews in Malachi’s time were acting just like Esau. Religion was the worst thing that could happen to Esau.

“but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness."” (Malachi 1:3, NASB)

“A desolation” refers to the fourth and fifth cycles of divine discipline administered by God to the nation. “Jackals” refers to the basis for judgment - a nation negative to Bible doctrine who has turned away from God. Edom refused passage to Israel to get to the promised Land. This was a Satanic hindrance. Num. 20:18-21.

“Edom, however, said to him, "You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you." Again, the sons of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway, and if I and my livestock do drink any of your water, then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing else." But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against him with a heavy force and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.” (Numbers 20:18-21, NASB)

Israel was involved in a series of battles all through the Old Testament so that religion and pride would not come upon Israel. Saul defeated the Edomites in 1 Samuel 14:47. David defeated the Edomites in 1 Kings 11:15-16.

“Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment.” (1 Samuel 14:47, NASB)

“For it came about, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, and had struck down every male in Edom (for Joab and all Israel stayed there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom),” (1 Kings 11:15-16, NASB)

In 875 BC, the Edomites allied with Moab and Ammon to attack Israel all at once. They did not succeed. 2 Chron. 20:22.

“When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.” (2 Chronicles 20:22, NASB)

Religion persecuted believers. Later on, under the reign of Jehoram, religious minus doctrine, the Edomites defeated Israel. They made tremendous inroads into the Southern Kingdom at this point. Amaziah had a campaign to drive them out finally. 2 Chron. 25:11-12.

“Now Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people forth, and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 of the sons of Seir. The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from the top of the cliff, so that they were all dashed to pieces.” (2 Chronicles 25:11-12, NASB)

There was constant fighting against Edom. In the time of Malachi, just like Esau, they were infiltrating their own land inwardly with religion which was a hopeless situation. The priests were doing on the inside what Edom was constantly trying to do on the outside.

The Edomites banded with Nebuchadnezzar when Jerusalem was destroyed under the fifth cycle of discipline in 586 BC and was so impressed with their fighting that he left the Edomites to occupy the southern part of Palestine. They settled down in the Land. Jeremiah warned that the Edomites would do this in Jeremiah 49, Lamentations 4:21, and Amos 1:11-12.

“Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwells in the land of Uz; But the cup will come around to you as well, You will become drunk and make yourself naked.” (Lamentations 4:21, NASB)

“Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Edom and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, While he stifled his compassion; His anger also tore continually, And he maintained his fury forever. "So I will send fire upon Teman And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah."” (Amos 1:11-12, NASB)

The Jews took a soft attitude toward the Edomites and they came in for the kill twice - in 586 BC and in 70 AD. In 70 AD, 20,000 Edomite military troops were let inside the gates of Jerusalem to help the Jews defend the city. They offered to help in defending the city from the Romans. As soon as they came inside, they immediately started slaughtering Jews and robbing.

God’s command was always the same, “Wipe out the Edomites.” Occasionally a nation is commanded by God to be wiped out. Why? If the nation of mad dogs continued to live, they would destroy the human race. Israel ignored God's command and He disciplined them.

No Edomite survived the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. God wiped them out at that time. The Romans wiped them out to a person. The Romans wiped them out because they said they were lawless and maniacal killers, like the Mongols of Genghis Khan.

In Malachi 1:4, “We have been beaten down” is the qal imperfect of רשׁשׁ (râshash) and means to be defeated, to be whipped. “We will return” is the pual perfect of שׁוּב (shûb) and means they will return with the attitude of a fighter. The Lord says, “I will tear down.” In the first judgment in 332 BC, the Nabataeans attacked and fought for a generation and drove Edom into a pocket, a corner. The final judgment was in 70 AD. “Indignation forever” is the Lake of Fire where the unbelieving priests and the Edomites will spend eternity.

“Though Edom says, "We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins"; thus says the LORD of hosts, "They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever."” (Malachi 1:4, NASB)

In Malachi 1:5, the unbelieving priests’ eyes will see when the Lord will be magnified apart from and beyond the Israelites. The Gospel will be taken by the Gentiles around the world.

“Your eyes will see this and you will say, "The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!"” (Malachi 1:5, NASB)

Seven Warnings to Israel of the Coming Fifth Cycle of Discipline

There were seven warnings to Israel of the coming fifth cycle of discipline.

The gift of tongues from 30-70 AD. Isaiah 22:11; Acts 2:1-4.

“And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not depend on Him who made it, Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago.” (Isaiah 22:11, NASB)

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4, NASB)

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 7:14.

“"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, NASB)

Betrayal by Judas. Zech. 11:12-13.

“I said to them, "If it is good in your sight, give me my wages; but if not, never mind!" So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages. Then the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.” (Zechariah 11:12-13, NASB)

In Isaiah 53:9, “in His death” is in the plural in the Hebrew and refers to the spiritual death and physical death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. He first paid the penalty for all of the sins of mankind by spiritual death. The “blood of Christ” is the term used for this. He dismissed His own human spirit and died physically because His atoning work was finished.

“His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9, NASB)

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:10.

“Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.” (Isaiah 52:13, NASB)

“But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.” (Isaiah 53:10, NASB)

Forty years of miracles and supernatural evangelism from 30-70 AD. The Book of Acts.

The warning of the siege of Jerusalem. The legions of Titus and Vespasian took Jerusalem. Well over 1 million people were killed in the 90-day campaign and 97,000 lived to be scattered among Gentile nations. This warning was to keep believers out of Jerusalem at the time of the siege. Luke 21:20.

“"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.” (Luke 21:20, NASB)

The Facts Concerning the Priests

The unsaved priests had no relationship with God, therefore no divine good production. Mal. 1:6.

“" 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?'” (Malachi 1:6, NASB)

Malachi was speaking to the priests and saying there must be a father-son relationship first with God, that you must be born again! In a father-son relationship, a son is to honor and respect his father. The son may not love him, but he is to respect his father. The father is the authority in the family, the father loves, the father provides, and the father trains by communication.

In the spiritual life, there must be a servant-master relationship – the believer’s relationship with God before the believer can produce any divine good. There must be a relationship before production. For the priests, there was neither. The reading of Scripture and ritual in the temple became religion and religion despises the name of God, His essence and doesn’t even know it is despising Him. This is the ignorance, stupidity, and human viewpoint of religion.

The Operation of the Priests

They used polluted bread at the altar. Mal. 1:7.

“"You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.'” (Malachi 1:7, NASB)

They used blind, lame, and sick animals for the sacrifices instead of spotless animals that were in perfect health. Mal. 1:8-10.

“"But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:8, NASB)

They were trying to bring in the Millennium as religion always does. One day, there will be the true Millennium. Mal. 1:11.

“"For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:11, NASB)

They tried to corrupt the person of Christ. The use of leaven made Christ a sinner. Mal. 1:12.

“"But you are profaning it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.'” (Malachi 1:12, NASB)

They tried to corrupt the work of Christ. His work lines up with His person. If they corrupt His person, they cripple His work. Mal. 1:13-14.

“"You also say, 'My, how tiresome it is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD. "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."” (Malachi 1:13-14, NASB)

The Judgment of Religion - Malachi 2

The pattern of national disaster or why a nation is destroyed. The function of the priesthood was to handle the written Word, not spoken revelation as the prophets and to teach Bible doctrine regarding the meaning of the Jewish rituals. They were custodians of the Scripture in a time when the Canon was not completed. They were responsible for evangelism within the nation of Israel and to other nations.

They were responsible for setting the pattern for Divine Institution #4, Nationalism. God’s order for government is nationalism. Why separate nations? So people won’t go power mad. So that all people will be represented. So that people will have privacy. So that there will be private enterprise and protection of property. So there will be the rule of law – written law. So there could be industry free from government pressure and coercion. When Socialism takes over a nation, the government destroys industries through repressive laws and incompetence. The result is always the same, the nation goes broke.

The Indictment and Failure of the Priesthood

Grace always precedes judgment - the five cycles of discipline is called “the curse” in Malachi 2:1-2.

“"And now this commandment is for you, O priests. "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.” (Malachi 2:1-2, NASB)

There was the fact that the priests were unbelievers and that they are said to have animal excrement, dung, or “refuse” on their faces in Malachi 2:3.

“"Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.” (Malachi 2:3, NASB)

“I will spread refuse on your faces” means to scatter the excrement of the animal sacrifices. Part of the animal sacrifice was assigned to the priest for eating, but there was a specific order concerning the waste products. The waste was to be taken outside of the camp. Exodus 29:14; Lev. 4:11-12; Exodus 29:14; Lev. 8:16; Lev. 16:27; Num. 19:5.

“"But the flesh of the bull and its hide and its refuse, you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.” (Exodus 29:14, NASB)

“"But the bull of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be taken outside the camp, and they shall burn their hides, their flesh, and their refuse in the fire.” (Leviticus 16:27, NASB)

“'Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its hide and its flesh and its blood, with its refuse, shall be burned.” (Numbers 19:5, NASB)

Since the dung was to go outside the camp, then dung on the face of the priest meant they were actually outside the camp, meaning they were unbelievers. They were still in their sins. They were as spiritual as a pile of dung, a manure pile. The priests were going to be scattered just as dung was scattered outside the camp. Wherever the Jew goes in the world, they are regarded just like dung, part of the curse, they are disliked.

This has happened numerous times from 400 BC to 1 AD, but it actually anticipated 70 AD, about 500 years in the future. Instead of communicating Bible doctrine, the priests were communicating religion and the country suffered. “You will be taken away” refers to the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. “With it” refers to the animal waste. You will be taken outside Israel and scattered.

The Levitical priesthood was appointed on the basis of being a direct descendant of Aaron. During the Golden Calf incident, the only ones who did not enter into that was the family of Levi. Exodus 32:26; Num. 1:49.

“then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.” (Exodus 32:26, NASB)

“"Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel.” (Numbers 1:49, NASB)

The Levitical line became obscured especially after 323 BC when the rabbis began to take the place of priests and prophets. Therefore, they functioned in a religious system of apostacy called Judaism, but it is ritual only. So the function of the priesthood was set aside and wherever Jews function today, they function under a rabbi. Since 70 AD, there has been no Levitical priesthood.

In the Church Age, there are only two bonafide rituals. There is baptism to publicly proclaim the believer’s earlier expression of faith alone in Jesus Christ for salvation. Baptism can be performed voluntarily by the believer, but is not mandated. The second Church Age ritual is the most important - the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist where the congregation celebrates by remembrance and worship the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. This important ritual is mandated and is often conducted in the local church once a month. Beyond these two rituals, is apostacy.

The Levitical Contract

Malachi 2:4 refers to the Aaronic priesthood. Reuben lost as firstborn and the rulership went to Judah. Reuben lost the priesthood that went to the family of Levi, the family of Aaron. Reuben lost the double portion to Joseph from Ephraim and Manasseh.

“"Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:4, NASB)

Ritual was not the primary function. It was communication of doctrine with sounds and visuals. There was no excuse for failure because they have a covenant with God. This is the priestly contract and they had failed.

Levi was faithful during the Golden Calf incident. Aaron failed but the tribe of Levi did not fail. The Golden Calf incident was the first religious thing to hit Israel after the Exodus. Religion would have destroyed Israel. The Levities were with doctrine all the way at that time. You will not own land but you will be communicators of Bible doctrine. Exodus 32:25-26.

“Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies— then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.” (Exodus 32:25-26, NASB)

Phineas was especially faithful during the wilderness journeys. He was the grandson of Aaron and became the high priest eventually. When the contract was first given, they were born-again, they studied doctrine, and they communicated doctrine. Num. 25:10-13.

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. "Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.'"” (Numbers 25:10-13, NASB)

The actual contract had repercussions on the Land. If the contract was fulfilled, the Land would have prosperity, but that depended upon Bible doctrine. If it was not fulfilled, the Land would have cursing. Deut. 33:8-11. The content of the Levitical contract can be found in Numbers 3:5-13 and Numbers 8:14-19.

“Of Levi he said, "Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man, Whom You proved at Massah, With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah; Who said of his father and his mother, 'I did not consider them'; And he did not acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he regard his own sons, For they observed Your word, And kept Your covenant.” (Deuteronomy 33:8-9, NASB)

“"O LORD, bless his substance, And accept the work of his hands; Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him, And those who hate him, so that they will not rise again."” (Deuteronomy 33:11, NASB)

The Function of the Levitical Covenant

Members of the Levitical priesthood were to be born again and occupied with Christ. In Malachi 2:5-6, “reverence” in the piel stem is strong. “True instruction was in his mouth” means that the Levitical priests were to know and teach Bible doctrine. “Unrighteousness was not found on his lips” means they were to stay in fellowship. “He walked with Me in peace and uprightness” means the priests were to exercise faith-rest and stay in fellowship with God. “He turned many back from iniquity” means they were to evangelize all unbelievers.

“"My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. "True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity.” (Malachi 2:5-6, NASB)

The Responsibility of the Levitical Contract

Malachi 2:7 states that the priests were to “preserve knowledge” meaning they were study, keep, and guard Bible doctrine. You cannot communicate what you do not know. “Men should seek instruction from his mouth” means that there must be free will in teaching Bible doctrine and doctrine must be made available. In many places doctrinal teaching is not available. This verse says the priests were to make a place for Bible doctrine to be available.

“"For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:7, NASB)

“He is the messenger of the Lord of hosts” refers to the actual intake of Bible doctrine and application to life. Without the intake of Bible doctrine and application in the nation’s believers, the nation degenerates and receives divine discipline from God to turn the people back to His mandates. This is the key verse of Malachi. A nation cannot exist without the teaching of Bible doctrine.

The Failure of the Priests

In Malachi 2:8, “turned aside” is the qal perfect of סוּר (sûr) and means they have deviated from the way. They have failed to learn doctrine. They have failed to provide a place where Bible doctrine is taught. They have failed to communicate Bible doctrine. Since they did not provide these three things, the people could not operate in the proper spiritual framework.

“"But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:8, NASB)

“You have corrupted” is in the piel and means they have been infiltrated with something false that spreads and has neutralized the possibility of understanding doctrinal issues. The Levitical Covenant is described in Exodus 32, Numbers 25, and Deuteronomy 33. This was the basis for the function of the priesthood in communicating doctrine. Because they had failed before the Lord, they had lost the respect of the people.

In Malachi 2:9, “made you despised and abased” refers to the attitude of the people toward the Levitical priesthood. They would allow people to walk all over them. When this happened, the priesthood had become corrupt, then someone else was brought onto the scene. Enter Malachi.

“"So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.” (Malachi 2:9, NASB)

“Are not keeping My ways” means no divine viewpoint or divine guidance. “Showing partiality in the instruction” means they were catering to people. “Partiality” is the qal active participle of נשׂא (nâśâ') and means to be partial, to respect one person over another. When doctrine is deemphasized, then they became respectful of certain people. By catering to people, spiritual leadership loses the respect of people. Spiritual leadership must not cater to people. Ever! You can’t be fair and just and cater to people. Spiritual leadership must never be guilty of favoritism.

To cater to people is to be flattened by people. To love the Lord is to be helpful to people by learning and teaching the Word. The Levitical priesthood failed because in the interpretation of the Mosaic Law, they had been catering to people and not to the Word.

When you respect people above the Word, God will allow those people to neutralize you, flatten you, to walk all over you. The false interpretation of the Law and respect for people would have been suppressed by the teaching of Bible doctrine.

The Indictment of the People

The second cause for the destruction of a nation is the disintegration of mental attitudes and volition. This is the dissolving of divine institutions of the people by treachery. The whole concept of the divine institutions is to protect your volition in the Angelic Conflict. First, the priests went apostate, then as the priests degenerated and turned from the teaching of Bible doctrine, then the people followed. When you go all out to train a militia to protect the nation, there comes a time when you have to strike, take plunder, and to progress. Without Bible doctrine in their souls, they cannot function under pressure and they regress.

The principle of treachery is found in Malachi 2:10. “Do we not all have one father” refers to Jewish believers because all believers have one Father. “Has not one God created us?” refers to Jesus Christ as the Creator of all that exists and the only Savior. “We deal treacherously” refers to deceit and the attack on the four divine institutions. Gen. 2 through Gen. 11. “Profane the covenant” is to mentally despise Bible doctrine and to substitute idolatry, to get into the Phallic cult.

“"Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?” (Malachi 2:10, NASB)

Man was created to resolve the Angelic Conflict and the divine institutions protect mankind so they will be able to make a choice concerning Jesus Christ. John 1:3; Heb. 1:10; Col. 1:16.

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:3, NASB)

“And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;” (Hebrews 1:10, NASB)

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16, NASB)

The cause of treachery is religion. Human good is an abomination to God. Morality is the basis for the operation of the divine institutions as expressed in the Ten Commandments. In Malachi 2:11, “the sanctuary of the Lord” refers to the sanctuary of the second temple, completed in 516 BC - it had been profaned. Bible doctrine has been knocked out because the temple was the basic audio visual for teaching doctrine and when they knocked out doctrine they only had ritual, no reality.

“"Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god.” (Malachi 2:11, NASB)

“Has married the daughter of a foreign god” means that when there is negative volition to Bible doctrine, a vacuum opens in the soul and religion is drawn in. A Jew marries a foreign woman and takes her false religion with him.

Judgment because of treachery can be found in Malachi 2:12. “For the man who does this, may the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob” refers to the believer receiving the maximum divine discipline that God can administer – the sin unto death. For the unbeliever, God will administer judgment of a nation under the fifth cycle of discipline.

“"As for the man who does this, may the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers, or who presents an offering to the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:12, NASB)

“Everyone who awakes and answers” refers to the ones calling – the priests of the Phallic cult and the ones answering to sexual activity and ritual. Both are translated as nouns but are actually participles. This is also explained in Nehemiah 13:23-29.

“In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people.” (Nehemiah 13:23-24, NASB)

“"Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?"” (Nehemiah 13:27, NASB)

“Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.” (Nehemiah 13:29, NASB)

As these husbands were going up to the groves to fornicate, they also were going into the temple to offer animal sacrifices as per the Levitical code. They were not offering confession of sin sacrifices but salvation sacrifices. This was the same situation as Hebrews 6:1-6.

“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6, NASB)

Wives were deserted by their husbands. The women were frustrated, crying, and screaming out. The men covered their activities with an animal sacrifice. The whole system of learning doctrine according to the Levitical offerings had broken down because of the attack of religion on Divine Institution #2 - Marriage. Their tears did no good. Mal. 2:13.

“"This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand.” (Malachi 2:13, NASB)

Disintegration of Divine Institutions as Illustrated by Marriage

Husbands would not admit they have been going up to the groves. This type of man can live a lie. Another type of man gets a guilt complex and blabs it all over the place. There is an honest fornicator. There is a dishonest fornicator and this is describing the latter. He is using the animal sacrifices as a cover. People use church as a cover for their fornication. “For what reason?” refers to Divine Institution #2 - Marriage. Mal. 2:14.

“"Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” (Malachi 2:14, NASB)

In Malachi 2:15, “But not one has done” refers to God’s creation of Adam and Eve. One (breath) with air fit their lungs, satisfied them, and matched the man for the woman who fit each other. “Remnant of the Spirit” means God had more than enough breath to make three Eves, but He didn’t make three. He made one a perfect match for Adam. This is written to straighten out those who think harems are the way to go. David, Solomon, etc. all had harems. Malachi has the last word on it.

“"But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth.” (Malachi 2:15, NASB)

“While he was seeking a godly offspring?” refers to Adam seeking a godly offspring. Under monogamy you develop properly. Divine Institution #3 - Family means there is one father and one mother. This is the rightful, lawful heritage of any child.

Malachi 2:16 says the Lord “hates” divorce with three exceptions. The word “hate” is an emotion that God does not possess. This is called an anthropopathism that is used in the Bible as language of accommodation to illustrate God's divine policy to mankind regarding divorce. “Him who covers his garment with wrong” is an idiom for hatred of a wife. They got rid of their wives with whom they were “no longer compatible” with a legal cloak, a divorce scheme, a legal system of declaring the woman unclean. For instance, when she touched a dead horse or entered a house where a dead person was still inside, etc.

“"For I hate divorce," says the LORD, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with wrong," says the LORD of hosts. "So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."” (Malachi 2:16, NASB)

The Mosaic Law was to be used to protect the woman. They used it to get rid of the woman. “Take heed to your spirit” refers to your wife in marriage, that you do not deal treacherously with her. Note, this is to the man! They had rationalized away their sin and justified it in their minds.

In Malachi 2:17, “You have wearied the Lord with your words” means literally that you have bored the Lord with your words. When people get bored, they step outside the divine institutions. “Wearied” is another anthropopathism ascribed to God to show His attitude. Boredom is a total lack of feeling, a total lack of interest. “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord” is the false doctrine of the liberals - the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The women became bitter when their husbands went down to the groves for the 100th time. The men rationalized and the women got bitter. This destroyed a nation!

“You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, "Where is the God of justice?"” (Malachi 2:17, NASB)

God's Answer: Bible Doctrine or Judgment – Malachi 3

The Plan of God Centers in Christ

Malachi 3:1-6.

“"Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1, NASB)

“"He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3, NASB)

“"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6, NASB)

The Judgment of God Centers on Man

In Malachi 3:7, the importance of evangelism and the return of Jesus Christ is the context. There is also the importance of confession of sin to God the Father and the intake and application of Bible doctrine. “Days of your fathers” refer to the days of the Jews returning under Zerubbabel and Zechariah and Joshua the high priest in 516 BC. Apostacy began hitting prior to 420 BC. Lack of doctrine, lack of salt and light, led to the cycles of divine discipline, military invasion and then horrible slavery.

“"From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'” (Malachi 3:7, NASB)

“Turned aside” means to turn aside from a norm and standard – for the unbeliever, the Gospel and the believer, Bible doctrine. “Statutes” refers to the Mosaic Law, which is divided into three parts: commandments, ordinances (theology) and judgments (civil code). Ordinances were the feasts, offerings, etc.

“Have not kept” is the qal perfect of שׁמר (shâmar) and means did not guard Divine Institution #4, Nationalism and Bible doctrine in the believers’ souls that keeps preserving the land. “Return to Me” is the qal imperative of שׁוּב (shûb) and for the unbeliever, it means “Come to Me.” For the believer, it means to confess known sins to God the Father and regain the fellowship with God and return to the intake and application of Bible doctrine.

The following is an illustration of national failure. It has nothing to do with the mechanics of evangelism or confession of sins. In Malachi 3:8, the people had ignored the divine institutions and now they had neglected God and their nation. “Will a man rob God?” means to defraud God. It does not mean to rob as a criminal robs a bank. It means as a treasurer to keep on putting a little money into their own account, a little under the table stuff and cons you out of money through some system. “Rob” is the qal active participle of קבע (qâba‛) and means this is a continual thing. Tithes and offerings were the responsibility of every wage earner in Israel. It was like our income tax.

“"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.” (Malachi 3:8, NASB)

The people weren’t giving tithes to the Levites to maintain the temple as mandated in Numbers 18:21-24. They weren’t giving tithes to the Lord’s feasts and sacrifices. They were neglecting the poor. Why? Because of no salvation or no right mental attitude in the believers.

“"To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. "The sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, or they will bear sin and die. "Only the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel they shall have no inheritance. "For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, 'They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.'"” (Numbers 18:21-24, NASB)

Offerings was also the responsibility of every believer in Israel. No percentage is mentioned as in 1 Corinthians 16:2. From the distribution of this you can see it was peculiar to Israel. Gentile nations did not have Levitical priests, temples to maintain, or sacrifices to offer.

“On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2, NASB)

The indictment comes in Malachi 3:9. “You are cursed” is the niphil passive participle of ארר ('ârar) and means you are constantly being cursed. They were being cursed because they had not been faithful to the Abrahamic, Palestinic, Davidic and New covenants. They had thrown over Divine Institution #4, Nationalism.

“"You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!” (Malachi 3:9, NASB)

“With a curse” is מארה (me'êrâh) and means an execration, with an abomination, a maximum curse. This is the nation going down altogether. They were in the process of being cursed as they were approaching the fifth cycle of discipline from God. “For you are robbing Me” means the entire nation had failed. This is the failure of Jewish unbelievers and believers in taxes and offerings.

Malachi 3:10 provides the continuation of the illustration with the solution, showing when people get back under the divine institutions and Bible doctrine, then things begin to prosper. “Bring” is the hiphil imperative of בּוא (bô') and means cause to come, therefore bring. This is the mood of command and is causative. They should be motivated to bring tithes. There must be motivation before you will give properly. This is a command to all citizens of Judah in 420 BC. The unbeliever is to function under Divine Institution #4, Nationalism and the believer is to function under Bible doctrine.

“"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.” (Malachi 3:10, NASB)

“Into the storehouse” is literally, into the house of the treasury. Be motivated to bring these taxes to the treasury, like the treasury of the United States. The temple was the most secure and was the bank vault of Israel. It was a national treasury. For the unbeliever, Divine Institution #4, Nationalism and for the believer, to grow in Bible doctrine and do all as unto the Lord. Col. 3:23; Rom. 13:1-7.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” (Colossians 3:23, NASB)

“For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” (Romans 13:6-7, NASB)

In Malachi 3:10, “so that there may be” is the qal imperfect of היה (hâyâh) and is a purpose clause. The imperfect means that there will always be a need for funds to operate a national entity. “Food” means provisions. Provision for what? To run a government. Provision for a government to function. “In My house” is a reference to the second temple, operated by priests and the Levities who at this time were starving and begging rather than performing the spiritual functions of a nation.

“Test Me now in this” is בּחן (bâchan) and means to test, an assayer testing ore such as gold. Prove My essence, prove My grace! God proves His grace by the prosperity of a nation to the unbeliever. God demonstrates His grace to the believer by both national and spiritual blessings. They did and had another 100 years of blessing. Then the rise of the Hellenistic monarchies to test Israel.

“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven” are literally the sluices of the flood gates. This is economic prosperity in a national agricultural economy. “And pour out for you a blessing until it overflows” is in the hiphil and means caused to be poured out. There are certain laws with regard to Nationalism and when these are observed, the blessing is there. An illustration is the rise of the United Sates through the free enterprise system. There was no income tax until 1913. Jefferson was off and Alexander Hamilton was on as far as Bible doctrine. Jefferson said all people are born equal. No. The only equality at birth is that we are born spiritually dead.

In Malachi 3:11, we have God's protection for the believers in the land, the salt of the earth. “Will not destroy” is in the hiphil stem of שׁחת (shâchath) and means to overthrow. “Fruits of the ground” and “cast its grapes” both refer to God's prosperity blessings in an agricultural economy.

“"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:11, NASB)

In Malachi 3:12, we have national prosperity described further. “All the nations will call you blessed” is in the piel stem of אשׁר ('âshar) and is an intensive statement by others. “A delightful land” refers to conditions that can only occur in a nation functioning under the Divine Institutions, but ultimately because there are enough believers in the nation positive to Bible doctrine and growing spiritually. Whether a nation survives or not is how well they take in Bible doctrine and become preservatives and light. You will be put into areas of influence where you will have a voice!

“"All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:12, NASB)

In Malachi 3:13, they condemn themselves by their own deeds. “Arrogant” is negative volition towards Bible doctrine. It means to be hard, obstinate, disoriented to grace and disoriented to the plan of God. It is a thought pattern or mental attitude expressed in words, that you have no interest in Bible doctrine! “Yet you say” means to talk back with a pretense of innocence. A principle of conversation is that what you say is as important as what you think.

“"Your words have been arrogant against Me," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against You?'” (Malachi 3:13, NASB)

Malachi 3:14 provides the answer. The rest of the chapter is talking about service. Believers were thinking it was useless to serve God. The Angelic Conflict had swallowed them up. They believed that God had never done anything for them. “What profit” emphasizes the details of life. Why doesn’t God give me money? Why hasn’t God given me my right kind of man yet? Why hasn’t God prospered me? Why hasn’t God done this or that?

“"You have said, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts?” (Malachi 3:14, NASB)

“We have kept His charge” means to guard the rituals, the ordinances, Codex #2 of the Mosaic Law. Religious people keep the ritual, but do not know the reality of Bible doctrine behind the ritual. They have corrupted salvation by grace and they have corrupted their spiritual life with legalism. “We have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts” means that although it was tough for them, they worked it in somehow. Like a basset hound’s stubborn temperament.

Malachi 3:15 seems to indicate that the wicked prosper. “We call the arrogant blessed” refers to a person who possesses the details of life that include money, success, pleasure, health, sex, friends, loved ones, social life, status symbols, and materialistic things.

“'So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.'"” (Malachi 3:15, NASB)

This is not one who has the mental attitude sin of pride, but someone who has the necessary signs of prosperity. A believer without doctrine associates happiness with the details of life. Now, the Bible is not against the details of life and possessing the details of life is not wrong. A believer with Bible doctrine can enjoy the details of life. But you can never emphasize the details of life over doctrine!

“The doers of wickedness” means that they made wickedness out of the details of life. “Built up” means they prosper. Look how happy those people are with the details of life, we should also go after the details of life and be happy. They literally tempted God and still escaped His divine discipline. They would do something against God and seem to get away with it. Of course they did not!

The Faithful Remnant

In Malachi 3:16, “Feared the Lord” means the remnant of positive believers used faith-rest and continued to learn and apply Bible doctrine. “Spoke to one another” refers to a communicator speaking publicly to a group, often daily. This is fellowshipping in the Word, learning Bible doctrine. Heb. 10:25.

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.” (Malachi 3:16, NASB)

“not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25, NASB)

In Malachi 3:16, “the Lord gave attention” is in the hiphil stem of קשׁב (qâshab) and means the Lord was caused to draw near. “And heard it” means He listened with pleasure. “A book of remembrance was written” is the Lord’s scrap book that has the names of those who love Him, who respond to Him, those who are positive to Bible doctrine, and those whose thinking is being renovated to be like His own thinking. “For those” means the book of remembrance has names of believers that fulfill this principle. “Who fear the Lord” refers to those who learned Bible doctrine and developed the capacity to love the Lord. “Who esteem His name” is חשׁב (châshab) and means to think categorically, to keep on thinking categorically.

In Malachi 3:17, “They will be Mine” refers to an intimate relationship. They belong to God in a special way in the spiritual life. “On that day” refers to the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth for a 1,000 literal years. “I prepare My own possession” refers to the Old Testament saints who really responded to the Lord in Bible doctrine, those believers that matured in the spiritual life. Our Lord’s possessions from the Church Age will be resurrected saints at the Rapture of the Church. Exodus 19:5; Deut. 7:6; Deut. 14:2; Deut. 26:18.

“"They will be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."” (Malachi 3:17, NASB)

“'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;” (Exodus 19:5, NASB)

“"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 7:6, NASB)

“"The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments;” (Deuteronomy 26:18, NASB)

In Malachi 3:17, “I will spare them” is the qal perfect of חמל (châmal) and means to have compassion on them as a man who has compassion on his own son who is serving him because of love. For the believers who got with Bible doctrine in 420 BC, God had compassion on them. God's compassion is the expression of His grace!

In Malachi 3:18, “So you will again” refers to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. “Distinguish between the righteous and the wicked” means to see, to observe the fulfillment of doctrine, to see the separation between those who have God's absolute righteousness (+R) and those who have only human relative righteousness (-R). Why is it so difficult to discern between the righteous and wicked? Because many believers are all fouled up with religion.

“So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” (Malachi 3:18, NASB)

Conclusion of Malachi – Malachi 4

The Judgment of the Baptism of the Second Advent

In Malachi 4:1, “the day is coming” refers to the judgment of the unbelievers at His Second Advent with blood up to the horses’ bridles, etc. “Burning like a furnace” is the qal active participle of בָּעַר (baar) and means a continuous fierce burning.

“"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."” (Malachi 4:1, NASB)

There are seven major judgments in the Word; 1) judgment of Jesus Christ for our sins on the Cross, 2) the believer’s self-judgment, 3) judgment of believers’ human good at the Judgment Seat of Christ, 4) judgment of living Tribulation unbelieving Jews, 5) judgment of living Tribulation unbelieving Gentiles, 6) judgment of Satan and all Fallen Angels, and 7) judgment of all unbelievers. See the category on the Seven Major Judgments.

In Malachi 4:1, “the arrogant” are those who accept human good for salvation, but it does not work out. “Every evildoer” are those who produce sin, evil, and human good from their old sin nature. Their motivator is the lust pattern. “Will be chaff” means they will burn as a prairie fire in the Lake of Fire. “It will leave them neither root nor branch” means utter destruction.

Malachi 4:2 is speaking of the believers in the Tribulation. “Sun of righteousness” refers to Jesus Christ. “Will rise with healing in its wings” is מרפּא (marpê') and means salvation, security, deliverance from the fifth cycle of discipline. The nation will be restored. “You will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall” refers to the believers’ entrance into the Millennium in their physical bodies. This is an idiom for prosperity, spiritual and economic.

Many Jews have economic prosperity today. But they can’t have spiritual prosperity as a nation today because they are under the 5th fifth cycle of discipline – the Diaspora. The only way they can become spiritually prosperous is to be saved by belief in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Then they are no longer Jews, but members of the Church, the Body of Christ. In the Church Age, there is no such thing as a “saved Jew.” In the Church Age, there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Gal. 3:28.

“"But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2, NASB)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NASB)

Malachi 4:2 isn’t a verse for the healing movement. If Jesus Christ came to earth to heal the sick, He only healed about 1,000 out of about 300 million. He was remiss then. The legitimate function of every temporary spiritual gift has ceased in the first century AD. Such apostate practices today detract from Bible doctrine. Tongues and healing detract from Bible doctrine and deemphasize Bible doctrine in favor of ecstatics and emotionalism.

The Battle Victory of the Second Advent

In Malachi 4:3, “You shall tread down the wicked” refers to Jewish believers who continue to resist the king of the North at the beginning of the Armageddon campaign. “Tread down” is to trample grapes to produce wine. There will be great success, a great victory. “For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet” again refers to the great victory. Our Lord will turn a certain unwinnable war into terrific victory at His Second Advent. Zech. 14:1-4; Daniel 11:40-45.

“"You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 4:3, NASB)

“Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:1-4, NASB)

“"At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through. "He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon. "Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape. "But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. "But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many. "He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” (Daniel 11:40-45, NASB)

The Heralds of the Second Advent

A king must be announced always by his heralds. Our Lord’s First Advent had two types of heralds, angelic and human. Our Lord’s human herald at His First Advent was John the Baptist. Our Lord’s angelic herald was Gabriel. Luke 1:16-17; Luke 1:13; Luke 1:19.

“"And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."” (Luke 1:16-17, NASB)

“But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” (Luke 1:13, NASB)

“The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.” (Luke 1:19, NASB)

The human heralds at His Second Advent will be from the same nationality, Moses and Elijah. Mal. 4:4-5. Moses and Elijah will be the two witnesses of Revelation 11. At our Lord’s transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were there. Our Lord’s angelic herald will be the mighty angel of Revelation 10. Matt. 16:28 through Matt. 17:3.

“"Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.” (Malachi 4:4-5, NASB)

John the Baptist of the First Advent is not the Elijah of the Second Advent. The same Holy Spirit that was in John the Baptist will be in Elijah at the Second Advent. In John 1:21, “Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not.” Jews got the First and Second Advent mixed up. Luke 1:16-17; Acts 3:21-22; Matt. 17:11.

“They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."” (John 1:21, NASB)

“whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. "Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you.” (Acts 3:21-22, NASB)

“And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things;” (Matthew 17:11, NASB)

Enoch will not be one of the witnesses because he was a Gentile, therefore, he cannot be a herald. Witnesses (heralds) must be of the same nationality. In Malachi 4:4, “Remember” means to learn it again. Bible doctrine is the deliverer. If you forgot it, learn it again! Learn it and apply it. There would be no more prophets after Malachi for 400 years. “Statutes and ordinances” refers to the Mosaic Law.

“Statutes” are Codex 1, the Ten Commandments, or the Decalogue, the freedom code which makes clear that man is a sinner. “Ordinances” are Codex 2, the spiritual code and presents the person and work of Christ. Codex 3 is the Judgments, the establishment code or the national heritage of Israel. This includes the entire political and functional heritage of the nation Israel. This includes the Divine Institutions with emphasis on Nationalism.

Elijah is presented in Malachi 4:5. Elijah will have a ministry as a herald in the middle of the Tribulation. Elijah will have another ministry in Malachi 4:6. “Great” refers to those going into the Millennium. “Terrible” refers to those who are unbelievers and will die in the Baptism of Fire.

Evangelism Prior to the Second Advent

In Malachi 4:6, “He will restore the hearts” refers to the Gospel message of Elijah that will cause many Jews to be converted. The fathers will be saved and the children will be saved. The Gospel changes their attitude toward Jesus Christ as their Savior. There won’t be the terrible family breakdown during the Tribulation in those families where they become believers.

“"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."” (Malachi 4:6, NASB)

“Curse” is חֵרֶם (cherem) and means a curse which cannot be reversed. It is used here as the curse of death with no backing out. The curse is non-redeemable and they will be wiped out. Cherem refers to the unbeliever at the Second Advent.

The unbeliever is under a curse because they have rejected Christ. They will have been evangelized by the 144,000 witnesses, by other believers witnessing, by the two witnesses Moses and Elijah, and by angels. God put the Canaanites under a curse or cherem and for this cause and the Canaanites of Jericho were slain. The exception was Rahab the harlot. The Cross is the only thing that can eliminate cherem.

The Old Testament ends with a curse in Malachi 4:6. The New Testament ends with a blessing in Revelation 22:21. The purpose of evangelism in the Tribulation will be to avoid the curse, or cherem. This will be the greatest period of evangelism in all of human history.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21, NASB)

All who reject Christ as Savior during the Tribulation will be under two curses. The first curse will be the Baptism of Fire which removes them from the earth, they will not enter the Millennium, they will have no prosperity. The second curse will be the Great White Throne Judgment where they will miss the eternal state and end up in the Lake of Fire.