From Malachi to Christ

GOLDEN TEXT: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.”—Luke 1:68

MALACHI 3:1-5—Malachi seems to have been the last of the prophets God sent to Israel. One after another, beginning with Moses, these prophets had directly or indirectly promised the coming of the Messiah and Redeemer of Israel and the world. He was to be a “Prophet” like unto Moses; a King whose glory would exceed that of Solomon’s; whose dominion was to be worldwide. In Malachi’s prophecy this great One is described as the “messenger of the covenant”—that is, the “new covenant” promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

The prophets had also warned Israel of the dire consequences of sin against divine law. Because God knew that Israel would continue to be a backsliding nation he caused his prophets to predict a retribution by the coming of the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.” (Mal. 4:5) In the outworking of the divine plan we find that these prophecies had a minor fulfillment in the trouble which came upon Israel in A.D. 70-73, and that their main fulfillment is in the worldwide “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation,” which is even now devastating the earth. (Dan. 12:1) It is “before” this terrible day of the Lord, both at the end of the Jewish age and the end of the Gospel age, that Jehovah sends his Messenger to prepare the way before him.

John the Baptist was “a” messenger, one who attempted to prepare Israel to receive the Messiah. But “the” Messenger referred to in our lesson is said to prepare the way before Jehovah. The reference is evidently to the preparation of Israel and the whole world of mankind to be reconciled to God. It is when this work is completed that the kingdom will be turned over to the Father, that he may be all in all.

Jesus said of John the Baptist that to those who could receive it he was the foretold Elijah, the one who was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. In other words, to the extent that John accomplished a work of reformation in the hearts of the Israelites, preparing them to accept the Messenger of the covenant whose work was to reconcile both Israel and the world, he fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi 4:5,6. But we know that John’s work was largely a failure. Nor did the Israelites repent as a result of Jesus’ ministry, hence the foretold fire of God’s judgment came upon the nation.

The work of Jesus in preparing the way before Jehovah continued throughout the age in connection with the Gentiles. Members of his church in the flesh have been associated with him as “able ministers of the new covenant.” (II Cor. 3:6) That covenant has not yet been inaugurated, but preparation has been made for it, both in the sacrifice of Jesus, and also through the sacrifices of those who have been planted together in the likeness of his death.

These constitute the “temple” class to whom the Messenger comes. There was a typical coming to his temple when Jesus drove out the money changers from Israel’s temple. But in the larger sense, he has been purifying the temple class throughout the entire age. The world has been unaware of this, and is still in darkness concerning the outworking of the divine plan, although again Jesus is present, testifying through his church concerning the meaning of the world-changing events which are daily occurring as a result of his presence.

MALACHI 4:1, 2, 5, 6; LUKE 1:76-79—While a “baptism” of “fire” came upon the nation of Israel because of failure to accept the Messiah, the day foretold in this passage as one which shall “burn as an oven” is evidently the great time of trouble which comes upon the whole world at this end of the age—that time of disintegration already upon the nations. It comes as a judgment from the Lord, and we are now living in that judgment day. Later there is to be a judgment day for individuals, and it will be true of both nations and individuals that those which continue to do wickedly shall be destroyed.

But there is a brighter prospect for those who long for righteousness, and in this sense look and hope for a righteous Ruler. They are the ones who are travailing “in pain together until now” waiting for the “manifestation of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:22,19) Few of them are able to define their longings, but they will be glad when the time comes to accept and obey the righteous laws of Christ’s kingdom. To these the “Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings.”

As we have already observed, John the Baptist only partially fulfilled this prophecy concerning the coming Elijah. Its real fulfillment is through Christ, and then only after the people are humbled by the great time of trouble, the day of oven-like burning which comes upon the world. The foretold “curse” comes upon the earth as an alternative fulfillment of the prophecy, prior to the time when the people will actually be reconciled to God and brought under the terms of atonement as represented in the new covenant—that covenant which God promised through the Prophet Jeremiah. See Jeremiah 31:31-34.

QUESTIONS:

Who is the “Messenger of the covenant” who prepares the way before Jehovah?

In what sense is John the Baptist associated with the fulfillment of the prophecies contained in today’s lesson?

What is the foretold “curse” with which the earth is smitten?

When will the world be reconciled to God? Under what covenant?

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