June 29 - Malachi 4

June 29 - Malachi 4:1-6

In Revelation 9:2, the fifth trumpet sounds and the Abyss is opened. Smoke rose from it like the smoke from a giant furnace. From that smoke came locusts that destroyed the earth. The furnace speaks of destruction. In Malachi 4:1, the Day of the Lord is likened to that furnace. The fire is not a fire of purification such as we saw in Malachi 3:2-3, but one that will destroy everything that is evil.

All through the Revelation, we read about the destruction of the sun along with the heavenly bodies, but in Revelation 21:23-25, we read that "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."

The sun of righteousness will rise ... there will be no more night ... healing will come to all nations. When the Day of the Lord arrives, the world will face terror such as it has never known due to the wrath of God being poured out on the evil that has made its way into our world, but for those who revere Him, that Day will bring joy ... Malachi describes it as seeing young calves leaping with exuberance when released into the fields.

He reminds everyone of the Covenant made with Moses when God gave the Law to the people of Israel. This is the reason that all of this is in place. Everything God has done and will continue to do is to draw His people back into the Covenant that was established with Moses and then with Daniel. God has always honored His side and desperately wants His children to return to a right relationship with Him.

The return of the prophet Elijah was promised to the people since the day he was taken up into heaven. There will be a warning. Elijah will return to announce the coming. The messenger will prepare the way.

Notice, though, that the end of Malachi, the last words of the Old Testament end with a warning, not a blessing. If there is no rescuing the relationship between God and His people, He will strike the land with a curse.