Malachi 3:1-3 KJV
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
The chapter seems to be a mixture of both the first and second coming of Christ.
• There are references to John the Baptist, and their delight in His coming. But then
• There are also references to His sudden coming and his being a refiner's fire and purifying the sons of Levi.
In many respects Christ's first coming was a refiner's fire. Though it was not warlike and violent it did separate those who would come to Him by faith from those who only desired a victory of religion over other world interests.
• Jesus did not bear a sword when He appeared the first time but He was a swift witness against evil of every sort.
• In His first coming Jesus did not ride out of Heaven but He was lifted up on the Cross.
And that one event destroyed forever Satan's hope of victory through death and sin.
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
The chapter seems to be a mixture of both the first and second coming of Christ.
• There are references to John the Baptist, and their delight in His coming. But then
• There are also references to His sudden coming and his being a refiner's fire and purifying the sons of Levi.
In many respects Christ's first coming was a refiner's fire. Though it was not warlike and violent it did separate those who would come to Him by faith from those who only desired a victory of religion over other world interests.
• Jesus did not bear a sword when He appeared the first time but He was a swift witness against evil of every sort.
• In His first coming Jesus did not ride out of Heaven but He was lifted up on the Cross.
And that one event destroyed forever Satan's hope of victory through death and sin.
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