ANTIOCH BIBLE LESSON #250
Lesson Date ______________
The Day of the Lord’s Coming Malachi 3:1-18; Malachi 4:1-6 INTRODUCTION: Malachi closes the Old Testament with a grave warning intermingled with hope. The day of the Lord will come and it is a day of great judgment. However, the righteous will be preserved and those who fear the Lord will be restored and rewarded. I.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD (Malachi 3:1-6) A. The Coming of God’s Messengers (Malachi 3:1) 1. The priest and prophet as the messengers of the law (Malachi 2:7; Haggai 1:13) 2. The forerunner of the Messiah as the messenger of the coming Lord (Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:1-4) 3. The Messiah Himself as the messenger of the covenant (Malachi 3:1; Haggai 2:7-9) a. He is the Lord. b. He is the One they seek. c. He will suddenly come to His temple.
NOTE: The phrase, day of the Lord, is used 25 times in 23 verses in the Bible (I do not count two references to the "day of the Lord Jesus"). In scripture, it is most closely associated with the wrath of God. That is, the day of the Lord is the time when God brings long-deserved judgment on the earth. Consider these verses: Isaiah 13:6; Jeremiah 46:10; Joel 1:15; Amos 5:18. Primarily, the day of the Lord refers to the character of the times. The day of the Lord is the time when God moves on the scene in a powerful way to execute His wrath on the earth because of the iniquities of man. As such, the day of the Lord is not meant to be a synonym for any specific term like the tribulation or the kingdom. The day of the Lord can refer to times of judgment that are already history. The day of the Lord in Jeremiah 46:10 has fulfillment in the defeat of the Egyptians by the Babylonians (see Jeremiah 46:13). Prophetically, the main time of this wrath will be during the tribulation. It is during this time that men cry out, "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17). This time begins with the removal of the believers of this age in what is known as the rapture (1Thessalonians 5:2-3). This is the beginning of the prophetic day of the Lord.
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ANTIOCH BIBLE LESSON #250
Most of the references to the day of the Lord (and to similar phrases like "that day" or "the great day”) deal with the events of the tribulation (Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-2, 11, 31; Joel 3:14; Amos 5:18-20; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7-10, 14-18; Zechariah 14:1-3; Malachi 3:2; Malachi 4:1, 3, 5). However, at least one passage expands the meaning of the day of the Lord. The destruction of the heaven and the earth mentioned in 2Peter 3:10 does not occur in the book of Revelation until Revelation 20:11 states that "the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." This is after the thousand year reign of Christ. The day of the Lord is not a single calendar event but a day of judgment when God settles accounts. As such, Old Testament events could be described as the day of the Lord if they were a time of God's wrath. The tribulation is the primary day of the Lord in the Bible (Matthew 24:21). Therefore, most of the Bible references to the day of the Lord deal with the tribulation and it can be considered primarily the day of the Lord. However, at the end of the thousand year reign, men will once again rebel against the rule of God and He will come upon them in sudden wrath. This will culminate in the destruction of heaven and earth as the elements melt in fervent heat (2Peter 3:10). Because the day of the Lord is defined as a day of God's wrath, this too is the day of the Lord. B. The Day of God’s Judgment (Malachi 3:2-5) 1. To condemn (Malachi 3:2) a. None able to abide His coming (Joel 2:11) b. None able to stand before Him (Psalm 76:7; Revelation 6:17) 2. To purge (Malachi 3:2-3) a. Refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2; 1Peter 1:6-7); used to melt and purify precious metals b. Fuller’s soap (Malachi 3:2; Mark 9:3; John 15:3); used to cleanse and whiten garments c. Purifier (Malachi 3:3; Hebrews 2:11) (1) To purify the sons of Levi (2) That they may offer an offering in righteousness (3) Note: He begins with the house of God (Ezekiel 9:6; 1Peter 4:17). 3. To refresh (Malachi 3:4; compare Malachi 1:10) a. Pleasant unto the Lord b. As in the days of old 4. To revenge (Malachi 3:5; Romans 12:19) C. The Firmness of God’s Love (Malachi 3:6) 1. Changing not (Hebrews 13:8) 2. Consuming not (Deuteronomy 7:7-9)
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ANTIOCH BIBLE LESSON #250
II.
THE TITHES OF THE LORD (Malachi 3:7-12) A. The Breaking of God’s Ordinances (Malachi 3:7) 1. From the days of their fathers (Acts 7:51-53) 2. Refusing God’s call to return (Zechariah 1:3-4) B. The Robbing of God’s House (Malachi 3:8-10) 1. Their condemnation (Malachi 3:8) 2. Their curse (Malachi 3:9; Proverbs 11:24) 3. Their command (Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 3:9-10) a. Bring the tithes into the storehouse. b. Expect the blessings of the Lord (Haggai 2:18-19). C. The Outpouring of God’s Blessing (Malachi 3:11-12) 1. Preserving their fruit (Malachi 3:11) 2. Upholding their place (Malachi 3:12); a delightsome land (Isaiah 62:4)
III.
THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD (Malachi 3:13-18) A. The Unfaithful Servants (Malachi 3:13-15) 1. Speaking against the Lord (Malachi 3:13; compare Malachi 2:17) 2. Condemning the Lord’s service (Malachi 3:14); “It is vain to serve God.” (compare Job 21:14-15; Job 34:9) 3. Exalting the Lord’s enemies (Malachi 3:15; Psalm 10:3) B. The Faithful Servants (Malachi 3:16-18) 1. Remembered by the Lord (Malachi 3:16) a. They speak often to one another (Psalm 119:63; 1Thessalonians 5:11). b. A book of remembrance is written for them (Psalm 56:8). 2. Spared by the Lord (Malachi 3:17) a. When the Lord will make up His jewels b. To be spared as a son 3. Received by the Lord (Malachi 3:18; Matthew 25:21) a. Separated from the wicked b. Separated from those who do not serve the Lord
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ANTIOCH BIBLE LESSON #250
IV.
THE DAY OF THE LORD (Malachi 4:1-6) A. The Coming of the Lord (Malachi 4:1-3) 1. In judgment (Malachi 4:1) a. The day shall burn as an oven. b. The wicked shall burn as stubble. c. Nothing will be left of the wicked. 2. In restoration (Malachi 4:2-3) a. As the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2; 2Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 1:16) (1) To arise to those who fear God’s name (2Peter 1:19) (2) To come with healing in his wings (3) To bless them as calves in the stall (compare Proverbs 15:17) b. As the Lord of hosts (Malachi 4:3); the righteous will tread down the wicked. B. The Connections in Time (Malachi 4:4-6; Revelation 11:3-6) 1. The past (Malachi 4:4) a. Remember the law of Moses b. Remember the appearance of God on Horeb c. Remember the statutes and judgments 2. The future (Malachi 4:5-6); the coming of Elijah a. With a message of wrath (Malachi 4:5) b. With an offer of repentance (Malachi 4:6) c. Elijah is a powerful figure in Jewish doctrine and tradition. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), was thought by some to be Elijah (John 1:21), and according to Jesus could have fulfilled the work of Elijah (Matthew 11:14). To the Jewish people, Elijah is known as the herald of the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 4:5). Traditionally among the Jews, he fulfills many roles: peacemaker, a help to barren women, an interpreter of difficult passages in the Torah and Talmud, and a protector. Because of his place as intercessor between generations (Malachi 4:6), he is thought to be present at circumcisions where a special Chair of Elijah is reserved for him. At the Passover, a cup of wine is set aside as Elijah’s Cup, not to be drunk until the prophet arrives to announce the coming Messiah and the Messianic Age (compare Matthew 26:29).
CONCLUSION: This passage concludes the Old Testament. However, though there are promises of a better day coming, the last words of the Old Testament are a warning: “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6).
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ANTIOCH BIBLE LESSON #250
MEMORY VERSES: • Malachi 3:6 – For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. • Malachi 3:17 – And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. • Malachi 4:2 – But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
@ STAR [Story, Theme, Application, Resources] •
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STORY – The first two chapters of Malachi established a case against the hardness and laxness of the Jews in their devotion to the Lord. The last two chapters continue to point out their disobedience, especially in the instance of giving tithes. However, these chapters look prophetically to the day of the Lord. This will be a day when God will come in wrath and will judge the wicked. However, all is not lost. Those who fear the Lord will be remembered and will be spared. To them, the Sun of righteousness will rise will healing and will care for them as calves that are brought up in the stall. In closing, they are told to look backward to the law of Moses and forward to the coming of Elijah as the herald of the day of the Lord and the Messianic Kingdom to follow. THEME – God’s people need to repent of their sins and turn to the Lord. They must recognize that the day of reckoning is coming and that the wicked will be judged. However, those who know the Lord and belong to Him will be remembered. They may go through unpleasant purifying, but they will come forth as gold (see Job 23:10). APPLICATION o Compare the two different messengers of Malachi 3:1 with the completely different one of Malachi 2:7. Identify each one. Why are they all called messengers? What is their connection? o Why are the blessings of the righteous compared to growing up as calves in a stall (Malachi 4:2)? RESOURCES o Use pictures and descriptions to illustrate the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s soap (Malachi 3:2-3). Explain or illustrate the whitening done by a fuller (Mark 9:3). Explain how fire refines precious metals. o How would you draw Malachi 3:10? o Bring a notebook to illustrate the “book of remembrance” (Malachi 3:16) and a small bottle of water to illustrate the bottle of tears (Psalm 56:8). Discuss the significance of God’s memory. o Look up the song, “When He Cometh to Make Up His Jewels,” to illustrate Malachi 3:17.
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