Malachi Chapter 4
No one likes to talk about hell or God’s judgement, but it is in fact a topic that is heavily addressed many times throughout scriptures.
God repeatedly warns us that those who reject Him will ultimately spend eternity in hell.
When that great judgement day comes it will be the finality.
There will be no more chances to repent.
God knew that many would ask why it has been that so many years have passed and yet He has not returned.
While we do not understand God’s timetable, we do know that He is patiently giving people opportunity to repent and turn to Him.
He does not want even one person to be sent to an eternity in hell.
2 Peter 3:4-10 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Let's Reflect
1. “The great day of the LORD” is a term that refers to the day when Jesus returns to judge the earth, the final judgement. The analogy used to depict this final judgement is of chaff or grass being thrown into an oven to burn as fuel. When the grass is picked there is always a bit of the stalk and the root left behind for another chance to grow. When the Lord comes back to judge the earth there will be no more chances, all hope will be gone. What will happen to the stubble and the root?
2. Who will be saved from this fiery judgement?
3. They will be saved by the Sun of Righteousness – Jesus. When the believers are no longer encumbered by the sins of this world they will feel great joy and leap like what animal that is freed from a stall?
4. Notice that He comes with healing in His wings. His light will be greater than the sun it will bring light and warmth to us. We will be made whole. And I think the greatest blessing of all is that we will no longer remember the pain, the tears, the dreadfulness of the curse of sin. It will be as if we trample on top of the __________ of the judged ones and not even realize it. This is not a literal meaning but a figurative one.
5. Two of God’s greatest witnesses in Biblical history are mentioned here in Malachi. One is Elijah and the other is?
6. God promised that Elijah would be sent to them before the Lord’s great judgement. This was fulfilled through the witness of John the Baptist in a figurative sense. See Mt. 11:14, Mark 9:11-13, and Luke 1:17 and will be completely fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus. Mt. 17:11-12 and Rev. 11:3-12. In anticipation of the return of Elijah, Jewish people still set a place at the table for Elijah at Passover. What is the mission of Elijah?
7. There will be more than a reconciliation of families, but hearts will be turned to The Father. God wants to have all men turn to Him for salvation instead of the earth being what?
Devotionals
