MALACHI LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in Malachi 4:1 "For, behold, the day
cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all
that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn
them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither
root nor branch."
This is speaking of that day of judgement on all the earth. God
is associated with fire many times. Hebrews 12:29 "For our God [is] a
consuming fire." God judges with His fire. Sometimes, the fire is
speaking from a spiritual nature, and sometimes, it is literal.
Matthew 13:30 "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the
time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first
the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat
into my barn." God gives everyone ample time to turn from their sin.
When they do not, He destroys them. II Peter 3:7 "But the heavens and
the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
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."
This is that great day of separation. This speaks of those who
have put their faith and trust in Jesus, receiving their rewards. This
is when the Sun of righteousness brings healing and warmth to those of
His own. There will be no more sorrow. We will be filled with the
Light of God at this time. Luke 17:24 "For as the lightning, that
lighteneth out of the one [part] under heaven, shineth unto the other
[part] under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day."
Revelation 11:18 "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou
shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the
saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest
destroy them which destroy the earth." Revelation 21:4 "And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for
the former things are passed away."
Malachi 4:3 "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall
be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do
[this], saith the LORD of hosts."
The wicked will be ruled over by the saints of God. Jesus will
reign 1000 years upon the earth and the Christians , who had been
oppressed, will reign with Him. The ashes are caused by the fire of
judgement that has come upon them.
Malachi 4:4 "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I
commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and
judgments."
This reverts back to give them one more warning to keep the law
of Moses, so they will not be cursed and burned by the fire of God.
Those who truly knew the Old Testament the way they should have, would
have known Jesus was the Messiah. This is the very reason I stress
Bible study so much. We will not be deceived by the antichrist, if we
have hidden away the Words of the Bible in our hearts. Let me give the
Law of Moses here. Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before
me." Exodus 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in
the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:" Exodus
20:5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I
the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of
them that hate me;" Exodus 20:6 "And shewing mercy unto thousands of
them that love me, and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:7 "Thou shalt
not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not
hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:8
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." Exodus 20:9 "Six days
shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:" Exodus 20:10 "But the seventh
day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy
maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy
gates:" Exodus 20:11 "For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and
earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day:
wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus
20:12 "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long
upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:13 "Thou
shalt not kill." Exodus 20:14 "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
Exodus 20:15 "Thou shalt not steal." Exodus 20:16 "Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbour." Exodus 20:17 "Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's
wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's."
Let us look at what Jesus said about this. Matthew 5:17 "Think
not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come
to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you,
Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in
the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20 "For I say unto you, That except
your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Malachi 4:5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before
the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:"
Some of the Bibles say, one like unto Elijah. Matthew 11:13 "For
all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." Matthew 11:14 "
And if ye will receive [it], this is Elias, which was for to come."
Matthew 17:3 "And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias
talking with him." Matthew 17:10 "And his disciples asked him,
saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?" Matthew
17:11 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first
come, and restore all things." Matthew 17:12 "But I say unto you, That
Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him
whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of
them."
Malachi 4:6 "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come
and smite the earth with a curse."
There had been a terrible time, when there was no love between
parents and children. This is speaking of Elijah, as John the Baptist,
when he preached repentance. Repent for the Lord is coming, was his
cry. I would like to leave you with the following Scriptures, which
are my way of saying, "The Lord is coming".
Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and
shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be." Matthew 24:28 "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the
eagles be gathered together." Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and
the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:" Matthew 24:30 "And then
shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all
the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible study. I pray I
have been able to share with you a few thoughts, that will cause you
to think more deeply about Jesus and His Word. God bless you.
Your friend in Christ,
Louise Haney
Malachi 4 Questions
1. Who does verse 1 say will be burned as stubble?
2. What day is this speaking of?
3. Quote Hebrews chapter 12 verses 29 and 30.
4. Who does 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 7 say, this terrible punishment
is reserved for?
5. The Sun of righteousness rises with ___________ in his wings.
6. Quote Luke chapter 17 verse 24.
7. God shall wipe away all _________ from their eyes.
8. Who rule over the wicked?
9. Why are they as ashes?
10. What law does Malachi caution the Jews to remember?
11. Why does the author stress Bible study?
12. Read the Ten Commandments aloud.
13. Did Jesus come to destroy the law?
14. What did He come to do?
15. Quote Matthew chapter 5 verses 19 and 20.
16. Who will God send before the coming of that great and dreadful
day.
17. Who does Matthew chapter 11 say he was?
18. Quote Matthew chapter 17 verse 12.
19. Verse 6 is speaking of whom?
20. What was the cry of John the Baptist?
21. What is the author's way of saying, "The Lord is coming"?
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