Coming Twice - Malachi 3

Coming Twice

Malachi 3:1-18

        The Old Testament prophets "testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow."  1 Peter 1:11.  They foretold two comings of Christ: His coming to suffer and die for our sins, and His coming in glory to reign.

        Both comings of the Lord are mentioned in Malachi 3:1.  Notice that the Lord (Jehovah) of hosts is speaking.  "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me."  See Matthew 11:10 where John the Baptist is clearly identified as the messenger of the Lord.  John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ.  This is clearly a reference to His first coming.

        In Isaiah 40:3 we have a similar prophecy, which is fulfilled in Matthew 3:3.  John is the voice crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight." 

        Don't miss this.  According to both Old Testament prophecies, John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord, that is, Jehovah.  In the New Testament John prepared the way for Jesus Christ.  What does it mean?  It means that the Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah.  Jesus is God!

        Returning to Malachi 3:1 we find, "'And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.  Behold, He is coming,' says the Lord of hosts."  This second half of the verse is a reference to His second coming.  Verse 2 continues the message.  "But who can endure the day of His coming?  And who can stand when He appears...." 

        Now compare Isaiah 61:1, 2 and its fulfillment in Luke 4:18, 19, where we read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."  All of this is related to the first coming of Christ.  When Jesus read these verses in Luke's gospel, He stopped short.  Take another look at Isaiah 61:2, where Isaiah mentioned "the day of vengeance of our God."  Jesus didn't mention that day, because it was related to His second coming.  The first time that Jesus came, He did not come to judge the world, but rather to save the world.  When He comes again, the second time, He will judge the world in righteousness.

        "Behold, He is coming."  He came once.  He'll come again!

 

        Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to save us from our sins.  We look forward to His second coming.  Let us not be ashamed before Him.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!

 

The Coming of Elijah - Malachi 4