The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

II.

The Day of the LORD & Purging of Israel (3:1-4:6)

A. A Messenger will come, then the LORD Himself (3:1-3) 1. Then offerings will be pleasant (3:4) 2. Judgment against evil doers who do not fear the LORD (3:5) B. Those who fear the LORD (3:16-18)

1. A Book of Remembrance written (3:16) 2. The blessing of the righteous (3:17-18) C. The coming Day of the LORD (4:1-6) 1. Judgment & blessing (4:1-3:4) 2. Elijah will come & Prepare the way (4:5-6)

Two Parts

The Book of Malachi is easily divided into two parts:

1. &KDSWHUV DQG «««« SUHVHQWV WKH VLQV RI WKH QDWLRQ 2. &KDSWHUV DQG «««« the Coming Day of the LORD.

Two classes of people are found:

1. 7KRVH ZKR UHVLVW GRLQJ *RG·V ZLOO ² a large number, including some priests. 2. Those who fear the Lord, do His will and keep His covenant ² they gather often to talk about the LORD (3:16).

The Day of the LORD 0DODFKL VSHDNV RI ´WKH 'D\ RI WKH /25'µ -6, 16-18; 4:1- +H DOVR VSHDNV RI ´7KH 'D\µ 3, 5). The expressions have been used by various prophets, and the meaning could be fourfold: 1) The first appearance of Christ, 2) The second appearance of Christ, 3) the whole Christian era, 4) The Millennial Reign of Christ for 1,000 years, called by s RPH ´7KH *ROGHQ $JH µ Malachi has clearly shown that both believing Jews and Gentiles will be one people of *RG ´0\ QDPH VKDOO EH JUHDW DPRQJ WKH QDWLRQVµ DQG ´0\ QDPH LV WR EH IHDUHG DPRQJ WKH QDWLRQVµ . The one people of God are the people of faith, the children of Abraham. In 3:1 and 3:2-3 we have a picture of the first and second coming of Christ. The first reference introduces John the Baptist as the forerunner-messenger that introduces Christ. Verses 2 and 3 speak RI ´7KH 'D\ RI +LV &RPLQJµ ZKLFK UHIHUV WR +LV VHFRQG DGYHQW LQ ZKLFK MXGJPHQW LV EURXJKW WR WKRVH LQ UHEHOOLRQ &KDSWHU RSHQV ZLWK ´WKH GD\µ EXUQLQJ OLNH DQ RYHQ , the awful

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