Malachi and the Sanctuary

Dear Readers:
Malachi reveals God's end time message of judgment and mercy to cleanse His people from their sins.

Especially are the chapters of Malachi 3 and 4 important to study! Its message is very relevant to our times.


Mal. 2.17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, wherein have we wearied him? When you say, everyone that does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them: or you ask, where is the God of judgment?

Sound familiar? People do not believe that God is a God of justice and judgement as well as a God of love.

In chapters one and two we read that the Israelites during this post exile time were going through the rituals of their religious ceremonies. They were offering their sacrifices and performing their religious "duties". However, they were missing the spiritual connection and meaning. They were offering blind lambs and defective animals to God. They weren't really living according to God's moral laws either. They seemed to have considerable trouble with their marriages. Yes, they had been cured of idol worship, but they were misinterpeting God's laws so they could break them under the pretense of keeping them!

From a cultural view, these people (Jewish people) weren't notoriously bad sinners and they considered themselves quite righteous, especially as they compared themselves to the heathen. But they were sinning grievously in the eyes of God.

They wonder why God doesn't visit judgment upon those they deemed to be the wicked -- the heathen. Their words implied, If God is a God of judgment why doesn't He punish the heathen? The heathen enjoy undisturbed prosperity so God must delight in them. Maybe we'd be better off just being like the heathen? (3:14-15) Thus they go through their religious routines without heart and without meaning.

3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi's messages points to Christ's first coming. John the Baptist is the messenger to prepare the way. Then Jesus the Prince of the covenant (see also Daniel 9:27, 11:22) would come to their temple.
Near the beginning of ministry, Christ throw out the money changers from the temple (John 2:14) and again near the end of His ministry. (Luke 19:35)



Yet, Malachi's message also points to the end of time when Christ would enter the heavenly sanctuaries courtroom.

Mal. 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. The Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in; behold, he shall come.

In 1844 the people though Jesus was coming to earth in glory. The coming of the Lord to His temple was sudden, unexpected. They were not looking for Him there. The coming of Christ as our high priest to the Most Holy Place, for the cleansing of the sanctuary , brought to view in Daniel 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days, as presented in Daniel 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event, the beginning of the investigative judgment.



Reminds me very much of Revelation 14:6-7 --A messenger flying through the air announcing the gospel and "the hour of His judgment is come."

3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

These next words ask the question "Who may abide the day of His coming?" Who shall stand; as a fire separates the metal from the dross?

For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the lord an offering in righteousness. (3:2-3)

He shall sit --
Note the parallel with Daniel 7 "The ancient of Days took His seat. . .the judgment was set and the books were opened. Note the parallel with Ps. 79:9 "Help us O God and purge away our sins for they name sake." Heb. 9:14 "Christ shall purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

God sees the hearts of people — He wants to cleanse, purify and refine our characters. This is very biblical! This is the purification that must take place as we surrender our lives to Christ. This is the heart searching that was required of the Israelites on the day of atonement — this is the work of sincere repentance that is accomplished as the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in our lives.

Then shall the offering of Judah be pleasant unto the Lord. (3:4)

This is what Romans 12:1-2 is talking about — presenting ourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. Not conforming to worldly things but being transformed by the renewing of our minds so we can proof what is good and acceptable and perfect according to the will of God.

Through the grace of God and co-operation with the leading of the Holy, they must be overcomers in the battle with evil.
"While the investigative Judgment is going forward in Heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth." {GC 425)

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Malachi continues with his message from God: I will come near to you to judgement: and I will be a swift witness against (your sins) saith the Lord (3:5)

God has declared through His prophet that He will cleanse His people from their iniquities. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if people cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then they themselves will be consumed.

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore you are not consumed.(3:6)

We are not consumed now because a God of love is giving us time to come to Him for cleansing.



God has given us a choice — by rights we are all guilty and deserve death — but He has offered to cleanse us through His blood and through the purging of our hearts from sin. "Come," He says, "let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow — wash you make you clean; put away the evil of your doings; cease to do evil . . .if you are willing and obedient you shall live ---but if you refuse and rebel you shall be devoured" (Isaiah 1:16-20)

Return to me and I will return to you says the Lord almighty.(3:6)

How shall we awaken the people? Dreadful scenes are before us; Satan and his agents are bringing all their powers against God's people. He knows that if they sleep a little longer, he is sure of them, for their destruction is certain. Awake! Return with your whole heart to the Lord and He will cleanse and fit you for heaven.

But the people said, wherein shall we return? Will a person rob God? Yet you have robbed me! You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. (3:7-9)

Can a person rob God? How can we rob God? By applying the things He has reserved for Himself to our own use — be it money or time. We rob God by taking the hours He has sanctified and made holy and using them for our own pleasure and purposes! (Is. 58:13-14)

Now listen to what the people say in response to God's message — we have probably heard these thoughts in our modern day as well:

"It doesn't pay to serve God. What profit is there in trying to keep God's commandments? It just makes one mournful. We've changed our concepts. We see that the proud are happy, they that continue in sin are doing great, they that tempt the grace of God by sinning will be delivered." (3:14-15)

God declares You have spoken stout or presumptuous words against Me" (3:13)

Two classes of people appear when Christ "comes suddenly to his temple" to cleanse.
Above we noted the first class who say --It doesn't pay to serve God. It's too hard, too much of a sacrifice.

But then another class of people are brought to view:

They that feared God spoke often to each other and the Lord listened and heard and it was recorded in the books of heaven --for those who feared God and thought upon His name. (3:16)

Yes, there are record books in heaven from which we will be judged! The judgment was set and the books were opened. (Dan. 7:10) There are names written in the book of life (Phil 4:3)
"The LORD said unto Moses, whosoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." (Ex.32:33) But, the overcomers, clothed with Christ's righteousness will not have their names blotted out, their names will remain forever in this book (Rev. 3:5) Those that defile and work abomination do not enter heavenly kingdom, only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of Life. (Rev. 21:27)

All who desire to have their names in that book need to respond to urgings of the Holy spirit and come to Christ in repentance and honest dedication of heart and soul to Him. They need to encourage one another in the walk with God— speaking often with each other about the things of God.

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And they shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. (3:17)

What a wonderful promise! He will blot out the sins of the repentant sinner from the books, so they will not stand against us.(Is. 43:25)
He will present their names before the Father and the multitude of angels and NOT blot out their names from the book of life! (Rev. 3:5) They will be clothed in His righteous garment of white and walk with Him (Rev. 3:4)
He will work out His righteousness in us if we invite Him unreservedly into our lives. We are very precious to Him. Like precious jewels, but just like with precious jewels the real beauty is not revealed without a refining process first.

Our prayer should be:

Psalm 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin [is] ever before me.
51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.
51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.


Then you will discern between the rightous and the wicked. (3:18)

Now the lines are blurry — many profess to be Christians but do not live in accordance to Christ's ways — but the day will come when there will be a clear distinction — the sheep will be separated from the goats — the wheat from the tares.

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day is coming, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that is coming shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
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.

Two groups, and only two are pictured in the end.

The reference to "wings" reminds us of Jesus words:
Matt. 23:37-38 how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Safety and healing is when we place ourselves under the "wings" of God.

Also of interest is that Malachi speaks of TWO fires:

God promised a fire for His people (Malachi 3:2-3) a fire to refine and purify them, and here in Malachi 4:1 He promises a fire for the wicked. But there is a big difference between the refining fire applied to God’s people and the burning fire against the ungodly.

THE REFINING FIRE BURNS SIN OUR OF OUR LIVES:

As EGW writes: "God wants His people to be a holy and powerful people. When the spirit of holiness and perfect love abounds in the heart, working in those who profess the name of Christ, it will be like a refining fire, consuming the dross and scattering the darkness." {1T 232.2}

And Peter writes:
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

The refining furnace is to remove the dross and sin from our characters.


On the other hand there is the consuming fire of Malachi 4.
A fire that consumes all who have not placed themselves under the protective, healing wings of the Savior.


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.


Mal. 4:3,4 gives us the joyous assurance that those who reverence the name of God and remember the law, will have the Sun of righteousness arise with healing and they will grow up to the image of God in which God created mankind in the beginning.

There is no need to experience the fire that removes sin forever.