End times, last chapter of Malachi, last Book of the Old Testament. This chapter is detailed, heavy, and descriptive! If this last chapter doesn’t put the fear of God in us, then we are hard of heart indeed! Let’s take a look at these six verses in detail.
End times: The proud and wicked will burn!
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.
The day is coming where the wicked and proud will burn to stubble. The day will come. It cannot be reversed, changed, or avoided. That great and terrible day where people will die. People will burn that do not know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. We have not even gotten to verse 2 and yet this verse opens up with graphic thoughts. I don’t believe we really know the magnitude of this chapter. I believe most of us would read this verse as a born-again believer and say, I don’t have anything to worry about, I know where I am going. What about your loved ones, friends, or those that you have a relationship with that do not know Jesus. They will be the ones who will be burning here. We need to wake up to reality and answer the call to give the Gospel to those that we love and care about!
End times: The saved will conquer!
Malachi 4:2-3 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. (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 good new is, we may be persecuted, but we are not abandoned! We as born-again believers will conquer the wicked! They will burn and they will be ashes under the soles of our feet! Who will do this? The Lord will! He has the power over Heaven and Hell, to send souls to Hell, and take your last breath! Born-again believers will conquer along side of the Lord Jesus Christ!
End times: The law will return!
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 means people can’t call on the name of Jesus to be saved, no more salvation, and more Gospel! Once the rapture happens, the people left behind will have to keep the law of Moses again! Back to blood sacrifices, Back to works based salvation! If you are not saved today, make today that day! The Bible says that TODAY is the day of Salvation! The Bible says we need to seek the Lord while He may be found, and Jesus says repent and believe the Gospel!
End times: Elijah will return!
Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: (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.
Before this great and dreadful day comes. Elijah will return. Fathers and their children will unite because of the fear of the Lord! By then it will be too late. The end draws near day by day, moment by moment. Jesus wants a relationship with you now. Whether you bow the knee now or bow the knee later you will stand before a righteous just God calling Him the King of kings and Lord of lords! Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord in the end times!
End times are coming. There is no escaping it. Will you commit to the Lord Jesus Christ today? He is waiting.
Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.