Download
1 / 14
140 likes | 152 Views
Discover the faithful remnant in Judah as Malachi speaks of God's mercy and future judgment. Explore the concept of the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ. Scripture from Malachi, Exodus, Zephaniah, and Matthew Redman's "Mercy."
E N D
Malachi 3: 14-15 14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God.What do we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”
Echoes of Malachi 2:17: “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and He is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?”
Even as God is speaking about the present (and possible future) judgment of those who reject Him as Lord, we see a small note in Malachi about a faithful remnant of believers in Judah that God will show His mercy to.
Malachi 3:16 “Then those who feared the Lordtalked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.”
Malachi 3:17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be My treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.”
Exodus 19: 5-6 (Deut. 7:6) 5 “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine,6 youwill be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Malachi 3:18 “And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
As we talk about God comforting His faithful believers and as we remember Malachi’s current “End Times” focus, it would be right to briefly talk about “The Rapture.”
It is believed by many that “The Rapture of the Saints” will occur sometime during the End Times as a means of mercy…where Jesus will appear in the clouds to “gather” Christians up to Heaven and away from God’s Wrath as it escalates against sinful mankind and the Anti-Christ’s forces.
This event can often get confused with “The Second Coming of Christ”, which also will occurs during the End Times… but as a means of judgment against the sin of Earth and to fully reveal Jesus as “King of Kings” on Earth. He is accompanied by a host of angels during this event.
Main Scripture… 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 Most of the other Scriptures that get attributed as “Rapture” Scriptures fit better as “2nd Coming” Scriptures. This has led to the increasingly-common opinion that the “Rapture” will not occur.
Zephaniah 2: 1-3 1 Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, 2 before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the Day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you.3 Seek the Lord, all youhumble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seekrighteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
“Mercy” by Matt Redman I will kneel in the dust at the foot of the cross,Where mercy paid for me.Where the wrath I deserve, It is gone, it has passed.Your blood has hidden me. We will lift up the cup and the bread we will break...remembering Your love.We were fallen from grace,But You took on our shameAnd nailed it to a cross.
