OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI: THE CLOSE OUT OF A MAGNIFICENT EPIC ERA

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APOSTOLIC TAVEAU CREATIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING

 

MALACHI: OUTLINE FOR THE END OF A SIGNIFICANT EAGLE ERA

Please give synopsis and significant points in each chapter of Malachi any details, history, deeper meaning, key verses in KJV

 

Synopsis and Key Points of Each Chapter in Malachi (KJV)

The Book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, addresses the Israelites’ spiritual apathy and outlines God’s coming judgment. The prophet Malachi emphasizes God’s covenant with Israel and calls them to repentance. Key themes include God’s love for His people, the importance of faithful worship, and the promise of a coming Messiah. Below is a chapter-by-chapter summary with key points, historical context, and deeper meaning.

Chapter 1: God’s Love for Israel and the Corruption of the Priesthood

Synopsis:

  • Verses 1-5: God declares His love for Israel, contrasting His choice of Jacob (Israel) over Esau (Edom) (TD Interjects ESAU, EDOM are symbolic of the hireling in God’s Ministry Leadership, in this case also in ministry, the carnal infiltration). God’s sovereign election of Israel is a reminder of His covenant relationship, despite their doubts.
  • Verses 6-14: The priests are accused of despising God’s name by offering polluted sacrifices. They dishonor God by giving blemished animals, showing their contempt for His altar.

Key Points:

  • Historical Context: Written post-exile (5th century BC), Israel had returned to their land but had grown spiritually apathetic. The temple was rebuilt, but worship had become mechanical and corrupt.
  • Deeper Meaning: God’s choice of Jacob over Esau symbolizes His covenant with Israel. The corrupt sacrifices indicate a deeper issue of heartless worship and neglect of God’s holiness.
  • Key Verses:
    • Malachi 1:2: “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob.”
    • Malachi 1:8: “And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?”

Chapter 2: Rebuke of the Priests and Faithfulness in Marriage

Synopsis:

  • Verses 1-9: God warns the priests about their unfaithfulness and calls them to honor the covenant made with Levi, which emphasized righteous teaching and leading people in truth.
  • Verses 10-16: The people are condemned for their unfaithfulness in marriage. They have married foreign women and divorced their wives, breaking God’s covenant of faithfulness.
  • Verse 17: The people question God’s justice, suggesting He is indifferent to evil.

Key Points:

  • Historical Context: The priests were responsible for teaching God’s law, but they had become corrupt, leading to spiritual decay among the people. Marriages to foreign women threatened Israel’s identity as a covenant nation.
  • Deeper Meaning: The priesthood’s failure reflects a broader societal breakdown, with marriage seen as a covenant that mirrors God’s relationship with Israel. The people’s unfaithfulness in marriage symbolizes their unfaithfulness to God.
  • Key Verses:
    • Malachi 2:7: “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.”
    • Malachi 2:16: “For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away…”

Chapter 3: The Coming Messenger and the Call to Repentance

Synopsis:

  • Verses 1-5: Malachi speaks of the coming of a messenger (John the Baptist), who will prepare the way for the Lord. The Lord will come to purify the priests and judge those who oppress the vulnerable.
  • Verses 6-12: God calls Israel to return to Him. The people are accused of robbing God by withholding tithes and offerings. God promises blessings if they faithfully give.
  • Verses 13-18: The people complain that serving God is useless, but God assures them that a book of remembrance is written for those who fear Him.

Key Points:

  • Historical Context: During this period, many Israelites were discouraged, feeling that their faithfulness was in vain as they observed the prosperity of the wicked. Malachi addresses their doubts and calls them to renew their commitment to God.
  • Deeper Meaning: The messenger is a reference to John the Baptist, who prepares the way for Christ, the ultimate refiner. Tithing symbolizes a trust in God’s provision, and withholding tithes is equated with dishonoring God.
  • Key Verses:
    • Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.”
    • Malachi 3:10: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse… and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven…”

Chapter 4: The Day of the Lord

Synopsis:

  • Verses 1-3: The day of the Lord is described as a time of judgment for the wicked, but for those who fear God, it will be a time of healing and restoration. The righteous will triumph over the wicked.
  • Verses 4-6: Malachi concludes with a reminder to obey the Law of Moses and a promise that Elijah (symbolically fulfilled by John the Baptist) will come before the great day of the Lord.

Key Points:

  • Historical Context: The anticipation of the Day of the Lord was central to Israel’s hope for justice and restoration. Malachi points to a future when God will fully establish His kingdom.
  • Deeper Meaning: The Day of the Lord represents both judgment and salvation. For the wicked, it is a day of destruction, but for the righteous, it is a day of healing. The mention of Elijah reflects a call to repentance before the arrival of the Messiah.
  • Key Verses:
    • Malachi 4:2: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.”
    • Malachi 4:5: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”

Conclusion and Significance of Malachi:

  • Covenant Faithfulness: Throughout the book, God’s covenant with Israel is central, and the people’s failures highlight their need for true repentance and heart-driven worship.
  • Messianic Prophecy: Malachi foreshadows the coming of Christ through the references to a messenger (John the Baptist) and the ultimate purification brought by the Messiah.
  • Judgment and Hope: The book balances judgment for disobedience with hope for those who remain faithful to God.

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CONCLUSION:  ADDITIONAL INSIGHT

 

AUTHORITY QUESTION: Who is the messenger?

The “messenger” referred to in Malachi 3:1 is traditionally understood in two layers:

1. Immediate Fulfillment: John the Baptist

  • The first part of Malachi 3:1 says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.” This is widely recognized as a prophecy concerning John the Baptist, who is the forerunner of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist’s role is to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah, calling them to repentance and pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God. This interpretation is affirmed in the New Testament:
    • Matthew 11:10 directly quotes Malachi 3:1 and identifies John the Baptist as this messenger.
    • Luke 1:76 refers to John the Baptist as “the prophet of the Highest,” who would “go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways.”

2. Ultimate Fulfillment: Jesus Christ as the “Messenger of the Covenant”

  • The second part of Malachi 3:1 says, “and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in.” This is understood to refer to Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is the “messenger of the covenant,” bringing the New Covenant, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament, and providing salvation through His life, death, and resurrection.
    • Jesus cleanses the temple in John 2:14-16, and His presence there is seen as the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Key Points on the Two Messengers:

  • John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord, acting as the forerunner.
  • Jesus Christ is the “messenger of the covenant” who comes to purify, judge, and ultimately establish God’s kingdom.

Both of these figures play crucial roles in God’s redemptive plan as outlined by Malachi.

AUTHORITY QUESTION: Who is Elijah?

The figure of Elijah in the context of Malachi, particularly in Malachi 4:5-6, has both symbolic and prophetic significance:

1. Immediate Fulfillment: John the Baptist as the “Elijah” to Come

  • Malachi 4:5 says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” This prophecy is understood by many as pointing to John the Baptist, who is considered the fulfillment of Elijah’s prophetic role. Although John the Baptist was not Elijah reincarnated, he came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.
    • Luke 1:17 explicitly states that John the Baptist would “go before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah” to turn the hearts of the people back to God, just as Elijah did in his ministry.
    • Matthew 11:14: Jesus confirms this interpretation, saying, “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come,” referring to John the Baptist.
    • Matthew 17:10-13: After the Transfiguration, the disciples ask about Elijah’s return, and Jesus tells them that Elijah has already come, referring to John the Baptist.

2. Historical Elijah: The Old Testament Prophet

  • Elijah was one of the most significant prophets in Israel’s history, who lived in the 9th century BC during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. His ministry is recounted in 1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2, where he boldly opposed the worship of Baal, called the nation to repentance, and performed great miracles.
    • Key Events of Elijah’s Life:
      • He called down fire from heaven to prove the power of the true God on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40).
      • He was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, without experiencing death (2 Kings 2:11), which contributed to the belief that Elijah would one day return.

3. Symbolic Meaning: The Role of Elijah as a Forerunner

  • Elijah represents the prophetic role of calling Israel back to covenant faithfulness. His return, as prophesied in Malachi, symbolizes the renewal of God’s people and the preparation for the coming Day of the Lord. His function is to bring about repentance and spiritual restoration, just as he did during his ministry.
  • John the Baptist mirrors this role, calling Israel to repentance and preparing the way for Christ, who would bring the ultimate restoration.

4. Future Fulfillment in Eschatology (The End Times)

  • Some interpretations, particularly within Christian eschatology, believe that Elijah may return again in a literal sense before Christ’s second coming, fulfilling the role of the forerunner for the final “Day of the Lord.” This view stems from his unique departure from earth (taken to heaven without dying) and the ongoing Jewish expectation of Elijah’s return.

Key Points about Elijah:

  • Old Testament Prophet: Elijah was a powerful prophet who called Israel to repentance.
  • John the Baptist: Elijah is symbolically fulfilled by John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for Jesus Christ.
  • Eschatological Role: Some hold that Elijah may return again before Christ’s second coming, fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy in a future context.

In summary, Elijah in Malachi 4:5 primarily points to John the Baptist, but it also carries deeper symbolic meaning about the role of a prophet who prepares God’s people for divine intervention.

COMMUNITY QUESTION: What is the covenant?

The concept of the covenant in the Bible, particularly in the context of Malachi, refers to a solemn and binding agreement between God and His people. Throughout Scripture, the term “covenant” appears frequently to describe the different relationships God establishes with humanity, particularly with the people of Israel. The covenant is central to understanding God’s promises and expectations for His people.

Types of Covenants in the Bible:

  1. Abrahamic Covenant:
    • Genesis 12:1-3; 15:18: God promises Abraham land, descendants, and blessings. This covenant marks the beginning of God’s special relationship with Israel, Abraham’s descendants, and ultimately, a promise to bless all nations through them.
    • Significance: This covenant is unconditional and serves as the foundation for Israel’s identity as God’s chosen people.
  2. Mosaic Covenant (The Law or Sinai Covenant):
    • Exodus 19-24: This covenant was made between God and Israel through Moses after the Exodus from Egypt. It includes the Ten Commandments and the broader Mosaic Law, which governs Israel’s behavior and their relationship with God.
    • Key Elements: Israel is to be faithful to God’s laws and, in return, will receive blessings (Deuteronomy 28). Disobedience, however, will bring curses.
    • Significance in Malachi: The Mosaic Covenant is heavily referenced in Malachi because the people are accused of breaking it by offering improper sacrifices, marrying foreign women, and neglecting justice. The priests in particular are reminded of their duty to uphold the covenant made with Levi, the priestly tribe (Malachi 2:4-8).
  3. Davidic Covenant:
    • 2 Samuel 7:12-16: This covenant was made with King David, promising that his descendants would rule over Israel forever, culminating in the Messiah. This is an important background to the messianic expectations in Malachi.
    • Significance: It anticipates the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, who would establish an eternal kingdom. The people in Malachi’s day are awaiting this restoration, but they are called to faithfulness in the meantime.
  4. New Covenant (Promised in the Prophets):
    • Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:26-27 speak of a coming New Covenant where God will write His law on the hearts of His people, rather than on stone tablets. This covenant will bring spiritual transformation and forgiveness.
    • In Malachi: Though not explicitly mentioned, Malachi 3:1-5 points toward the coming of the “messenger of the covenant,” which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who establishes the New Covenant through His death and resurrection (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:15).

The Covenant in Malachi:

  1. The Covenant with Levi:
    • Malachi 2:4-8 refers to the covenant God made with Levi, the tribe designated to serve as priests. This covenant expected the priests to lead the people in righteousness, teach the law, and honor God in their sacrifices and worship. However, in Malachi’s time, the priests were corrupt, offering blemished sacrifices and failing to teach the people properly.
    • Key Verses:
      • Malachi 2:5: “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.”
      • Malachi 2:7: “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”
  2. Covenantal Faithfulness and Marriage:
    • In Malachi 2:10-16, the prophet addresses how the people have broken their covenant with God through unfaithfulness in marriage. They were divorcing their Jewish wives to marry foreign women, which violated the covenantal expectations of purity and fidelity.
    • Marriage, in this context, symbolizes the covenant relationship between God and His people, and faithlessness in marriage represents unfaithfulness to the covenant with God.
  3. Covenantal Justice:
    • Malachi 3:5: God promises to come in judgment against those who oppress the vulnerable (widows, orphans, and the poor) and those who do not honor Him. This is a violation of the covenant’s call to love justice, mercy, and humility before God (Micah 6:8).
    • The Call to Return: God’s people are called to return to Him (Malachi 3:7), which involves repenting of their covenantal violations, especially the neglect of tithes and offerings. Faithfulness to the covenant would bring blessings, while disobedience would bring curses.

The New Covenant and Messianic Fulfillment:

  • Malachi 3:1 speaks of the coming “messenger of the covenant,” pointing toward the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. This New Covenant offers forgiveness, a new heart, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament prophets.
    • Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenant promises to Abraham, Moses, and David. Through Him, both Jews and Gentiles are brought into a new relationship with God, no longer based on the Mosaic Law but on grace and faith in Christ.

Significance of the Covenant in Malachi:

  • A Call to Faithfulness: The entire book of Malachi centers on the people’s unfaithfulness to the covenant, whether in worship, marriage, or justice. The prophet calls them to repent and honor the covenant with God.
  • A Promise of Future Fulfillment: Though Israel has failed, the covenant remains because of God’s faithfulness. Malachi points to the coming Messiah (Jesus) who will bring a new, more complete covenant that offers transformation and eternal life.

In conclusion, the covenant in Malachi refers to the Mosaic Covenant and the covenant with Levi as the priests, but it also points forward to the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, where God’s relationship with His people is perfected through grace and forgiveness.

CERTAIN MINISTRY QUESTIONS:

1. What is the New Covenant

2. Why was Levi Important

3 What is the Day of the Lord

 

1. What is the New Covenant?

The New Covenant is the promise of a new relationship between God and humanity, as foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament and fulfilled through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The New Covenant replaces the Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant) and is marked by internal transformation, spiritual renewal, and the forgiveness of sins.

  • Key Old Testament Prophecies:
    • Jeremiah 31:31-34: God promises a covenant where His laws will be written on the hearts of the people, and He will forgive their iniquities. This covenant is not based on external adherence to laws, but on an inner, spiritual change.
    • Ezekiel 36:26-27: God promises to give His people a new heart and put His Spirit within them.
  • Fulfillment in Jesus Christ:
    • Luke 22:20: At the Last Supper, Jesus says, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Jesus’ death and resurrection inaugurate the New Covenant.
    • Hebrews 8:6-13 explains that the New Covenant is superior to the Old because it is based on better promises, and Jesus is the mediator of this new relationship.
  • Key Features of the New Covenant:
    • Forgiveness of Sins: The New Covenant offers complete forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28).
    • Indwelling of the Holy Spirit: Unlike the Old Covenant, which relied on external laws, the New Covenant is marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, guiding and transforming believers from within (Ephesians 1:13-14).
    • Personal Relationship with God: The New Covenant is based on a direct, personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than through the mediation of priests or adherence to ceremonial law.

2. Why was Levi Important?

Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), became the ancestor of the Levitical priesthood. His descendants, the Levites, were chosen by God to serve in the temple and carry out the priestly functions in Israel. Levi’s importance stems from the covenant God made with the Levites, especially through Aaron, Moses’ brother, who became the first high priest.

  • The Covenant with Levi:
    • In Malachi 2:4-8, God refers to the covenant with Levi, emphasizing that the Levites were set apart for a special role in leading the people in worship, teaching the Law, and offering sacrifices.
    • Malachi 2:5: “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.” The Levites were meant to act as mediators between God and Israel, ensuring the people’s spiritual purity and obedience.
  • Priestly Role of the Levites:
    • Teaching the Law: The Levites were responsible for instructing Israel in the Law and preserving the spiritual integrity of the nation (Deuteronomy 33:8-10).
    • Offering Sacrifices: As priests, the Levites were responsible for performing the sacrificial rituals that atoned for the sins of the people and maintained Israel’s covenant relationship with God (Leviticus 1-7).
  • Why Levi is Mentioned in Malachi:
    • In Malachi’s time, the priests (descendants of Levi) were failing in their duties by offering impure sacrifices and neglecting their spiritual responsibilities. God rebukes them for violating the covenant made with Levi (Malachi 2:8), highlighting the priesthood’s sacred duty to uphold justice and righteousness.

3. What is the Day of the Lord?

The Day of the Lord is a key biblical concept that refers to a future time when God will intervene dramatically in human history to judge the wicked, save the righteous, and establish His kingdom. It is a day of both judgment and salvation.

  • Old Testament Meaning:
    • In the Old Testament, the Day of the Lord is often described as a day of judgment upon Israel’s enemies or Israel itself when they were unfaithful to God. Prophets such as Joel, Amos, Isaiah, and Zephaniah spoke of the Day of the Lord as a time of wrath, destruction, and divine retribution.
    • 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.” This emphasizes the purging and refining aspect of the Day of the Lord, where the wicked will be destroyed.
  • In Malachi:
    • Malachi 4:5: Malachi prophesies that Elijah will come before the Day of the Lord. This points to John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus’ first coming. However, many also see a future fulfillment in Christ’s second coming.
    • Malachi 3:2 asks, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire.” This emphasizes that the Day of the Lord will be a time of purification and judgment.
  • New Testament Fulfillment:
    • In the New Testament, the Day of the Lord is associated with Jesus Christ’s return, when He will judge the living and the dead and establish His kingdom (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, 2 Peter 3:10).
    • Judgment and Salvation: The Day of the Lord brings judgment upon the wicked but also salvation and vindication for the righteous. For believers in Christ, the Day of the Lord is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises, where evil is eradicated and God’s eternal kingdom is established (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 21:1-4).

Summary:

  1. The New Covenant: A spiritual, transformative covenant established by Jesus Christ that offers forgiveness, a new heart, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the promises of the Old Testament.
  2. Levi’s Importance: Levi, the ancestor of the priesthood, was crucial to maintaining Israel’s covenant relationship with God. The Levites were entrusted with the sacred duty of teaching the Law and offering sacrifices.
  3. The Day of the Lord: A future time of divine intervention when God will judge the wicked and save the righteous. It is characterized by judgment, purification, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.

FELLOW BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN LEADERS

Note: Most aware,faithful active  charismatics (usually TV media world wide famous based ,it’s usually, mostly their true USA followers) seem to  use only one verse (tithe Malachi 3:10)  out of this entire substantial warning, prophetic, yet informative Little Big Book. This tiny barely known word preceded 400 years of God’s silence. 10 generations of no Bible canon, just the Apocrypha. In major hindsight, one of my Bible discoveries prior to this general End of That Age is the thread to God leaders, of His people, not to the other types of beliefs. And so it goes right now.

I want to tie in tomorrow’s rising “Future Church” and the historical Isaiah and Obadiah prophecies, which I believe combine to lead up to the important teaching in Malachi and which might have triggered God’s 10 generations of silence (between the Old and New Testament). My reasoning: Perhaps the eyes of God saw the condition of the nation of His people, their mixture and false religion and super pride, and He decided to let them figure out who and what to be and Whom or what they were going to serve.

 

CLOSING: UPCOMING 2 BOOK TIE IN TO THIS..COLLECTIVE IDOLATROUS SIN OF THE LEADERS IN THE NATION OF ISAIAH AND THE HIRELING OBADIAH (next article).

HOW THE ISHMAEL MINISTRY seems to weave it’s way, assert its willful ways  through all of this Malachi today, yet even prior to End of Torah Time Malachi..back in the Nation of Isaiah and Obadiah .which is a big leader warning for right now.

After the 400 silent deciding governing Old Testament years, the First Church is born yet with trouble and accusation from different “area hirelings’ which we will discuss.

 

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