Mal 4:1 | KingComments | STEP | The day to come is the day of the LORD, that is the period in which Christ claims and exercises world government. Then it is over and out with ‘the human court’, literally ‘human day’ ( ), that is the period in which man has everything in control, the time in which we live. The day of the LORD comes “burning like a furnace”, which means that that day is heralded by judgment. “Burning like a furnace” indicates the intensity of the fire, its heat, and shows the greatness of God’s vengeance ( ). The arrogant, praised and blessed by the unfaithful members of God’s people ( ), and the wicked of the people themselves, will be nothing more than chaff in the flaming fire of God’s judgment. That is all that remains of the highly praised arrogance. The contrast between what they imagine in their lives without God and what they are when the fire of God’s judgment ignites against them cannot be painted more dramatically. Once again Malachi says that the day that comes will set them ablaze. “Our God is a consuming fire” ( ). He radically judges all who have rebelled against Him. There is nothing left of them on earth. “Neither root nor branch” is left. They are both ends of the tree: the root deep in the ground and the branch high in the air. Once the root has been eradicated, nothing can grow out of it. Once the branch is exterminated, it cannot take root. The judgment is total. God will remove all stumbling blocks from His kingdom and throw them into the fire ( ). By the way, this is about the appearance of the Lord Jesus on earth and not about His coming for the church in the air. No unbeliever will be a witness to the latter. If He appears on earth, it will be together with the church.

‏ Malachi 4:1

The Day of the LORD Comes Burning

The day to come is the day of the LORD, that is the period in which Christ claims and exercises world government. Then it is over and out with ‘the human court’, literally ‘human day’ (1Cor 4:3), that is the period in which man has everything in control, the time in which we live. The day of the LORD comes “burning like a furnace”, which means that that day is heralded by judgment. “Burning like a furnace” indicates the intensity of the fire, its heat, and shows the greatness of God’s vengeance (2Thes 1:7-8).

The arrogant, praised and blessed by the unfaithful members of God’s people (Mal 3:15), and the wicked of the people themselves, will be nothing more than chaff in the flaming fire of God’s judgment. That is all that remains of the highly praised arrogance. The contrast between what they imagine in their lives without God and what they are when the fire of God’s judgment ignites against them cannot be painted more dramatically.

Once again Malachi says that the day that comes will set them ablaze. “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). He radically judges all who have rebelled against Him. There is nothing left of them on earth. “Neither root nor branch” is left. They are both ends of the tree: the root deep in the ground and the branch high in the air. Once the root has been eradicated, nothing can grow out of it. Once the branch is exterminated, it cannot take root. The judgment is total. God will remove all stumbling blocks from His kingdom and throw them into the fire (Mt 13:41-42).

By the way, this is about the appearance of the Lord Jesus on earth and not about His coming for the church in the air. No unbeliever will be a witness to the latter. If He appears on earth, it will be together with the church.