The day which no one “can endure” that is spoken of here in Malachai relates
directly to Joel’s day that no one “can endure”. Even so, clearly the first words of Malachai’s message have to do with something that occurs earlier: the arrival of John the Baptist and then Messiah Yeshua ("Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the YHWH, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple.). Something that no one in Joel’s day could have seen coming, but in hindsight it becomes clear. Just as clearly, because Yeshua represented salvation and not judgment (He did not come to condemn or punish), and therefore certainly not as the refiner of the Levites (the Priesthood). Further, since Malachai lived and wrote well after the time of the Assyrian attack and exile of Israel, and then later still after the Babylonian attack and exile of Judah (and even after Judah’s return), then neither of these enormous events can be any part of the events he’s describing. Even more, whatever and whomever this judgment includes, it does NOT include Jacob (meaning Israel) being destroyed. Confusing? It certainly had to have been for the Israelites who first read and heard Malachai’s prophecy, but it ought to be less so for us.
Tom Bradford
21 окт 2024
