MALACHI (1-4)

CHAPTER 1

The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. BURDEN OF ESAU/EDOM The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. “ I have loved you,” says the LORD. “ Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the LORD. “ Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his (Kingdoms) mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.” Even though Edom has said, “ We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places,”

AGAINST ESAU FOREVER “ They (Edomites) may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever. Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, ‘ The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’

LORD AGAINST EDOM PSALM 108:10-13 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom? Will not you, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. EXODUS 17:14 for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek (grandson of Esau) from generation to generation (Forever).

AGAINST YOUR BROTHER JOEL 3:19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation (Forever). EZEKIEL 25:12-14 Thus says the Lord GOD; Because that Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them; Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman (Arabia); and they of Dedan (Arabia) shall fall by the sword. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD. OBADIAH 1:1-4 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumor from the LORD, and an ambassador (Antichrist) is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made you small among the heathen: you are greatly despised.  The pride of your heart has deceived you, you that dwells in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that says in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though you exalt yourself as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, thence will I bring you down, says the LORD…. Shall I not in that day, says the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman (Arabia), shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. For your violence against your brother Jacob shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off for ever AMOS 1:11-15 Thus says the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

DAUGHTER OF BABYLON PSALM 137:7 Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raise it, raise it, even to the foundation thereof. O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us. LAMENTATIONS 4:21-22 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwell in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto you: you shall be drunken (Babylon the Harlot—Revelation & Isaiah), and shall make yourself naked The punishment of your iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry you away into captivity: he will visit your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover your sins. ZECHARIAH 2:7-8 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.

EDOM A DESOLATION JEREMIAH 49:7-19 Concerning Edom, thus says the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished? Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan (Arabia); for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. If grape gatherers come to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough. But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbors, and he is not. Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. For thus says the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and are you he that shall altogether go unpunished? you shall not go unpunished, but thou shall surely drink of it. For I have sworn by myself, says the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation (Isaiah 63:1), a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.

JESUS FIGHTS EDOM ISAIAH 63:1 Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore are you red in your apparel, and thy garments like him that treads in the winefat?  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.  And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.  I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.   I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Savior. (Connects with Revelation 19—blood on garments/robe)

EDOM = HEADQUARTERS FOR ISLAM KA’BAH = IMAGE OF ALLAH

LINEAGE OF JACOB/ISRAEL CHRIST ANTICHRIST LINEAGE OF JACOB/ISRAEL LINEAGE OF ESAU/EDOM

LORD WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE AGAINST ESAU/EDOM (JACOB’S BROTHER)

BLEMISHED SACRIFICES A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ “ You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘ In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘ The table of the LORD is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts.

GREAT AMONG ALL NATIONS “ But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts. “ Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ But you profane it, In that you say, ‘ The table of the LORD is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.

“GREAT KING” You also say, ‘ Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the LORD. “ But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished— For I am a great King,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ And My name is to be feared among the nations.

MESSAGE FOR THE PRIESTS “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart. “ Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it. Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue,” Says the LORD of hosts.

CHAPTER 2

***PRIEST W/TRUTH IS FROM GOD*** PRIESTHOOD COVENANT “ My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity. “ For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. ***PRIEST W/TRUTH IS FROM GOD***

PRIESTHOOD CORRUPTED But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law.”

MARRIED TO ANOTHER Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another By profaning the covenant of the fathers? Judah has dealt treacherously, And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, For Judah has profaned The LORD’s holy institution which He loves: He (JUDAH) has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob The man who does this, being awake and aware, Yet who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!

COVER THE ALTAR W/TEARS And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness Between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

AGAINST DIVORCE MALACHI 2:16-17 “ For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” You have wearied the LORD with your words; Yet you say, “ In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “ Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the LORD, And He delights in them,” Or, “Where is the God of justice?”

HE IS COMING! “Behold, I send My messenger (JOHN THE BAPTIST/ELIJAH), And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He (MESSIAH) is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ But who can endure the day of His (JESUS) coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. “ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years.

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ But you said, ‘ In what way shall we return?’

ROBBING GOD? “ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.“ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.

SOUND FAMILIAR? “ Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the LORD, “ Yet you say, ‘ What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘ It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the LORD of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’”

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. “ They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “ On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.

CHAPTER 4

DAY IS COMING For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” ELIJAH PAVES THE WAY MALACHI 4:3-6 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

ELIJAH RETURNS BEFORE THE LORD PAVING THE WAY SPIRIT OF ELIJAH ELIJAH RETURNS BEFORE THE LORD