Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) says, “For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
What a statement of grace and mercy. God’s people have forsaken their God and chosen to live as the nations of the world. They have not kept the covenant between themselves and the LORD. God would have every right not to uphold His end of the covenant with His people and severely judge them. What keeps the LORD from doing that? He loves His people. He is a Righteous Judge; but He is also a God of Mercy. He will judge His people; but He is going to personally intervene in the life of His people and and the nations of the world.
Malachi 3:1-3 (NKJV), “”Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, who you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold He (The King is Coming) is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For 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.” (insert mine)
The Father sent the Son. Jesus came, born of a virgin, to be the Savior of the world. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, was crucified on a cross. He shed His blood for the forgiveness of sin. He died, was buried, and three days later, was resurrected from the grave. He ascended back to heaven. And one day, He will return again to this earth and finish His Father’s plan of salvation which was determined before the creation of the world.
The King is Coming…
Between now and His return there will be many signs and wonders, as outlined in Scripture, performed in/on the earth. Today (10-3-2022), I read this on Facebook. It said, I have stopped looking for the signs and wonders that are to happen before Christ’s return; I am listening for the sound of the trumpet.
The King is Coming…
I Thessalonians 4:15-18 (NKJV), says, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet (emphasis mine) of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
In my previous blogs centered on Malachi 3:6, I have emphasized that Jesus told His disciples/apostles that signs and wonders would accompany their preaching of the Word. It was also pointed out that God performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt confirming Moses words to Pharaoh when Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go. When studying the Old Testament, you will also read about God performing signs and wonders confirming the words of His prophets; and God intervening with signs and wonders miraculously helping His judges and kings as they governed God’s people.
Our God is an awesome God.
Signs and wonders permeate the Word of God. Signs and wonders are enumerated in Revelation. Their meaning and timing have caused an immense amount of study and speculation. The controlling thought regarding Revelation is Jesus’ own declaration found in Matthew 24:29-36 (NKJV).
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and the all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with and great glory. and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (emphasis mine).
The King is Coming…
There will be much speculation. There will be many theories. There will be many who claim to understand. I am not saying that the Church will be groping in the dark.
The believers in Thessalonica were confused about the return of the Lord. Paul set the record straight.
I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NKJV) “But concerning the times and the seasons brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep (see I Thessalonians 4: 13-18), we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
The King is Coming…
As the tension increases in our nation and the world, we are not without hope. Our hope is in the Lord and His Word. There will be signs and wonders. God’s Word tells us that. This is a time to edify and encourage one another in the Lord.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV), “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The Day of the Lord is approaching. When is that Day? Only the Father knows; but we are encouraged and instructed by the Word of God to remain in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to encourage and exhort one another.
The King is Coming…
May the Lord richly bless you, and strengthen you, and give you peace,
a brother in Christ, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 