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The Second Messenger
- Thread starter KDIAMS
- Start date
Second Messenger:
Malachi 4: Speaks of destruction but in v.5 "Behold I swill send you..." v.6 "And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
I expect we all realize we are in changing times. The technology is in place for global communication and destruction. As Christians we believe God will intervene, and so we are all watching. I also expect that we would agree that we are not ready, we've got so much fighting and fussing amongst ourselves we are in no condition to receive anything form God. How is the church supposed to be ready for a 'catching away'? She will be ready because God said so. But we know it will not be the church at large but as it was at his first coming so will it be at his second. Only a few will recognized his coming and only a few will go to meet Him in the air.
God doesn't sprinkle 'fairy dust' it is always a work and so as it says in v.5 "I will send you Elijah the prophet", to do the work. As with all prophets the Lord stands behind His Word by signs and wonders and those that can receive it receive God.
Lord God grant it that I might have eyes to see and a heart to receive.
Malachi 4: Speaks of destruction but in v.5 "Behold I swill send you..." v.6 "And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
I expect we all realize we are in changing times. The technology is in place for global communication and destruction. As Christians we believe God will intervene, and so we are all watching. I also expect that we would agree that we are not ready, we've got so much fighting and fussing amongst ourselves we are in no condition to receive anything form God. How is the church supposed to be ready for a 'catching away'? She will be ready because God said so. But we know it will not be the church at large but as it was at his first coming so will it be at his second. Only a few will recognized his coming and only a few will go to meet Him in the air.
God doesn't sprinkle 'fairy dust' it is always a work and so as it says in v.5 "I will send you Elijah the prophet", to do the work. As with all prophets the Lord stands behind His Word by signs and wonders and those that can receive it receive God.
Lord God grant it that I might have eyes to see and a heart to receive.
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ViaCrucis
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Malachi's prophecy was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist. That's not a second messenger, that's John the Forerunner.
When Christ returns every eye will see Him. Everyone will know it, no one will doubt it. When Jesus returns, that's it, curtains closed; for Jesus returns as Judge, visibly, obviously, descending from heaven with the trumpet of God and the shout of the archangel, and the dead will literally be restored to life: resurrection.
The Elijah already came, for John came in the spirit and power of Elijah as prophesied, to prepare the way for Jesus and His earthly ministry two thousand years ago. Today we await the return of the Lord Jesus, who will come in glory to judge, and all shall see Him.
There's no other Elijah to come.
Jesus isn't going to return secretly and covertly.
If anyone claims Jesus has returned, do not believe them. If they say "He's over here" don't believe it. If they say "He's over there" don't believe it. No one will have to tell you that Jesus returned, you'll k now it, because you'll see Him descending and coming with this thousands of holy angels from heaven.
If anyone doubts that it's Jesus, then it's not Jesus.
If someone has to tell you that it's Jesus, then it's not Jesus.
If anyone claims they are Jesus, they are either delusional and need to be in a hospital or else they are a charlatan and con artist.
-CryptoLutheran
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I do not recognize this concept. Kindly elaborate what the second messenger is, where the idea originated from, and who the first messenger was.
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Malachi 3 is a reference to John the Baptist but in Malachi 4 it speaks of the day of destruction and Elijah the prophet will be sent before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. John the Baptist's ministry did not precede the great and dreadful day.
God doesn't send judgement without first warning the people.
Do you feel the church at large is issuing God's warning?
At the first coming of Jesus Christ, was the established church ready?
Consider the reformers such a Martin Luther, a necessary move of God at that time, Surgeon, Wesley etc.
And now we are at a most crucial point in time do you think we are just going to walk on through?
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The Pharisees interpreted the scripture with this premise and concluded Jesus could not be the messiah because he was not a military savior.
So, the premise is probably still wrong.
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Isaiah Chapter 9
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. 3You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor. 5 For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
The blue is what happened, and red is what did not happen. The red is the great and dreadful day. It speaks of the same one messenger. There isn't a second messenger.
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ViaCrucis
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Except that's exactly what Scripture applies to John the Baptist,
"And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared." - Luke 1:16-17
Compare with Malachi 4:5-6
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."
It might be, therefore, necessary on the basis of what Scripture says to re-evaluate what you believe "the great and awesome day of the Lord" means.
The Church has, from the Day of Pentecost onward, declared the word of God concerning God's judgment of this fallen age and the wickedness of it; and thus the need for repentance and to be saved through the salvation found exclusively in God's Saving power through His Messiah, Jesus--who by His death and resurrection has attained victory over this world and the dark powers of this world and has been given kingdom and dominion over all things in heaven and on earth. This is why the Church preaches what she preaches, her kerygma--her proclamation--from the beginning and until now has been one and the same.
I'm not particularly interested in Spurgeon or Wesley, not that they didn't have some good things to say; but I'm a Lutheran and I fail to see what invoking the name of Martin Luther is supposed to accomplish in this context (or what invoking Spurgeon or Wesley is supposed to mean for that matter).
-CryptoLutheran
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