Malachi
4:1-6
“For
behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all
evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says
the Lord of hosts, so that it will
leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But
for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in
its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall
tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on
the day when I act, says the Lord
of hosts.
4 “Remember
the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at
Horeb for all Israel.
5 “Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 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.”
Jesus talks about a day when everything will be turned upside down and destroyed. John the Baptist talked about it being the time when the axe is at the root of the tree, and it is ready to be cut down. St Peter proclaims the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and Gentiles have their hearts turned to the Gospel.
I could ask whether John the Baptist, St Peter, or someone else is really the Elijah to come. But we all know the answer Jesus gave us: John the Baptist. So it does not matter what the rest of us really think. The point still must be spoken, the day is coming when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble and ash. Jesus will bring judgment upon all people, on account of their actions.
But thanks be to God, that he has paralleled this testimony with a message of hope. The righteous or those made righteous shall rise with healing in its wings. They will be raised to new life, in the Resurrection of the Dead. They will be renewed like a young or new beast. They will remember the Laws of Moses and the Word of God. They will give thanks for a Savior from their sins. They rejoice of the Holy Spirit's work, strengthening them in the true faith.
So we face destruction and renewal. We are crucified with Christ in our Baptism and raised to new life. This will play out in a grand role at Christ's glorious return.
I could ask whether John the Baptist, St Peter, or someone else is really the Elijah to come. But we all know the answer Jesus gave us: John the Baptist. So it does not matter what the rest of us really think. The point still must be spoken, the day is coming when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble and ash. Jesus will bring judgment upon all people, on account of their actions.
But thanks be to God, that he has paralleled this testimony with a message of hope. The righteous or those made righteous shall rise with healing in its wings. They will be raised to new life, in the Resurrection of the Dead. They will be renewed like a young or new beast. They will remember the Laws of Moses and the Word of God. They will give thanks for a Savior from their sins. They rejoice of the Holy Spirit's work, strengthening them in the true faith.
So we face destruction and renewal. We are crucified with Christ in our Baptism and raised to new life. This will play out in a grand role at Christ's glorious return.
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