Malachi: End Times Destruction Of Esau-Edom And Preservation Of Jacob-Israel

Malachi: End Times Destruction Of Esau-Edom And Preservation Of Jacob-Israel - Christians for Truth

In this lecture, Sheldon Emry discusses the end times destruction of Israel’s enemies as symbolized…

Christians for Truth

In this lecture, Sheldon Emry discusses the end times destruction of Israel’s enemies as symbolized by Esau-Edom. Of course, Edom was indeed destroyed — we see the evidence of that in the ruins on Mount Seir — and Malachi’s prophecy was fulfilled.

But down through history Edom has become a byword for the archtypal enemies of the Israelite people. Edom rejected the God of Israel and descended into idolatry — much like the enemies of Christian Israelites today.

Part 1 of Sheldon Emry’s series on Malachi can be read here.

God’s first words to the Israel people through the prophet Malachi are “I have loved you saith the Lord.” This is the most marvelous message on earth that any people could have — and that message is to Israel and Israel alone (Amos 3:2).

There is a people upon which God has placed a very special love and purpose — and that is the Israel people. But He adds in verse 3, “And I hated Esau.” And that is in spite of the fact that the majority of ministers today are in favor of Esau-Edom, and preach for red Esau, and tell you that Esau really isn’t Esau — but that he’s Jacob-Israel.

Malachi 3:

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Part of this could fit John the Baptist. Matthew 11:

7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The rest of Malachi 3 may refer to more than what took place at Jesus’ first advent:

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

We think of Jesus as coming to Judea and Jerusalem, yet if we read the scripture, we find that he spent most of his ministry in Galilee. In fact, he’s called “the Galilean,” and eleven of his disciples were from Galilee, and Judas was the only one from the area of Jerusalem.

So the city of Jerusalem — and of Judea — had very little to do with Jesus, and, of course, he came back and was put to death there, but his ministry was in Galilee. In Judea and Jerusalem — all that really happened at the time of Jesus’ first advent was that he and his followers were persecuted, he was put to death, and after his death, all of his followers were driven from there.

And yet in Malachi here, the coming of the “messenger of the covenant,” it sounds like a worldwide calamity, “Who shall abide by his coming?” So it must be something in the future:

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

So, at this time of the coming of the messenger of the covenant, He is going to come in judgment against evildoers. In Jesus’ first advent, there was very little done against evildoers. In fact, the evildoers became victorious after just one generation after Jesus died on the cross, and the Christians were driven away…