The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord by George Parsley

May 23, 2016 - We read, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Mal. 4:5-6). This Old Testament prophecy tells of a great day that was to come. 

Not only was it going to be great but also dreadful. This day was marked by the coming of Elijah. In some or most religious circles they believe that this event and the coming of Elijah is yet future in its completion.

Just as with any text we must let the Bible itself explain it to us. In reference to John the Baptist we read, “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Lk. 1:16-17).

As the angel speaks with Zacharias about the birth of the child he specifically refers to the words of Malachi. So according to the Bible Malachi speaks of the birth and coming of John the Baptist. Jesus also explains and clarifies this. As Jesus along with Peter, James and John were coming down from the mount of transfiguration we read, “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist” (Matt. 17:10-13).

So according to the angel in Luke 1 and to Jesus the words of Malachi have already been fulfilled. They are not yet future. Now why will this be a great and dreadful day? When John came on the scene he was telling people to repent. To repent to avoid wrath, (Lk. 3:7) bear fruit according to repentance (Lk. 3:8) because the ax was already laid at the root (Lk. 3:9).

Repentance indicates that men can no longer live and do what they want because a day of accountability is coming or has come. And when Jesus came on the scene that great and dreadful day came, men could no longer do as they please.

Paul said, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Ac. 17:30-31).

The great and dreadful day of the Lord of Malachi has come and men are no longer allowed to do and live as they please. Jesus has all authority (Matt. 28:18), been given judgment (Jn. 5:22) and it will be based on His word (Jn. 12:48). When we consider that we are no longer left to our devices it certainly would be a dreadful day.

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