Malachi 4:1 Commentary and Bible Study

Here then is the great condemnation of the Jews. This is twofold. It certainly speaks of AD 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and the children of Israel were finally destroyed for that period of history, though a remnant of them were saved. But it also speaks of the second coming of Jesus Christ when there will be a general judgement and only the Lord's people will be delivered and saved, those who (Malachi 4:2) have a given righteousness. ‘The day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly’ – the description picks up on the word of complaint in Malachi 3:15, ‘And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up.’ God will show his true feelings about both those categories of people. They will be burned up like stubble and nothing left above or below ground, and then who will be in any doubt about God’s indignation against sin?