Mal 3:1 Malachi announces that the 'Day of the LORD' - the Day of Judgement - is near: "I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way for me." (Malachi 3:1)
The Day of the Lord
Malachi and Joel were prophets in the 4th or 5th century BC who spoke of the coming “Day of the LORD” - the "end of the age" when people on earth would be judged, and God would usher in a new world order.
Malachi announced that God would send a messenger to Jerusalem to announce his coming before he brought about this new ‘covenant’ (or solemn agreement) with his people. The LORD said, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way for me. Suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his Temple; the messenger of the agreement, whom you want, will come.” (Malachi 3:1)
Aerial view of The Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Avram Graicer)
Malachi also said that, before the Day of the LORD arrived, God would send a prophet like Elijah, who would urge people to turn from their evil ways (see Malachi 4:5-6)
In the New Testament (the ‘new covenant’), Matthew announced that these prophesies were fulfilled when John the Baptist arrived as this messenger – a prophet like Elijah – preparing the way for Jesus Christ who brought about the new covenant agreement with God (see Matthew 11:7-14 & 17:10-13).
The prophet Joel went on to declare that God would “pour out [his] Spirit on all kinds of people” and “anyone who calls on the LORD will be saved.” (Joel 2:28-32)
The New Testament records that Jesus Christ promised to pour out the Holy Spirit on all his followers (see Luke 3:16, 11:11-13, 24:49, John 14:15-17, 20:21-22 & Acts 2:1-4). He also promised to save all those who believe in him from the disastrous consequences of abandoning God’s ways (see Matthew 1:21, 9:1-8 & 25:31-46).
Mal 3:2-5 Malachi sounds a note of warning and asks who can endure the day when he comes: "He will be like a purifying fire and like laundry soap. Like someone who heats and purifies silver, he will purify the Levites and make them pure like gold and silver.” (Malachi 3:2-3)