Awaken Bible Prophecy Update 1-4-23: Profaning God’s Holy Name

The prophetic book of Malachi describes conditions in ancient Israel that were eerily similar to those of today. The author provides a series of questions and responses. What is asked and answered certainly applies to all the people of the land, but the specific focus is on the priests. There’s a real problem in their relationship with God. They apparently believe they’re doing everything right to honor Him, but the reality is - as He points out – that they are completely off the reservation. Of course, this is typical of Israel over the years. God shows them His true Self, but the people desire to follow the gods of the surrounding pagan nations. They like making idols. They like heathen practices. They like going their own way and doing what they want because it’s right in their own eyes.

God – being the Holy One of Israel and the only true God – will have none of this nonsense. There are consequences when those who should be His people - holy to the Lord - decide to reject His ways. Malachi makes this clear.

Here’s a warning for us: What we should understand is that Israel had nothing on us as to being a wayward, sinful people. Let us not think we’re any better than them just because we live in modern times. That is folly, and a recipe for disaster.

The Bible provides a template to us for holy living. It shows us right and wrong, truth and falsehood. By following pretenders to the throne of God, those who should know better are judged more harshly. As the Lord pointed out, curses come first to the Jew then the Gentile. In the same manner, blessings do as well. When those who are appointed and anointed as shepherds over God’s flock lead the people away from Him, Scripture shows that they will pay a serious price. Gentiles do not escape God’s wrath. The church of Jesus Christ should likewise know and do right far beyond what secular people do. Just as the Jews received God’s judgment first before the Gentiles, I think we’d do well to realize that as followers of Christ, we’ll surely also be judged first, and perhaps more harshly than non-believers, because we have no excuse. In the same manner, our rewards are first and greater than any that might accrue to secular people.

In this Prophecy Update, we’ll look at the conditions in Israel that prompted the writing of Malachi, and how that relates to today’s situation in the church. Malachi laid this out in a Q & A format, so we’ll use that for our discussion.

Sources:

Gary Ritter website: books & blog
http://garyritter.com/

Please note that the transcript is available on my website blog under the post with the same title.