Malachi 4:1 is a verse that talks about the final judgment and the fate of the wicked. It reads as follows: “For, behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven; all the proud and all who do wickedly will be stubble; and the day to come will burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that they will not will leave them neither root nor branch.”
The word “burning” suggests an intense and destructive fire, like a furnace. That fire will consume “all the proud and all who work wickedness,” that is, those who have rejected God and chosen to live in disobedience. The text compares these people to chaff, which is a dry, flammable material that burns easily and is worthless. This means that the wicked will have no value or importance before God, and will be completely destroyed.
This text may seem scary, but the truth is that God does not want anyone to perish. The Bible teaches us that He is patient and merciful, wanting everyone to repent and be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slow about his promise, though some consider it slow. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Still, God’s justice is real and He cannot ignore sin. We all need to recognize our faults and repent of them, trusting in the grace and salvation offered through Jesus Christ. As Paul said in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In short, Malachi 4:1 talks about the fate of the wicked on Judgment Day. It is a reminder of the importance of repenting of sin and trusting Christ for eternal life. While there is still time, we must choose to follow God and avoid the condemnation that awaits those who reject his grace.
Aprofunde seus conhecimentos
391. What does the acceptance of God’s mercy require from us?
445. What does God prohibit by his command, “You shall not have other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2)?
254. Who brought to fulfillment those prefigurations?
225. What is the relationship of the sacraments to Christ?
258. Why does the Church baptize infants?
71. What relationship has God established between man and woman?
110. What is the meaning of the Transfiguration?
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
What is Ahijah’s prophecy in 1 Kings 11 and what is its importance in Israel’s history?
What is the seventy week prophecy in Daniel 9?
How can wisdom protect us from evil, as revealed in Wisdom 7:28-29?
What was David’s attitude toward Mephibosheth, and what can we learn from this story?
What can we learn about divine justice from the Lord’s vengeance mentioned in Abdias 1:15?
