Cleansing of the sons of Levi in Malachi 3:1-6

[asygo]

"He shall purify the sons of Levi." That prophecy was given 400 years before Jesus came. He has since come and gone on to the MHP.

Is the purification still future? Or has it been happening all along, and it's just a question of whether or not we will be purified individually? Or maybe the prophecy is a corporate prophecy, not dealing with individuals at all?

[Greg Goodchild]

"He shall purify the sons of Levi." That prophecy was given 400 years before Jesus came. He has since come and gone on to the MHP.

Is the purification still future? Or has it been happening all along, and it's just a question of whether or not we will be purified individually? Or maybe the prophecy is a corporate prophecy, not dealing with individuals at all?

Like all prophecies it has had its impact since it was written. But according to the context of GC 424-427 the time focus component of it was 1844 and the start of the IJ. As these truths emerged it has had a larger and larger impact. In the short time of this study we have started to focus on Malachi 3 and evaluate it, meditate on it, and some have probably prayed that whatever Jesus wants to accomplish in this section of Scripture will happen to God's people, including us. So this very day Malachi 3:1-6 is having an impact on God's people.

We will be purified individually and corporately, for the corporate body is made up of individuals.

[Richard Myers]

"He shall purify the sons of Levi." That prophecy was given 400 years before Jesus came. He has since come and gone on to the MHP.

Is the purification still future? Or has it been happening all along, and it's just a question of whether or not we will be purified individually? Or maybe the prophecy is a corporate prophecy, not dealing with individuals at all?

Like all prophecies it has had its impact since it was written. But according to the context of GC 424-427 the time focus component of it was 1844 and the start of the IJ. As these truths emerged it has had a larger and larger impact. In the short time of this study we have started to focus on Malachi 3 and evaluate it, meditate on it, and some have probably prayed that whatever Jesus wants to accomplish in this section of Scripture will happen to God's people, including us. So this very day Malachi 3:1-6 is having an impact on God's people.

We will be purified individually and corporately, for the corporate body is made up of individuals.

Were those living in Christ before 1844 purified?

[asygo]

"He shall purify the sons of Levi." That prophecy was given 400 years before Jesus came. He has since come and gone on to the MHP.

Is the purification still future? Or has it been happening all along, and it's just a question of whether or not we will be purified individually? Or maybe the prophecy is a corporate prophecy, not dealing with individuals at all?

Like all prophecies it has had its impact since it was written. But according to the context of GC 424-427 the time focus component of it was 1844 and the start of the IJ....

So the focus is 1844. And that's my underlying question. Was the promise of purification available to those before 1844? What about Enoch? And what about all the other Christians before 1844, and before Malachi wrote this? Was the purification not available to them?

If the purification was available to Christian individuals all along, then the Malachi prophecy does not tell us about anything new that God will do. Rather, it would be telling us about something new WE will do corporately.

[Greg Goodchild]

Purification has been available since the first sin. Yet God has given us prophecies that are time driven that will not happen in their fulness until the time comes for the prophecy to be fulfilled in it fulness. So Daniel 8:14 has been available for all by faith since the time of Daniel. Yet Daniel 8:14 had its special fulfillment in 1844. In GC in the chapter on The HOly of Holies God says that "Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort tey mut be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presente in the messages of Rev 14." GC425 Apparently God sees this time as different from all other times. Now we have to study to come into harmony with the mind of God.

[asygo]

Purification has been available since the first sin. ... "... there is to be a special work of purification..."

Since purification has been available all along, what is special about the work of purification during the IJ? Is it a qualitative or quantitative difference?

Some few in every generation from Adam resisted his every artifice and stood forth as noble representatives of what it was in the power of man to do and to be--Christ working with human efforts, helping man in overcoming the power of Satan. Enoch and Elijah are the correct representatives of what the race might be through faith in Jesus Christ if they chose to be. Satan was greatly disturbed because these noble, holy men stood untainted amid the moral pollution surrounding them, perfected righteous characters, and were accounted worthy for translation to Heaven. As they had stood forth in moral power in noble uprightness, overcoming Satan's temptations, he could not bring them under the dominion of death. He triumphed that he had power to overcome Moses with his temptations, and that he could mar his illustrious character and lead him to the sin of taking glory to himself before the people which belonged to God. {RH, March 3, 1874 par. 12}

Is it a matter of these few becoming many? Or will the last generation be better representatives than even Enoch?

[Greg Goodchild]

It is interesting to see a progression of numbers over time. In the time of Enoch we have one who was ready for translation. In the time of Noah we have 8 people ready and willing to go onto the ark. In the time of Elijah we have 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal and were true to Jesus. In the end we have a group referred to as the 144,000. This group has the benefit of all of the worlds history, the writings of EGW, and whatever spiritual gifts Jesus grants His people in the end. Whatever the "special work of purification" is the 144,000 will be blessed by it and reveal it to the world. Another component of this special time is that soon the work of the sanctuary will be completed, and God's people will preach a message that has never been preached before in history. The sanctuary service will soon be ended and intercession in heaven will cease. God's people will have to be ready by then in order to stand in final display for he universe to assess. The universe will first pass judgment on Jesus, Whom has identified Himself completely with His people. Then they will assess us as to whether we are safe to bring into heaven, en mass. Many wonderful things will take place as a result of the prophecy of Malachi 3

[Richard Myers]

It is interesting to see a progression of numbers over time. In the time of Enoch we have one who was ready for translation. In the time of Noah we have 8 people ready and willing to go onto the ark.

There is a substantial difference between God saving the eight on the ark and taking Enoch to heaven. Those on the ark died without being translated. They were not walking with God in the same manner as was Enoch. At least we have no reason to believe this. The ark represents salvation whereas translation represents something of a higher order. Yes?

In the time of Elijah we have 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal and were true to Jesus.

Again, this does not equate with any special order of purification, such as the 144,000, but only reveals a pure heart associated with conversion.

In the end we have a group referred to as the 144,000. This group has the benefit of all of the worlds history, the writings of EGW, and whatever spiritual gifts Jesus grants His people in the end. Whatever the "special work of purification" is the 144,000 will be blessed by it and reveal it to the world.

The "special work of purification" is that when finished this group will "perfectly reflect Christ".  They will stand without a mediator in this vile world. They will be the "stone carved without hands" that smash the kingdoms of this world. The power of God's grace will be seen in this group called His church. Yes, God's government is vindicated in a way that proves beyond any doubt that His ways are best. The result of sin is clearly seen and the results of obedience to God are clearly seen. And, the fact that God has said the universe will be free from sin forever is now understood. If the lowest of the low can stand unmoved, then of course the heavenly realm will be able to do so now that they have been given this great demonstration of the power of God's love to keep sinners from sin.

Yes, God is seen as both just and merciful and the great controversy is settled! It is finished and Christ will come and take His bride home with Him.  We are so unworthy, but He is so worthy! Bless His holy name!