Basic HTML Version
Christ added to His Church "and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). "And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved" (verse 42).
At the very outset of "the WORK" Peter and John were thrown
in prison overnight, and threatened against proclaiming the good
NEWS any further. Undoubtedly shaken, and needing encouragement
and reassurance, they went to the brethren of the Church. The
brethren buoyed up their spirits and, "when they had prayed, the
place was shaken where they were assembled...and they [the
apostles] spake the word of God [the Gospel] with boldness" (Acts
4:31). That was in 31 A.D.
But beginning 33 A.D., the persecution set in. Simon the
Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-23), head of the Babylonian Mystery religion
in Samaria, appropriating the NAME of Christ, began calling his
Babylonian Mystery religion "Christianity," and started circulating
a counterfeit GOSPEL.
By 58 A.D., Paul wrote to the Churches at Galatia: "I
marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into
the grace of Christ unto another GOSPEL" (Gal. 1:6). (See also
II Corinthians 11:2-4, 11-15.)
At that time a DIFFERENT GOSPEL was proclaimed to the
world. Before the end of the first century "the WORK" had stopped.
The true gospel of the Kingdom of God was thereafter taught
secretly, but not proclaimed to the world for 18 1/2 centuries!
Our time TODAY -- Now back to Malachi's prophecy. It
foretold a human "messenger" preparing the way before the coming
Christ. But, beginning verse 2 of Malachi 3, it foretells also,
Christ's SECOND COMING, now imminent! He is now soon coming to
set up the KINGDOM OF GOD, restore the GOVERNMENT OF GOD on earth,
and to RULE ALL NATIONS.
The human messenger preparing the way, before His first
appearing on earth, was John the Baptist. But beginning with verse
2, the prophecy speaks of Christ's SECOND COMING, yet future but
now imminent.
Notice: "But who may abide the day of his coming? And
who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's
fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and
purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as gold and silver..." (Malachi 3:2-3).
All this is referring to activities of Christ at His
SECOND COMING -- now imminent. None of this refers to anything
Jesus did when here before.
Continue, verse 5: "And I will come near to you to
judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and
against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against
those that oppress [defraud] the hireling in his wages, the widow,
and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his
right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts."