The captivity did not purify Israel. The returned captives deny the love and despise the judgment of the Lord. (See chapter 1:2; 2:17).
The unclean spirit went out; but the house was not the Lord’s.
But there is a remnant, informal, spiritual, remembered now, to be distinguished hereafter.
They are exhorted to hold by the word. They are promised the judgment of the evil, and a new dispensation. They are not promised present recovery of David’s throne, or deliverance from the Gentiles.
So the Reformation in Christendom: the unclean spirit went out; but the house was not the Lord’s.
Apostles contemplate an informal remnant, promise judgment and a new thing, but hold out no present recovery. (See 2 Timothy, 2 Peter, Jude, Revelation 2, 3).
Malachi’s remnant was found by Jesus as Malachi left it. (See Luke 1, 2). So will the coming of the Lord find the saints as left by the apostles in the Epistles.