Emphasize the word "then" to get the force of this passage, connecting it with what goes before. The day is coming when all will be manifested, who is who, and what is what.
That day connects with chapter 4:1, "Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven." Rev. 22:16,1716I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:16‑17) says, "I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am-the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning-star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come." This is fellowship, or companionship and desire to be with Him. "Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." v. 20. How much do our hearts respond with heartfelt desire and say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus"? Both scriptures in Malachi and Revelation speak of Christ's coming. In Malachi it is His coming to earth for His earthly people, and in Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17) it is His coming in reference to His heavenly people.
In the history of Israel there were two revivals-one under Josiah, and the other under Hezekiah. The analogy to the Church is similar. There have been two revivals. The first is the bringing to light of the truth of the soul's relationship to God and justification by faith. The second is the recovery of the truth of the Church of God in its proper heavenly character, which was about 160 years ago. This was more of a corporate or collective nature.
Another Analogy
Another analogy was the state of the people in Malachi's day, the time following their captivity and bondage. This was brought on by the government of God. They should have been a testimony against idolatry, but instead they were the most idolatrous people in existence.
What is the present testimony of the professing Church? Read Rev. 2 and 3 to see how sadly the professing Church has failed. What characterized the people in the days of Malachi was ignorance of their true state. We find repeatedly these words: "yet ye say..." showing ignorance of their state.
What is the last state of God's witness on the earth? It is found in the last of the churches, Laodicea. "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." They were boasting of their riches. Poor church, but there is One that pities. "And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.”
It was not evil doctrine that was charged to Ephesus or bad conduct, but "thou hast left thy first love." And to the last church, Laodicea, it was ignorance of where she had fallen. They thought they were rich and needed nothing, yet in God's sight they were miserable, poor, blind and naked. "And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." This is the Word of God, that which opens the eyes of the soul to discern the mind of God.
The charge is lukewarmness: neither cold nor hot. May the Lord preserve us from that state. Luke-warmness in a Christian is a heart divided between Christ and the world. "I would thou wert cold or hot," and because she was neither, she was rejected. It is an important thing for us to remember that we belong to, and are part of, an unfaithful Church, taking it as a whole. Rev. 17 shows us the state of the professing church when she joined hands with the world. What pomp and glory! But farther down we see what an end is hers and how sudden and complete is the overthrow (Ch. 18).
In Rev. 19, while that time of wailing and mourning is proceeding on earth, what is taking place in heaven? There is joy in heaven over that overthrow. It is instructive to see how both parts of God's Word, Malachi and Revelation, end in speaking of the coming of the Lord. The book of Malachi speaks of Christ's coming as the Sun of Righteousness, with healing in His wings, and it will be to put down His enemies also. But in Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17), while the Lord comes to take His bride home to glory, it is to clear the scene righteously of all its defilement in swift destruction.
At the moment of the apostasy of the nation, Mal. 3, there were a few who feared the Lord, and who spoke often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard it. Beloved, let us apply these things to ourselves. Are we not in danger of lukewarmness and apostasy? The Lord is seen in Laodicea on the outside of the door knocking on the heart's door of a lukewarm Church, and may we not say of a lukewarm Christian. We wait for the Lord as He presents Himself in the last chapter of the Revelation, the Bright and Morning Star. The earth looks for Him as the Sun of Righteousness, but to us it will be as the Bright and Morning Star that He will come.
W. Potter
We wait for Thee, O Son of God,
And long for Thine appearing;
"A little while," Thou'lt come, O Lord,
Thy waiting people cheering.
Thus hast Thou said: we lift the head
In joyful expectation,
For Thou wilt bring salvation.