“Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2).
“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16).
It is not a little remarkable that the allusion to the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in His wings should occur in the last chapter of the Old Testament. The hope of the Jewish saints is thus given to their last prophet, Malachi, and just before their scriptures are closed this wonderful hope is presented to them.
Similarly Christ as the hope of the church is presented to the believers of this dispensation in the last chapter of the New Testament as the bright morning Star. It is given to the last writer in the New Testament to present Christ in this blessed way.
Whether it be the dead in Christ of bygone ages, or the living believers in this dispensation, or the Jew and the nations in the day to come, Christ alone is their Hope.
We turn from the nauseating spectacle of millions of the most highly civilized of the nations, in lands where the gospel of light has been shed, relentlessly slaughtering each other in the most scientific way possible—we turn with relief from this spectacle to the contemplation of Him, who alone can give true peace.
Amid all the pressure and sadness of the moment, how sweet and cheering it is for the saints of God to be waiting for the coming of the Lord. It is a very deep and general belief among Christians—a belief begotten we are persuaded by the Holy Spirit of God—that His coming is very near at hand.
The church, because of her heavenly calling, will be caught away from the tribulations that shall purify the earth, preparing the Jew for their Messiah, and the Gentile nations for the reign of the Son of Man. How encouraging is the promise, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Rev. 3:10-11).
And just as the pen is laid down and the task done, we read the cheering words, “I, Jesus, have sent Mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And again, almost in the last line, we read, “He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
What a glory shall be our Lord’s when He comes to gather His own to greet His bride, to bring His saints with infinite joy into His Father’s house, exclaiming, “Behold I and the children which God has given Me” (Heb. 2:13). That moment of triumph draws near—very near. We are in the very threshold of this glorious event. May we be truly expectant.
And then the earth purified terrible tribulation, the nations prepared by travail of anguish, God’s ancient people bowed in deepest repentance, with the spirit of grace a supplication poured upon them, shall behold with wonder and joy the glorious sight of the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in His wings.
Righteousness shall reign. “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” (Zech. 14:20) shall be engraved upon the very bells of the horses. Nations “shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2:4).
What a day of glory will that be when the Sun of righteousness shall come, and by His bright warm beams shall drive away all darkness and blight, when at last the heaving breast of this earth shall be soothed and at rest, when the very ground soaked in blood, and torn by the passions of men, shall be all smiling and verdant.
Then shall be fulfilled the closing glorious exhortation of the Psalms, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Ps. 150:6).
Only Christ is sufficient for this. What glories circle round His person! What hope centre in Him!
“He shall come down like showers
Upon the new-mown grass,
And joy and hope, like flowers,
Spring up where He doth pass;
Before Him on the mountains
Shall Peace, the herald, go;
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.”