1868 148 The captivity did not purify Israel. The returned captives deny the love and despise the judgment of the Lord. (See Mal. 1:2; Mal. 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 were found by Jesus as Malachi left them. (See Luke 1, 2.) So will the coming of the Lord find the saints as left by the apostles in the epistles.