SHINING OF THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS In the last three chapters, He mixed the eight charges directed against His people, especially against the priests, with the hope of the coming of the Messiah, to purify, to sanctify, and to make His believers His own possession. Now, He proclaims the day of the coming of the Messiah, as a shining of the Sun of Righteousness to scatter the darkness that prevailed on the nations, and corrupted the whole earth. In the last chapter, the Lord demonstrated His personal care for humanity; sending His angel to prepare the way for Him; then coming by Himself to set, out of humanity, His holy temple; comes as a fire to consume evil and corruption, to purify, and to purge. He desires to return the hearts of mankind to Him, that of His little brethren, with an enjoyment of sound concepts of worship, and walking with the spirit of discernment. Now He ends the book, and the entire old Testament, with a revelation of the coming of the Savior Messiah for salvation, to shine the light of His righteousness on those sitting in the darkness, and to grant healing to His believers, through keeping the Law with a deep spiritual concept, and with the Spirit of love, and peace, as a one holy family. 1- A day of fire 1. 2- Shining of the Sun of Righteousness 2. 3- The Sun of Righteousness, the Grantor of conquest 3. 4- A new concept of the Law 4. 5- The coming of the prophet Elijah 5–6. 1. A DAY OF FIRE In the last chapter He talked about the spirit of discernment by which we are able to realize that God is our Father, who is so compassionate on us as His own children, that He sent His Word incarnate, to bring us to Him through our return by the work of His grace. But, it is also fitting for us to realize that He is the Holy One who would never compromise with sin, but would burn it as though in an oven. He came stretching His hands with love to humanity; so if man still persists on the haughtiness of his heart and on doing evil, he would cast himself under eternal judgment to perish. “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ says the Lord of host, ‘That shall leave them neither root nor branch” (Malachi 4:1). The prophet Malachi prophesies about the coming of the incarnate Word to realize salvation. Although He stretches His arms to all mankind; Yet He also comes to cast fire. Whoever believes in Him will enjoy eternal life. Whereas who haughtily rejects Him will burn like stubble in fire. That is what the Psalmist prophesied about the Messiah, saying: “You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger; The Lord shall swallow them up in His wrath; and the fire shall devour them” (Psalm 21:9). God who, alone, knows the hearts can separate the stubble from the gold; the haughty from the humble. The former, counted as evildoers, would be consumed by fire, to be left neither root nor branch; whereas the latter would grow in splendor and purity. Some have called the haughty as blessed, because they are apparently happy in this world (3:15). But now the fact is revealed that they, like stubble, will burn in the oven to become ashes. 81 By the ‘haughty’ here, He probably means those like the Pharisees who, having been boasting of their knowledge and their literal righteousness, they opposed the Lord Christ; and in doing so, they became like stubble in the fire. While by the ‘wicked,’ He means the rest of the Jews who rejected the Savior. The Lord left them neither root nor branch, when He allowed ‘Titus’ the Roman leader, later on, to utterly destroy Jerusalem and the temple. This will be realized more perfectly, on the day of the ultimate coming of the Lord Christ, to judge the wicked and reward the true believers, who fear the Lord. But, when will be the day of the divine revenge for the innocent blood? This is what the Holy Spirit proclaims through the prophet Malachi: “Behold, the day is coming burning like an oven.” (Malachi 4:1)1 St. Cyprian The whole earth will become like lead melting in fire; when the deeds of men, the apparent and the hidden are revealed2. The so-called Clement of Rome The two comings of the Lord Christ are both truly His: One in which He has become man submitted to scourges… And the second in which He will come on the clouds (Daniel 7:13); when “He burns up (the proud) like fire” (Malachi 4:1); when He “strikes the earth with the rod of his mouth” (Isaiah 11:4), and kills the wicked with the breath of His lips. And when “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3; 12; Luke 4:17)3. St. Ireneaus The Lord warns the wicked that they will be burned up and perish; as they are foreigners to the divine race; defilers of the sanctuaries, and have not been spiritually born anew, to become the children of God. Those who were born anew, and were sealed with the mark of Christ, can alone escape. God says in another place, that He will command His angels whom He will send to destroy the world, and to put an end to the human race, on the last day; saying: “Go after them through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark” (Ezekiel 9:5). Now, what is this mark? And where will it be on the body of man?… This was indicated by God in another place, saying to His angel: “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it (Ezekiel 9; 4). Being a mark concerning the passion and blood of the Lord Christ; And that everyone with this mark would be kept secure against any harm; are confirmed by the testimony of God, saying: “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13). What previously happened in the symbol of the slain lamb has been later 1 St. Cyprian: Treatise 9 on the Advantage of Patience, 22. 2 2 Clement 16. 3 Adv. Haer. 4:33:1. 82 on realized in Christ, the Truth. When Egypt was stricken, it was not possible for the Jews to be spared, except by the blood of the lamb and by its mark. Likewise, when the world starts to be destroyed and stricken. He, alone, who on him he has the blood of Christ and His mark, will be spared (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelation 7; 3; 9:4)1. St. Cyprian 2. SHINING OF THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS To spare anyone from falling into despair because of his sins, the Lord proclaims His coming as the Sun of Righteousness, to shine over the souls to scatter their darkness. Yet, this would not be by force against their will. He is the heavenly divine Physician who descends to His patients to cure them if they accept His work in them. “But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves” (Malachi 4:2). The way the Lord Christ came to cast fire, to purge those who believe in Him, and to burn up those who persist on denying Him until their last breath. So He will be light for everyone who accept and fear Him. On His first coming, He has shone, as though by two wings, to heal every sick soul. And in His second coming, He will shine with His splendor, to grant those who fear Him fellowship of eternal glory. This day will be a day of darkness on those who reject Him; and a day of joy, and an incessant light on those who believe in Him, to enjoy the new life in Him. “You shall go out”: Enjoying the Sun of Righteousness, the sick, who are healed will go out as though to their work. Instead of the long stay in bed, unable to work on account of the kingdom of heaven, they will go out to testify, and to edify the souls in the Savior Lord. “Grow fat”: Getting well again, they will progressively move in grace, knowledge, and divine wisdom, to reach to the stature of the fullness of Christ; to that of “a perfect man” (Ephesians 4:13). Here he likens them to “Stall-fed calves;” that would soon grow to become of benefit to their owners. Some believe that he, who enjoys the light of the Sun of Righteousness, will set forth as though to the field like a stall-fed calf, joyfully jumping in the air. St. Hippolytus believes that the Lord Christ, the Sun of Righteousness will not forsake His Church on the days of the great tribulation; at the time of the antichrist; But will shine upon her with His light… [He, who stretches His hands on the holy cross, will stretch His wings, the right and the left, to call to Himself all those who believe in Him, and to cover them like a hen covering her chickens. He says on the tongue of His prophet Malachi: “To you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2)2.] Behold, Your Savior has come to save you; Christ, the Sun of Righteousness has come to give you light3. Acts of Philip 1 The Treatises of Cyprian, 5:22. 2 St. Hippolytus: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, 61. 3 The Acts of Philip. 83 The ‘moon’ is a symbol of the Church; which is not a source of light on its own, but gets her light from God’s Only-begotten Son, Who, in several locations in the Holy Bible, is symbolized as the Sun (Malachi 4; 2; etc.)1. When will the horn of His people be glorified? When the Lord comes, and our Sun shines; Not the sun seen by the eye; which shines on both the good and the wicked (Matthew 5:45); but that about which it is said: “To you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2); That, about which the proud and the wicked, later will say: “The light of righteousness did not shine on us; and the sun did not rise on us” (Wisdom 5:6)2. St. Augustine St. Mary, the Mother of God is the gate of the sanctuary, spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel, which “faces toward the east, … that shall be shut and shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel (the Sun of Righteousness) has entered by it” (Malachi 4:2); He who is called by God as “The High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrew 5:10)3. St. Jerome Like a blind man unable to see the material sun, the sinner is deprived of the enjoyment of the true light4. St. Basil, the Great He grants His ministers fellowship in His name. Being the Light, He says to His saints: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5; 14); and, being ‘The Sun of Righteousness’ (Malachi 4:2), He says about His ministers, “The righteous will shine forth as the sun” (Matthew 13:43) \5. Theodoret of Cyrus Our ship is not built of wooden boards, but is constructed and hastily put together by the Holy Bible. We are not led on our journey by the stars of heaven, but the Sun of Righteousness guides us. Sitting by the Rudder, we do not need the power of the wind on our sails, but we anticipate the gentle breeze of the Spirit6. St. John Chrysostom Do not put your trust unconditionally in the material sun. It is truly the eye of the world, the joy of the day, the beauty of heaven, the splendor of nature, and the majesty of creation. Yet, as you look at it, meditate on its Creator; … when you admire it, glorify its Maker. If the material sun, as a companion and a partner of nature were so rejoicing; how much more would be the goodness in the Sun of Righteousness? … If the material sun, by its cycle, is such a wonder; how much more would be the One who fills everything, everywhere, and forever?7 St. Ambrose 1 On Psalm 51 (50). 2 On Psalm 148. 3 Letter 48: 21. 4 The Hexaemeron, homily 6:1. 5 Dialogues, 1. 6 Against the Anomoeans, homily 7:5:6. 7 Six Days of Creation 4:1:2. 84 From the east, Redemption has come to you. From there, someone, called ‘The Sun Rise” has come; and has become an Intercessor between God and mankind. Hence you are called to look always toward the east, from where the Sun of Righteousness will always shine upon you; where light is born for your sake; to spare you of walking in darkness, of being held by darkness in the last day; of having the fog of ignorance fall upon you, but to let you always be in the light of knowledge, have the day of faith, and keep the light of love and peace1. As He transfigures, His face shines like the sun; to be proclaimed to those who cast off the works of darkness; and wear the armor of the sons of light (John 12:36; Romans 13, 12, 13); to those who are no more the sons of darkness, nor the sons of night, but of daylight, to those who faithfully walk as in the day (Romans 13:13; Thessalonians 5:5). Proclaiming Himself, He shines on them, not like the material sun, but being Himself the Sun of Righteousness2. There was no night in Peter when he confessed, saying: “You are Christ the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), when the Heavenly Father declared it to him. But he had it at the moment of his denial (Matthew 26:69-74). Once Judas received the piece of bread, he immediately went out (John 13:30), because He, who is called “The Sun Rise,” was not present with him, he left back the Sun of Righteousness when he went out. Judas who was filled with darkness chased Jesus, but the darkness he acquired did not catch up with the chased light. That is why when he uttered a word of justification, saying: “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4), “He went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5). The devil in him led him to evil and strangled him for the devil touched his soul at that time. As the Lord couldn’t intervene on his part, to say to the devil what he said on behalf of Job, “Do not lay a hand against his person” (Job 1:12; 2:6)3. [For Judas had already sold his soul to Satan.] Origen When man broke the commandment, the devil cast a dark veil on his soul. And with the coming of grace, that veil is removed, to turn the soul pure; to receive back her unblemished original nature; and to anticipate – with her pure eye – the glory of the true light, the true Sun of Righteousness, shining with its rays inside the heart itself4. It had not been, just until the day on which the second Adam came, but even until this very day; those on whom Christ, the “Sun of Righteousness,” did not arise; whose soul eyes were not opened, and were not enlightened by the true Light; are still under the darkness of sin, under the same influence of lusts, and under the same punishment; as they still do not have the eyes to behold the Father5. St. Macari the Great He is the Sun of Righteousness; proclaimed from heaven; surrounded by His visible nature; and will return to Himself6. St. Gregory of Nazianzus 1 Homilies on Leviticus 9:10:2. 2 Commentary on Matthew 12: 37. 3 Commentary on the Gospel of John 32:315-317. 4 Sermons, 17:3. 5 Sermons 28:4. 6 The Second Oration on Easter, 13. 85 By recognizing that Christ is the true Light (John 1:9); to whom vanity cannot approach; we learn the importance of having our life enlightened by the true Light. But virtues are the rays of the Sun of Righteousness for our enlightenment, through which “we cast off the works of darkness” (Roman 13:12), “to walk properly as in the day” (Romans 13:13), “to renounce the hidden things of shame” (2 Corinthians 4:2). When we do everything in the light, we become the light itself, to shine on others (Matthew 5:15-16); that light with its special character1. St. Gregory of Nyssa When the Only-begotten Son of God called us to this sonhood; He called us to carry His image; saying that He shines His sun on both the good and the wicked; and pours His rain on both the righteous and the oppressors. But, What is this sun? It could be a sun unseen by the physical eye, namely, the wisdom, which is said to be “a reflection of eternal light” (Wisdom 7:26); And “To you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise” (Malachi 4:2). Likewise, the rain could be the teachings of the truth that water our souls; As the Lord Christ has come for both the good and the wicked; and was preached for both the righteous and the oppressors. Or they could be the sun seen by all creatures, and the actual rain, on which the plants that feed the body grow. I believe this to be a more probable interpretation; because the spiritual sun shines only on the good and the saints; as we see in the Wisdom of Solomon, how the wicked weep saying: “The light of righteousness did not shine on us” (Wisdom 5:6). The spiritual rain, as well, does not pour on the ungodly, described as the vineyard on which God commanded the cloud to rain no rain (Isaiah 5:6)2. “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26), inspite of that how many times did the Sun go down on your work… We celebrate now the days of the great Sun; about whom the Holy Bible says: “To you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings” (Malachi 4:2) What does He mean by “In His wings?” He means (under His protection); according to the words of the Psalms, “Hide me under the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8). As to those who vainly mourn and sigh because of the suffering of their souls on the Day of Judgment, when it will be already too late; they would say: “What has our arrogance profited us, and what good has our boasted wealth brought us. All those things have vanished like a shadow, and like a rumor that passes by… We who strayed from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness did not shine on us” (Wisdom 5:6, 8, 9). That sun only shines on the righteous; while the sun we daily see, God shines on both the good and the wicked (Matthew 5:45). The righteousness’ seek to see that sun, which actually dwells with faith in their hearts. So “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath;” lest the Sun of Righteousness would set on you, and you would stay in darkness3. St. Augustine This applies, both to the first and to the second coming of our Savior. In His first coming, He shone as a kind of sun on us, sitting in the darkness and shadows, to set us free of sin, to grant us a fellowship in righteousness, and to cover us with spiritual gifts 1 On Perfection. 2 Sermon on the Mount, 1:79. 3 Sermons on N. T. Lessons, 8:7. 86 as wings. And in His second coming, He appears to those who labored in the present life, either according to what conforms to their will, or to what is against it. As a just Judge, He grants the good things He promised. And like the material sun, when it shines, it wakes up those who have fallen under the spell of sleep, to set forth to work; He, in His second coming, He will wake up those who have fallen under the spell of the long sleep of death. Theodoret of Cyrus As the Lord Christ is called in the Holy Bibles, “A spiritual light (1 John 1:5); “The Sun of Righteousness” (Malachi 4:2); and “The Sunrise or Dawn;” He should be worshipped as such1. Fr. John of Damascus 3. THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GRANTOR OF CONQUEST “You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soul of your feet, on the day that I do this,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 4; 3). The source of their joy and rejoice is their enjoyment of conquest over the devil and his evil angels, who shall be ashes under the souls of their feet. They join the procession of victory under the leadership of Christ, the Head who says: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In them the promise is realized, saying: “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings” (Joshua 10:24). We trust Him, He who said: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33); because we gain the conquest over the devil, our enemy, by His help and under His protection2. Why does He say to us “Be of good cheer,” but because He fought on our behalf, and conquered for our sake? He fought on our behalf, taking our nature on Himself... He conquered for our sake, we to whom He revealed His resurrection... Man, Get connected to God, He who created you; Connect strongly to Him; Put your trust in Him; Call Him to become your strength; Say to Him: ‘In You, O Lord, is my strength.’ Then, when people threaten you, you may praise God with His own words and say: “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11)3. St. Augustine We, likewise, are allowed to conquer, looking up to the Leader of our faith, and walking along the same way He has taken for our sake… We are not dead because of our struggle with death, but we are eternal because of our conquest over it… Does death corrupt our bodies? No way! They will not stay corrupted, but will turn to the better… Therefore, let us conquer the world… Let us run toward eternity… Let us follow our King; Let us set a memorial monument for our conquest; … Let us despise the lusts of the world. We shall have no problem to do all that, when we turn our souls to heaven; once we stop coveting the world, we will conquer it. Once we mock it, it will be under the soles of your feet. In this world we are foreigners and nomads; then, 1 Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 12. 2 Letters, 39. 3 Sermon on N.T. Lessons, 67:4. 87 let us not grieve on anything related to it!1 St. John Chrysostom 4. A NEW CONCEPT OF THE LAW The Jews considered themselves the keepers of the Mosaic Law, by their several and particular offering, burnt offerings, and sacrifices. Now, He asks them to keep the Law on a spiritual level; by becoming, themselves, without blemish, in order, for their offerings to be accepted by God. “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments” (Malachi 4:4) The verses to follow (4-6), constitute, not only the end of the book of Malachi, but that of the whole Old Testament. This end came to prepare the people to anticipate the coming of the Lord Christ, by studying the prophecies and the Law that testifies and leads to Him. And as the apostle St. Peter says: “We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation; for prophecy never came by the will of man, but by holy men of God, spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21). The goal of the prophet is to let his readers give a spiritual interpretation to the Law; to find in it, Christ the Judge, who discerns between the good and the wicked. It is not without cause that Christ said to the Jews: “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; For he wrote about Me” (John 5:46). The fact is that, because of their literal interpretation alone of the Law, and their inability to realize that its temporary promises, are nothing but symbols of the eternal rewards; they fell in disappointment, that led to rebellion; saying: “it is vain to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance?” (Malachi 3:14-15)2. St. Augustine That Law is so very sacred and useful; that our Savior, when He healed a leper, and then healed nine more, He said to the first one: ‘Go… Show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them’” (John 8:4; Mark 1:44). He never at any time annulled the Law3. The Constitutions of the Holy Apostles The first sign of obedience you gain, is to accept the coming of Christ the Lord, who came for the salvation of the whole people. He came to bring the Law to its goal, and to clarify His way to perfection. That is why, you will do well to believe in Him when He comes, and know that He is the One about whom Moses and the prophets have prophesied, that He will consummate the goal of the Law, and will proclaim the salvation of all4. Theodore of Mopsuestia 5. THE COMING OF THE PROPHET ELIJAH The Lord sent His angel; namely, St. John the Baptist, before His first coming to 1 Homilies on St. John, 78:3. 2 City of God 20:28. 3 Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, 6:4:14. 4 Commentary on Malachi 4:1:2. 88 give salvation. St. John the Baptist came with the fiery Spirit of Elijah. And He will send Elijah and Enoch in the days of the antichrist, to prepare the way for His ultimate coming. “Behold, I will send to you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). He called them to return to the Law and to look into the statutes, that indicate that there will be no more prophets until the coming of him who has the Spirit and zeal of Elijah, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord (Luke 1:17). As far as the interpretation of this phrase, the Jewish interpreters were divided into two groups: One group assumed that Elijah in person will come to the world to prepare the way for the Messiah; and another group assumed that some man will come with the Spirit of Elijah. Has Elijah already come? When St. John the Baptist was asked, if he was Elijah, he said “No” (John 1:22); whereas the Lord Christ said: “Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands” (Matthew 17:12). To clarify that apparent contradiction, St. Augustine says, that Elijah should have come before the first coming of Christ; and he should also come before His second coming.. The first time, Elijah did not come with his person, but, because St. John the Baptist bore his thought and mode of life; the Lord Christ said about him that it is Elijah who came (Matthew 11:14). But as he was actually not Elijah in person, St. John the Baptist said that he is not Elijah. But before the second and the ultimate coming of the Lord Christ, Elijah will come in person, will testify against the antichrist, and will become a martyr1. As the Savior was the beginning of the resurrection of the whole people; it was fitting that the Lord, alone, would raise from the dead; by whom also, the judgment would enter to the whole world. He, alone, consummated the way, was received in heaven, sat on the right hand of the Father, and will be proclaimed as the Judge at the end of the world. He is assigned for a certain role. And the one who precedes Him is committed to come first, as said by Malachi: “Behold, I will send to you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; And he will return the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6). Therefore, that will happen to proclaim the appearance of Christ from heaven; and signs and wonders will happen, to put the people to shame, and to Make them repent their great evil2. St. Hippolytus of Rome What is the basis of your conviction that the coming Elijah will baptize? He has not baptized the wood on the altar in the days of Ahab, when he needed a flood of water to get burnt when the Lord appeared in the fire (1 Kings 18:21-38). He, instead, instructed the priests to do that, not once, but said: “Do it a second time,” and then said, “Do it a third time” (1 Kings 18:34). Then, how can he, who has not baptized then, but has let the others, do that; how will he baptize when he comes at the end of 1 On the Gospel of St. John, tr. 4:5. 2 On the Antichrist 46. 89 time, as said by Malachi?1 Origen “And I saw another angel coming from the east with the seal of the living God.” Here, he is talking about Elijah the prophet, who is to come in the days of the antichrist, to reform and to hold fast the churches, to help them confront the extensive and great persecution. We read how those things have been prophesied in both the Old and the New Testaments; Being said by Malachi: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, and he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, to bring the Jews back to the faith of the people before them2.” Victorinus of Bitophium With the approach of the final days, a great prophet will be sent to bring mankind back to the knowledge of God; and he will be given the power to perform miracles. And when the people do not listen to him, he will shut off the rain from heaven, will turn their water into blood, and will torture them by hunger and thirst. And if someone intends to do him harm, fire would come out of his mouth and burn him3. Lactantius It is imperative that His two predecessors, should come first as said by Malachi, and the angel of God who came to give Zechariah the priest the good news of the birth of John the Baptist… These are (Elijah and Enoch), who will come to proclaim the coming of Christ from heaven; will perform signs; and will bring those who were overcome by evil and wickedness, back to repentance4. St. Hippolytus “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4; 6). Fr. Victorinus believes that this refers to that a great number of Jews will eventually receive faith in the Lord Christ through the testimony of the prophet Elijah in the last days, when the antichrist comes5. 1 Commentary on the Gospel of John 6:125. 2 Victorinus of Petovium: Commentary on Apocalypse 11. 3 Lactantius: The Divine Institutes, 17. 4 St. Hippolytus: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, 43. 5 Victorianus: Commentary on the Apocalypse, From the Seven Chapter 2. 90 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF MALACHI 4 SHINE WITH YOUR LIGHT IN MY DEPTHS You came to our world to scatter every darkness. To shine in every soul to make out of it, a shining star. To turn our darkness into light; and our shame into glory. Whoever rejects Your light, will lose his insight. And the darkness of ignorance will cover his mind. And the day of Your second coming will be a terror for him, Come, O the Sun of Righteousness, to my depths. To set Your Kingdom in me, to make me gold, purified with fire. And no impurities will be in me. You, O heavenly Physician, will take away my ailment And will grant me an eternal cure To transform my life into an incessant rejoice. To make me jump with joy among the heavenly creatures. Let me enjoy Your conquest and victory. So that the devil would have no place in me. But, by Your grace, he would be under the soles of my feet. With no more authority over me. I am waiting for you, O Grantor of Glory. Send Elijah and Enoch to destroy the power of the antichrist. And to prepare the whole world to enjoy Your salvation. My depths cry out for You. Yes, O Lord Jesus, Come!
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