There’s a prophesy of the church found in the Old Testament
Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
There are a few things worth pulling out of the text.
The Church is Worldwide
From the “rising of the sun even unto the going down” – the sun rises and goes down all across the world and the church is spread throughout the entire world.
The Gospel goes to the Gentiles
“my name shall be great among the Gentiles” – The good news went into the entire world. It is no longer just for the Hebrew people.
Churches Everywhere
“in every place” – There are churches in all the places the gospel would go and the good news is proclaimed there.
Smells are found there
“incense shall be offered” – Some might spiritualize this. Particularly if their church does not burn incense. But where’s the cause in the text to do this? Strong’s emphasizes this:
kaw-tar’; a primitive root (identical with through the idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship):—burn (incense, sacrifice) (upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a sacrifice).
Incense is offered with prayer as described in Rev:
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
The Eucharist is Offered there
“pure offering” – not an animal sacrifice, since Christ did away with all of those things.
The Eucharist is a pure offering to be sure. It is no re-sacrificing Jesus. It is embodying Him.
The Church Glorifies God
“my name shall be great among the heathen” – this was missing from the Hebrew religion. There were converts to that religion, but not at all to the depth that the church had. And those converts to the Hebrew religion came to Jesus.
It was a prophecy
The phrase “saith the LORD of hosts” marks this is a prophecy.
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