But who may endure the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appears? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
All Commentaries on Malachi 3:2 Go To Malachi 3
John Chrysostom
AD 407
The same Christ who did all this will hereafter stand before us as our judge. Certainly the prophets did not pass over this but foretold it. Some saw him in that very form which he would stand before us; others predicted this only in words. Daniel was in the midst of the barbarians and the Babylonians when he saw Christ coming in the clouds. Listen to what he said: “I beheld, and lo! One like the Son of man was coming on the clouds. And he advanced to the ancient of days and was presented before him; and to him was given the government and the kingdom, and all the peoples, tribes and languages serve him.” And Daniel hinted at God’s court and judgment when he said, “The thrones were set, and the books were opened. A river of fire rolled before him. Thousands upon thousands ministered to him, and myriads waited on him.” [Daniel not only revealed that, but also he showed the honor that the just would have when he said, “He gave judgment to the holy ones of the most high, and the holy ones possessed the kingdom.”] And that judgment will come through fire. Malachi said, “He is coming [like the fire of a refiner’s furnace, and] like the soap of the fullers.” And then the just will enjoy great honor. And Daniel was speaking of the resurrection when he said, “Those lying in the dust shall arise.”
