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Refiner’s Fire And Launderer’s Soap
What
is the significance of the refiner’s fire and launderer’s soap in Malachi 3:2?
Malachi 3:2, where the
phrase refiner’s fire is used, has been a popular verse in
Western society for centuries due to its use in Handel’s famous oratorio Messiah.
The verse reads, “But
who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he
will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.”
Let’s take a look at the prophet’s similes.
Malachi says that, when the Lord returns, no one
will be able to stand before Him. The Lord’s holiness and judgment will be as a
refiner’s blazing fire and as a fuller’s bleaching agent.
The idea of “standing” before
the Lord is associated with “withstanding” or “standing
up to;” sinful human flesh will not have the strength, the right, or
the desire to resist the Lord in His glory (cf. Psalm 76:7; Revelation 6:17).
The two similes help clarify why no one will be
able to stand in the Day of the Lord.
First, Malachi 3:2 says the Messiah will be like a
refiner’s fire, an allusion to the process of purifying metal.
A refiner uses a fire to heat metal to a molten
state; then he skims off the dross that floats to the top.
The refiner’s fire is, of course, maintained at
an extremely high temperature, and such a high degree of heat is the prophet’s
picture of the testing people will face on Judgment Day.
All judgment has been entrusted to the Son (John 5:22).
Upon Christ’s return, the intense flame of God’s
judgment will purify the earth, removing the dross of sin.
Second, the Messiah will be like a launderer’s
soap.
This type of soap was caustic and quite
effective in producing bright white clothing. The HCSB translates it as “cleansing
lye.”
When Christ returns, He will cleanse the world
of all impurity. Every stain of sin will be scrubbed away.
The account of Jesus’ transfiguration contains a reference to His
purity, using language similar to Malachi’s: “He was transfigured
before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world
could bleach them” (Mark 9:2–3).
The goal of Jesus will be to
judge wickedness and purify His people: “He will sit as a refiner and
purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and
silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness” (Malachi 3:3).
Like the refiner’s fire, He will burn away the
impurities of the priests.
Like launderer’s soap, He will wash away their
uncleanness (Deuteronomy 4:29; Isaiah 1:25; Jeremiah 6:29–30; Ezekiel 22:17–22; Zechariah 3:5).
The priests in the millennial kingdom will then
be able to offer sacrifices from a pure heart.
The sacrifices in those days
will be similar to those when the temple was first built: “The
offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days
gone by, as in former years” (Malachi 3:4).
The refiner’s fire and launderer’s soap indicate
the holiness and burning judgment of the Messiah when He returns to reign in
Jerusalem at His second coming.
His purifying brightness and absolute holiness
will affect those who serve Him, creating a cleansed temple and purified
priesthood.
“See, the Sovereign LORD comes
with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his
recompense accompanies him” (Isaiah 40:10).
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