to prepare the way for the Son of God, when He shall come in the glory
of His Father. This event is foretold by the prophet Malachi:
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way
before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide
the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for
he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap: and he shall
sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the
sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may
offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the
offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in
the days of old, and as in former years" (Malachi iii, 1-4).