In Malachi 3:1, same verse referred to, it is said, “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.”

Who is this but the Savior coming to John on the bank of Jordan?  And in coming to him he comes to, or confronts those whom John has made ready.  He calls this coming to his temple.  Here is where the marriage occurs.

We hear John exclaiming, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”  Here is the midnight cry, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.”  Those who were ready, who were prepared in heart, and had obeyed the teaching of John, were admitted to the marriage.  Hence Christ suddenly came to his temple, “even the messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in.”  This was fulfilled in Jesus’s approach to John, and those whom he had baptized, here the union of the Bride and Bridegroom was effected, and the church, there began in its incipiency—began to be builded. (Writings of S.A. Paine)