In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua]
was in the beginning with God.
ZEPHANIAH
The Book of Zephaniah is the ninth of the twelve books of the
Minor
Prophets in the Old Testament. The name Zephaniah comes from the
Hebrew word Tsephanyah meaning, “God hides”. Zephaniah was one of the
last prophets to Judah before the nation fell into Babylonian captivity.
He ministered from c. 640-625 BC. The prophecies of Nahum,
Jeremiah,
Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Ezekiel and
Daniel overlapped in an era from c.
663-536 BC.
God was preparing to bring judgment on Judah for her grievous sins.
He patiently called Judah to repentance but His call was rejected.
Zephaniah prophesied that not only would Judah be judged but also the
surrounding Gentle nations. He also extended the prophecy to the distant
future when Judah and the whole world will be judged. Zephaniah
described that day as the great day of the Lord. The devastation will be
complete because of man’s rejection of God. As God is righteous in
wrath, He is also righteous in mercy. Zephaniah prophesied the day of
restoration when a remnant of Israel will be cleansed, redeemed and
restored unto Him for eternity.
Today, God is returning His people back to their land of
Israel. This prophecy is being fulfilled according to God’s Word through
the prophets. We are now living in the last days as evident by the world’s
opposition to Israel. At the end of the
tribulation, Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, will return the second time to judge the
Gentile nations for rejecting God and attempting
to destroy Israel. He will save a remnant of Israel and reign from the
thrown of David in Jerusalem. There will be righteousness that brings
forth peace and
prosperity for 1,000 years.
Zephaniah 1-2: Call to repentance; judgments on Jerusalem,
Judah and
the Gentile nations
Zephaniah 3: The promise of salvation: the conversion and restoration
of Israel