ZEPHANIAHZEPHANIAH(1-3)(1-3)

CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1

GREAT DAY OF THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORDLORD

“ “ I will utterly I will utterly consume everythingconsume everything From the face of the land,” Says the From the face of the land,” Says the

LORD; “ LORD; “ I will consume man and beastI will consume man and beast; ; I will consume the birds of the heavens, I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling The fish of the sea, And the stumbling

blocks along with the wicked. blocks along with the wicked.

I will cut off man from the face of the I will cut off man from the face of the landland

PREPARED A SACRIFICEPREPARED A SACRIFICE

“ “ I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

I will cut off every trace of BaalI will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the names of the idolatrous priests with the paganpagan

priests— Those who worship the host of heaven on priests— Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear the housetops; Those who worship and swear oathsoaths by the LORD, But who by the LORD, But who alsoalso swear by Milcom; Those swear by Milcom; Those

who have turned back from who have turned back from followingfollowing the LORD, the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of

Him.” Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; Him.” Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD;

For the day of the LORD For the day of the LORD isis at hand, For the LORD at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.

PUNISHMENT PUNISHMENT BROUGHTBROUGHT

“ “ And it shall be, In And it shall be, In the day of the LORD’s sacrificethe day of the LORD’s sacrifice, That , That I I will punish the princes and the king’s childrenwill punish the princes and the king’s children, And all , And all

such as are clothed with foreign apparel. In the same day I such as are clothed with foreign apparel. In the same day I will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill

their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. “ And there their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. “ And there shall be on that day,” says the LORD, shall be on that day,” says the LORD,

“ “ The sound of a mournful cry from the The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate (NORTH Fish Gate (NORTH GATE),GATE), A wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud A wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud

crashing from the hills. Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! crashing from the hills. Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! For all the merchant people are cut down; All those who For all the merchant people are cut down; All those who handle money are cut off. “ And it shall come to pass at handle money are cut off. “ And it shall come to pass at that time that time ThatThat I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And

punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘ The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do in their heart, ‘ The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do

evil.’evil.’

Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; them;

They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.” They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.”

EZEKIEL VS. REVELATIONEZEKIEL VS. REVELATIONEZEKIEL 39:17-20 “And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord “And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: “ Assemble GOD, ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: “ Assemble yourselves and come; yourselves and come; Gather togetherGather together from all sides to My from all sides to My sacrificial mealsacrificial meal Which Which I am sacrificing for youI am sacrificing for you, A , A great sacrificial mealgreat sacrificial meal on the mountains of on the mountains of Israel, That you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall Israel, That you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of eat the flesh of the mightythe mighty, Drink , Drink the blood of the princes of the earththe blood of the princes of the earth, Of rams and lambs, , Of rams and lambs, Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan. Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan.

You shall eat fat till you are full, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My You shall eat fat till you are full, And drink blood till you are drunk, At My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My table With table With horses and ridershorses and riders, , With mighty menWith mighty men And with all the men of And with all the men of war,” says the Lord GOD. And I will set My glory among the nations, and war,” says the Lord GOD. And I will set My glory among the nations, and all all the nations shall see My judgmentthe nations shall see My judgment that I have executed, and My hand that I that I have executed, and My hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day and forward. their God, from that day and forward.

REVELATION 19:17-18REVELATION 19:17-18 Then I saw an angel standing in the Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with asun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birdsloud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come andthe midst of heaven, “Come and gather togethergather together for the for the supper of supper of the great Godthe great God, that you may, that you may eat the flesh of kingseat the flesh of kings, the the flesh of flesh of captainscaptains, the, the flesh of mighty menflesh of mighty men, the flesh ofthe flesh of horses and of those horses and of those who sit onwho sit on them, and the flesh of all them, and the flesh of all people,people, free and slave, both free and slave, both small and great.” small and great.”

DAY OF THE LORD NEARDAY OF THE LORD NEAR

The great day of the LORD The great day of the LORD isis near near; ; It isIt is near and hastens near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitterbitter; There ; There the the mighty men shall cry out.mighty men shall cry out. That day That day isis a a day of wrathday of wrath, A , A

day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and alarm clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.Against the fortified cities And against the high towers.

“ “ I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORDthey have sinned against the LORD; ; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse.” Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be like refuse.” Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD’s wrath; But able to deliver them In the day of the LORD’s wrath; But

the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those

who dwell in the land. who dwell in the land.

CHAPTER 2CHAPTER 2

CALL TO REPENTANCECALL TO REPENTANCE

Gather yourselves togetherGather yourselves together, yes, gather together,, yes, gather together,O undesirable nation, Before the decree is issued, O undesirable nation, Before the decree is issued,

OrOr the day passes like the day passes like chaffchaff, Before the LORD’s , Before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the the day of the LORD’s angerLORD’s anger comes upon you! comes upon you! Seek the LORD, all Seek the LORD, all

you meek of the earthyou meek of the earth, Who have upheld His , Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility.

It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’s anger.It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’s anger.

JUDGEMENT ON JUDGEMENT ON NATIONSNATIONS

GAZAGAZA

ASHKELONASHKELON

EKRONEKRON

CHERITHITESCHERITHITES

PHILISTINESPHILISTINES

MOAB & AMMON MOAB & AMMON (JORDAN)(JORDAN)

TREATED LIKE SODOM & GOMORAHTREATED LIKE SODOM & GOMORAH

BECAUSE OF THEIR TREATMENT & ARROGANT BECAUSE OF THEIR TREATMENT & ARROGANT THREATSTHREATS

AGAINST ISRAELAGAINST ISRAEL

THEY WILL BECOME A DESOLATIONTHEY WILL BECOME A DESOLATION

MORE NATIONS JUDGEDMORE NATIONS JUDGED

ETHIOPIANSETHIOPIANS(SUDAN)(SUDAN)

SHALL BE SLAIN BY SHALL BE SLAIN BY HISHIS SWORD SWORD

ASSYRIAASSYRIA

DESTROYED BY DESTROYED BY HISHIS HAND HAND

NINEVEHNINEVEH

This is the rejoicing city That dwelt This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, “ I securely, That said in her heart, “ I

am it,am it, and and there isthere is none besides me.” none besides me.” How has she become a desolation, A How has she become a desolation, A

place for beasts to lie down! place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall Everyone who passes by her Shall

hiss and shake his fist. hiss and shake his fist.

CHAPTER 3CHAPTER 3

MORAL STATE OF JUDAHMORAL STATE OF JUDAHWoe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city oppressing city

(JERUSALEM)!(JERUSALEM)! She has She has not obeyednot obeyed HisHis voice, She has not received voice, She has not received correction; She correction; She has not trusted in the LORDhas not trusted in the LORD, She has not drawn , She has not drawn

near to her God. Her princes in her midst near to her God. Her princes in her midst areare roaring lions; roaring lions;

Her judges Her judges areare evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. Her Her prophets are insolentprophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her , treacherous people; Her priests have priests have

polluted the sanctuarypolluted the sanctuary, They have done , They have done violence to the lawviolence to the law. .

The LORD The LORD isis righteous in her midst, righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. He will do no unrighteousness.

Every morning He brings His justice to light; Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the He never fails, But the unjust knows no shameunjust knows no shame. .

“ “ I have cut off nations, Their fortresses are devastated; I have made I have cut off nations, Their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are

destroyed; destroyed; There isThere is no one, no inhabitant. I said, ‘ no one, no inhabitant. I said, ‘Surely you will Surely you will fear Mefear Me, You will receive instruction’— So that her dwelling would , You will receive instruction’— So that her dwelling would

not be cut off, not be cut off, DespiteDespite everything for which I punished her. But everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and they rose early and corrupted all their deedscorrupted all their deeds. .

LAST DAYS; ARMAGEDDONLAST DAYS; ARMAGEDDON

Therefore Therefore wait for Mewait for Me,” says the LORD, “ ,” says the LORD, “ Until the day I rise up for Until the day I rise up for plunderplunder; My determination ; My determination isis to to gather the nations To My gather the nations To My assembly of kingdomsassembly of kingdoms, , To pour on them My indignation, All My To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. “jealousy. “

For then I will restore to the peoplesFor then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORDall may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one , To serve Him with one accord. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The accord. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering. daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.

In that dayIn that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be no longer be haughtyhaughty In My holy mountain (KINGDOM). In My holy mountain (KINGDOM).

I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they they shall trust in the name of the LORDshall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall . The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed theirtheir flocks flocks and lie down, And and lie down, And no one shall make no one shall make themthem afraid.” afraid.”

KING OF ISRAEL IN THEIR MIDSTKING OF ISRAEL IN THEIR MIDSTSing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad

and rejoice with all and rejoice with all youryour heart, O daughter of heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your taken away your judgmentsjudgments, , He has cast out your enemyHe has cast out your enemy. .

The King of Israel, the LORD, The King of Israel, the LORD, isis in your midst; You in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. shall see disaster no more.

In that dayIn that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“ “ Do not fear; ZionDo not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The , let not your hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst, LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, The Mighty One, will savewill save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, ; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet He will quiet youyou with His love, He will rejoice with His love, He will rejoice

over you with singing.” over you with singing.”

RESTORATION OF ISRAELRESTORATION OF ISRAEL“ “ I will gather thoseI will gather those who sorrow over the appointed who sorrow over the appointed

assembly, Who are among you, assembly, Who are among you, To whomTo whom its reproach its reproach isis a burden.a burden.

Behold, at that time Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict I will deal with all who afflict youyou; ; I will save the lameI will save the lame, And gather those who , And gather those who

were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame. fame In every land where they were put to shame.

At that time At that time I will bring you backI will bring you back, Even at the time , Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise

Among Among all the peoples of the earthall the peoples of the earth, When I return , When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the LORD. your captives before your eyes,” Says the LORD.