Post by morningstar on Jan 24, 2015 19:20:47 GMT
I was prompted by the Lord to read Zephaniah the other morning, I hardly ever get into this book, so I thought I would follow the Lord's lead and re-read it again. Only this time there were a few verses that jumped out at me, so I will only focus on those verses, but especially on Zephaniah 2:1-3 The Lords Call to Repentance before Judgment falls & Zephaniah 2:4-15 in which I believe the Lord was giving an insight as to the Psalm 83, Isaiah 17 & Ezekiel 38 wars on the Prophetic timeline.
Zephaniah (overview:
Judgement of the "Day of the Lord" Chapters 1 thru 3
Chapter 1
Judgment on the Whole World
Judgment on the Nation of Judah (Israel)
Chapter 2:
Judgment on the Nations surrounding Judah (Israel)
Chapter 3:
Judgment on the City of Jerusalem
Judgment on the Whole Earth
Promise of Conversion (Israel)
Promise of Restoration (Millennial Kingdom)
Zephaniah 1:7
In this verse it seems to be saying that the Lord is preparing His wrath (Sacrifice --Greek definition noted below) for the Tribulation. According to Revelation, it would seem that most of the population on earth will die due to the Seal, Trumpet & Bowl Judgments. In this verse, God's Wrath or Judgments have NOT been released yet, but before they are God will sanctify or set apart (Sanctify --Greek definition noted below) His own or as this verse states "Whom He has invited to be consecrated" - "He sanctifies His Called ones" - I believe this is alluding to the Rapture or removal of the Saints Prior to the Tribulation, before His Wrath is poured out.
Here is the Parallel versions of this verse.
NKJV 7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God;
For the day of the Lord is at hand,
For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice;
He has invited His guests
ISV 7 Remain silent before the Lord GOD, because the Day of the LORD approaches, and because the LORD has prepared a sacrifice for those whom He has invited to be consecrated.
CLV 7 Hist! At the presence of my Lord, Yahweh, for near is the day of Yahweh! For Yahweh prepares a sacrifice; He sanctifies His called ones."
Rotherham(i) 7 Hush! at the presence of My Lord, Yahweh,—for, near, is the day of Yahweh, for Yahweh hath prepared his sacrifice, hath hallowed his guests.
YLT 7 Hush! because of the Lord Jehovah, For near is a day of Jehovah, For prepared hath Jehovah a sacrifice, He hath sanctified His invited ones.
Here is Strongs definition
ABP_Strongs Be cautious before the presence of the lord God! for is near the day of the lord! For the lord *prepared His sacrifice,
and He has ** sanctified ***his chosen.
*Prepared His Sacrifice-----θυσία an offering
sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively)
Derivation: from G2380;properly, to rush (breathe hard, blow, smoke), i.e. (by implication) to sacrifice (properly, by fire, but genitive case); by extension to immolate (slaughter for any purpose)
Derivation: a primary verb;
KJV Usage: kill, (do) sacrifice, slay.
Thayer:
1) to sacrifice, immolate
2) to slay, kill
2a) of the paschal lamb
3) slaughter
** He has Sactified
Strong's :ἁγιάζω
to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate
KJV Usage: hallow, be holy, sanctify.
Thayer:
1) to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
2) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
2a) consecrate things to God
2b) dedicate people to God
3) to purify
3a) to cleanse externally
3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul
***His chosen.
Strong's: κλητός
called, invited, welcome
invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint
KJV Usage: called.
Thayer:
1) called, invited (to a banquet) (My thoughts---could this be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?)
1a) invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ
1b) called to (the discharge of) some office
1b1) divinely selected and appointed
Zephaniah 2:1-3
I found this to be very insightful. The Lord is Calling people to repentance BEFORE His wrath falls upon the earth. In other words, Before the 7 year Tribulation begins. I think these verses shows a Pre-Trib view. The Church will be taken out (hidden or set apart) BEFORE judgment falls on the earth. The Lord is not willing that anyone should perish, so we see His Grace & Mercy in calling people to repentance and accepting His Gift of Salvation before the Day of the Lord Begins.
A Call to Repentance:
NJKV:
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,
O undesirable nation,
2 Before the decree is issued,
Or the day passes like chaff,
Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!
3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be * hidden (See Hebrew Definition below)
In the day of the Lord’s anger.
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
סתר
1. to hide, conceal
a. (Niphal)
1. to hide oneself
2. to be hidden, be concealed
b. (Piel) to hide carefully
c. (Pual) to be hidden carefully, be concealed
d. (Hiphil) to conceal, hide
e. (Hithpael) to hide oneself carefully
Zephaniah 2:4-15
Verses 4-15 the Lord is saying what he is going to do to the nations surrounding Israel, and it seems to me that the nations spoken of in these verses Zeph. 2:4-11 is the Psalm 83 war, Zeph. 2:12 is Ezekiel 38 (for Ethiopia will be aligned with Gog, Persia, Libya and other confederates), Zeph 2:13-15 is the Isaiah 17 war. The fact that these verses follow the call to repentance before God's Wrath falls on earth--( verses 1-3 mentioned above) ..Shows that the Church will NOT be here to witness the Psalm 83, Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38 wars that are to come upon Israel. For these judgments will be brutal against Israels enemies There is going to be utter devastation & loss of life on these Nations that go against Israel and it will be God's heavy judgments against them .
Considering the fact that what we see building up in the ME in regards to Israels surrounding nations and the threat of ISIS intent on claiming Jerusalem as their own, it would seem these wars are about to break out, and if my conclusions are correct, that the Church will not witness it, seems to me that were a lot closer to the Rapture then we thought. Please keep in mind that these are my conclusions and opinions only on what I believe are insights that the Lord wanted to convey to me.
I just wanted to share what I've learned.
Zephaniah (overview:
Judgement of the "Day of the Lord" Chapters 1 thru 3
Chapter 1
Judgment on the Whole World
Judgment on the Nation of Judah (Israel)
Chapter 2:
Judgment on the Nations surrounding Judah (Israel)
Chapter 3:
Judgment on the City of Jerusalem
Judgment on the Whole Earth
Promise of Conversion (Israel)
Promise of Restoration (Millennial Kingdom)
Zephaniah 1:7
In this verse it seems to be saying that the Lord is preparing His wrath (Sacrifice --Greek definition noted below) for the Tribulation. According to Revelation, it would seem that most of the population on earth will die due to the Seal, Trumpet & Bowl Judgments. In this verse, God's Wrath or Judgments have NOT been released yet, but before they are God will sanctify or set apart (Sanctify --Greek definition noted below) His own or as this verse states "Whom He has invited to be consecrated" - "He sanctifies His Called ones" - I believe this is alluding to the Rapture or removal of the Saints Prior to the Tribulation, before His Wrath is poured out.
Here is the Parallel versions of this verse.
NKJV 7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord God;
For the day of the Lord is at hand,
For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice;
He has invited His guests
ISV 7 Remain silent before the Lord GOD, because the Day of the LORD approaches, and because the LORD has prepared a sacrifice for those whom He has invited to be consecrated.
CLV 7 Hist! At the presence of my Lord, Yahweh, for near is the day of Yahweh! For Yahweh prepares a sacrifice; He sanctifies His called ones."
Rotherham(i) 7 Hush! at the presence of My Lord, Yahweh,—for, near, is the day of Yahweh, for Yahweh hath prepared his sacrifice, hath hallowed his guests.
YLT 7 Hush! because of the Lord Jehovah, For near is a day of Jehovah, For prepared hath Jehovah a sacrifice, He hath sanctified His invited ones.
Here is Strongs definition
ABP_Strongs Be cautious before the presence of the lord God! for is near the day of the lord! For the lord *prepared His sacrifice,
and He has ** sanctified ***his chosen.
*Prepared His Sacrifice-----θυσία an offering
sacrifice (the act or the victim, literally or figuratively)
Derivation: from G2380;properly, to rush (breathe hard, blow, smoke), i.e. (by implication) to sacrifice (properly, by fire, but genitive case); by extension to immolate (slaughter for any purpose)
Derivation: a primary verb;
KJV Usage: kill, (do) sacrifice, slay.
Thayer:
1) to sacrifice, immolate
2) to slay, kill
2a) of the paschal lamb
3) slaughter
** He has Sactified
Strong's :ἁγιάζω
to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate
KJV Usage: hallow, be holy, sanctify.
Thayer:
1) to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
2) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
2a) consecrate things to God
2b) dedicate people to God
3) to purify
3a) to cleanse externally
3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul
***His chosen.
Strong's: κλητός
called, invited, welcome
invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint
KJV Usage: called.
Thayer:
1) called, invited (to a banquet) (My thoughts---could this be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?)
1a) invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ
1b) called to (the discharge of) some office
1b1) divinely selected and appointed
Zephaniah 2:1-3
I found this to be very insightful. The Lord is Calling people to repentance BEFORE His wrath falls upon the earth. In other words, Before the 7 year Tribulation begins. I think these verses shows a Pre-Trib view. The Church will be taken out (hidden or set apart) BEFORE judgment falls on the earth. The Lord is not willing that anyone should perish, so we see His Grace & Mercy in calling people to repentance and accepting His Gift of Salvation before the Day of the Lord Begins.
A Call to Repentance:
NJKV:
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,
O undesirable nation,
2 Before the decree is issued,
Or the day passes like chaff,
Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you!
3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be * hidden (See Hebrew Definition below)
In the day of the Lord’s anger.
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
סתר
1. to hide, conceal
a. (Niphal)
1. to hide oneself
2. to be hidden, be concealed
b. (Piel) to hide carefully
c. (Pual) to be hidden carefully, be concealed
d. (Hiphil) to conceal, hide
e. (Hithpael) to hide oneself carefully
Zephaniah 2:4-15
Verses 4-15 the Lord is saying what he is going to do to the nations surrounding Israel, and it seems to me that the nations spoken of in these verses Zeph. 2:4-11 is the Psalm 83 war, Zeph. 2:12 is Ezekiel 38 (for Ethiopia will be aligned with Gog, Persia, Libya and other confederates), Zeph 2:13-15 is the Isaiah 17 war. The fact that these verses follow the call to repentance before God's Wrath falls on earth--( verses 1-3 mentioned above) ..Shows that the Church will NOT be here to witness the Psalm 83, Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38 wars that are to come upon Israel. For these judgments will be brutal against Israels enemies There is going to be utter devastation & loss of life on these Nations that go against Israel and it will be God's heavy judgments against them .
Considering the fact that what we see building up in the ME in regards to Israels surrounding nations and the threat of ISIS intent on claiming Jerusalem as their own, it would seem these wars are about to break out, and if my conclusions are correct, that the Church will not witness it, seems to me that were a lot closer to the Rapture then we thought. Please keep in mind that these are my conclusions and opinions only on what I believe are insights that the Lord wanted to convey to me.
I just wanted to share what I've learned.