Prayer 101 - Part 68: Christ In Zephaniah
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Outline
Zephaniah means ‘Whom the Lord hides or protects’. He was born during the latter part of the reign of Manasseh(an evil king) and was the great grandson of Hezekiah. He was of royal blood, and lived in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. He is credited with giving impetus to the revival during the reign of Josiah who came to the throne at the age of 8.
From the outset we are made aware of ‘the Day of the Lord’ which we know speaks of great judgment to come in Zephaniah’s day and well into the future. ‘The Day of the Lord’ shall commence when the Church leaves the earth.
Zephaniah 1:7-10; 14-18
Note in verse 14 ‘is near, it is near’ - the Great Tribulation is yet future.
In Zeph 1:7 it reads ‘he hath bid(sanctified) his guests’ and in Zeph 2:3 it reads ‘it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger’. Could this be speaking of the Church? Removed from having to be subject to God’s wrath as spoken of in the New Testament. Rom 5:9; 1 Thess 5:9; Rev 3:10
Judgment would begin with God’s people. It would begin with a battle cry as the Lord summoned His enemies to prepare for battle. It would be a day of darkness and fire and of cataclysmic event when the earth would tremble. Babylon, Egypt and Edom along with other nations would be laid waste as God intervened to punish sin that had reached a climax.
It would all begin with the Tribulation period, ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’. It was spoken of as a ‘day of visitation’ (1 Peter 2:12), a ‘day of judgment’ (2 Peter 2:9), and a ‘day of wrath’ (Rev 6:17).
Did you know that for every prophecy speaking of Christ’s first coming, there are eight speaking of His second coming?
Zephaniah 2 is a final call before judgment from God. He not only judges His own people. He judges the nations.
Zeph 2:1-3
‘It may be that ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger’ in verse three could hint at the Rapture.
Other hints and evidence of the Rapture of the church…
Enoch’s translation - Gen 5:21-24
Lot’s deliverance from Sodom - Gen 19
Isaac nowhere to be seen until the wedding - Gen 22:19; Gen 24:62
Daniel’s fiery furnace - Dan 3 - Where was Daniel?
Zephaniah 3
In Zeph 3:6-8 we are presented with a picture of the Great Tribulation, the great Day of the Lord, Armageddon etc
Zeph 3:20 the prophet speaks of the Millennial Kingdom
It will be a period of great joy - 3:14
The Lord’s judgments against Israel will end - 3:15a
He will be in their midst- 3:15b
Israel will no longer be afflicted by evil nor fear - 3:15c-17a
Israel will rest in His love - 3:17b
‘..and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.’ Zechariah 12:10
CHRIST IN ZEPHANIAH