Tuesday, October 6, 2020 -
Zephaniah’s book of prophecy was written during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. Josiah was the one of whom it was said, “And before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him” (2 Kings 23:25). What’s more? Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of the righteous king Hezekiah.
Tonight we looked at the first chapter of Zephaniah, which is clearly prophesying the end of the world as we know it. Even though Zephaniah is addressing Judah and Jerusalem, it is a warning to all mankind that aside from His guests on the “day of the Lord’s sacrifice” (verse 7), which I believe is referring to the marriage feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-10). He warns those religious leaders who cling to some form of idolatry (verse 4), those who worship the stars or follow astrology (verse 5), those who kill their children for convenience’ sake (verse 5), those who turn back from following the Lord (verse 6), those who follow superstitions (verse 9), those who are stagnant or complacent in spirit, who deny the power of the Lord (verse 12), and those who worship their wealth and pleasure (verse 13)!
His destruction of these will be complete and total! This chapter depicts the very end of the world as we know it. Nobody will be spared whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of Life. It is the “day of wrath”, destruction, desolation, darkness and gloom (verse 15). Blood will be spilled and all the earth will be devoured. “For He will make a complete end. Indeed, a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth” (verse 18).
Unless one repents, denies himself and surrenders fully to Christ Who is God’s Son — sent as a blameless sacrifice for your sin and mine, this will be his fate.
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