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IN FULFILMENT OF THE GREAT DAY
OF THE LORD GOD JEHOVAH.
(From Zephaniah 1:14 to 3:20).
NATIONS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE PROPHECY (NEB):
| GAZA |
"...shall be deserted". |
(Capitol city of the Gaza Strip). (2:4). |
|
ASHKELON |
"...left desolate". |
(Coastal city in southwest Israel). (2:4). |
| ASHDOD |
"...shall be driven out". |
(South of
Ashkelon). (2:4). |
| EKRON |
"...uprooted". |
(East of
Ashdod). (2:4). |
| PHILISTINES |
"I will lay you waste and leave you without inhabitants".
(Canaan.
2:5)
|
|
JUDAH |
"...the
coastland shall belong to the survivors of Judah." (2:7).
|
| MOAB |
"...shall be like Sodom". |
(East of Dead
Sea. Jordan today). (2:9). |
| AMMON |
"...like
Gomorrah". |
(Northwest
Jordan).
(2:9). |
| CUSHITES |
"...shall be killed". |
(Ethiopians
today).
(2:12). |
| ASSYRIA |
"...destroy Assyria". |
(Iraq today).
(2:13). |
|
NINEVEH |
"...make Nineveh desolate". |
(Province of northern Iraq). (2:13). |
JERUSALEM. (From
Zephaniah 3:11-13).
"On that day, Jerusalem, you
shall not be put to shame for all your deeds by which you have rebelled against
Me; for then I will rid you of your proud and arrogant citizens".
(3:11 NEB).
"For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and
lowly. They shall seek refuge in the Name of the Lord, those who are
left in Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall there be
found in their mouth a deceitful tongue." (3:12,13 RSV).
"For they shall feed and lie down with no one to terrify them."
(3:13 NEB).
ZION. (From Zephaniah
3:14-20).
On that day in spirit it shall be said to
Zion: "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the Judgements against you, He has cast out
your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall fear
evil no more." (3:14,15 RSV).
"I will take your cries of woe away from you; and you
shall no longer endure reproach for her. When that time comes, see, I
will deal with all your oppressors. I will rescue the lost and gather the
dispersed; I will win My people praise and renown in all the world where once
they were despised. When that time comes for Me to gather you, I will bring you
home. I will win you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when
I bring back your prosperity (restore your fortunes. RSV);
and you shall see it. It is the Lord who speaks."
(3:18-20 NEB).
By the Spirit of His Judgement
Jehovah will remove the proud and arrogant citizens that have been occupying
spiritual "Jerusalem" and oppressing sons of Zion. This Spirit of
Judgement is one of devouring "fire" that will lodge within the
spirits of arrogant ones and exterminate them. (Isaiah 33:14
NEB). The
outpouring of the "seventh bowl" of the anger of God will be used.
(Rev 16:17). It will be poured out "upon the air", upon "the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates
in the
sons of disobedience." (Eph 2:2).
12/5/88.
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