Zephaniah was contemporary with Jeremiah, and prophesied in the reign of Josiah, king of Judah. Jehovah declared by him, that he would utterly consume all things, constituting Judah’s commonwealth, from off the Holy Land. This was to come to pass, because Jerusalem “obeyed not the voice; received not correction; trusted not in Jehovah; drew not near to her Elohim. Her princes within her were as roaring lions; her judges as evening wolves; her prophets light and treacherous persons; and her priests had polluted the sanctuary, and done violence to the law.” We can look back by the light of history, and see how
terrible hath been the indignation of Jehovah and his Christ. The sea coast of Palestine, once so rich and flourishing in the hands of the Philistines, has become, as Zephaniah predicted, “dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks;” and “an afflicted and poor people only is left in the midst of the land.” The Philistines, and Moab, and Ammon, and Nineveh, and Khushistan, people all contemporary with the prophet, have all passed away as he foretold; and a despised remnant of his countrymen alone continue, a living monument of woe.
But of this remnant and their country the prophet has recorded great and glorious things. “The sea coast,” says he, “shall be for the house of Judah; and they shall feed thereupon: for Jehovah their Elohim shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.” “They shall spoil Moab and Ammon; and shall possess them.” This change in the fortunes of the poor and afflicted remnant of Israel, the prophet shows, is to occur at a period when Jehovah’s wrath is to be let loose against the nations. Jehovah informs us through the prophet, what his determination is with respect to the world at the coming crisis. Addressing the afflicted remnant, Jehovah says “Wait ye for me, until the day that I rise up to the prey”—“the Day of Wrath and Apocalypse” of Paul: “for my determination is to gather the nations, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for with the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be devoured.”
The result of this manifestation and outpouring of wrath will be sevenfold;
- The Apocalypse of Jehovah, the King of Israel in Jerusalem;
- The taking away of judgments from Jerusalem;
- The purification and pardon of the remnant;
- The exaltation of Israel to fame and praise throughout the world;
- Their restoration to the Holy Land from all parts of the earth;
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superstitions of every form, shade, and color, that now bewilder and divide mankind; and which are sustained as elements of the civil and ecclesiastical polity of the nations; and,
7. The establishment of One Religion and One Government for all the world.
In view of these things, the prophet exclaims, “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem,” “the Mother of us all”—Gal. 4 : 26. Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy; the King of Israel, Jehovah, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. Jehovah thine Elohim (that is, the Mystical Christ) in the midst of thee is might: He will save; he will rejoice over thee with
The abolition of all the “Names and Denominations,” and other
joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing. Behold at that time I will undo all that afflict thee; and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.”
It is manifest, however, to every considerate person, that this glorious result for Israel and the Saints (for the one is not redeemed without the other) can only be consequent upon the binding of the Dragon and conquest of the kings of the earth, as represented in the Apocalypse. The governments must be broken as a potter’s vessel, or Israel, the Saints, and the nations, cannot attain the blessing promised. The testimony of all the prophets concurs in this; and that when broken, the grand obstacle to the world’s blessedness will be removed; and that “then will Jehovah turn to the peoples a pure lip, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent. For he will famish all the Elohim of the earth, (among whom are the clerical soul-traders of the Apocalypse,) and men shall worship him, every one from his country, all the isles of the nations”—ch. 1 : 1 ; 2 : 6, 7, 9, 11 ; 3 : 1-4, 8, 9, 14-19.