Zephaniah 1 – 3
Sometimes we read these warnings from verse 1:2 and wonder if they will ever happen:
“I will utterly sweep away everything
from the face of the earth,” declares the Lord.
Honestly I have a tough time taking warnings like this serious.There seems to be quite a few in the Bible, but this one actually seems direr than the rest. Even Revelations talks about destroying 1/3 and not “everything”. I wonder if this would happen or if this is just God being melodramatic. Think about growing up and how we often did stuff that was going to end playtime forever, and it eventually came back. Is God just so frustrated at this point He is over reacting?
We are made in God’s image and therefore maybe it’s normal to get so angry that we may over react. I often wonder if that is just normal parenting He is modeling here. He has raised mankind to a point that either we get it or not, kind of like our adult children.
Verse 1:5 has a “god” Milcom mentioned which I Google’d to see who it was. As expected this is the name of an ancient Ammonite god. In John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667) Milcom is mentioned as one of the greatest warriors of the fallen angels. Think about how upset God is when other gods are worshiped. I just assumed they were not real but just false idols which are now being replaced by Ferrari’s and Gucci’s. But I am now starting to believe these false gods actually exist in the shadows and were the fallen angels with Satan. I will have to research this more.
Verse 2:3 talks about redemption:
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,
who do his just commands;
seek righteousness; seek humility;
perhaps you may be hidden
on the day of the anger of the Lord.
If God was to “sweep away everything” would that not include the righteous as well as the evil? I wonder if people who write these “inspired” words don’t embellish the interpretation slightly. Did God really say to Zephaniah He was going to destroy everything? Either way it’s a warning that is repeated over and over again in one form or another that we should take it serious. If we don’t take this on a global scale, then we should on a personal one.
So far last time I checked we all die, even Jesus died. These bodies are not designed to live forever like our souls. There are two thoughts of death, either that’s it and we are dust or there is an afterlife. I believe a mix, the redeemed live forever with God where those who are not die in the lake of fire. So the afterlife happens, and hell is where the lost souls are ended.
Verse 3:20 appears to be addressing Israel:
At that time I will bring you in,
at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes,” says the Lord.
I think end times have changes slightly with Jesus, no longer will it be just the Jews! I often wonder if a Jew is faithful to the Law will they be included in the end. I know the “Christian” response is no, but what if the righteous among them are would that be wrong? I believe they must accept Christ, but think they still may hold that special relationship and favor without this “salvation” we have.