PM Devotion/Prayer
Exercise: Interval Training
Lesson: Zephaniah 3:9-14, 20
I read Zephaniah chapters 1-3 in its entirety
Class #1
1. One day in the future, there is going to be Joy for who? God's people Israel
2. God will purify (make it clean) the peoples what? Hearts and their speech
3. People will come to Jerusalem from far away places to worship who? The Lord
4. They will bring him what? offerings with rejoicing
5. There will be freedom from what? sin,
Name other things: no murdering , no cheaters, no people being pulled over driving while being black, no random shootings, no lying
6. People will be safe in their homes, no breaking in
7. God will gather the people of Israel back to their ? own land
8. And other nations on earth will be able to see the good things God will do for his Special people.
Questions from the Adult Book:
1. What time period is referred to in Zephaniah 3:9,11, and 20?
"In that day" refers to the dawn of Christ's millennial kingdom, following God's judgement on the nations of the earth (vs.8)
Timeline:
a) Rapture - where those in Christ that were already dead will raise up out of the grave and those alive will be caught up in mid air with Christ. Christ will stop mid-air, HE will not touch the earth at that time and all will be taken up to heaven
b) 7 years of Tribulation (3.5 year of tribulation followed by 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation)
c) Christ returns to earth reign for a million years (called the millennial reign) --satan will be bound at this time
d) then satan will be loose for a time, then Satan, the beast and the false prophets are throw into the lake of fire.
e) then the Great White Throne of Judgement (final Judgement)
The great white throne judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15 and is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake of fire. We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgment will take place after the millennium and after Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10). The books that are opened (Revelation 20:12) contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought, and He will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; 18:6;22:12).
I need to study this more:
Some Christians believe that the Scriptures reveal three different judgments to come. The first is the judgment of the sheep and the goats or a judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-36). This takes place after the tribulation period but prior to the millennium; its purpose is to determine who will enter the millennial kingdom. The second is a judgment of believers’ works, often referred to as the “judgment seat [bema] of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). At this judgment, Christians will receive degrees of reward for their works or service to God. The third is the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire
2. To what group of people do verse 9-10 refer in Zephaniah 3?
Zephaniah 3:10 suggests that those in view in verses 9 are Gentiles, or non-Jews. These are people from the nations of the world who will be converted to Christ.
3. What is the ultimate purpose of God's judgment of the nations?
The purpose of the judgment of the nations is to purify them.
4. What will be different about the Jewish people of that time (v11)? Why?
When Christ establishes His earthly kingdom, they will all trust in their Messiah and Savior. They will no longer be ashamed of all their deeds but will be redeemed and forgiven.
Note: The history of Israel is a history of the grace and love of God, even as He disciplines His people. That history is not yet complete, however, and will not be until that nation is redeemed, restored to their land, and serving their Lord.
5. In what sense will the future people of Jerusalem be "afflicted and poor" (vs 12)?
The proud people who once inhabited Jerusalem and brought God's displeasure upon the nation will in the kingdom age be replaced by "an afflicted and poor people." This is not a physical description but a spiritual one.
6. To whom does the term "Israel" refer in verse 13?
"Israel" is often used of the northern kingdom in contrast to the southern kingdom of Judah, here the word refers to all Jewish people (descendants of Abraham through Jacob who enter the millennial kingdom of Christ.
7. How will the end-time judgments affect the Jewish people?
Amazingly, the end-time judgment will turn the Jewish people toward their Messiah, with the result that at Christ's coming, all living Israelites will be saved (Rom. 11:26).
8. What picture does Zephaniah employ to depict the future conditions of Israel?
As a result of their spiritual conversion, the Jewish remnant that enters Christ's millennial kingdom will "not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth" (Zeph. 3:13)
In a picture reminiscent of Psalm 23, they will be like sheep that are led by the Great Shepherd and will graze and feed and lie down to rest with no fear of predators.
9. Who did the Lord exhort to rejoice? why?
The exhortation to rejoice seems to be addressed to the future Israelites who experience the millennial blessings. However, because God's promises are certain of fulfillment, even the few faithful in Judah in Zephaniah's time could rejoice.
10. What promise to Israel is seen as fulfilled in verse 20?
The promise God made two thousand years before Christ's first coming to make Abraham's descendants a great nation, give them a land, and make them a blessing will be fulfilled (Gen. 12:1-3). Israel will be restored to her land, given honor, and made "a praise among all people of the earth" (Zeph. 3:20)
Zephaniah's prophecy, which began with an announcement of judgement, ends with words of eternal hope. Christ will reign on earth as King, and His redeemed Jewish subjects will be gathered from across the globe to Jerusalem to serve Him in peace, safety, and holiness alongside Gentile believers of all the ages.
Chapter 3 - Msg
Zephaniah 3The Message (MSG)
Sewer City
3 1-5 Doom to the rebellious city,
the home of oppressors—Sewer City!
The city that wouldn’t take advice,
wouldn’t accept correction,
Wouldn’t trust God,
wouldn’t even get close to her own god!
Her very own leaders
are rapacious lions,
Her judges are rapacious timber wolves
out every morning prowling for a fresh kill.
Her prophets are out for what they can get.
They’re opportunists—you can’t trust them.
Her priests desecrate the Sanctuary.
They use God’s law as a weapon to maim and kill souls.
Yet God remains righteous in her midst,
untouched by the evil.
He stays at it, day after day, meting out justice.
At evening he’s still at it, strong as ever.
But evil men and women, without conscience
and without shame, persist in evil.
6 “So I cut off the godless nations.
I knocked down their defense posts,
Filled her roads with rubble
so no one could get through.
Her cities were bombed-out ruins,
unlivable and unlived in.
7 “I thought, ‘Surely she’ll honor me now,
accept my discipline and correction,
Find a way of escape from the trouble she’s in,
find relief from the punishment I’m bringing.’
But it didn’t faze her. Bright and early
she was up at it again, doing the same old things.
8 “Well, if that’s what you want, stick around.”
God’s Decree.
“Your day in court is coming,
but remember I’ll be there to bring evidence.
I’ll bring all the nations to the courtroom,
round up all the kingdoms,
And let them feel the brunt of my anger,
my raging wrath.
My zeal is a fire
that will purge and purify the earth.
God Is in Charge at the Center
9-13 “In the end I will turn things around for the people.
I’ll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted,
Words to address God in worship
and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel.
They’ll come from beyond the Ethiopian rivers,
they’ll come praying—
All my scattered, exiled people
will come home with offerings for worship.
You’ll no longer have to be ashamed
of all those acts of rebellion.
I’ll have gotten rid of your arrogant leaders.
No more pious strutting on my holy hill!
I’ll leave a core of people among you
who are poor in spirit—
What’s left of Israel that’s really Israel.
They’ll make their home in God.
This core holy people
will not do wrong.
They won’t lie,
won’t use words to flatter or seduce.
Content with who they are and where they are,
unanxious, they’ll live at peace.”
14-15 So sing, Daughter Zion!
Raise the rafters, Israel!
Daughter Jerusalem,
be happy! celebrate!
God has reversed his judgments against you
and sent your enemies off chasing their tails.
From now on, God is Israel’s king,
in charge at the center.
There’s nothing to fear from evil
ever again!
God Is Present Among You
16-17 Jerusalem will be told:
“Don’t be afraid.
Dear Zion,
don’t despair.
Your God is present among you,
a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
and delight you with his songs.
18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exile
will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those
who’ve made your life miserable.
I’ll heal the maimed;
I’ll bring home the homeless.
In the very countries where they were hated
they will be venerated.
On Judgment Day
I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!
You’ll be famous and honored
all over the world.
You’ll see it with your own eyes—
all those painful partings turned into reunions!”
God’s Promise.
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