Zephaniah tells how Israel, the governing system, courts, and churches are corrupt but through Jesus Christ there is Salvation and eternal life.

Zephaniah 3

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• Woe to Israel and the global government of the beast.
• The governing system, the courts, and the churches are like wolves on the prow.
• The Lord remains righteous within a corrupt and anti-Christian world.
• The Lord cuts off the nations to lead them to repentance, but they reject Him.
• Gathering of the global nations is followed by the wrath of God.
• Jesus Christ restores a pure language to reconcile us to God to make us His people.
• The Lord gives us reason to rejoice in the eternal City of Zion.
• Jesus Christ came to save and to heal to give us a home in the New Jerusalem.

Woe to Israel and the global government of the beast. “Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; She has not trusted in the Lord, She has not drawn near to her God.” Zephaniah 3:1-2

The Israelis are rebellious to the will of God as they reject His Son, Jesus Christ, who He sent to atone for sin. Only by receiving Jesus can anyone be restored to a right relationship with God. They have polluted the scriptures and the human body as the home of the Holy Spirit by refusing to acknowledge the “scarlet cord”.

The “scarlet cord” is in the Old Testament and points to Jesus Christ as the Messiah of the New Covenant of the New Testament. The following verse is an example of the scarlet cord because it actually says that Moses chose Jesus Christ over Egypt, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26

The Jewish nation is called the “oppressing city” because of oppressing belief in Jesus Christ. They refuse to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, will not allow themselves to be corrected by the testimony of Jesus, they do not trust in the Lord concerning Jesus Christ, and refuse to form a close relationship with God through Jesus.

Before the coming of Jesus Christ, the Jewish people claimed exclusive rights to God, the Prophets, and all of the Scriptures. They were known exclusively as the children of God. After the coming of Jesus, access to God, the Prophets, the New and Old Testament were open to the whosoever, as quoted, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” John 1:12 With the coming of Jesus, came a new interpretation of the Bible, no longer exclusive to the Jewish people but now applies to every person around the word. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Today, the “rebellious” refers to everyone who refuses to reconcile to God by the remission of sin through Jesus Christ. The global culture has polluted the temple of the Holy Spirit, our body, by welcoming the anti-Christian thing which gives them what to think, feel, do, say and believe. The oppressing city is the global government of the beast. It oppresses the Gospel of Christ by requiring all people to allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them. It lives and speaks through people by the thing forming what they think, feel, do, say, and believe.

The global government and its global culture refuses to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and instead listens to the thing which denies the existence of God, refuses to listen to the need for the remission of sin through Jesus Christ and refuses to listen to the Holy Spirit. They do not receive correction leading to a life of Holiness as they discredit God and His Son. Instead of drawing near to the Lord, they distance themselves from him. The masses around the world are conformed to the global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

The global government is used to bring God’s wrath against Israel, and at the same time the enemy of Israel is the enemy of God, which brings God’s wrath against this world’s system. We already see global warming in the world, which is the Fourth Plague mentioned in Revelation 16:8-9. Global warming is instrumental in destroying the power center of the beast which destroys the government of the beast. Global warming walks hand in hand with the global government. The stronger the global government becomes the stronger and more intense global warming becomes.

Even in these days filled with psychopathy, we want to draw nearer to Jesus Christ to live a life of Holiness through the Holy Spirit,

I am thine Oh Lord
I have heard your voice
And it told Your love to me
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where thou hast died
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To your precious bleeding side

The governing system, the courts, and the churches are like wolves on the prow. “Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; Her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law.” Zephaniah 3:3-4

The verse above is describing the governing system of the beast which has hostile intentions against Christianity. While the government establishes the law, the constitution, and sets the culture, it exhibits the traits of psychopathy against those who do not submit to their authority. The governors (princes) are roaring lions, the courts are predatory wolves, their spokespeople (prophets) are treacherous, they pollute the temple of God, our body, by hardening the human spirit against the love, mercy, grace, life, and salvation of Jesus Christ. They sit in the human body through the anti-Christian thing which gives people what to feel, think, do, say and believe. They do violence against the law given to us from God through Jesus Christ and that law is carried out through the Holy Spirit.

 The global government has its authority through the thing forming feelings and thoughts which replaces the human conscience. The traits of psychopathy flood the world as people become egocentric to empower and exalt themselves above God. They feel no remorse and no need for the remission of sin through Jesus Christ. They oppose, ridicule, and manipulate the presence of the Holy Spirit as they detest the life of Holiness. The world fills with anti-social activity, with no empathy for others within their superficial charm.

The mercy, grace, life, Salvation and love of God through Jesus Christ has gone cold, very cold in this world. The governing authority of the churches have thrown out the Gospel of Christ, government lawmakers no longer include the values of the Bible in their laws and policies, the governing authority of the schools have tossed out the teachings of the Bible from the classrooms, and Christianity is not wanted in any sector of society.

The verse below is carried out by a governing system described in the verse above. The verses are describing a global culture of psychopathy which allows the image of the beast to live and speak through them by the thing forming their thoughts, feelings, words, behaviors, and beliefs. Lawlessness abounds under this current governing system as described in the post about the “man of sin”. The masses around the world are conformed to the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 10:16-23

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come… But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” Mattew 24:9-14, 19

As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us a song to sing within a world governing through anti-Christian beliefs,

Thank you Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.
Thank you Jesus.
(Church Song)

The Lord remains righteous within a corrupt and anti-Christian world. “The Lord is righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, but the unjust knows no shame.” Zephaniah 3:5

The Lord Jesus Christ remained righteous while walking on the earth as a flesh and blood human being, and He wants us to walk with Him in Holiness while in this world. Jesus prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:15-17 We live in a world where the traits of psychopathy are everywhere as corruption, violence, crime, and attitudes of superiority prevail. As followers of Jesus Christ, we intend to be a light to the world shining with God’s mercy, grace, Salvation and life.

The global culture of the beast feels no shame because the conscience of the human being has been seared. The conscience has been replaced by the thing giving people what to feel, think, say do, and believe. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…” 1 Timothy 4:1-2 The human spirit is hardened against the love, mercy, grace, life, and Salvation of Jesus Christ as the masses in every city around the world allow the image of the beast to live and speak though them. It lives and speaks through people by the thing forming their thoughts and feelings. They are conformed to the anti-Christian culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

The thing giving people what to feel and think replaces the human conscience. The traits of psychopathy flood the world as people become egocentric to empower and exalt themselves above God. God wants us to live in the humbleness of Jesus Christ. They feel no remorse and no need for the remission of sin through Jesus. God wants us to live in the Holiness of Jesus Christ. They oppose, ridicule, and manipulate the presence of the Holy Spirit as they detest the life of Holiness. God wants us to live by the same Spirit who was in Jesus Christ. The world fills with anti-social activity, with no empathy for others within their superficial charm. God wants us to be a light of His mercy, grace, Salvation, and life.

The “lawless one” is in the world as described in 2 Thessalonians 2. Click here for a post on the “lawless one” also known as the “man of sin” and the son of perdition”. “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:4-5

Our Lord Jesus Christ will never do unrighteousness, and because the Spirit in Him lives in us, our dedication is to do no harm in this world where love has gone cold. We want to share the Gospel of Christ which includes Salvation, life, mercy, grace, the love of God, and peace. Jesus came to save lives not to destroy. He is the Light of the World and every morning His justice is brought to light, and we want our spirit to shine with His life-giving and merciful justice.

Every day, we are reminded by global warming of the final justice He will bring to this world as global warming is the Fourth Plague as seen in Revelation 16:8-9. Global warming is instrumental in bringing the destruction of the power center of the beast (Fifth Plague in Revelation 16:10-11) which causes the collapse of the global government of the beast. Our Lord Jesus Christ never fails because He is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be forever.

The Lord cuts off the nations to lead them to repentance, but they reject Him.  “I have cut off nations, their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, with none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; There is no one, no inhabitant. I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction’— So that her dwelling would not be cut off, despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds.” Zephaniah 3:6-7

The Lord always, always gives us the opportunity to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ within devastating circumstances. The Lord wants us to revere Him as God the Creator and to receive the instruction He gave us through Jesus, the Holy Bible, and Holy Spirit. The offer made to us through Jesus will always exist to the very day when Jesus returns, and that offer is, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

At the end of revealing the events of the first six trumpets, the Holy Spirit says, “And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Through it all, God wants us to reconcile to Him by the remission of sin through Jesus Christ, as quoted, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Revelation 9:20-21

Global warming is in this word today as mentioned in the Fourth Plague, but the global culture refuses to repent and give Him glory, as quoted, “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” Revelation 16:8-9

Global warming is instrumental in the destruction of the power center of the beast as mentioned in the Fifth Plague in Revelation 16:10-11. That means the global government of the beast (United Nations) will be rendered powerless. The thing giving people what to think, feel, say, and do will no longer be functioning. The image of the beast will no longer be living and speaking through people and the mark of the beast will no longer have power to keep people confined to a station in life. Even in that condition of being powerless, the global culture continues to blaspheme God and refuses to repent, as quoted, “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” Revelation 16:10-11

After the total lack of remorse and refusal to reconcile to God through Jesus Christ, then the Battle of Armageddon arises, as mentioned in the Sixth Plague in Revelation 12:-16.

The thing giving people what to feel, think, say, and do replaces the human conscience. Because of that, the masses of the global culture are filled with traits of psychopathy in various degrees and lacking remorse. The world is a place where love has become cold and filled with lawlessness.

The United Nations will end up being the “cut off nations”, their global economy will be devastated as described in Revelation 18, and the power center of the beast will be destroyed to leave the global culture powerless. After the events of the Seven trumpets and Seven Plagues, the streets of the global culture will be left desolate and cities in every nation around the world will be destroyed. When God sent Jesus Christ to atone for sin, He gave all He had to reconcile all people to Him by the remission of sin, as He expressed His intention, “I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction’— So that her dwelling would not be cut off.” However, despite all He did for us through Jesus Christ, the global culture continues to corrupt themselves through the thing giving them what to feel, think, say, do and believe. They lack remorse within their spirit and soul.

Gathering of the global nations is followed by the wrath of God. “Therefore wait for Me,” says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.” Zephaniah 3:8

Two sure ways of knowing we are in the last days of the existence of this world’s system is given to us in this quote, “My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger;”

In 1948, the Jewish people were gathered from all over the world to the newly proclaimed State of Israel. That happened just after the end of WW2. The Lord did not do that for the sake of Israel, but He did it for His own purpose, as quoted, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.” Ezekiel 36:22 As we see today, the indignation of God has come against the profanity of Israel since their gathering in 1948 and will continue to come against Israel until the day of the return of Jesus Christ.

Along with the gathering of Israel, the United Nations was formed by gathering all of the nations of the world together immediately after WW2 (That is written about in Daniel 8). We see the indignation of God coming against this world’s system through global warming, which is the Fourth Plague in Revelation 16:8-9. The progression of global warming is walking hand-in-hand with the progression of the global government. The stronger the United Nations become as the one world government the more intense global warming becomes. “All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.” Global warming is key in bringing the destruction of the power center of the beast in the Fifth Plague, which causes the global government of the beast to become powerless. The Battle of Armageddon comes after the global government is rendered powerless in the Sixth Plague. Click here for a post on the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Plagues.

The global government and its global culture derive its power by the thing that gives people what to feel, think, do, and say. It replaces the human conscience as it enables the image of the beast to live and speak through the masses in every city around the world. It fills the world with traits of psychopathy that fills the population with anti-social behavior. They have become egocentric to empower and exalt themselves above God. They feel no remorse and feel no need for the remission of sin through Jesus. They oppose, ridicule, and manipulate the presence of the Holy Spirit as they detest the life of Holiness. The world fills with anti-social activity, with no empathy for others within their superficial charm. The world is being conformed to the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

Jesus Christ restores a pure language to reconcile us to God to make us His people. “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord” Zephaniah 3:9

The language spoken by the Israelites before the coming of our lord Jesus Christ was impure. It was impure because they were not able to talk about Jesus Christ as the atonement for sin and the way to reconcile with God. The Jewish people felt they had an exclusive right to access God and no one else in all the world had that right. The Israelites considered themselves to be God’s people and everyone else were Gentiles and rejected by God. That language was impure and caused many divisions and discord. When Jesus Christ came, He made it possible for anyone to become a child of God by calling on the name of the Lord through Jesus Christ for the remission of sin.

The pure language communicates the “scarlet cord” in the Old Testament to point to Jesus Christ. In fact, Moses is referred to as choosing the reproach of Christ instead of living as the grandson of the Pharoah, as quoted, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Hebrew 11:24-26

The pure language is to communicate that a Jewish person is within the heart and not based on being biologically born as a Jew, as quoted, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:28-29

The pure language acknowledges the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Old Testament, as was preached to Abraham as quoted, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” Galatians 3:7-8

The pure language puts every person on the same level in that we all need to reconcile to God through Jesus Christ by the remission of sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain.” Zephaniah 3:10-11

Every person in the world is now able to bring their offering to God by living for Jesus Christ and making Him Lord and Savior of our life. He did not come to make us live a life of shame. Jesus came to bring mercy, grace, life, and Salvation not to condemn, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17

Jesus came to give us a humble heart so that we are not exalted in egocentric attitudes. Those who reject the Spirit of the Dove and refuse to be considered as sheep led by the Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ) will be taken away and not have eternal life in the New Jerusalem.

 The population of the global culture are anything but meek and humble as in their spirit and attitude they boast, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with Him?” Revelation 13:4 They live for the thing giving them what to feel, think, do and say as it enables the image of the beast to live and speak through the masses in every city around the world. They are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do. It replaces the human conscience as the traits of psychopathy flood the world. People become egocentric to empower and exalt themselves above God. They feel no remorse and no need for the remission of sin through Jesus Christ. They oppose, ridicule, and manipulate the presence of the Holy Spirit as they detest the life of Holiness. The world fills with anti-social activity, with no empathy for others within their superficial charm.

“I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.” Zephaniah 3:12-13

Anyone who comes to God through Jesus Christ are the meek and humble people who are the remnant who remains faithful to the testimony of Jesus in a world filled with psychopathy. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

We speak the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, live in the truth of God the Creator, and we welcome the truth of the Holy Spirit to live and speak through us. We feed one another with the mercy, grace, Salvation and life given to us by God through Jesus Christ, and we are given peace, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

The Lord gives us reason to rejoice in the eternal City of Zion. “Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more.” Zephaniah 3:14-15

When considering judgments being taken away from the Israelis, we have to remember that a Jewish person is of the heart not by biological birth, as quoted, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:7 To be of the faith means to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ by the remission of sin. The enemy which is cast away is sin and death and we will not perish in the disaster to come but will inherit eternal life in the New Jerusalem. For that, we are glad and rejoice within our heart. Zion, referring to Mount Zion, represents the eternal city of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we will be sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and our Lord Jesus Christ says frankly that the Israelis (“sons of the kingdom”) will be cast out into outer darkness unless they receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, as quoted, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11-12

“In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:16-17

There are two Jerusalems, there is the old Jerusalem on this earth and the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth. The old Jerusalem passes away with the destruction of this heaven and earth, but the New Jerusalem is created for those who receive Jesus Christ. In reference to the Salvation of the Lord, His rejoicing and gladness, comforting us with His love, Mount Zion, and singing, that refers to the eternal reward of the New Jerusalem for those who live for Jesus Christ.

The Church hymns of Christianity speak of Zion as the beautiful city of God, our eternal home in the New Jerusalem.

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
(Church Hymn)

Jesus Christ came to save and to heal to give us a home in the New Jerusalem.  “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden.” Zephaniah 3:18

As followers of Jesus Christ, we know the “appointed assembly” is a place where we should be able to gather in the name of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit to glorify God. Unfortunately, the gathering of Christianity has become a reproach and a burden as the global culture expresses their disapproval to the teachings of the Bible. We who live for Jesus feel sorrow that the churches have thrown out the Gospel of Jesus, government lawmakers no longer integrate the values of the Bible in policymaking, the educational system no longer teach Bible principles in the classrooms, and Christianity is a reproach and unwelcomed in every sector of society.

The reproach of Christianity comes through the global culture which lives for the thing giving them what to feel, think, say, and do. It enables the image of the beast to live and speak through the masses as it replaces the human conscience. People are conformed to the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do. The traits of psychopathy flood the world as people become egocentric to empower and exalt themselves above God. They feel no remorse and no need for the remission of sin through Jesus Christ. They oppose, ridicule, and manipulate the presence of the Holy Spirit as they detest the life of Holiness. The world fills with anti-social activity, with no empathy for others within their superficial charm.

We who sorrow for what is happening to Jesus Christ in this world today will be gathered, and “Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame.” Zephaniah 3:19 In the Day of the Lord, wrath comes against all those who afflict us, drive us out, and make life difficult for us who live for God in the name of Jesus. We will be appointed for praise and fame, which means we will inherit eternal life in the New Jerusalem.

“At that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes,” says the Lord.” Zephaniah 3:20

The reason our Lord Jesus Christ came is to return the captives back to God His father by atoning for sin. As human beings, we are captives to sin and death, but through Jesus Christ we are freed from our captivity to sin and death and reconciled to God. Jesus Christ spoke the words quoted below,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
¹⁹ To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Luke 4:18-19

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1