I realize some parts of Zephaniah, they say, were fulfilled at the time of the Babylonians ~ even so, there are certainly some parts that are YET to be fulfilled.... for instance, the references to the "Day of the Lord" ~ well that is YET to be. Any student of "elementary prophecy 101" can tell ya' that! *wink!*

Now, there is one part -- I have it highlighted here -- it's verse 4 here where it says, "and Gaza shall be forsaken" ~ and honestly I do not know if this has ALREADY happened (?) or if perhaps this COULD BE referring to the upcoming planned Gaza withdrawal of the Israelis that is scheduled by Israel PM Ariel Sharon to happen this summer {in just a few weeks now}.

At any rate, I most certainly agree that we ARE in the HEIGHT of the rapture season RIGHT NOW. His coming IS imminent!! I truly believe He IS at the door ~ ready to come for us!!
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Zephaniah 2 {NKJV}
A Call to Repentance

Warning to the Nations
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, {cross references: 2 Thess. 2: 1-8; our GATHERING together with the Lord at the time of the rapture ~ also see Joel 1;14 and Joel 2:16}
O undesirable nation,
2 Before the decree is issued, {before the "appointed time" ~ and before "time runs out" -- while we're still in the age of grace}
Or the day passes like chaff, {"harvest time"!! ~ spring/summer in Israel}.... or is it merely meaning DO IT before it's too late}

Before the LORD's fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the LORD's anger comes upon you! {Day of the Lord has not been fulfilled yet ~ begins with the rapture; and really gets underway with the tribulation hour.... this is strongly advising people seek the Lord before then}

3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth,
Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
It may be that you will be hidden
In the day of the LORD's anger. {compare to Isaiah 26:20!! "be hidden" refers to being in heaven with Jesus at the rapture ~ go into your bridal chambers and SHUT THE DOOR behind you -- while the trib is in full swing down here on earth}
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Here's Scripture we're cross referencing: {this is the rapture -- when we're in heaven, while the rest of the world is suffering [extremely] in the tribulation}

Isaiah 26:20 Come, my people, enter your chambers,
And shut your doors behind you;
HIDE YOURSELF as it were, for a little moment,
Until the indignation is past.
21 For behold, the LORD comes out of His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood,
And will no more cover her slain.

See also Matthew 25:10 "And while they (the foolish virgins) went to buy {oil for their lamps} the bridgegroom came, and those who WERE READY went in with him to the wedding; and the DOOR WAS SHUT." {compare to Isaiah 26:20 ~ "shut the doors behind you"}
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Return to Scripture in Zephaniah:
Judgment on Nations
4 For Gaza shall be forsaken...., {is this referring to when the Israelis are to pull out of Gaza?? Could this be what "Gaza shall be forsaken" means?? ..... **if, if, IF** this is referring to the Israeli withdrawal plan that is part of the Road Map peace process now underway in the MidEast which is scheduled to happen by summer of 2005, and if this chapter is telling us the overall outline of TIMING of how the DOTL happens -- then rapture (gathering, being hidden from God's wrath ~ Zephaniah 2:1) may well happen EVEN BEFORE the Gaza withdrawal!! ~ or some time there close to it.

***********************************************************************************************************

12 "You Ethiopians also,
You shall be slain by My sword." {compare this to Isaiah 18 ~ the prophecy AGAINST Ethiopia}

13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north,
Destroy Assyria, ..... {will this be when Damascus becomes "toast" ~ Isaiah 17:1??}

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So we have, from Zephaniah 2: 1. GATHER yourselves together

2. Turn to the Lord WHILE THERE IS TIME

3. BE HIDDEN in the Day of the Lord's anger

4. and Gaza shall be forsaken

Could very well be that we are going *Home* super-duper soon!!

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Also from www.Blessed-Hope.com:

Will it indeed be getting close to winter (mid-trib) when the Jews are to flee? ~ OR ~ another thing yet to consider.... even though they are told to PRAY that their flight NOT be in winter -- it may well be one of those things that is predestined -- and it WILL be winter ALREADY. Well, just like this -- we are told to pray for the PEACE OF JERUSALEM. But even though we do, we KNOW that real peace is NOT going to come to Jerusalem until Jesus lives & rules from there. So just something to consider. Winter may well be upon them, even though they are told to pray it not be.

~~~~~

It will getting close to the END of the TRIBULATION when the sun will SCORCH people with extreme heat – and people will literally die from being scorched to death! Revelation 16: 8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 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.

This will be one of the last bowl judgments, which seems to put the tail end of the tribulation in the summer season (in many countries anyway).

HINT: if the trib is to END in the summer – then it must also START in the summer!! {providing there is just a SMALL GAP of time between the rapture & the trib -- which I think there will be}

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from www.RaptureAlert.com:

The revived Roman empire a third party to Middle East peace?

by Michael G. Mickey (7-15-05)

Three days ago, I wrote a commentary during which I posed the question of whether the EU is in the process of making its end times move into the starring role of securing, at least in theory, a workable peace in the Middle East. What has taken place since then? The EU, according to a Jerusalem Post article, is willing to serve as a third-party presence at the Rafah crossing after Israel leaves the Gaza Strip. Although EU foreign policy chief Dr. Javier Solana, speaking on the topic of such an arrangement, "was less definitive when it came to possibly assuming security responsibilities", he said, "We are very open to cooperation." In other words, as I have pointed out on numerous occasions in the past, the EU is not dismissive when it comes to the possibility it is prepared to do precisely what Bible prophecy suggests a leader of Roman descent, the Antichrist, is eventually going to do - confirm (strengthen or make strong) peace in the Middle East!

The Roman prince (or leader) to come is going to confirm a seven-year covenant of peace between Israel and her enemies. From there, he will go on to hold power over all kindreds, tongues, and nations (Revelation 13:7). All who dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). I believe a great deal of what will lead to this worship of the Antichrist will be the perception he has ended the perceived threat posed to the world by radical Islam by eliminating the hostility so many of our world leaders believe is the driving force behind terror - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Currently, Israel's withdrawal from Gaza is scheduled to begin on August 17, 2005. If Ariel Sharon is true to his word concerning Israel's plans, there is only going to be one pullout made by the Israeli people, as seen in a Haaretz article. From there, Israel will focus their attention to implementing the roadmap to peace proposed by the international Quartet of Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.

Ariel Sharon is quoted, in the Haaretz article, as saying, "Dealing with Israel's borders and the future of the settlements is the last stage after the implementation of all the agreements and understandings in the road map."

The days ahead are going to be very revealing indeed concerning how close we are to the return of Jesus Christ, in my opinion. Barring anything dramatic taking place, Israel, unmistakably under duress, is going to begin expelling the children of Israel from the covenant lands God has gathered them from around the world to place them into here in the last days.

Through Ariel Sharon's own words we see that, once the Gaza withdrawal is completed, Israel's next step is going to be to allow the international community's roadmap to peace to guide their actions from there.

Could we be approaching the Rapture of the Church in anticipation of the hour when the Antichrist, accompanied or supported by "many", will confirm peace in the Middle East? I believe the answer is yes.

Daniel 9:27: And he [the prophesied Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:

KEEP LOOKING UP AND TELL SOMEONE - ANYONE - ABOUT JESUS CHRIST!

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from Deborah (Dove poster here... ;) who posted article by Renee, 7-18-05:

DANGEROUS WINDOW OF TIME APPROACHING US ACCORDING TO THE FIG TREE
Name: Renee Date Posted: Jul 17, 05 - 7:13 AM
Message: Dear ones, precious watchers for our Dearest and Best! TODAY, July 17th is the 10th of Tammuz. We are in the FINAL WEEK BEFORE the Time of "BETWEEN THE STRAITS" THE FASTING OF TAMMUZ BEGINS on the 17th.

I want to share with you some thoughts I've had the last couple of days. I'll also include some things that I've shared with our sis Miriam.

Last February 20th, the Israeli Cabinet voted to go ahead with the Disengagement Plan, and the DATE for it to BEGIN was JULY 20TH. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=77180
Rabb i's and other religious figures complained that this would force the Settlers to MOVE during this FAST of Tammuz - 9th of Av time frame when moving is forbidden. So, Arik changed the Deportation DATE to one day AFTER the 9th/10th of Av.

Now, what I find confusing/interesting is that the Yesha Council has called for ALL JEWS to take to the Streets and head for Gush Katif STARTING MONDAY the 18th, and it will be a 3 DAY walk ending on, you guessed it, JULY 20th. So, here is the July 20th date back in the limelight again. The Deportation "could" begin then IF Ehud Barak and others have their way during this time. What a mess.

July 13th (Wed) Gush Katif is UNDER SIEGE
July 17th (Sun) One week before the Fast of Tammuz begins
July 18th (Mon) March of Israelis begins, 24/hour warning is UP for PA to stop terror, and then IDF will (Hamas said last week, something along the line of, that Israel would be opening up the gates of hell if they continue in their attacks against the terrorists
July 19th (Tues) While thousands are taking part in the March in Israel, thousands are supposed to be taking part in a march here in the States
July 20th (Wed, one week later) Thousands of folks arrive in Gush Katif to take a STAND.
July 24th (Sun) THE FAST OF TAMMUZ BEGINS, "BETWEEN THE STRAITS", the time of the DRY, the time of JUDGMENT, the Time when TEMPLES have been REMOVED.

Here are some things I've shared with our Miriam:

What is a SIEGE, and why do they come?

In Deuteronomy 28, the chapter with the Blessing and the Cursings to Israel, we find the follow chapters describing some of the terrible conditions that will befall the Unrepentant Israelis IF they don't hold fast to their God:
*******
Deut. 28: 53--55 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: (54) So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: (55) So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

It gets worse:
Deut. 28: 56 & 57 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, (57) And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
*******
Now, obviously no one in Gush Katif is at the point of eating their own children, God forbid, but nevertheless this shows the depravity of man that can be revealed while under siege. So, from God's point of view, it is safe to say that a Siege is a bad thing! He lists it under the category of CURSES to come upon the Israelites IF they forsake the Lord their God. So, in a sense, we can take the CURSE of a SIEGE as being a sign from God to bring on Repentance and Restoration.

Notice also loves, how God coupled the words SIEGE and STRAITNESS TOGETHER in the above passage.

SIEGE--Strongs #04692
siege, besieged, bulwarks, defense, fenced, fortress, hold tower

STRAITNESS--Strongs #04689 Occurs 6 times in 6 verses
straitness, straits, distress, stress, anguish

Another time of SIEGE was in Isaiah 29.....the Woe unto ARIEL chapter. Hmmmmm

During the time of SIEGE in Jeremiah 19: 6, you will once again find the words "siege" and "straitness" coupled together.

My point is, the FACT that the Lord God allowed a SIEGE on the 13th should be of great interest to Believers. God is drawing the world's attention to Israel. To the Jew First, and then, also to the Gentile. (Of course, all Believers are in a 3rd category, the Body of Christ) As the words "SIEGE & STRAITNESS" are found together in the Scriptures, so to are they found together NOW before our eyes! The SIEGE that began on the 13th, and the Time of Between the STRAITS getting ready to begin on the 24th. And our sis Miriam reminded me of the verse that says concerning our LORD JESUS, "I Myself will be STRAITENED until ALL IS ACCOMPLISHED!!!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that RIGHT NOW, IN THIS TIME PERIOD THAT IS UPON US, we are seeing with our own eyes THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE regarding Israel. That was the whole point of "never again" and yet is is starting to happen before their very eyes. But what amazes me the MOST is the LACK of interest by most Christians regarding this. Last Spring during the Lord's Passover, I was getting LOTS of emails about how folks thought the Rapture was any moment now. I was so weak then that all I could do was read the emails, but emails were coming to me from Fair Weather Watchers, folks I usually don't hear from, and they were all excited. NONE of those Watchers are emailing me now. It's like there is a KNOWN FACT that the Snatch can NOT happen now. But wouldn't it be just like our Adored to take us during the same time as His Other Temples were taken? During the time of the Dry, Time of the Straits, the TIME OF JUDGMENT. Mark my words, the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS A DIRECT JUDGMENT OF GOD UPON AN UNREPENTANT WORLD. This is a time of Judgment right now leading up to the 9th/10th of Av.

For the last couple of days the violence in Israel has really gone up a notch. Not only violence between the terror groups, and between Israelis and terrorists, but also police brutality against the Jews, sigh. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE! And during this TIME, the Ark of the Covenant is supposed to be REVEALED?! WOW.

So dear ones, make sure you have your EXTRA OIL ready to go with your Lamps clean and always shining forth for the Lord Jesus. Don't let the father of LIES sing his famous lullaby of, "MY MASTER DELAYETH" in your ears lest you snooze for a while. And let us be in much prayer for everyone we know. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!

SO TAKE WARNING AND BE ON ALERT STATUS NOW!!! AND PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!____________________________________________________________________________________________

Add it all up, Doves!! By the signs that Jesus Himself clearly told us to *WATCH* for ~ there's no doubt, we ARE going HOME SOOOOOOOOOOON!!

With the signs of the tribulation all around us, how much CLOSER can the rapture possibly be!??

Even so, come Lord Jesus!!

~~~