Is this OT Scripture telling of rapture timing?
I was reading the old testament the other evening & while 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!*
And I was pleasantly surprised to see that Marilyn Agee {when skimming her site} has caught the same treasure that I did in Zephaniah 2:3 -- the part about "being hidden" referring to the rapture {same as Isaiah 26:20}
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 A. Sharon to happen this coming summer.
I welcome comments on that. Cause I've got to tell you, I just about fell outta' bed when coming across that one Scripture! LOL
At any rate, I most certainly agree that we ARE in the HEIGHT of the rapture season RIGHT NOW. And while I cannot wildly guess if Jesus' coming will be at Passover, or First Fruits, or perhaps Pentecost -- or maybe one "ordinairy" day in between, all I know is His coming IS imminent!! And I personally believe the rapture trumpet will sound some time this very spring -- just any day between NOW and before summer solstice begins in late June. I truly believe He IS at the door ~ ready to come for us!!
That certainly brings a lot of HOPE to those of us who are just HEARTSICK over Terri Schiavo and seeing the demise of our country.
**Big time MARANATHA!!**
Zephaniah 2 {NKJV}
A Call to Repentance
Warning to the Nations
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, {RE: 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[a] nation,
2Before 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}
3Seek 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}
____________________________________________________Take Refuge from the Coming Judgment
Isaiah 26: 20Come, 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.
21For 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."____________________________________________________
Return to Scripture in Zephaniah:Judgment on Nations
4For 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) happens EVEN BEFORE the Gaza withdrawal!!
And Ashkelon desolate;
They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday,
And Ekron shall be uprooted.
5Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast,
The nation of the Cherethites!
The word of the LORD is against you,
O Canaan, land of the Philistines:
"I will destroy you;
So there shall be no inhabitant."
6The seacoast shall be pastures,
With shelters[b] for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah;
They shall feed their flocks there;
In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening.
For the LORD their God will intervene for them,
And return their captives.
8"I have heard the reproach of Moab,
And the insults of the people of Ammon,
With which they have reproached My people,
And made arrogant threats against their borders.
9Therefore, as I live,"
Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,
"Surely Moab shall be like Sodom,
And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah--
Overrun with weeds and saltpits,
And a perpetual desolation.
The residue of My people shall plunder them,
And the remnant of My people shall possess them."
10This they shall have for their pride,
Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats
Against the people of the LORD of hosts.
11The LORD will be awesome to them,
For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
People shall worship Him,
Each one from his place,
Indeed all the shores of the nations.
12"You Ethiopians also,
You shall be slain by My sword." {compare this to Isaiah 18 ~ the prophecy AGAINST Ethiopia}
13And He will stretch out His hand against the north,
Destroy Assyria, {will this be when Damascus becomes "toast" ~ Isaiah 17:1??}
And make Nineveh a desolation,
As dry as the wilderness.
14The herds shall lie down in her midst, {compare to Isaiah 17:3}
Every beast of the nation.
Both the pelican and the bittern
Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars;
Their voice shall sing in the windows;
Desolation shall be at the threshold;
For He will lay bare the cedar work.
15This is the rejoicing city
That dwelt securely,
That said in her heart,
"I am it, and there is none besides me."
How has she become a desolation,
A place for beasts to lie down! {again, compare to Isaiah 17:3}
Everyone who passes by her
Shall hiss and shake his fist.