By Matthew Robert Payne Zephaniah 1:14-16 (New King James Version) 14 The great day of the LORD is near;
It is near and hastens quickly.
The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter;
There the mighty men shall cry out.
15 That day is a day of wrath,
A day of trouble and distress,
A day of devastation and desolation,
A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 A day of trumpet and alarm
Against the fortified cities
And against the high towers. When we look at the words "high towers" in the end of verse 16, does September 11 come to mind? Were not the twin towers high towers? America would consider itself a fortified city and there were plenty of sirens blaring from the fire engine rescue crews. These are the modern day sounds of trumpets. It was certainly a day of trouble, distress, and gloominess. Could it be that September 11 was a pointer toward a fast approaching day of the LORD or Revelation judgment? Revelation 18:18-19 (New King James Version) 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like this great city?
19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate. The whole world looked on at the fire and the burning of the twin towers (high towers), and it seemed the great city of New York had come under attack. Could it be that September 11 was a warning that Revelation chapter 18 is soon the be fulfilled? Revelation 18:14-17 (New King James Version) 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing. Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea stood at a distance and watched. What good will wealth do the mighty in the day of the LORD when the LORD destroys Babylon, the center of capitalism? Zephaniah 1:18 (New King James Version) 18 Neither their silver nor their gold
Shall be able to deliver them
In the day of the LORDs wrath;
But the whole land shall be devoured
By the fire of His jealousy,
For He will make speedy riddance
Of all those who dwell in the land. You see, the wealth of the mighty will come to nothing when the LORD strikes. By the fire of His jealousy the LORD will make a speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land. Jealousy? What is the LORD jealous over? James 4:1-5 (New King James Version) 1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously? The world is at war over commodities. Every nation with something precious has the West exploiting it. The governments we cannot control we overthrow. God does not want adulterers as the Bride of Christ. Theres a popular teaching going around in our churches these days that you can serve God and the world with its luxuries at the same time. Verse four, in the book of James, calls you an adulterer if you are serving the world and its lusts. So whats the answer? Zephaniah 2:1-3 (New King James Version)
1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together,
O undesirable[a] nation,
2 Before the decree is issued,
Or the day passes like chaff,
Before the LORDs fierce anger comes upon you,
Before the day of the LORDs anger comes upon you!
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 LORDs anger. Seek not a better home, a better car or better goods, but seek the LORD. Seek to walk right with the LORD. Seek first the LORD, His righteousness and His kingdom. Store your treasure in heaven and not on earth. Dont be proud, but seek humility and if you do so maybe you will be hidden in the day of the LORDs anger. Note well: That does not mean raptured- that means hidden- you will be saved from the calamity even though you are still on earth. Revelation 3:7-11 (New King James Version) 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: 8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lieindeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Hold fast so no one may take your crown. What is that crown? James 1:12 (New King James Version) 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
So seek righteousness and humility and endure temptations and the LORD will keep you safe when the trial comes upon the world. The LORD doesnt mind who you are right now. He wants you devoted to Him in your ways, but He is aware that there are sinners who have filthy garments that want to be at the wedding feast. Revelation 22:11 (New King James Version) 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous[a] still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.
He is aware there are righteous people, people that have sought His face and become righteous and there are people who are set apart for Him and holy. BEWARE the day of the LORD is approaching fast. It is time to repent and live a righteous life if you are going to be spared the coming judgment. Let me pray: Father Lead the reader on a quest to find out what true righteousness is and have him or her seek it with all their hearts. Teach them to spend more time with You in prayer and in the Word. Teach them via Your Holy Spirit and lead them away from shows and books by false teachers. In Jesus' precious name I ask. Matthew shares his heart in these articles and can be found at http://www.online-prayer.net You can read more of his articles at his link below. If you want a copy of his upcoming book of articles which will have the first sixty of the articles on this web-site called "The Musings of a Mad Prophet" please contact Matthew via email so he can contact you around February 2007 to tell you of the progress of the book. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Robert_Payne http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Day-of-The-LORD-Zephaniah-1:14-2:3&id=423023 cheap online pharmacies xanax cod
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