20160207 Sunday, February 7 2016
Zephaniah 02: The National Home Coming

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honour into it"

Humans were created as citizens of the only country (i.e. the territory occupied by a nation) and the only nation (i.e. a people descended from a common ancestor), that existed on Earth in the beginning - the Kingdom of God. When they chose to rebel against the LORD (see also The Prophecy To The Birthplace Of Rebellion and The Idolatry Of Rebellion; also The Spirit Of Traitors), they were exiled, from which they devised their own countries, with their own politics and their own religions (see also The Politics And Religion Of The Lost Ten Tribes and Is Iniquity Liberal Or Conservative?).

The first foreign (i.e. a word that literally means "far reign") countries were created by the descendants of Cain, Seth and the other children of Adam and Eve (see From Adam To Noah).

"4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech." (Genesis 4:16-18 KJV)

"4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD." (Genesis 4:25-26 KJV)

"5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died." (Genesis 5:4-5 KJV)

All of those first man-made countries ceased to exist at the time of the Flood (see Why Did The Flood Happen?). Humanity then began again from only eight people, the immediate family of Noah, of the line of Seth (although the ancestry of Noah's wife and daughters-in-law is not stated). They soon became rebels again, with the infamous tower of Babel (see The Tower Of Babel). From that came the scattering into the many nations, countries and languages of the present-day world.

"11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth." (Genesis 11:8-9 KJV)

"Israel" was created from people of the "world" (see Israel's Neighborhood Roots) as a living prophecy of the coming restoration of the Kingdom of God (see When Will The Prophecy Of Israel Be Fulfilled?). Just as the Israelites (who were created from Babylonians, Syrians, Canaanites, Jordanians, Egyptians and many others; see The Origin Of Israelites And Jews) were called to obey the terms and conditions of admission into the eternal Kingdom of God, all nations will in due time be given the same opportunity (see What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?).

"4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:1-3 KJV)

"21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:23-27 KJV)

There is no favoritism with the LORD. The LORD's love and acceptance was offered to all nations who repent and truly obey Him, including Israel, just as His Wrath was delivered to all nations that defied Him, including Israel.

"2:1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; 2:2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. 2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks. 2:7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

2:10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts. 2:11 The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

2:12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

2:13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. 2:14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. 2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand." (Zephaniah 2:1-15 KJV)

Fact Finder: What empires had, and will yet have, a direct involvement in Biblical history and prophecy?
See The Empires Of Bible History And Prophecy