These seven years have two purposes:
1. to make Israel see the signs of their Messiah's second coming so that they will realize that Jesus was and is their Messiah, so they become believers in order to enter the Millennial kingdom
2. to bring judgment onto the sinful nations and the sinners who have rejected Jesus
And still, God loves everyone! During this time, in order that everyone can STILL make "an educated decision" for eternity - giving everyone a very fair opportunity to turn to Jesus for salvation - He has angels flying over the entire earth giving messages to the world (in every language)...
(Revelation 14:6-13) And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”
8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
From this we see:
- in order that everyone can STILL make "an educated decision" for eternity, giving everyone a very fair opportunity to turn to Jesus for salvation, God has angels flying over the entire earth giving messages to the world (in every language) (14:6, 8-9)
- angels will witness and be part of the battle of Armageddon, as well as the White Throne Judgment where all sinners are judged and sent to their eternal punishment (14:10)
Personal experience: human nature is to hold grudges and stubbornly "write people off" as unworthy.
Today's takeaway: I love how God does not give up on anybody. His patience and persistence in His love is overwhelming. And when anyone humbles themselves before the Lord to ask - there is nothing that is too big for Him to forgive!!!...
(Zephaniah 3:1-20) Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city!
2 She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the Lord, she did not draw near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves at evening; they leave nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
5 The Lord is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations; their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, with no one passing by; their cities are laid waste, without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 “I said, ‘Surely you will revere Me, accept instruction.’ So her dwelling will not be cut off according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.
2 She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the Lord, she did not draw near to her God.
3 Her princes within her are roaring lions, her judges are wolves at evening; they leave nothing for the morning.
4 Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
5 The Lord is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame.
6 “I have cut off nations; their corner towers are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate, with no one passing by; their cities are laid waste, without a man, without an inhabitant.
7 “I said, ‘Surely you will revere Me, accept instruction.’ So her dwelling will not be cut off according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they were eager to corrupt all their deeds.
8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “for the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all My burning anger; for all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal.
9 “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
10 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My offerings.
11 “In that day you will feel no shame because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; for then I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.
9 “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
10 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, My dispersed ones, will bring My offerings.
11 “In that day you will feel no shame because of all your deeds by which you have rebelled against Me; for then I will remove from your midst your proud, exulting ones, and you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.
12 “But I will leave among you a humble and lowly people, and they will take refuge in the name of the Lord.
13 “The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble.”
13 “The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and tell no lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths; for they will feed and lie down with no one to make them tremble.”
14 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you will fear disaster no more.
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.
17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
18 “I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts—they came from you, O Zion; the reproach of exile is a burden on them.
19 “Behold, I am going to deal at that time with all your oppressors, I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
20 “At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
15 The Lord has taken away His judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you will fear disaster no more.
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: “Do not be afraid, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp.
17 “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
18 “I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts—they came from you, O Zion; the reproach of exile is a burden on them.
19 “Behold, I am going to deal at that time with all your oppressors, I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
20 “At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the Lord.
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