Zephaniah Chapter Three, Indignation Against Kingdoms

Zephaniah 3:8 “Therefore wait for Me,” says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.

“Therefore,” in this verse, may be rendered “because of these things,” as is the case in so much of Scripture. Because of what things? Because of God’s faithful witness concerning His unfailing justice, and the peoples’ apathy toward spiritual truth. 

Nations were razed and Israel was disciplined, even to the point of exile. But the wicked (and they dominated the kingdom) were only zealous for what was evil. Chapter three has been an incrimination against the wickedness of Judah. Jerusalem is referred to as the oppressing city (verse 1), that does not obey, receive correction or draw near God (verse 2), whose rulers are akin to wild animals (verse 3), and whose ecclesiastical leadership was duplicitous and corrupt (verse 4). Because of these things God was personally coming and commands the nation to wait for Him and to wait for absolute and final judgment. The Septuagint renders part of this verse as, “until the day when I rise up for a witness: because my judgment shall be on the gatherings of the nations.”

This aligns with Malachi’s testimony, when he writes of God, “And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness…because they do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts,” Malachi 3:5. God always explains why judgment is coming. He does not only warn that it is impending, but WHY it must be so. Even in this God is very merciful, giving sinners the opportunity to repent of their evil before the flood arrives. Whether we employ the term, “plunder,” or “witness,” God is coming. He will judge Israel’s wickedness and plunder them as a victorious army would those they have conquered.

But this verse goes well beyond Israel at its then-present time under Josiah. Zephaniah reveals God’s plans to gather the nations in what He refers to as the assembly of kingdoms. This is not a coalition like a League of Nations or UN. No, God is not gathering the Gentile nations under His banner; He is calling them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to punish them. Why? If Zephaniah failed to clarify, Joel is not remiss. “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land,” Joel 3:2. These passages take us well beyond the Babylonian captivity and into the present and near-future era. God will gather all kingdoms of the earth and judge them for what they have done to Israel, whom He calls His heritage. Zechariah concurs, writing, “For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple (lit. pupil) of His eye,” Zechariah 2:8.

Modern theologists in certain Christian camps have declared that Israel is no more. God’s earthly people have been replaced by the church. Rome has long taught this, and there is even a heterodoxical term for it, known as Replacement Theology. But listen closely to the wording of Zephaniah, Malachi, Joel, or Zechariah. They are addressing physical, literal Israel. They are addressing the Jews, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The church is a separate entity from Israel, but Israel is still recognized as a people in Scripture, see 1 Corinthians 10:32 for example. The modern world, as it has actually done since Israel was restored to their land beginning in embryo with the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and realized more fully May 14th, 1948, appears to excel at scattering the Jews and parting their land. Just look at the state of Israel today as more and more of Israel, falsely labeled Palestine, is given away piecemeal because the nations refuse to recognize the Jews’ ancient right to the land.

Because of these things, God will pour out on the nations His fierce anger, because of our callous treatment toward the Jewish people. All of God’s anger will be directed toward this judgment, and all the earth is complicit according to Zephaniah. This makes sense, since we read, “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one,” and, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do,” 1 John 5:19, John 8:44. If you do not belong to God, you serve Satan according to the Bible. That does not make you an overt Satanist; it makes you a child of the world system you live in, which belongs to and is lorded over by Satan. Ergo you serve the Devil. Satan hates Israel and has infiltrated the church so deeply that many well meaning Christians wrongly believe that Israel no longer matters and the church has usurped their promises and place. Scripture testifies otherwise. God is jealous for His people, and His fire will consume the earth, as Israel was also warned in Malachi 4:6. God’s fire cleanses or destroys. Those who are cleansed by it are those who are remade by God into something everlasting, and made fit to dwell with Him. Those who are destroyed are entrenched in the throes of this temporal world and will find the sum of their person and accomplishments consumed in a moment when the day of judgment at last arrives.The nations will receive wrath because Israel remains God’s chosen people, and the world has treated them with the utmost contempt.