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Pamphlet 1704 Zephaniah kc1-2

Zephaniah 1:1 contains the "hidden manna" of His message to us.

Jesus Christ said concerning those who are delivered up that they should not even pre-meditate what they shall say, for at that time the Holy Spirit shall strengthen them (with fire) and speak through them, giving them words and wisdom, just like the example set forth on that first Pentecost Day following the resurrection when the Holy Spirit (like as a "fire") lighted upon them and spoke through those Galileans in a language that all those present of all the NATIONS clearly heard in their own dialect. Here are the words of Christ concerning those delivered up:

Luke 21:12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
[13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

[14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

In the picture book which was sealed-up until these last days to be understood by the wise (the spiritually rich in His Word), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abeddnego were given to us as types of those who would be cast into prison (for 10 days to see if they would eat idolatrous "meat") and then delivered up to the king of Babylon, the type of false-christ in these last days. Yet we SEE even in the "face of death" they would not "bow a knee to Baal", neither did they premeditate what they said:
Daniel 3:16
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
No premeditation here, right? "Hey Neb! Take your image and shove it, pal!"

It is also perhaps fitting that we study this book of Zephaniah at this time for it is the last book in the minor prophets just preceding the Captivity. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah and unlike the last two prophets we studied, Nahum and Habakkuk, Zephaniah carries no burden. He prophesied around 518 BC before the reformation of Josiah ended. (Josiah means "Foundation of Yah".)

Again, most of the Book of Zephaniah (1:1-3:8) is what Dr. Bullinger calls Minatory, which is a threatening, like the clouds threaten rain, i.e. to give signs or warning of, like the blowing of a trumpet. In the case of Zephaniah we shall see that the minatory is the warning of 7th Trump. It shall be those "Hidden of Yah", which is what "Zephaniah" means, who shall come and herald the PROCLAMATION to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people before the King of kings and Lord of lords returns! And though it is written that YHVH shall give them a mouth and wisdom at that time, this is what those "Determined Warriors", the bruisers, the ships of Chittim, shall declare upon the waters (See Rev. 17:15 for definition of "waters"):

Rev. 14:6
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
This is what goes forth in that Proclamation to the nations:
[7] Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Just as Joel declares in the last chapter of his book, Jesus Christ is coming to the valley of Jeshoshaphat, the "valley of decision", the "valley of Judgment" (Jehoshaphat means "YHVH judges". Daniel means "God is Judge"). In other words, the valley of Jehoshaphat is simply the valley where the Lord (along with His Zadok) judges the nations for the decisions they have made and the way they have treated His children. (Read the 3rd chapter of Joel concerning the blowing of the 7th Trump.

And after the troops, the standing "fire" fighters of have declared "WOE", the "Hour of His Judgment is Come" and you had better turn and worship Him that made heaven and earth, THEN the evil rudiments of Babylon the Great shall come tumbling down with a great SHOUT (1 Thes. 4) just as the walls of Jericho fell with a thunderous "shout" at the sound of the 7th Trump!

Rev. 14:8
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
As the final part to our introductory, let us understand the first verse of Zephaniah, for in it is contained the "hidden manna" of His message to us, which is that the "Hidden of Yah" are His elect, one of those two rays of light that we learned of in Habakkuk, wherein YHVH's strength is hidden.
Zeph. 1:1
The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.
Speaking of hidden, it seems remarkable that it is so noted by the great scholars and commentators alike, that unlike the other prophets of God, Zephaniah's genealogy is traced back four generations to King Hezekiah! The name Hezekiah is even spelled differently in English (Hizkiah) here in Zeph. 1:1 to help draw our attention to him, i.e. to Hezekiah. The question is "Why?" Let us begin answering that question by first taking note of the name "Hezekiah" in Greek as used in Mat. 1:9:
Ezekias =  ed-zek-ee'-as, Strong's #1478
Of Hebrew origin [#2396]; Ezekias (that is, Hezekiah), an Israelite:— Ezekias.
Sure looks like "Ezekiel", doesn't it? Well, it basically means the same thing. Here is what Hezekiah means in Hebrew:
Hezekiah = chizqŒòyaòh, khiz-kee-yaw' #2396
From H2388 and H3050; strengthenedofJah; Chizkijah, a king of Judah, also the name of two other Israelites:—Hezekiah, Hizkiah, Hizkijah. Compare H3169.
We see "Ezeki" (strong, strength) contained (hidden) in the name of "Hezeki-ah". The difference is the "El" and the "Yah", i.e. the relationship of God. Ezekiel means "Whom El Strengthens" while Hezekiah means "Whom Yah Strengthens". Why is this significant or important? It is important in understanding that the work that shall be done in the last days after the king of Babylon has arrived on the scene is that some of those among the sons and daughters shall give the great Proclamation to ALL nations. That witness to the nations which we have been discussing comes after the great teaching, after the great "shepherding" to the sons and daughters of the true house of Israel, i.e. after the sealing of the 144,000 in Revelation 7:1-4 during which time the four winds were held back from blowing upon the earth. Therefore, let us understand the role of Ezekiel (the type of the watchman) to this point, even until the great time of trouble such as never was when the king of Babylon arrives at the sound of the 6th Trump. (That 6th Trump has not sounded at the time of this study so the watchmen must continue steadfast in their current duties.)

Ezekiel (Whom God Strengthens) was first told to eat the "roll" and then he was appointed a watchmen unto the house of Israel. Although Ezekiel lived during the captivity of Israel and "acted out" before our eyes every phase and detail of the coming of the king of Babylon to Jerusalem, it was NOT his predetermined commission to witness to the kings and the nations NOR to be delivered up before the king of Babylon. When the king of Babylon did arrive and take captive the children of Judah, we then move to the Book of Daniel which details the work of the church of Smyrna. To wit, the events that take place in Daniel (God is Judge) occur before and the during the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar, the type of the king of Babylon of the last days. That is why Daniel's words were written and sealed-up until the end when the "wise", the spiritually "rich" watchmen whom Yahveh shall strengthen, shall understand.

Here is the documentation of Ezekiel's commission as given to Him by God:

Ezekiel 3:1
Moreover He said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
First order of business is to eat and digest the entire Word of God.
[2] So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.

[3] And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

[4] And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

The sons and daughters, who are brothers and sisters (Philadelphia), speak after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" and "It is written", NOT after the manner of "men" and their traditional denominational teachings. But you see, the watchmen's overall commission during the 5th Trump is to teach their brothers and sisters, not to proclaim (herald) to the nations of the world the gospel of the return of the King of kings, i.e. to those who speak all those languages we witness in Acts 2. The watchmen are sent to the true House of Israel.
[5] For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;

[6]Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.

If it were God's plan to send them to the nations, the nations would repent as we learned from the great Book of Jonah! Now understand this, for it is really quite simple. We know the Lord of lords and King of kings is coming soon, but only AFTER the king of Babylon has come unto Jerusalem at the sound of the 6th Trump. That is why we "watch Jerusalem". At that time some of you spiritually rich Christian soldiers will be strengthened by Yahveh as He speaks through you when you are delivered up and give the PROCLAMATION that the Kingdom of God is come and that Jesus Christ is LORD, NOT that image standing in Jerusalem. Yes, the "hidden of Yah", those Zephaniahs with the seal of God hidden in their foreheads shall come forth to give "witness" and HERALD THE RETURN OF OUR KING! Praise God!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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