Earthquakes of the Bible

 

The Earthquakes of the Bible

D.P. Weary

December 2025

 

By examining the great earthquakes of the Bible, we are going to discover that they are God’s prophetic announcements of the key prophetic events of the last days, the Lord’s death, the Lord’s resurrection, and the days of the Lord’s return to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

From the Old Testament

[Isa 29:6 NKJV] You will be punished by the LORD of hosts With thunder and earthquake and great noise, With storm and tempest And the flame of devouring fire.

[Isa 29:1 NKJV] "Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add year to year; Let feasts come around.

[Isa 29:2 NKJV] Yet I will distress Ariel; There shall be heaviness and sorrow, And it shall be to Me as Ariel.

[Isa 29:3 NKJV] I will encamp against you all around, I will lay siege against you with a mound, And I will raise siegeworks against you.

[Isa 29:6 NKJV] You will be punished by the LORD of hosts With thunder and earthquake and great noise, With storm and tempest And the flame of devouring fire.

The first key is found in Isaiah. The final chastisement of Israel for their great falling away from God is marked by an earthquake, a great storm, and by fire [war].

 

[Eze 38:19 NKJV] "For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,

[Eze 38:18 NKJV] "And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face.

[Eze 38:19 NKJV] "For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,

[Eze 38:20 NKJV] 'so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.'

[Eze 38:21 NKJV] "I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says the Lord GOD. "Every man's sword will be against his brother.

[Eze 38:22 NKJV] "And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

[Eze 38:23 NKJV] "Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD." '

This earthquake marks the attack on Israel by Gog and his associates of the Middle East [Ezekiel 38]. This attack causes great damage in Israel but just as Israel is about to fall, God saves them by destroying the invading forces with pestilence, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. This attack on Israel is probably associated with the second seal of Revelation chapter 6 and the effects of war presented in seals 3, 4, and 5.

[Rev 6:3 NKJV] When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see."

[Rev 6:4 NKJV] Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

[Rev 6:5 NKJV] When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.

[Rev 6:6 NKJV] And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."

[Rev 6:7 NKJV] When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see."

[Rev 6:8 NKJV] So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

[Rev 6:9 NKJV] When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

[Rev 6:10 NKJV] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

[Rev 6:11 NKJV] Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

 

[Amo 1:1 NKJV] The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

[Amo 1:2 NKJV] And he said: "The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers."

[Amo 1:3 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron.

[Amo 1:4 NKJV] But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, Which shall devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad.

[Amo 1:6 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they took captive the whole captivity To deliver them up to Edom.

[Amo 1:7 NKJV] But I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, Which shall devour its palaces.

[Amo 1:9 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

[Amo 1:10 NKJV] But I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, Which shall devour its palaces."

[Amo 1:11 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually, And he kept his wrath forever.

[Amo 1:12 NKJV] But I will send a fire upon Teman, Which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah."

[Amo 1:13 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, That they might enlarge their territory.

[Amo 1:14 NKJV] But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, And it shall devour its palaces, Amid shouting in the day of battle, And a tempest in the day of the whirlwind.

[Amo 2:1 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.

[Amo 2:2 NKJV] But I will send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting and trumpet sound.

[Amo 2:3 NKJV] And I will cut off the judge from its midst, And slay all its princes with him," Says the LORD.

[Amo 2:4 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have despised the law of the LORD, And have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray, Lies which their fathers followed.

[Amo 2:5 NKJV] But I will send a fire upon Judah, And it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem."

[Amo 2:6 NKJV] Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals.

Amos prophecies two years before a great earthquake the fate of the nations (peoples) that immediately surround Israel. He also adds that He will send a fire [results of war] on Judah. This relates to the attacks on Israel announced by Ezekiel and Amos.

[Amo 7:1 NKJV] Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king's mowings.

[Amo 7:2 NKJV] And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: "O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!"

[Amo 7:3 NKJV] So the LORD relented concerning this. "It shall not be," said the LORD.

[Amo 7:4 NKJV] Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, the Lord GOD called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory.

[Amo 7:5 NKJV] Then I said: "O Lord GOD, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!"

[Amo 7:6 NKJV] So the LORD relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD.

[Amo 7:6 NKJV] So the LORD relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD.

These verses corollate with Ezekiel’s prophecy. Just before Israel is fully devastated by Gog and his hordes, Amos intercedes and God intervenes and saves Israel.

 

[Amo 8:2 NKJV] And He said, "Amos, what do you see?" So I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me: "The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.

In Amos chapter 8 the focus changes to the final judgments against Israel that occur during the seven years of the tribulation preceding the Lord’s return to the earth.

[Amo 8:3 NKJV] And the songs of the temple Shall be wailing in that day," Says the Lord GOD--"Many dead bodies everywhere, They shall be thrown out in silence."

[Amo 8:9 NKJV] "And it shall come to pass in that day," says the Lord GOD, "That I will make the sun go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in broad daylight;

[Rev 6:12 NKJV] I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

[Rev 8:12 NASB95] The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

[Amo 8:11 NKJV] "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.

[Amo 9:8 NKJV] "Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob," Says the LORD.

[Amo 9:9 NKJV] "For surely I will command, And will sift the house of Israel among all nations, As grain is sifted in a sieve; Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.

[Amo 9:10 NKJV] All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, Who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.'

These days of the final judgment are marked by death and a great darkness that covers the land. But the LORD promises to leave a remnant of the house of Jacob (Israel) yet all the sinners of Israel [My people] shall die by the sword.

[Amo 9:11 NKJV] "On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old;

[Amo 9:12 NKJV] That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name," Says the LORD who does this thing.

[Amo 9:13 NKJV] "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow with it.

[Amo 9:14 NKJV] I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.

[Amo 9:15 NKJV] I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God.

Then the LORD tells us that after all this death and destruction, He is going to restore Israel, bring back of the “captives of My people Israel” who have been scattered among the nations, and plant them in their land He gave to them, the land defined in the covenant made with Abraham. All this occurs at and after the Lord’s return during the 1000 years of the Lord’s reign on the earth.

 

[Zec 14:5 NKJV] Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You.

[Zec 14:1 NKJV] Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst.

[Zec 14:2 NKJV] For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

[Zec 14:3 NKJV] Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.

This is the day of the LORD. The day of the Lord’s coming back to the earth. It is a day of battle, the day of Armageddon.

[Zec 14:4 NKJV] And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

[Zec 14:5 NKJV] Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You.

At His coming He will stand on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and the land will split forming a large valley providing a way of escape from Jerusalem for the remnant.

Zec 14:6 NKJV] It shall come to pass in that day That there will be no light; The lights will diminish.

[Zec 14:7 NKJV] It shall be one day Which is known to the LORD—Neither day nor night. But at evening time it shall happen That it will be light.

This day will be the day of prophesied darkness, but we are told that at evening time it will be light!

[Zec 14:8 NKJV] And in that day it shall be That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, Half of them toward the eastern sea And half of them toward the western sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur.

[Zec 14:9 NKJV] And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—"The LORD is one,” And His name one.

The King Jesus has arrived to establish His Kingdom on the earth for 1000 years.

[Rev 20:4 NKJV] And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

[Rev 20:5 NKJV] But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

[Rev 20:6 NKJV] Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

 

[Zec 14:16 NKJV] And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

We note that there will be a remnant of gentiles on the earth after the Lord’s return. These are normal humans who can sin and die and who will be judged at the end of the 1000 years of the Lord’s reign on the earth at the great white throne judgment.

[Rev 20:7 NKJV] Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

[Rev 20:8 NKJV] and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

[Rev 20:9 NKJV] They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

[Rev 20:10 NKJV] The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

[Rev 20:11 NKJV] Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

[Rev 20:12 NKJV] And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

[Rev 20:13 NKJV] The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

[Rev 20:14 NKJV] Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

[Rev 20:15 NKJV] And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

 

 

From the New Testament

[Mat 27:54 NKJV] So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

[Mat 27:50 NKJV] And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

[Mat 27:51 NKJV] Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

[Mat 27:52 NKJV] and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

[Mat 27:53 NKJV] and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

[Mat 27:54 NKJV] So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

This earthquake marked the death of Jesus.

 

[Mat 28:2 NKJV] And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

[Mat 28:1 NKJV] Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

[Mat 28:2 NKJV] And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

[Mat 28:5 NKJV] But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

[Mat 28:6 NKJV] "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

This earthquake marked the resurrection of Jesus.

 

[Act 16:26 NKJV] Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

[Act 16:25 NKJV] But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

[Act 16:26 NKJV] Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

This earthquake marked “the opening of prison doors and chains being loosed.” Quite symbolic of the effect of Jesus resurrection for all that except Him as their Lord and Savior.

 

Now we will look at the earthquakes that mark the great events of the final days before Christ Jesus’ triumphal return to earth.

[Rev 6:12 NKJV] I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

[Rev 6:12 NKJV] I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

After the devastations caused by the war or wars of the first 5 seals, we come to a great earthquake marked by darkness as prophesied by the old Testament prophets.

[Rev 6:13 NKJV] And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

Stars falling from the sky might well speak of a great meteor shower.

[Rev 6:14 NKJV] Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

The sky becoming blocked from sight and mountains and island moved imply very serious volcanic and earthquake activity contaminating the sky with smoke, dust, and other debris.

[Rev 6:15 NKJV] And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

The immediate effect on people was for them to seek some kind of shelter or protection from the awesome destructive activity in the sky and on the earth.

[Rev 6:16 NKJV] and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

[Rev 6:17 NKJV] "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

This activity and the great earthquake that initiated it clearly marks the coming of the days of the wrath of the Lamb! This is so important because Jesus’ Church, His people on the earth are not subject to the wrath of the Lamb [the wrath of God]. Clearly then Jesus’ people have already been removed from the earth in what we call the rapture.

[Rom 5:9 NKJV] Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

[Col 3:6 NKJV] Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

[1Th 1:10 NKJV] and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

[1Th 5:9 NKJV] For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

[Rev 3:10 NKJV] "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.

 

The rapture

[1Th 4:13 NKJV] But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

[1Th 4:14 NKJV] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

[1Th 4:15 NKJV] For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

[1Th 4:16 NKJV] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

[1Th 4:17 NKJV] Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

[1Th 4:18 NKJV] Therefore comfort one another with these words.  

 

[Rev 8:5 NKJV] Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

[Rev 8:1 NKJV] When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

[Rev 8:2 NKJV] And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

[Rev 8:3 NKJV] Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

[Rev 8:4 NKJV] And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand.

[Rev 8:5 NKJV] Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

[Rev 8:6 NKJV] So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

The next earthquake marks the breaking of the seventh and last seal of the great scroll. Now the scroll can be opened and the contents revealed and executed. The first act of execution is fire [judgments] from the altar in Heaven being thrown to the earth. This releases the seven angels to begin sounding the seven trumpets that initiate the seven judgments of the seven years of tribulation.

 

[Rev 11:13 NKJV] In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

[Rev 11:11 NKJV] Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

[Rev 11:12 NKJV] And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

[Rev 11:13 NKJV] In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

[Rev 11:14 NKJV] The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

The next earthquake marks the blast of the sixth trumpet, the second woe. Here we see the two last days witnesses who have been in Israel witnessing against the Antichrist and for the Gospel who have been killed by the Antichrist resurrected and taken to heaven. It also marks great destruction in Jerusalem and many people killed.

 

[Rev 11:19 NKJV] Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

[Rev 11:14 NKJV] The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

[Rev 11:15 NKJV] Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

[Rev 11:16 NKJV] And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,

[Rev 11:17 NKJV] saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

[Rev 11:18 NKJV] The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."

[Rev 11:19 NKJV] Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

This earthquake marks the coming of the third woe at the blast of the seventh and last trumpet when the Temple of God is opened in heaven and the ark of His covenant seen. On the earth there are very, very great storms and an earthquake. The covenant promises made to Abraham and to Israel are about to be fulfilled!

 

Now we come to the final earthquake. The great earthquake that marks the second coming of Jesus to the earth. He now comes as King of kings and Lord of lords!

[Rev 16:18 NKJV] And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.

[Rev 16:15 NKJV] "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

[Rev 16:16 NKJV] And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

When the people of the earth do not expect it, Jesus comes from heaven to the earth as the Great Warrior King! He comes as a great battle is occurring in the valley of Armageddon, the Jezreel Valley.

[Rev 16:17 NKJV] Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"

[Rev 16:18 NKJV] And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.

[Rev 16:19 NKJV] Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

[Rev 16:20 NKJV] Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

[Rev 16:21 NKJV] And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

As the Lord Jesus returns the greatest earthquake ever occurs and it shakes the whole earth. Jerusalem is divided into three parts and other cities of the earth are destroyed. The satanic world systems called great Babylon or mystery Babylon are destroyed and the storms that ravage the earth are so great that hailstones weigh about 75 pounds each.

[Rev 19:6 NKJV] And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

[Rev 19:7 NKJV] "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."

[Rev 19:8 NKJV] And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

[Rev 19:9 NKJV] Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

The good news is that the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife [the true Church, the saints] has made herself ready. This event is defined by the marriage supper of the Lamb. To understand this marriage and the marriage supper, one needs to know about the traditions, events, and timings of the ancient Jewish wedding, which is basically a prophecy of the Lord Jesus’ wedding.

[Rev 19:10 NKJV] And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

[Rev 19:11 NKJV] Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

[Rev 19:12 NKJV] His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

[Rev 19:13 NKJV] He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

[Rev 19:14 NKJV] And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

[Rev 19:15 NKJV] Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

[Rev 19:16 NKJV] And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus now returns to the earth. Not as the gentle Lamb of God, the savior, but as The Warrior King and Great Judge of all. He has a new name now and the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen [clothing of the saints of God] follow Him on white horses. He comes to establish His Kingdom on the earth and He comes as King of kings and Lord of lords!

A Study in the Book of Zephaniah

 

The Day of Judgment – The Day of God’s Wrath

A Study in the Book of Zephaniah

D.P. Weary

October 2025

The book of Zephaniah is a prophecy dealing with the day of the wrath of God [God’s last day’s final judgment upon fallen mankind]. It is a book that adds insights to the book of Revelation. In this study we are going to be looking for insights into the fate of the peoples and nations that surround Israel today.

 

Chapter 1 – The Day of Judgment

[Zep 1:1 AMP] The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah:

[Zep 1:2 AMP] "I will completely consume and sweep away all things From the face of the earth [in judgment]," says the LORD.

[Zep 1:3 AMP] "I will consume and sweep away man and beast; I will consume and sweep away the birds of the air And the fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks (idols) along with the wicked; And I will cut off and destroy man from the face of the earth," declares the LORD.

[Zep 1:4 AMP] "I will also stretch out My hand [in judgment] against Judah And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off and destroy the remnant of Baal from this place, And the names and remembrance of the idolatrous priests along with the [false] priests,

[Zep 1:5 AMP] And those who bow down and worship the host of heaven [the sun, the moon, and the stars] on their housetops And those who bow down and swear [oaths] to [and pretend to worship] the LORD and [yet also] swear by [the pagan god called] Milcom [god of the Ammonites],

[Zep 1:6 AMP] And those who have turned back from following the LORD, And those who have not sought the LORD [as their most important need] or inquired of Him."

[Zep 1:7 AMP] [Hush!] Be silent before the Lord GOD [there is no acceptable excuse to offer]! For the day [of the vengeance] of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice (Judah), He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation [the Chaldeans who rule Babylon].

[Zep 1:7 NLT] Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD, for the awesome day of the LORD's judgment is near. The LORD has prepared his people for a great slaughter and has chosen their executioners.

Although there was a foreshowing fulfillment of this prophecy when the Babylonians conquered and exiled Judah, the final fulfillment awaits the days of the great tribulation of Revelation 6-22.

[Zep 1:8 AMP] "Then it will come about on the day of the LORD'S sacrifice That I will punish the princes and the king's sons And all who are clothed in [lavish] foreign apparel [reflecting their paganism].

[Zep 1:9 AMP] "On that day I will also punish all those who leap over the temple threshold, Who fill their [pagan] lord's temple with violence and deceit.

[Zep 1:10 AMP] "On that day," declares the LORD, "There will be the sound of crying from the Fish (Damascus) Gate [in the northern wall of Jerusalem where invaders enter] And wailing from the Second Quarter [of the city], And a loud crash from the hills.

[Zep 1:11 AMP] "Wail [in anguish], you inhabitants of the Mortar (Valley of Siloam), For all the merchants of Canaan will be silenced and destroyed; All who weigh out silver will be cut off.

[Zep 1:12 AMP] "It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps And I will punish the men Who [like old wine] are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good, nor will He do evil.'

[Zep 1:13 AMP] "Furthermore, their wealth will become plunder And their houses a desolation. Yes, they will build houses but not live in them, And plant vineyards but not drink their wine."

[Zep 1:14 AMP] The great [judgment] day of the LORD is near, Near and coming very quickly. Listen! The [voice of the] day of the LORD! The warrior cries out bitterly [unable to fight or to flee].

[Zep 1:15 AMP] That day is a day of [the outpouring of the] wrath [of God], A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and devastation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness,

[Zep 1:16 AMP] A day of trumpet and the battle cry [of invaders] Against the fortified cities And against the high corner towers (battlements).

[Zep 1:17 AMP] I will bring distress on men So that they will walk like the blind [unable to find a way of escape], Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood will be poured out like dust [and trampled underfoot], And their flesh like dung.

[Zep 1:18 AMP] Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to rescue them On the day of the LORD'S indignation and wrath. And the whole earth will be consumed In the fire of His jealous wrath, For He shall make a full and complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.

The highlighted verses establish that we are dealing with the last days, the days of the wrath of God; the days of the book of Revelation. There is also clear that all the inhabitants of the earth are being subjected to the wrath of God. The New Testament clearly tells us that those that accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are born again (Jn 3:3-6) are not subjected to the wrath of God (1 Thes 1:10, 5:9; Rom 5:9; Rev 3:10). The clear implication is that all people that are saved by accepting Yeshua (Jesus) as their Savior have already been removed from the earth in what is called the Rapture of the Saints. During the days of the wrath of God, the great tribulation, many do come to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior. These we call the tribulation saints and are in addition to those saved during the church age who are taken at the rapture. Many of these tribulation saints, if not most, are Jews. These must endure the trials of the great tribulation and many are martyred (Rev 20:4) for their faith.

 

Chapter 2 - Judgments on Judah’s Enemies

[Zep 2:1 AMP] Gather yourselves together [in repentance], yes, gather [in submission], O nation without shame,

[Zep 2:2 AMP] Before the decree takes effect [and the time for repentance is lost]-- The day passes like the chaff [whirled by the wind]-- Before the burning and fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, Before the day of the wrath of the LORD comes upon you.

[Zep 2:3 AMP] Seek the LORD [search diligently for Him and regard Him as the foremost necessity of your life], All you humble of the land Who have practiced His ordinances and have kept His commandments; Seek righteousness, seek humility [regard them as vital]. Perhaps you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] In the day of the LORD'S anger.

These first 3 verses are for us today! They are a very clear call to all to seek righteousness, repent of sin, seek humility, to seek the LORD and submit to Him before the day of wrath comes. And for those that do, you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] in the day of the LORD’s wrath.

 (1 Thes 1:10, 5:9; Rom 5:9; Rev 3:10)

Now we come to the fate of the nations that surround Israel.

Gaza:

[Zep 2:4 AMP] For [this is the fate of the Philistines:] Gaza will be abandoned And Ashkelon a desolation; [The people of] Ashdod will be driven out at noon [in broad daylight] And Ekron will be uprooted and destroyed.

[Zep 2:5 AMP] Woe (judgment is coming) to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites [in Philistia]! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; I will destroy you So that no inhabitant will be left.

“Philistia was an ancient region on the southern coast of Canaan, roughly corresponding to the modern Gaza Strip and parts of southern Israel. It was home to the Philistines, a people known from biblical and archaeological sources, who settled there around the 12th century BCE, likely as part of the Sea Peoples migration. They established a confederation of five city-states: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath. Philistia was known for its urban culture, advanced pottery, and frequent conflicts with neighboring Israelites, as depicted in stories like David and Goliath.

The Philistines were an ancient people who lived along the coastal plain of Canaan, in what is now modern-day Israel and the Gaza Strip, from around the 12th century BCE to the 7th century BCE. They are best known from biblical accounts as frequent adversaries of the Israelites, though archaeological evidence provides a broader picture.” (Grok)

 

The name Cherethites is “a reference to their early geographical links with Crete.” (Baker)

Today the people of Gaza call themselves Palestinians.

“The Palestinians are an Arab ethnonational group native to the historic region of Palestine, located in the Levant (encompassing modern-day Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and parts of Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria). They form a highly homogeneous community bound by shared cultural, linguistic, and historical ties, primarily speaking Palestinian Arabic—a dialect of Levantine Arabic. While predominantly Sunni Muslim (about 85-90%), they also include significant Christian minorities (around 1-2% in the territories, higher in the diaspora) and smaller groups like Druze and Samaritans. Their identity emphasizes indigenous roots in the land, with genetic studies linking them to ancient Levantine populations from the Bronze and Iron Ages, including Canaanite ancestry, alongside later influences from Arab migrations.

 

Palestinians trace their presence in the region back millennia, descending from a mix of ancient Semitic peoples (such as Canaanites and Philistines) who inhabited the area before recorded history. The name "Palestine" derives from the Roman term Syria Palaestina (after the Philistines, a biblical sea people), imposed in the 2nd century CE to suppress Jewish ties to the land following revolts. Over centuries, the region saw conquests by Romans, Byzantines, Arabs (7th century CE Islamic expansion), Crusaders, Ottomans (1516–1918), and British (1917–1948). Under Ottoman rule, the population was diverse but predominantly Arab, with Muslims, Christians, and a small Jewish minority all identifying as inhabitants of "Filastin" (Arabic for Palestine). Modern Palestinian national identity emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by Arab nationalism and resistance to European colonialism and Zionist immigration. By the 1910s, publications like the Jaffa-based newspaper Filastin explicitly addressed Arabs in the region as "Palestinians" and warned against Zionist "colonization. "The British Mandate for Palestine (1920–1948) formalized the territory, but escalating Jewish-Arab tensions led to the 1947 UN partition plan, which proposed dividing the land into Jewish and Arab states. Rejected by Palestinian leaders and Arab states, it sparked the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.” (Grok)

 

[Zep 2:6 AMP] So the [depopulated] seacoast shall be pastures, With [deserted] meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.

[Zep 2:7 AMP] The seacoast will belong To the remnant of the house of Judah; They will pasture [their flocks] on it. In the [deserted] houses of Ashkelon [in Philistia] they [of Judah] will lie down and rest in the evening, For the LORD their God will care for them; And restore their fortune [permitting them to occupy the land].

Gaza is destined to be destroyed, the inhabitants to be driven out or destroyed. The land is to become deserted meadows for shepherds who are the remnant of the house of Judah (Jews). This is all the LORD’s doing! He is restoring the land to the Jews.

[Zep 2:8 AMP] "I have heard the taunting of Moab And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they have taunted My people And become arrogant against their territory [by violating Israel's boundary and trying to seize its land].

[Zep 2:9 AMP] "Therefore, as I live," declares the LORD of hosts, The God of Israel, "Moab will in fact become like Sodom And the sons of Ammon like Gomorrah, A land possessed by nettles and salt pits, And a perpetual desolation. The remnant of My people will plunder them And what is left of My nation will inherit them [as their own]."

“Biblical Moab refers to an ancient kingdom located east of the Dead Sea in what is now modern-day Jordan, existing during the Iron Age (roughly 13th to 6th centuries BCE). It is frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and other ancient texts, known for its interactions with the Israelites. Key points about Moab:

Geography: Moab's territory included fertile lands along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, with key cities like Dibon, Kir, and Ar. Its borders fluctuated but generally spanned the region between the Arnon and Zered rivers.

People and Culture: The Moabites were a Semitic people, closely related to the Israelites, with a shared linguistic and cultural heritage. Their primary deity was Chemosh, and they engaged in agriculture, trade, and herding.

Biblical Ammon refers to an ancient kingdom mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, located east of the Jordan River in what is now modern-day Jordan. Its people, the Ammonites, were considered descendants of Lot’s son Ben-Ammi (Genesis 19:38). The capital was Rabbah (modern Amman, Jordan).”

(Grok)

The territory of Jordan will become a desolation and the remnant of Israel (Jews) will inherit it as their own.

[Zep 2:10 AMP] This they shall have in return for their pride, because they have taunted and become arrogant against the people of the LORD of hosts.

[Zep 2:11 AMP] The LORD will be terrifying and awesome to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down and worship Him, everyone from his own place.

In these days the LORD will do away with all the gods of the earth and the nations will bow down and worship Him [“Every knee will bow and every tong confess the Jesus is LORD”].

[Zep 2:12 AMP] "You also, O Ethiopians, will be slain by My sword."

“The term "Ethiopians" in the Bible refers to people from the region known as Cush in ancient Hebrew texts, which corresponds to parts of modern-day Ethiopia, Sudan, and surrounding areas in Northeast Africa. The name "Ethiopia" comes from the Greek term Aithiopia ("land of burnt faces"), used in ancient texts to describe dark-skinned peoples south of Egypt. Here’s a concise overview of the Biblical Ethiopians:

Cush in the Old Testament:

In the Hebrew Bible, "Cush" often refers to a region south of Egypt, likely encompassing modern Ethiopia, Sudan, and parts of Eritrea. It was known for its wealth, military strength, and distinct cultural identity.” (Grok)

The people of the modern-day territory of Ethiopia and Sudan will be slain by war [God’s sword]. Note that it is one of the areas overcome by God during the Ezekiel 38 wars.

[Zep 2:13 AMP] And the LORD will stretch out His hand against the north And destroy Assyria, And He will make Nineveh a desolation [a wasteland], Parched as the desert.

“The region historically known as Assyria, an ancient Mesopotamian empire centered in what is now northern Iraq, parts of northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran, doesn’t have a direct modern-day equivalent as a distinct political entity. However, the geographic area corresponding to ancient Assyria can be mapped to parts of several contemporary countries. Modern-Day Regions Associated with Assyria:

Northern Iraq:

The heartland of ancient Assyria, including cities like Nineveh (modern Mosul), Ashur (near Sharqat), and Nimrud (near Mosul), lies in northern Iraq. This region, particularly the Nineveh Plains, is still home to many ethnic Assyrians, a modern ethnoreligious group who identify as descendants of the ancient Assyrians.

Key areas: Mosul, Erbil, Dohuk, and the Nineveh Governorate.

Northeastern Syria:

Parts of the Al-Hasakah Governorate, particularly the Khabur River valley, were historically part of Assyria. This area, known as Gozarto (Jazira), is home to Assyrian communities.

Southeastern Turkey:

The Tur Abdin region in southeastern Turkey, near Mardin and Midyat, was part of ancient Assyria’s periphery and remains a cultural center for modern Assyrians.

Northwestern Iran:

The Urmia region in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran, includes areas historically linked to Assyria and is home to Assyrian communities.” (Grok)

[Zep 2:14 AMP] Flocks will lie down in her midst, All the animals which range in herds; Both the pelican and the short-eared owl Will roost on the top of Nineveh's pillars. Birds will sing in the window, Desolation will be on the threshold; For He has uncovered the cedar paneling.

[Zep 2:15 AMP] This is the joyous city Which dwells carelessly [feeling so secure], Who says in her heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me." What a desolation she has become, A lair for [wild] animals! Everyone who passes by her will hiss [in scorn] And wave his hand in contempt.

The modern-day territories of ancient Assyria will be destroyed and made a wasteland and Musul [Neneveh] will be a deserted ruin where only animals and birds can be found.

Specific details all this destruction can be found in scriptures like: Ps 83, Isa 17, Jer 49-51, Ezek 38-39, Joel, Zechariah, Revelation 6-21, and bits and pieces in most of the prophets of the Bible.

 

Chapter 3 - Judgment on Jerusalem and the Restoration

Now we come to Jerusalem and Israel

v[Zep 3:1 AMP] Woe (judgment is coming) to her who is rebellious and defiled, The tyrannical city [Jerusalem]!

This makes it clear that Israel is in a state of rebellion against God in the last days. Testing and judgment is coming to Israel as a nation. This is what the great tribulation of the book of Revelation is all about.

[Zep 3:2 AMP] She did not listen and heed the voice [of God]; She accepted no correction. She did not trust in the LORD [but trusted her own power]; She did not draw near to her God [but to the pagan gods of Baal or Molech].

Israel is not trusting or even listening to God. Israel is trusting in her own power, both military and economic. These days the “pagan gods” would include religious, power, and money.

[Zep 3:3 AMP] Her officials within her are roaring lions; Her judges are [as hungry as] the wolves at evening, They leave nothing for the morning.

Here the political leadership and the judges are specifically called out as corrupt and unrighteous.

[Zep 3:4 AMP] Her prophets are reckless and treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary; They have done violence to the law [by pretending their word is God's word].

Here the religious prophets and priests are called out as reckless, treacherous, and profane as they make their writings and laws to be God’s word.

[Zep 3:5 AMP] 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 person knows no shame.

Every day God reveals His righteousness to Israel and exposes the unrighteousness. But as a nation they know no shame. There is no repentance or changing of their ways.

[Zep 3:6 AMP] "I [the LORD] have cut off and destroyed nations [as a warning to Judah]; Their corner towers (battlements) are in ruins. I have made their streets desolate So that no one passes by; Their cities are destroyed So that there is no man, there is no inhabitant.

[Zep 3:7 AMP] "I said, 'Most certainly you will [reverently] fear Me; Accept correction.' So Jerusalem's dwelling will not be cut off In accordance with all that I have appointed concerning her [punishment], But they were eager [even rising early] to make all their deeds corrupt.

God has and is protecting Israel and has destroyed and is destroying enemy nations as we see in chapter 1, and in current history and events in the Middle East. God says, “surely now, you, Israel will listen to Me, accept correction, and turn to me for mercy and grace (pardon) so that I will not have to execute my judgment upon you.” But they are not, and will not and will persist in their corruption and the judgment and testing of the 7 years of the great tribulation will surely come.

But then comes the pardon, redemption and restoration, the completion of God’s covenant promises to the Hebrews [Jews and Israel].

[Zep 3:8 AMP] "Therefore [you of the godly remnant of Judah, patiently] wait for Me," declares the LORD, "[Wait] for the day when I rise up as a witness [against the nations]. For it is My decision and My right to gather the nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All [the heat of] My burning anger; For [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed By the fire of My zeal.

This is addressed to the godly remnant of Judah. Who are they? The NT declares that none are righteous, no not one [Rom 3:9-10]. Righteousness is a gift imputed from Jesus by believing in Him. The godly remnant of Judah (Israel) are Jewish believers in Jesus. This is the day when God rises in wrath against ungodly nations and kingdoms. These are the days of the great tribulation (Rev 6-22). The pardon comes from believing in Jesus. The redemption and restoration of Israel come when the Lord Jesus returns to the earth as Lord of lords and King of kings at the end of the 7 years of the great tribulation.

[Zep 3:9 AMP] "Then I will give to the peoples [clear and pure speech from] purified lips [which reflect their purified hearts], That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder (united).

[Zep 3:10 AMP] "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, [the descendants of] My dispersed ones, Will bring My offerings.

[Zep 3:11 AMP] "On that day you [Israel] will feel no shame Because of all your acts By which you have rebelled and sinned against Me; Then I will remove from among you Your rejoicing ones who delight in their pride; And you will never again behave arrogantly On My holy mountain [Mount Zion].

[Zep 3:12 AMP] "But I will leave among you A humble and lowly people, And they will take refuge and trust confidently in the name of the LORD.

The name of the LORD is Yeshua (Jesus)! (Isaiah 45:14-25)

[Isa 45:17 NKJV] But Israel shall be saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever.

[Isa 45:18 NKJV] For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

[Isa 45:23 CSB] "By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

[Rom 14:11 CSB] For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.

[Phl 2:10 CSB] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow -- in heaven and on earth and under the earth –

[Zep 3:13 AMP] "The remnant of Israel will do no wrong Nor speak lies, Nor will a deceitful tongue Be found in their mouths; For they will eat and lie down With no one to make them tremble and feel afraid."

[Zep 3:14 AMP] Shout for joy, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem [in that day]!

[Zep 3:15 AMP] The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, even the LORD [Himself], is in your midst; You will no longer fear disaster.

It is Yeshua (Jesus) that has pardoned them and dealt with their enemies. Yeshua is the King that will live among them for 1000 years on the earth after His return to the earth. (Rev 20:4-6)

[Zep 3:16 AMP] In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.

[Zep 3:17 AMP] "The LORD your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

The LORD in your midst is the Warrior King, commander of the armies of Heaven, Yeshua (Jesus).

[Zep 3:18 AMP] "I will gather those [Israelites in captivity] who grieve about the appointed feasts-- They came from you, [O Zion]; On whom the reproach [of exile] is a burden.

[Zep 3:19 AMP] "Behold, at that time I am going to deal With all your oppressors; I will save the lame And gather the scattered, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In every land [where they have suffered].

[Zep 3:20 AMP] "At that time I will bring you in, Yes, at the time I gather you together; For I will make you a name and a praise Among all the peoples of the earth When I restore your fortunes [and freedom] before your eyes," Says the LORD.

[Psalm 118 and Isaiah 49]

These are all promises that come with God completing His covenant promises to the Hebrews (Israel). A study of these covenant promises is presented in Addendum A.

 

Addendum A

The Covenants (The Abrahamic Covenant)

From “Things to Come” by Dwight J. Pentecost, Zondervan Publishing House, 1958 and “The Road to Holocaust” by Hal Lindsey, Bantam Books, 1989.

March 2014

A.              Overview

Basically, these covenants are agreements between God and men.  There are five major covenants, four are unconditional and one is conditional (i.e. I will If you will).  These covenants are literal and eternal.  The unconditional covenants depend upon God’s integrity and they are made with a covenant people, the Jews.  It is important to note that gentiles are not a covenant people (Rom. 9:4; Eph. 2:11, 12).  We as gentiles can partake in the covenant promises only by being adapted into God’s covenant people through Jesus.

            The covenants are of great importance to us in this study because they are the basis of the eschatological program of God.  They guarantee Israel a permanent national existence, perpetual title to the land of promise, material and spiritual blessing through the Messiah, and through the Messiah they guarantee gentiles a share in these blessings.  The land promises or blessings are given in the Palestinian covenant.  The promises of a perpetual kingdom are given in the Davidic covenant and the redemptive and spiritual blessing are given in the New Covenant.  Taken together these constitute the Abrahamic covenant.  

The Palestinian covenant promises a National Land forever (Gen 12:1; 13:14-15, 17; 15:18-21).  This redemption is national and universal (Gen 12:3; 22:18; Gal. 3:16; Rom. 11:25, 26; Zech. 13-1).

The Davidic covenant promises Israel, the Jews, a dynasty (Kingdom of no end), a nation (the house of Jacob), and a throne (the throne of David, 2 Sam 7:11, 13, 16; Jeremiah 33:3-26; 31:35-40; 1 Chron. 7:12; 22:10; Isa. 55:3; Ezek. 37:25; Hosea 3:4-5; Ezek. 37:21-28; Amos 9:11-12; Jer. 30:7,11,18).  God promised Abraham numerous descendants who would form a great, everlasting nation (Gen. 12:2; 13:16; 17:2-6).  This is the essence of the Davidic covenant. 

 

The Mosaic Covenant is the one conditional covenant.  Basically it is the Law.  If the house of Jacob and the sons of Israel would obey God's voice and keep the Law God gave to them through Moses, then God promises that Israel would be His special possession or treasure, a kingdom whose citizens were all priests with access to God, and a holy nation, separated from all other nations and devoted only to God (Exodus 19:5-6). The basic commandments are given in Exodus 20. The New Covenant replaced the Mosaic covenant.  The New Covenant is based on better promises, and on Christ's blood.  It is no longer conditional on keeping the law, but only on accepting the atonement offered by Christ Jesus.  It is to be with the house of Judah and of Israel, and includes writing His laws upon their minds and hearts and forgiving their sins (Heb 8:6-13; Jeremiah 31:31-40).

 

The new covenant promises Israel spiritual blessings and redemption (Isa. 61:8; Jer. 31:31-40; 32:40; 50:5; Heb 8:6-13; 13:20).  It is unconditional (Jer. 31:31:34, i.e. "I will") and everlasting (Isa. 61:2).  It promise’s a renewed mind and heart (Jer. 31:33), favor and blessing of God (Hosea 2:19-20), forgiveness of sin (Jer. 31:34), indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 36:27), the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and that the will of God to be known by obedient hearts (Jer. 31:34).  It promise that Israel will be blessed materially (Jer. 32:41; Isa. 61:8; Ezek. 34:25-27), that God’s sanctuary will be in the midst of them for evermore (Ezek. 37:26-27) and that wars shall cease and that peace shall reign (Hosea 2:18).   The Blood of Jesus is the foundation of all these blessings (Zech. 9:11).  Some features are already in effect.  The Lord no longer remembers or holds against believers, sins and lawless deeds because Jesus the Messiah has permanently atoned for our sins. He has also put His laws in our hearts, and writes them in our minds through the Holy Spirit who now dwells in every believer.

B.              General characteristics of the Abrahamic covenant

The general provisions of the Abrahamic covenant included promises to Abraham himself (Gen 12:2; 17:6), promises to Abraham's seed (Gen 12:2; 13:16; 15:5) and promises to the Gentiles (Gen 12:3).  If we take these promises literally, then Israel must be preserved, converted, and restored. 

These promises did depend on Abraham's act of obedience (leaving the land).  But once in place through Abraham’s obedience and faith, the promises were eternal and unconditional (Gen 17:7, 13, 19; 1 Chron. 16:17; Ps. 105:10).  The covenants were confirmed repeatedly by reiteration and enlargement.  They were solemnized by the shedding of blood and the ritual of passing between the parts of the sacrifice solemnized the covenants (Gen 15:7-21; Jer. 34:18).  Exact boundaries of the land were given (Gen 15:18-21).  Even the N.T. declares the Abrahamic covenant immutable (Heb 6:13-18; Gen 15:8-21), confirmed by the oath of God (Heb 6:13, 14, 17).  These covenants depend on God’s integrity alone (Abraham was put to sleep and God walked through the parts of the sacrifice alone).  In the O.T. circumcision was the act of faith and obedience that enabled an individual to participate in and enjoy the blessings of the covenant.  Esau forfeited the blessing due him under the covenant.  An act of faith and obedience is required of us to enjoy the blessings of God already given us. 

For us the eschatological implications of these covenants is the issue of Israel.  Will Israel literally be restored and saved (Rom. 11:26, 27; Deut. 28:63:68; 30:1-7; Ezek. 16:59-60; 36:17-27; 37:21-28)?  Some of the provisions of the New Covenant are in place but most of the promises to Israel are yet unfulfilled.  We believe God.  They will be fulfilled.  This then leads us to look at the unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible as fulfilling these covenant promises.  The “end Times”, The Day of the Lord deals with Israel!

 

Material from “Things to Come” by Dwight J. Pentecost, Zondervan Publishing House, 1958.

 

C.              Dealing with The Issue of Israel (Rom. 9, 10, and 11)

The first 8 chapters of Romans teach God's saving work through Christ that is given on the basis of grace through faith alone.  Paul taught that once we are born as a child of God and put into living union with Christ, nothing in heaven, nor on earth nor in the future, nor any created thing can separate us from the love of God (8:38-39).  This brought up the issue of Israel’s status.  God made the same sort of promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants as He makes here to the Christians.  In spite of this, Israel as a people and nation is now in apostasy.  The question is has God's Work become ineffective?  If God couldn't keep His covenant people from falling away into unbelief, how do we know that He can keep us?  If indeed the Lord failed to keep His solemn word to Israel, will He keep His word to the Church and with me as an individual?

Israel in the past Elected (Micah 7:18-20)

Rom. 9:4-5 clearly presents ten advantages of being an Israelite. 1) The Jews were entrusted with the living words of God.  2) They are called Israelites by God, meaning "prince of God".  3) To them belongs the adoption as sons.  Christians are adopted individually into God's family through union with Christ. But Israel was adopted as a nation.  4) Israel alone was given the visible, continuing manifestation of "the glory" of God, the Shekinah Glory.  5) The Covenants were made to only one people on earth, Israel.  6) God's Law, the Law of Moses, was only given to the Nation of Israel. 7) Israel was given the Temple service, a Divine order of worship with the only God-given provision of sacrifice in the world for the forgiveness of sin.  8) To Israel alone was given the unique promise of the Messiah and of direct blessings through Him.  They were also promised a land, a city, and a kingdom on an earth from which the original curse would be removed.  9) Only Israel had as its fathers Abraham (friend of God), Isaac (born by supernatural power) and Jacob (who wrestled with God and prevailed).  10) Only about Israel is it said, "From whom is the Messiah, according to the flesh, who is God overall, blessed forever.  Amen."

There has always been and will always be a remnant, a spiritual Israel within physical Israel.  This remnant came through the line of Isaac and not Ishmael (Rom. 9:6-9) and through Jacob and not Esau (Rom. 9:10-13).  Paul declares, “only the remnant will be saved” (Isa. 1:9; Rom. 9:27-29).  The believing remnant of Israel can be traced down through the ages from Abraham to those that are saved at the last day as they “look upon Me Whom they have pierced” (Zech. 12:9; Deut. 4:27, 30-31; Isa. 11:11, 16; Jer. 23:3; Micah 5:6-7; Zech. 8:3-8; Ezek. 50:20; Micah 7:18-20; Hosea 5:15-6:3).

Israel in the present Rejected (Hosea 5:14-6:2)

The nation of Israel is rejected today because they did not understand the true purpose of the Law of Moses.  They did not understand the righteousness of God (Isa. 8:14, 28:16; Rom. 9:30-10:21; Deut. 29:4; Isa. 29:10; Ps 69:22,23; Rom. 11:7-10).  The purpose of the law was to show what sin is (Rom. 3:20). It was not to make man sin more (Rom. 5:20; 1 Cor. 15:56) or to drive man to despair (Gal. 3:10-12; Rom. 7:24).  It was to lead mankind to faith in the Messiah (Gal. 3:24; Acts 15:5-11; Rom. 8:2-4; 7:9-10; 13:8-10; Gal. 3:1-5; 5:3-6).  Israel's present rejection is a warning to all who would seek to approach God by the law (Gal. 3:12; Rom. 4:15; 10:19; Deut. 32:21).

Israel in the future Accepted  (Jer. 31:34-37; 33:23-26)

The MYSTERY of Israel’s future as a nation is addressed in Romans chapter 11. Their present rejection is not total (Rom. 11:1-10).  God has not rejected His people, has He?  Paul says, "ME GENOITO - may such a thing never be".  The dilemma is Israel's present rejection and God's unconditional promises concerning Israel's national future.  God cannot undo His own choice of Israel (Rom. 11:2).  God has always kept a BELIEVING REMNANT from the seed of Abraham (Rom. 11:2-4). The remnant of Israel is the present age (Rom. 11:5-6).  The only reason that Israel has a believing remnant is because of God's sovereign grace.  Their election has always been on the basis of grace alone.  Today Israel is still in a rejected condition as a nation because they did not understand the nature of God’s righteousness.  That righteousness is a gift appropriated by faith and not earned by works (by keeping the law). 

Though Israel is in a rejected condition Paul clearly tells is in Rom. 11:11-32 that this rejection is not final.  He has an everlasting covenant with them. God has promised them a land, a kingdom, a King and to take away their sin (Rom. 11:27).  At question is God’s veracity (Rom. 11:11). God reveals His overall purpose and strategy in history (Rom. 11:11).  "Salvation has come to the Gentiles for the purpose of making Israel envious".

Rom. 11:12 give us some logical reasons why Gentiles should have an attitude of grace toward the Israelites.  Israel's fullness (pleroma), the full measure of all that God has promised to the nation of Israel will bring with it great ‘riches’ or blessings for the Gentiles.  Great numbers of Gentiles will be saved (Rev. 7:9-17; 20:4-6; Dan. 12:1-3).  The curse on nature and the animal kingdom will be removed (Isa. 11:6-8; 65:17-25).  The whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9).  The Messiah will reign over all the earth from Jerusalem (Zech. 14:9-21; Ezek. 37:24:28; Jer. 33:14-16; Micah 4:7).  Life will be greatly extended (Isa. 65:20-22).  There will be world peace (Micah 4:3).  There will be justice for all (Isa. 42:1-7; 11:3-5).  There will be permanent prosperity for all  (Isa. 65:21-23).

As God once again turns to deal with Israel, to make good on His promises to them, it will be nothing short of life from the dead, rejection to resurrection (Rom. 11:15).  This process has already begun.  Israel is in the process of being regathered in our day.  Israel is being regathered but with no breath (spiritual life) in them (Ezek. 37:1-8).  But God promises to put breath into them that they may live (Ezek. 37:9-10; Rom. 11:15).  This will be a spiritual rebirth after the physical rebirth.  God's interpretation of the allegory is given in Ezek. 37:21-27 and Jer. 23:5-6.  Their acceptance will be life from the dead (Ezek. 37:12-14).  Israel is still considered Holy by the Lord (Rom. 11:16).

The mystery of all Israel’s future salvation (Rom. 11:25-32)

The Bible tells us that the world will reject Israel as a nation (Micah 7:8-10; Ezek. 37:11; Jer. 33:24).  However we are warned about having anti-Semitic attitudes (Rom. 11:17-21).  We are warned, "Do not be ARROGANT, but be afraid," (Rom. 11:20-21).  We are also warned not to be IGNORANT of one of God’s great mysteries (Rom. 11:25-27).  The mystery concerns how Israel's future salvation is contingent upon the coming in of the full number of the Gentiles first.  It is a mystery to be known through the prophetic writings by the command of God (Rom. 16:25-26).  These writings reveal that there are certain things that must happen or conditions met before God will fulfill His covenant promises to restore Jerusalem, to bring Israel to full repentance, and to bring about a national conversion. 

Jerusalem’s restoration is to be contingent upon the end of Gentile world dominance (Luke 21:24).  The “Times of the Gentiles” speak of a period of Time during which the Gentile kingdoms have dominion over the earth, and particularly over God's land, God's city, and God's people.  The Times of the Gentiles began when the Neo-Babylonian Empire took the Davidic dynasty captive and destroyed the nation of Israel.  Daniel predicted that it would be the Messiah, the Stone cut without human hands, who will suddenly destroy gentile power, rule, and world dominance (Dan. 2:44-45).  The events of the Second Coming of Jesus will end the Times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:25-28).

Jesus said, “You will not see me again UNTIL the time when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’ (Matt. 23:39; Zech. 12:10; 13:1, 8-10).  Israel’s national repentance is contingent upon their recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah.  Israel’s national conversion is contingent upon their repentance and the closing of the Time of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24).  All Israel will be saved after the full number of Gentiles has come in (Rom. 11:25-27), the time when God completely fulfills His covenants when them. The nation will be “saved in a day” (Zech. 3:9).  Zechariah tells us “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced ---On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity  (Zech. 12:10; 13:1; 13:8-19).   About that day it is written “Then you will know that I am the Lord (Isa. 49:13, 22, 23); you will be comforted over Jerusalem (Isa. 66:10, 12, 13); you will do no wrong; the Lord has taken away your punishment; the Lord will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered; and you will be given honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth.  Israel's distinct and exalted position after her spiritual rebirth promised is prophesied in Zeph. 3:11-15 and 19-20.

"From the standpoint of the gospel the Jews, Israel, are enemies for your sake ---" (Rom. 11:28).  But from God's perspective - "but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers” (Rom. 11:28).  God's promises are IRREVOCABLE (Rom. 11:29).  To challenge these promises challenges God's character and attributes of IMMUTABILITY, VERACITY, and OMNISCIENCE.  God’s immutability says once God makes a sovereign unconditional promise it cannot be changed.  His veracity says that God must always be true to Himself and His Word.  God's Word is the basis of all reality and certainty in the universe.  God’s omniscience says that God has always known all things.  Above all is God’s mercy and love.  To challenge God’s promises to Israel is to challenge God Himself.  If God will not be true to Israel, why would we think He would be true to us?  Why is the issue of Israel important?  One's whole approach and understanding of prophecy is related to the understanding of the scriptures with respect to the Nation of Israel, the Church, and the Gentiles.  If we approach scripture recognizing that God deals with mankind through the Nation of Israel and the Church, each with its own special promises, purpose, and destiny, then the confusion and lack of understanding of the prophetic Word concerning unfulfilled prophecies can be resolved.

Material from “The Road to Holocaust” by Hal Lindsey, Bantam Books, 1989.