THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR

Proclamation:

"The great day of The Lord is near ... That day will be a day of wrath ... ‘I will bring such distress on all people that … have sinned against The Lord’ … In the fire of His jealousy the whole earth will be consumed …”  Zephaniah 1:14-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Zephaniah warning the people that God is not pleased with the behavior of mankind.  This prophecy was a warning of the imminent judgement of the tribe of Judah.

Application:

There are many Bible scholars who believe that this is also a warning that applies to mankind today. "The Day of The Lord" is a day of wrath, trouble, distress, devastation, destruction, darkness, gloominess, clouds and thick darkness. (Zephaniah 1:15)  Most people do not like "hell fire and brimstone" preaching but the lake of fire is mentioned in The Bible. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)  And, this earth will be destroyed, many believe that this time it will be by fire.  If this is to be the day that The Good Lord will destroy the earth, believers need not worry because we will have been caught up in the rapture beforehand. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  When we return with The Lord there will be a new earth.  The Bible says that there will be "a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away ..." (Revelation 21:1)  We are encouraged to get ourselves together before that day comes.  "Seek The Lord, all you humble of the earth ... seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of The Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:3)