In the first chapter of Zephaniah verses 12-14 we find the prophet making some unusual statements relative to what was at that time soon to come upon and destroy Judah (the Jews–tribes of Judah, Benjamin and about half of the tribe of Levi). The same things had been said and written several generations earlier about the other tribes of Israel. Such prophecies had come to fruition, resulting in the destruction of the House of Israel, its military defeat, its enslavement and its eventual scattering throughout the world where they remain, unknown, unto this day. Read Who and Where is Israel Today? key word–Today.

Relative to the duality (double application) of many of the Old Testament writings, Zephaniah, while writing to the Jews of his day, was also writing to the New Testament Church and the nations that would be hosting her (“Christian nations”) at the end of the age. We know that the message is specifically to America, Britain and the Middle-East nation known as Israel.

Zephaniah is known as one of the “minor prophets” due to the size of his book. However, what he is telling us today is anything but minor. This holy servant of God is warning us that the worst of times ever are soon to come on the three above-mentioned nations specifically, and on their other fellow “Christian nations” because they have followed the lead of “the church” which, for almost 2000 years, has followed the lead of her god–Satan–all the while believing that they were following the Creator God. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet: “And it will come to pass in that day (the Jews soon and the church later), says the Lord, that there will be the noise of a cry ….” He goes on to tell the Jews then (and us now) that horrendous times are coming. There will be “howling” from those who will feel the hot breath of God’s wrath. The Jews soon were defeated and enslaved, just as had their Israelite brethren some 150 years earlier and as would their religious descendants at the end of the age–now.

A short explanation is needed at this point. Old Testament prophets were told to write Words the Lord spoke to them that, in many cases, they themselves did not fully understand. Nor did they realize their dual applications. For example, the Prophet Daniel, following the visions and the Words God had shown and spoke to him, admitted that he did not understand what he had seen and heard and was recording on a scroll. The Lord told him that it was not for him to understand, but that he was to seal up the writings until the “time of the end” when God would enable His true prophets and apostles to understand what was written on the scroll so that the information could be given to and understood by His true church. The Apostle John was shown that time in a vision which is recorded in what is called The Book of Revelation (Apocalypse–revealing). In the vision John saw Jesus removing the seven seals with which Daniel had sealed the book (scroll) in which he had recorded what God had shown him and spoken to him. This is SCRIPTURAL DUALITY in its most basic form. Now back to Zephania’s letter to Judah and the end-time church.

Following His short warning, the Lord then makes two statements that seem strange to those who do not understand how Scriptural duality works. He says: “And it will come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem (the church today) with candles and punish the (church) men (then and now) who are SETTLED ON THEIR LEES, that say in their hearts (minds), “THE LORD WILL NOT DO GOOD, NEITHER WILL HE DO EVIL” This world is now entering into a time of great evil which Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows” (Mat. 24:8). Read Leviticus 26 beginning with verse 14. Notice what is happening in the streets of the world’s major cities today. This is just a hint of what will take place over the coming years. There will indeed be much crying and howling as, first, a church civil war will encompass the world, then the Great Tribulation will arrive, followed by the “great and terrible Day (year) of the Lord which will make the previous few years pale by comparison. And understand this: THE “EVIL” (TERROR) WILL BE SENT BY THE LORD BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE WHICH MAN, INCLUDING CHURCHMAN, HAS PERPETRATED ON HIS TRUTH, HIS LAW AND HIS GOVERNMENT. Read about God’s Place of Safety reserved for His Very Elect saints, key word, Safety.

Recall that God is going to identify the (church) men who have “settled on their lees” and who say that “the Lord will do neither good nor evil.” The phrase “settled on their lees” comes from the craft of wine-making. As wine goes through its fermenting process, the wine maker will pour off the liquid, leaving the dregs (LEES) behind. This act is very important in that, If the wine is left with the lees too long, it eventually becomes syrupy and overly sweet.

This perfectly describes the Christian religion today. In verse 12 God, through the prophet, is describing His end-time church, the vast majority of whom have fallen away from Him (vs 6)–left the wine on the lees, believing they have done all they need to do (are as good as they need to be). Their religion is syrupy and overly sweet. They talk much about love for and the inclusion of those who, like themselves, have no intention of changing once they have been “saved.” Queers, trans, adulterers, liars, drug addicts, abortionists, etc. are told to “come as you are, stay as you are; Jesus loves you the way you are.” The only criteria for salvation is that they “take Jesus as their Savior.” The falling ones talk much about love while “doing violence” to the Ten Commandment Law. Much love, acceptance and inclusion are discussed while they “do violence” to God’s government. They have become so syrupy (self-satisfied) that they cannot be moved by God’s Words because they are all they need to be. I read about a survey taken among professing evangelicals–Protestantism’s supposed Bible-believing storm troopers–supposedly the “best of the best.” According to the poll, 51% of evangelicals believe in abortion. The evangelicals, along with the many others within the church, are all for murdering as many babies as possible. The state of Illinois has passed a law that forces state universities to provide abortion pills for their students.

Fine wine is created by following tried and true rules/laws. The process teaches us some important things about creating good Christians. “Settling on one’s lees” in wine-making produces an inferior wine. Spiritually settling on our lees (refusing to grow in faith and righteousness) makes us inferior Christians. Modern Christianity is symbolic of wine that was not poured off the lees. The Apostle Paul speaks to this problem in his letter to the Hebrew converts in 5:12 through 6:6. The people to whom Paul was writing were still on Christendom’s “breast milk” and had never tasted God’s “strong meat.” The same can be said about the Apostle John in His first letter to the church, chapter 3 verses 1 through 10 and chapter 2 verses 3 through 5. Both apostles were warning those who had settled on their lees and, as a result had done violence to the things of God.

Those who have settled on their lees have come to the conclusion that “the Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil” in reference to whatever they do or believe. They “know” that His grace covers whatever they want to do, which includes rejecting His Law and ignoring His government. The Lord sent (and continues to send) His apostles to them with His Holy Law and governance. Nothing has changed–His people reject His message as well as those who preach it. As I noted in the previous posting, I have not spoken to a church congregation in decades. Why? Because darkness hates light.

Verse 12 also describes another false teaching which maintains that God is not directly involved in the life of the individual church member or the church as a single entity. Their “truth” states that as long as we “love Jesus” and show up, ‘fess up, pay up and know that we are going up, then everything is okay. Zephania is telling the Jews then and the church now that God is going to punish those who are “settled on their lees,” who “know” that God will “do nothing about it.” The church is in reality telling God to “sit down and shut up, we got this.”

In the near future God is not going to care about how much people talked about love. He will not care about their syrupy religion and its “Any Way You Want It” religion. The Almighty is deadly serious about His church and her character. He is building a tiny cadre of obedient children who are to become gods like Himself and His Son, who will sit with Him (Jesus) on His throne in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 3:21). What no one that I know or know of actually believe what God has shown me in His Holy word. WE ARE TO BE GODS IN THIS LIFE in the sense that we become “HOLY as your heavenly Father is holy” (1 Pet. 1:15,16) and ” PERFECT as He is perfect” (Mat. 5:48). This enables His true saints to “walk as He walked” while on earth (1 Jn. 2:6) and to “overcoming (temptation) as He overcame” (Rev. 3:21). Those who do so will, in the end, be awarded eternal life. Read Romans 5:21 and 6:22. Read The True Trinity (Pt. 7), key word–True. I highly recommend that you read all seven segments about the trinity. Part 7 applies specifically to this teaching. L.J.