Zephaniah and the Day of the Lord

Zephaniah prophesied to Judah in the days of King Josiah (640-610 BC). As with the other prophets, his message applied to the coming judgment of God upon Judah by Babylon and has further application to the coming time of judgment we associate with the time known as the tribulation. Zephaniah paints a vivid word picture of “the day of the LORD,” a time of His wrath and judgment.

Zephaniah 1:14-16 The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

The “day of the LORD” will cause even mighty men to cry; but, sadly their tears will be those of anger (from the Hebrew for bitterly), not repentance. It is described as:

• A day of wrath – Not just anyone’s wrath—God’s wrath

• A day of trouble and distress

• A day of wasteness and desolation – devastation and ruin

• A day of darkness and gloominess – The Hebrew for darkness references misery, death and wickedness, and for gloominess references “misfortune.”

• A day of clouds and thick darkness – This is not just a repetition of the previous two. The Hebrew for clouds states, “…to act covertly, i.e., practice magic…observe times…sorcerer.” That makes a clear connection to the works of the Antichrist and his false prophet. Paul describes this time in his letter to the Thessalonians.

2Thessalonians 2:8-9 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders….

Jesus described this time with the following words:

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

The “thick darkness” speaks to me of great wickedness.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

• A day of the trumpet and alarm against fenced cities and high towers – I can’t help but think of the seven trumpet judgments in Revelation that will precede specific judgments during that time. In context, the alarm gives reference to the battle cry or the clamor of battle. Fenced cities and high towers reference places that are prepared to defend themselves, but their preparation will prove useless.

Zephaniah goes on to declare that this judgment is a result of the sins of men and that money and influence will be unable to deliver one from God’s judgment at this time.

Zephaniah 1:17-18 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath….