By Falles Kamanga
“Gaza and Ashkelon will be deserted and left in ruins. Ashdod will be emptied in broad daylight, and Ekron uprooted. To you, people of Philistia who live along the coast, the LORD has this to say: “ am now your enemy, and I’ll wipe you out!” Your coast will be changed into pasture land and sheep pens. The LORD God hasn’t forgotten those survivors in Judah, and he will help them— his people will take your land to use for pasture. And when evening comes, they will rest in houses at Ashkelon.” Zephaniah 2:4-7
(4) “FOR GAZA SHALL BE FORSAKEN, AND ASHKELON A DESOLATION: THEY SHALL DRIVE OUT ASHDOD AT THE NOON DAY, AND EKRON SHALL BE ROOTED UP.”
The composite is:
- Without a break in stride, the remainder of this Chapter predicts the fierce Anger of God upon the Philistines on the west, the Moabites and Ammonites on the east, the Egyptians on the south, and the Assyrians on the north.
- Why would the Holy Spirit, without changing the subject, suddenly cease the denunciation of Judah and immediately pronounce Judgment on the Gentiles?
- It speaks of the fact that Israel will one day be restored and that the “times of the Gentiles” will come to an end, which is even yet future (Lk. 21:24), which will happen at the Second Coming of the Lord.
THE PALESTINIANS
In essence, this Fourth Verse, as well as the Verses that follow, should be a warning to the Muslim world. The flash point of that world is the area in Israel presently occupied by those who go by the name of “Palestinians.” In real terms, there is no such thing
as Palestinians. The people now occupying the Gaza Strip, etc., are Jordanians, Syrians, Egyptians, etc. In fact, the word “Palestinian” is derived from the word “Philistine,” and there are no more Philistines left in the world. In other words, the people who occupy the area given here in the Word of God were the Philistines. They were totally defeated by Israel in Old Testament times, and, in fact, they do not exist anymore.
Many in the world think, because that’s what they want to think, that the situation in the Middle East is caused by Israel refusing to give a part of their land to the Palestinians, where they could form a nation.
None of that is the case at all.
The truth is, the Muslim world wants the entirety of Israel for the Muslim cause, not just part of it, but all of it. As well, they want every Jew dead. So, there is really nothing that Israel can do to appease the situation.
AMERICA AND ISRAEL
Unfortunately, our resolve presently, at least as it regards the Obama Administration, is rather weak as it regards Israel. As I dictated these notes on February 2, 2011, Egypt is on the very brink. It is difficult
to see how that whatever happens, it more than likely will fall out to a strengthening of Islam in that country. Libya is probably going to be the next country that faces a crisis as it regards fundamentalist Islam.
As the Prophet Zephaniah predicted some 2,700 years ago concerning the part of the world now known as “Palestine,” it most definitely will come to pass, and we speak of the destruction of the Gentile forces in that part of the world. In the Hebrew Text of Verse 3, there is a play upon the words, “Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron.”
Why would the Holy Spirit, without breaking stride or change of subject, suddenly cease the denunciation of Judah and, consequently, His People, and immediately pronounce Judgment upon the Gentiles?
This sudden pronouncement by the Holy Spirit is meant to proclaim two things:
- THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL
Israel, despite her problems, will one day be totally and completely restored. The Promises made to the Patriarchs and Prophets of old will ultimately be realized.
This latter-day fulfillment has not yet come to pass but actually began in 1948 with Israel, once again, finally becoming a sovereign state, the State of Israel. This was after some 1,900 years of wandering among the nations of the world. For the first time, after many long centuries, the Star of David once again flew over Israeli soil.
That, within itself, is, no doubt, the greatest sign of Biblical Prophetic fulfillment of modern times. And yet, Israel is destined to face another tremendous hardship, actually, the worst of all, the coming Antichrist.
Nevertheless, such will signal the Coming of the Lord, which will, without delay, restore Israel to her place of prominence among the nations of the world.
- THE DESTRUCTION OF GENTILE FORCES
These Passages, among many, many others in the Word of God, that were given some 2,600 years ago, proclaim the demise and destruction of Gentile world forces, which will ultimately be headed up by the Antichrist, and is called by Christ the “times of the Gentiles” (Lk. 21:24).
As Israel’s time of great darkness has been long (now, about 2,500 years), likewise, the “times of the Gentiles” have been long; however, a change is soon to come. Therefore, those of us living presently have the privilege of seeing these changes as they begin to be brought to pass, which will ultimately fulfill the Prophecies of the old.
The phrase, “They shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day,” refers to sudden destruction, which will ultimately come, but which will be more perfectly fulfilled at the Second Coming of the Lord.
(5) “WOE UNTO THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA COAST, THE NATION OF THE CHERETHITES! THE WORD OF
THE LORD IS AGAINST YOU; O CANAAN, THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES, I WILL EVEN DESTROY YOU, THAT THERE SHALL BE NO INHABITANT.”
The composite is:
- Verse 5 was fulfilled some years later. However, its plenary fulfillment yet awaits!
- “Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast,” as well, pertains to the modern Palestinians, who presently occupy this area, and which, according to modern treaty, have established, at least in theory, a Palestinian State.
- “The Word of the LORD is against you,” signifies the impossibility of their success, despite every effort made on their behalf. True, the Palestinian question will not be solved until the Second Coming, but then, most definitely, it will be solved!
THE FLASH POINT OF THE WORLD
Because of the State of Israel, the Middle East is the flash point of the world. In other words, it is the most volatile area on the Planet.
The leaders in America little understand, I think, the Biblical and, thereby, spiritual implications of Israel. In fact, most of the world would be very pleased if Israel were totally destroyed tomorrow and ceased to be. The facts are, they are hated because of who they are. They belong to God and despite what they did to Christ, Promises were made to the Patriarchs and Prophets of old.
To be sure, God keeps His Promises. In other words, it doesn’t matter the strength of the forces arrayed against Israel! It doesn’t matter that the Antichrist will amass the most powerful army the world has ever seen, all for the purpose of destroying Israel, which will be the Battle of Armageddon.
Irrespective of all this, the world will not succeed in its hatred of Israel, and neither will the Antichrist succeed in his hatred for Israel. Also, the Fifth Verse plainly tells us, in no uncertain terms, that the Palestinian question is most definitely going to be solved, but not in the way the Muslims think that it is.
ISLAM
The resurgence, one might say, of Islam at this particular time is definitely not by chance. It is Satan’s effort to introduce the man of sin and, hopefully, to destroy Israel.
The Muslim world will, no doubt, join hands with the Antichrist in his bid for world domination. However, the possibility most definitely exists that Muslims also will be led down the primrose path of deception by the man of sin. The truth is, ultimately, he will turn against all religions, setting himself up as a god, and demanding worship by all who are in his kingdom. This man will be Satan’s surrogate. So, more than likely, he will use the Muslim world as long as he desires, but the evidence is that he will turn on them, even as he will have turned on Christianity.
THE WORD OF THE LORD IS AGAINST YOU
However, it doesn’t matter the plans of the Evil One or all his followers. The Word of the Lord is against Satan and all of his efforts to take over this world in totality. To be sure, the Word of God stands sure. The idea is, that what we read in the Word of God, i.e., “the Bible,” irrespective of circumstances, is most definitely going to take place. So, the Palestinians and, in fact, the entirety of the Muslim ilk should read this Prophecy by Zephaniah, as well as scores of other Prophecies by other Prophets.
The Lord has said, “I will even destroy you,” and we all must understand that God says what He means and means what He says. However, most of this will take place at the Second Coming.
(6) “AND THE SEA COAST SHALL BE DWELLINGS AND COTTAGES FOR SHEPHERDS, AND FOLDS FOR FLOCKS.”
The construction is:
- This area, the Gaza Strip in Israel, that is now so hotly contested, and which will be even more contested in the future, will ultimately, however, be as the Lord intends for it to be — docile, peaceful, and serene.
- The Word of the Lord shall bring it to pass.
- In other words, all of the conflict that has raged in this area for so long will be totally changed.
(7) “AND THE COAST SHALL BE FOR THE REMNANT OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; THEY SHALL FEED THEREUPON: IN THE HOUSES OF ASHKELON SHALL THEY LIE DOWN IN THE EVENING: FOR THE LORD THEIR GOD SHALL VISIT THEM, AND TURN AWAY THEIR CAPTIVITY.”
The exegesis is:
- The prediction of Verse 7 was partially fulfilled on the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile. However, its total fulfillment awaits the Second Coming!
- Many, if not most, of the predictions concerning the Endtime await the Second Coming.
- At that time, the Second Coming, our Lord will take up abode in Israel, making Jerusalem the capital not only of the State of Israel, but, in a sense, the capital of the world.
JERUSALEM, D.C.
If I remember correctly, it was 1987. I was in Washington, D.C., along with several other Preachers, to be briefed by some of the members of the president’s cabinet. Again, if I remember correctly, we happened to be in the Old Executive Office Building, which is very close to the White House.
Trying to remember the situation, we were standing in a hall that was very wide, possibly 40 or 50 feet wide. It was filled with people coming and going.
A man stepped out from one of the side rooms, walked over to where I was standing with others, and informed me that a major Israeli conclave was being conducted at that very moment in one of the large rooms. He asked if I would come and address them for a few moments.
I had a friend with me, who was an Evangelist, who happened to be Jewish. I told the man I would be delighted to do so.
We followed him into the room, which was quite large and filled with hundreds of prominent Jewish businessmen and Rabbis from all over the nation.
As I was standing against the wall, waiting to be introduced, my friend spoke to me and said, “Here is something that you might mention.”
He went on to give me the information that I needed. A few moments later, I was introduced.
Many of the Jews in the room liked me, knowing of the strong stand I had always taken for Israel. Others were not so sure.
At any rate, and relating what my friend had spoken to me, I said to them the following:
“People come from all over the world to Washington, D.C. It is the citadel of freedom for the entirety of the world.”
I continued, “But there is coming a day when the entirety of the world will beat a path to another city. It will be there that decisions will be made, and wrongs will be made right. That city will be for the entirety of the world, Jerusalem, D.C.”
The hundreds in that room looked at me somewhat puzzled at the term “Jerusalem, D.C.” I then stated, “Jerusalem, D.C., David’s Capital.”
When I uttered the words, “David’s Capital,” there was a hush that filled the entirety of that room. It was so pronounced that you could actually feel it.
Again I state, I’ll have to give my friend credit for that statement because it was his idea.
That’s exactly what is going to happen when Jesus Christ comes back. Jerusalem will become the capital of the world. Our Saviour will be the King of kings and the Lord of lords, meaning that, in essence, He will be President of the entirety of the Planet.
