Yes, we’re going to notice the book of Zephaniah, small as it is. Forgotten as it is. Uninteresting (apparently) to many as it is. But still in the Bible, Old Testament, a so-called Minor Prophet.

The Prophecy of Zephaniah (as a Body of Literature, divinely inspired Scripture) contains only 3 chapters, just 53 verses total. He is not as emotional as Hosea. Nor as thorough as Isaiah. Nor as personal as Jeremiah, not by any stretch! Nor as cryptic as Ezekiel or Daniel, either. Nor as apocalyptic as Zechariah, with whom he is often confused.

BUT HE IS WHAT GOD INTENDED HIM TO BE!

Unique, blending (as does all preaching) a human personality with an eternal God-given Message!

Today of course we merely begin our series of studies. Zephaniah chapter 1, verse 1. “The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.”

The “formula” (a fact as well) “The Word of the Lord came …” is an introductory remark of much Old Testament preaching. In a casual search I just located the string 92 times! From Genesis 15:1 where “The word of the LORD came unto Abram …” all the way to Zechariah 7:8 (near the end of the Old Testament) where “The word of the Lord came to Zechariah ….”

Then I can unequivocally state … God is the True Spokesman behind the Truth declared in Zephaniah, all the Truth!

Next in verse 1 something amazing happens. The Forefathers of Zephaniah are listed … back 4 generations! “Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah.” Wow, very unusual!

Why so?

Maybe so that we can be informed that this Prophet is a relative of a former King of Judah, a great King in fact. The “Hizkiah” of our Text is “Hezekiah” of Old Testament fame, most scholars agree. (The great Isaiah was a “friend” of several Kings … but not related to any of them!)

Zephaniah, here’s a Prophet with royal blood in his veins, of the Tribe of Judah!

The same Tribe from which Jesus was born.

Then, lastly today, we lean the “time” of Zephaniah’s ministry, “in the days of JOSIAH the son of Amon, king of Judah.” This dates to around 600 BC, to make things easier … for memory purposes. More exactly, beginning in 640 and reigning through 608 BC.

Now tomorrow, the Lord willing, we shall wade into the first paragraph of Zephaniah’s great prophecy.

The days ahead should be quite interesting, time in the Word of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

For the first time in years, I think I shall not today begin our new Bible Study Series.

Frankly, I have no clear leading on which direction to pursue, which Text to investigate!

Although I am preaching in Revival this week, in North Carolina, I shall declare today (as far as the Website is concerned) a day of rest.

I trust that you our faithful readers will understand.

And the ones who only visit us periodically … will never know anyway!

Until tomorrow …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Our entire Text, over the past month or so, has been Revelation 21:1 through Revelation 22:5.

Today … one last sentence, written by God Himself (as is all Scripture). “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:5

A City (New Jerusalem) where there is never any night!

Presumably then, no need of rest (physically speaking) … constantly serving and worshipping our Lord! Remember Revelation 22:3, just two verses ago?

The noun “candle” is “luchnos,” from “leukos,” the Greek word for “light.” No lamps, floodlights, man-made illumination of any sort! There’s simply no need for such! The Greek word for “need” actually pictures an “open hand!” Lacking, begging!

The noun for “light” in reference to the sun (in Greek “helios”) is spelled “phos.” As in “photography!” Or “phosphorus.” Or “photosynthesis.” All being self explanatory, dealing with “light.”

No sunshine!

But plenty of SONSHINE, Jesus!

The “Lord God” … The Light Source!

Note too that this Light is a “GIFT!” (Think of the innumerable “gifts” God lavishes on us daily! The greatest of which is our soul’s salvation! In fact: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17)

The Greek for “giving light” is “photizo,” simply meaning “to shine, to illuminate!” No wonder Jesus proclaimed over 2,000 years ago: “I am the Light of the world.” John 8:12

Our whole verse again: “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

But that’s not all, not yet …

Something about them (the saved of all ages) “reigning” (no doubt along with our Lord). John, earlier in Revelation had this to say: “And (Jesus) hath made us KINGS and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6, virtually repeated in Revelation 5:10.

The verb “reign” is “basileuo,” meaning “to occupy a throne, to exercise kingly power!”

And this is not the brief 1,000 year reign in which we shall have already participated, the Millennium. This is eternal, “for ever and ever!” The Greek has it: “into the ages of the ages!” Never ending!

That’s why I have named this series of studies “OUR ETERNAL HOME!”

In one sense, we’re “servants!”

In another, “Kings!”

HEAVEN … A PLACE OF BLESSED CONTRADICTIONS!

A PLACE OF GLORIOUS _____________________, GO BACK AND READ OUR ENTIRE TEXT NOW, REVELATION 21:1 THROUGH REVELATION 22:5. THEN YOU CAN FILL IN THE “BLANK” AS GOD LEADS YOU!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

We’ve reached Revelation 22:4 in our studies, with only one more verse to consider. A total (Revelation 21:1 through Revelation 22:5) of 32 related verses of Scripture, all descriptive of a future place called “New Jerusalem.”

Today’s “nugget” reads: “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”

The subject of this little verse (this divinely inspired “sentence”) is the pronoun “they.” And its antecedent is the noun “servants” in verse 3. “And His servants shall see His Face; and His Name shall be in their foreheads.” Note that I have now capitalized the words referring to Deity.

To see the Face of Jesus!

The verb “see” translates the Greek word “optanomai,” derived from “horao,” meaning “to stare!” One lexicon says of “horao” that it implies “perception (understanding) in general, with its prominence mainly being in the mental element.” It is of course future tense, but “middle” voice! Meaning the ones who see Him are changed forever, by their clear view of the Saviour!

The noun “face” is “prosopon.” With “pros” meaning “to, toward,” nearly “face-to-Face!” And “ops” meaning one’s “visage, countenance.” Right before Him, apparently, that close!

And “name” is the Greek word “onoma,” being built on the “ginosko” root, imply one’s really KNOWING the person who is so named! Personal, experiential, intimate knowledge!

And the word “foreheads” is “metopon,” a blend of “meta” and ops.” Literally “between the eyes” or of course … the “forehead.” The devil’s crowd wear “666” on their foreheads! God’s people are marked in a much better way!

The verse almost implies that when we see Him … we shall take on some of His very Features! His Character, His Beauty, His Persona, His “aura?”

As Second Corinthians 4:6 taught. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Note the Face of Jesus again here! And the pristine Light! And the way such Beauty impacts us! Clearly, shining hearts, maybe even shining faces … for you and me in Glory!

Looking at Him … eternally!

Sure sounds great.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today we study the third verse of Revelation 22, the Bible’s last chapter. And it is associated with Revelation 21, a “block” of Bible Material describing a future City called New Jerusalem.

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” Revelation 22:3

“No more curse” (what wonderful words) means that sin is gone! All sin! The Greek for “curse” is “katanathema,” an intensive form of being “cursed!” It is built on the (heathen) idea of something being dedicated to a god, therefore designated to be sacrificed, killed, destroyed.” None of THAT in Heaven!

And for the second time in this chapter (Revelation 22, not Revelation 21) the expression “the throne of God and the lamb” appears! Look back at verse 1. Looks to me like this is just one Throne. Yet occupied by God … God the Father … and the His Son the Lamb, Jesus our Saviour!

God’s very Residence (“throne in Greek meaning “seat) will therefore eternally be in this City! That too is why there is no more curse! (Jesus removed our Curse, took our curse upon Himself, those of us who are saved. Who have by faith been washed in His Blood! It’s like Paul wrote in Galatians 3:13 … “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Amen to this glorious Truth!

But now look!

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; AND HIS SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM.” Revelation 22:3

Our eternal state, living in that Place called Heaven, the New Heaven, New Jerusalem (John uses all these terms at one time or another) … will not be a “lazy” state of inactivity, either!

“His servants shall serve Him!”

Surprisingly, the verb “serve” here is “latreuo,” meaning “to do something and be given a reward!” The noun “latris” is simply “a hired menial, a slave!” But with a package of handsome benefits!

The verb “latreuo” also means “worship” 3 times in the King James New Testament. But it implies activity, either way. BUSY for Jesus, BUSY around Jesus! This Place is NOT a retirement home!

And is serving the Lamb a chore, a drudgery?

NO!

It is an honor!

Revelation 7:15 may place a corollary instance of this idea. “Therefore are they (a group of saints) before the throne of God, AND SERVE HIM DAY AND NIGHT IN HIS TEMPLE: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Wow!

Indeed we have learned another fact or two about our future Home again this morning!

“Sweeter as the days go by,” New Jerusalem!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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