I call the event the “Battle of Armageddon.”
John mentions it in the Book of Revelation.
So does Zechariah, centuries prior to John! “For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” Zechariah 14:2, with the Lord Himself speaking. The key phrase may be “all nations.”
And my point today, even little ZEPHANIAH predicts this same situation too! With God being the Catalyst. “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” Zephaniah 3:8, our focus verse this morning as we journey all the way through the Book of Zephaniah.
Notice please, God is “determined” to do this! The noun “determination” here is “mishphat,” the normal Old Testament word for “judgment!”
And look what God call all these “nations” (in Hebrew “goy”), the word for “gentiles!” They are His “prey,” or “booty, rewards of war!” The Lord at war!
God is here calling a convocation, using two similar verbs, “to gather” and “to assemble.” Our Lord often loves congregations! In fact, “Church” is such a thing, though for a somewhat different reason.
The verb “to pour” is a strong one, meaning “to gush out, to spill,” copiously, abundantly. (Does blood flowing to the “horses’ bridles” sound familiar?)
Then God uses another set of “parallel” words, “indignation” and “anger.” Well, add “jealousy” to the mix! Now it is trilateral parallelism! In Hebrew these three are (in order) … “zaam” (from a verb meaning “to abhor, to defy, to denounce) and “aph” (the word for “nostril” or “nose,” so mad one breathes heavily) and “quinah” (meaning “zeal” or even “envy” at times). Pretty intense!
Armageddon!
And WHY is God doing this?
The rest of the Book of Zephaniah will show us. As do the other Bible Prophets, several of them. To bring Israel to a place of repentance. To put her under conviction. To bring her to this critical point, using the words of Zechariah again: “For I (God Almighty) will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall ….” Jesus’ literal Second Coming to earth … to interrupt the slaughter, to defend Israel!
Also … “And I (still the Lord of course) will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son ….” This is deep hearted conviction, remorse, godly sorrow!
Then Isaiah explains … “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born (born again) at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” Many saved!
Yes, Israel will be saved.
And God uses Armageddon to help prepare the hearts of these dear sons of Abraham.
Surely we call can say today (and will certainly say the day these things occur) … “This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23
I stand amazed!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell