Zephaniah 1:1-18 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. (2) I will utterly consume all things from off the land,saith the LORD. (3) I will consume man and beast;I will consume the fowls of the heaven,and the fishes of the sea,and the stumblingblocks with the wicked;and I will cut off man from off the land,saith the LORD. (4) I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah,and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem;and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place,and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;(5) And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops;and them that worship and that swear by the LORD,and that swear by Malcham;(6) And them that are turned back from the LORD;and those that have not sought the LORD,nor inquired for him.
Zephaniah’s book is actually full of love for Israel,but it is a book of tough love. Tough love was what was needed for the Israelites at this point. They were not listening to the prophets that God sent and instead slew them. Famines and plagues were not working and God warned them that they would be removed from the land that had been promised to Abraham,Isaac,and Jacob,if they did not repent. That warning exists today for the world. That warning comes from the Book of Revelation and it is a simple declaration by the Lord Jesus Christ:
Revelation 22:11-17 He that is unjust,let him be unjust still:and he which is filthy,let him be filthy still:and he that is righteous,let him be righteous still:and he that is holy,let him be holy still. (12) And,behold,I come quickly;and my reward is with me,to give every man according as his work shall be. (13) I am Alpha and Omega,the beginning and the end,the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments,that they may have right to the tree of life,and may enter in through the gates into the city. (15) For without are dogs,and sorcerers,and whoremongers,and murderers,and idolaters,and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David,and the bright and morning star. (17) And the Spirit and the bride say,Come. And let him that heareth say,Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will,let him take the water of life freely.
The message is simple and we need to share it with others before the Lord comes:Come to Jesus Christ,repent of your sins and trust Him fully for your salvation from the impending wrath of God.