The great day of YHWH is near. It is near, and
hurries greatly, the voice of the day of YHWH. The
mighty man cries there bitterly. 15 That day is a day of wrath, a day
of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness
and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, 16 a day of the trumpet and
alarm, against the fortified cities, and against
the high battlements. (emphases added)
Tzefanyah/Zephaniah 1:14-16
Shalom
Kol Yisrael,
I
write this with a heavy heart. A few weeks ago there were several
nights that I was unable to sleep. Since then, I have been thinking
seriously of the coming days ahead. Great judgments will fall as
quoted from the book of Tzefanyah above. These verses have been
going over and over in my mind. Notice what this darkness is against
in the verses above. They are against fortified cities, and against
high battlements. Let us investigate some key Hebrew words and take
a closer look. The Hebrew words for fortified cities which in
transliterated form are hey areem ha betzoorōt
and ha pinōt ha gevōhōt
which mean the walled or fenced cities and the arrogant or
exceedingly proud heads or chieftains. Could this mean the arrogant
heads of the religious institutions of men? Do we have a second
witness in Scripture of this interpretation?
Ezekiel
34 speaks about a coming judgment against the shepherds. When will
this happen? Let's look at verse 12, “As a shepherd
seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are
scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver
them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy
and dark day (emphases
added).”
Previously in verses 10
and 11 YHWH speaks judgment against these leaders of religious
institutions, “Thus says the Master YHWH: Behold, I
am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at
their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep;
neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; and I will
deliver my sheep from their mouth, that they may not be food for
them. 11 For thus says the Master YHWH: Behold, I myself, even I,
will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. (emphases
added)”
We
hear of ministries today speaking of revival. I believe that they
are giving Abba's sheep a false hope. These very same shepherds who
are giving false hope may be the very recipients of the coming
judgment. It is interesting to note that these shepherds are feeding
off the sheep as food! This sounds like the falling of Babylon.
Could the fall of Babylon be a literal collapse of the religious
institutions of men? Is there a connection in Scripture? And is
this collapse related to the coming restoration of the whole house of
Yisrael both Yehudah and Ephrayim?
The first 3 verses of Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah speak of a
coming desolation on Babylon with her images disappointed and her
idols dismayed. A nation comes from the north destroying Babylon so
that no one shall dwell in Babylon again. The following 3 verses are
very interesting.
Yirmeyahu 50:4 In those days, and in that time, says
YHWH, the children of Yisrael shall come, they
and the children of Yehudah together; they shall
go on their way weeping, and shall seek YHWH their Elohim. 5 They
shall inquire concerning Tzion with their faces turned toward it,
saying, Come, and join yourselves to YHWH in an everlasting covenant
that shall not be forgotten. 6 My people have been lost sheep: their
shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned
them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill;
they have forgotten their resting place.
(emphases added)
In other words, the religious institutions of men have
been standing in the way from allowing YHWH's sheep to know and
understand that their resting place is no other pasture other than
Yisrael/Tzion. Since we are tying all of this together we need to
look at the next 3 verses in Yirmeyahu 50.
Yirmeyahu 50:7 All who found them have devoured them;
and their adversaries said, We are not
guilty, because they have sinned against YHWH, the
habitation of righteousness, even YHWH, the hope of their fathers. 8
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the
Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks. 9 For, behold,
I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of
great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves
in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their
arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; no one shall
return in vain. (emphases added)
If you don't flee from Babylon, you will be consumed and
even your adversaries will admit you have sinned against YHWH for not
fleeing.
Verses 10 thru 18 speaks further about YHWH's vengeance
against Babylon and the King of Babylon and her resulting desolation.
Verses 19 thru 20 give further insight...
Yirmeyahu 50:19 I will bring Yisrael again
to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan,
and his soul shall be satisfied on the hills
of Ephraim and in Gilead. 20 In those days, and in that
time, says YHWH, the iniquity of Yisrael
shall be sought for, and there shall be no one;
and the sins of Yehudah, and they shall not be found:
for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
(emphases added)
We continue to read of further judgments against Babylon
and then in verses 31-32, we see a connection to Tzefanyah 1:16 in
regard to the Hebrew understanding of high battlements (ie arrogant
or proud chieftains or heads).
Yirmeyahu 50:31 Behold, I am against you, you
proud one, says the Master, YHWH of Armies; for your day
has come, the time that I will visit you. 32 The proud one
shall stumble and fall, and no one shall raise
him up; and I will kindle a fire in
his cities, and it shall devour all who are around him. (emphases
added)
More
of YHWH's Anger Against the Shepherds
Zecharyah/Zechariah 10:2 For the teraphim/family
idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie;
and they have told false dreams. They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep. They are oppressed, because
there is no shepherd. 3 My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
and I will punish the male goats; For YHWH of Armies has visited his
flock, the house of Yehudah/Judah, and will make them as his majestic
horse in the battle.. (emphases
added)
Do you have a problem with brother Yehudah? Get over
it. He will be a majestic horse in battle and will be YHWH's
instrument of judgment against nations and peoples who have been
opposing His people Yisrael. Many shepherds today have responded
more like sheep following after the flock instead of leading the
sheep to safe pasture (the commandments).
Zecharyah 10:4 From Him will come the
cornerstone, from Him the nail, from Him
the battle bow, from Him every ruler together. 5 They
shall be as mighty men, treading down muddy streets in the battle;
and they shall fight, because YHWH
is with them; and the riders on horses will be confounded.
6 “I will strengthen the house of Yehudah,
and I will save the house of Yoseph,
and I will bring them back; for I have mercy on
them; and they will be as though I had not cast them off: for I am
YHWH their Elohim (God),
and I will hear them. (emphases added)
There are no theories in His word. Abba will bring His
people back into the land of their inheritance. Two houses will
become one. The pharaohs will be judged and Yah will assemble His
people in a latter day reunion.
Zecharyah 10:7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man,
and their heart will rejoice as through wine; yes, their
children will see it, and rejoice. Their heart will be glad in
YHWH. 8 I will signal for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed
them; and they will increase as they have increased. 9 I will sow
them among the peoples; and they will remember me in far
countries; and they will live with their children, and
will return. 10 I will bring them again also out of the land of
Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring
them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and there won’t be room
enough for them. 11 He will pass through the sea of affliction,
and will strike the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile
will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the
scepter of Egypt will depart. 12 I will strengthen them in YHWH;
and they will walk up and down in his name,” says YHWH. (emphases
added)
Have we seen Lebanon and Gilead (land East of the Jordan
River) filled with people from far off countries? Shall this be done
in our day? Is this second exodus not far away? May it be done, O
Yah, in our day and may we see your people return.
Conclusion
To those of you who may be reading this paper and are
new to this walk, do not be disappointed, but very few will walk this
path. You may try every strategy to get them to see this truth, but
few will find it. Why would I make that statement? Well, for 2
reasons: I have observed this personally and also the Scriptures make
it quite clear.
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 3:11 YHWH said to me, “Backsliding
Yisrael has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12
Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return,
you backsliding Yisrael,’ says YHWH; ‘I will not look in anger on
you; for I am merciful,’ says YHWH. ‘I will not keep anger
forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have
transgressed against YHWH your Elohim, and have scattered your ways
to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my
voice,’ says YHWH.” 14 “Return, backsliding children,” says
YHWH; “for I am a husband to you. I will take you one of a city,
and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 I will
give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with
knowledge and understanding. 16 It shall come to pass, when you
are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days,”
says YHWH, “they shall say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of
YHWH!’ neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they remember
it; neither shall they miss it; neither shall it be made any more.
(emphases added)
As Scripture states so few will acknowledge their
iniquity. Only one from a city and two of a family will return to
Tzion. It is also interesting to note that in Tzion (the Land of
Yisrael) there will be shepherds to feed us on knowledge and
understanding. In other words, we are all woefully wanting in the
diaspora. Also the Land of Yisrael is the only place where we will
increase. I will reiterate that as compassionate as your heart may
be to bring others into this truth; do not be disappointed for only a
remnant will truly repent and return to the ancient paths. When the
day of YHWH approaches many will be left wanting. Are you ready for
a landscape with clouds and thick darkness?
Love,
Tzefanyah Pappas
Tzefanyah Pappas
Chazak
Chazak v'nitchazek
Let
us be strong, let us be strong and let us strengthen (encourage) one
another!
