We now come to the end of the Old Testament synoptic view of my considerations of the high points of the texts. This series should make one want to read the entire Bible for themselves and let God speak to them individually as they read and study.
We move to discover the pinnacle teachings of the last of the Twelve Minor Old Testament Prophets being Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. THERE ARE MANY WARNINGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF 2017 FROM THESE FINAL OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETIC MESSENGERS.
THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH
ZEPHANIAH MEANS “THE LORD HIDES.” HE PROPHESIED IN THE REIGN OF KING JOSIAH (639 – 608 BC)
ZEPHANIAH CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
THE DESTRUCTION OF JUDAH IS AN ARCHETYPE OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
“THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR, IT IS NEAR, AND HASTETH GREATLY, EVEN THE VOICE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD: THE MIGHTY MAN SHALL CRY THERE BITTERLY. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness and GLOOMINESS, A DAY OF CLOUDS AND THICK DARKNESS, A DAY OF THE TRUMPET AND ALARM AGAINST THE FENCED CITIES, AND AGAINST THE HIGH TOWERS. AND i WILL BRING DISTRESS UPON MEN THAT THEY SHALL WALK LIKE BLIND MEN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD: AND THEIR BLOOD SHALL BE POURED OUT AS DUST, AND THEIR FLESH AS THE DUNG.”
“NEITHER THEIR SILVER NOR THEIR GOLD SHALL BE ABLE TO DELIVER THEM IN THE DAY OF THE LORD’S WRATH; BUT THE WHOLE LAND SHALL BE DEVOURED BY THE FIRE OF HIS JEALOUSY: FOR HE SHALL MAKE EVEN A SPEEDY RIDDANCE OF ALL THAT DWELL IN THE LAND.”
ZEPHANIAH CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
“SEEK YE THE LORD, ALL YE MEEK OF THE EARTH, WHICH HAVE WROUGHT HIS JUDGEMENT; SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS, SEEK MEEKNESS: IT MAY BE YE SHALL BE HID IN THE DAY OF THE LORD’S ANGER.”
JUDGEMENT SHALL COME UPON THE PHILISTINES, MOAB, AMMON, ETHIOPIA, AND ASSYRIA.
ZEPHANIAH CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
THE PROPHET TELLS US THAT AT THE SECOND COMING, ALL NATIONS SHALL ASSEMBLE FOR BATTLE.
“THEREFORE YOU WAIT 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.”
AND AFTER ALL THIS CLEANSING OCCURS ~
“FOR THEN WILL I TURN TO THE PEOPLE A PURE LANGUAGE THAT THEY MAY ALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, TO SERVE HIM WITH ONE CONSENT.”
THE LORD WILL THEN REIGN IN THEIR (OUR) MIDST.
THE BOOK OF HAGGAI
HAGGAI WAS A PROPHET IN JERUSALEM SOON AFTER THE RETURN OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY (520 BC).
THE TWO CHAPTERS OF THIS BOOK CONTAIN AN EXHORTATION TO THE ISRAELITES TO BE MORE ZEALOUS ABOUT THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD AND THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.
THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH
ZECHARIAH WAS A CONTEMPORARY OF THE PROPHET HAGGAI. HE PROPHESIED FROM THE 2ND TO THE 4TH YEAR OF DARIUS (520 – 518 BC)
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
ZECHARIAH CALLS UPON JUDAH TO REPENT.
HE IS SHOWN IN VISIONS THAT THE CITIES OF JUDAH AND THE TEMPLE WILL BE REBUILT.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
IN THE LAST DAYS JUDAH SHALL GATHER TO JERUSALEM. THEY SHALL COME FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH.
(COMMENTARY: THE JEWS ARE POURING BACK TO ISRAEL OUT OF RUSSIA AND OTHER NATIONS AS I WRITE).
THE LORD SHALL DWELL AMONG THEM.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
ZECHARIAH SPEAKS MESSIANICALLY:
THE BRANCH (JESUS CHRIST) SHALL COME.
AT THE SECOND COMING, INIQUITY SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE EARTH IN ONE DAY.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
ZERUBBABEL THE GRANDSON OF KING JEHOIACHIN OF JUDAH SHALL LAY THE FOUNDATION AND FINISH THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
THIS CHAPTER IS A REAL SUDDEN CURVE-BALL IN PROPHECY. THIS IS A FASCINATING WARNING OF A DUPLICATE TEMPLE (A TEMPLE OF EVIL).
IT TALKS OF A COVENANT OF THIEVES, AN EPHAH (OR SYMBOL) OF MUTUAL RESEMBLANCE THROUGHOUT THE EARTH.
IT SPEAKS OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF A TEMPLE IN SHINAR.
SHINAR IS THE KEY TO THIS PROPHECY.
(COMMENTARY: REMEMBER THE LAND OF SHINAR IS WHERE THE TOWER OF BABEL CONSPIRACY ORIGINATED.)
SOME BIBLE SCHOLARS SEE THIS MYSTERIOUS CHAPTER AS A WARNING ABOUT FREEMASONRY.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
ZECHARIAH CROWNS JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST IN SIMILITUDE OF CHRIST (THE BRANCH) WHO SHALL COME.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS:
THE LORD REPROVES HYPOCRISY IN FASTS.
HE CALLS UPON THE PEOPLE TO SHOW MERCY AND COMPASSION AND LIVE GODLY LIVES.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 8 SYNOPSIS:
IN THE LAST DAYS, JERUSALEM SHALL BE RESTORED, JUDAH SHALL BE GATHERED, AND THE LORD WILL BLESS HIS PEOPLE BEYOND ANYTHING OF THE PAST. (ISRAEL SINCE 1948)
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 9 SYNOPSIS:
ZECHARIAH SPEAKS MESSIANICALLY: THE MESSIAH SHALL COME.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 10 SYNOPSIS:
THE TRIBES OF JUDAH AND JOSEPH SHALL BE SOWN AMONG THE PEOPLE IN FOUR COUNTRIES. (THESE COUNTRIES ARE IS A MYSTERY.)
THE LORD WILL CALL FOR THEM AND GATHER THEM TO REDEEM THEM.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 11 SYNOPSIS:
ZECHARIAH SPEAKS MESSIANICALLY: THE MESSIAH SHALL BE BETRAYED FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 12 SYNOPSIS:
IN THE FINAL GREAT WAR (IN OUR TIME OF THE LAST DAYS), ALL NATIONS SHALL BE ENGAGED FOR BATTLE AT JERUSALEM BUT THE LORD SHALL DEFEND HIS PEOPLE.
“BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM A CUP OF TREMBLING UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, WHEN THEY SHALL BE IN THE SIEGE BOTH AGAINST JUDAH AND AGAINST JERUSALEM.”
“AND IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE JERUSALEM A BURDENSOME STONE FOR ALL PEOPLE: ALL THAT BURDEN THEMSELVES WITH IT SHALL BE CUT IN PIECES, THOUGH ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH BE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST IT.”
“IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE THE GOVERNORS OF JUDAH LIKE AN HEARTH OF FIRE AMONG THE WOOD, AND LIKE A TORCH OF FIRE IN A SHEAF; AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT….”
“AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM.”
THEN THE JEWS SHALL LOOK UPON THE MESSIAH (JESUS) WHOM THEY CRUCIFIED, AND THERE SHALL BE GREAT MOURNING AND BITTERNESS AMONG THEM.
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 13 SYNOPSIS:
ZECHARIAH TELLS US THAT AT THE SECOND COMING ALL FALSE PROPHETS WILL BE PUT TO DEATH.
THE JEWS WILL THEN ASK CHRIST, “WHAT ARE THESE WOUNDS IN YOUR HANDS?”
JESUS WILL ANSWER THEM, “THESE WITH WHICH I WAS WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF MY FRIENDS.”
THE PROPHET ALSO TELLS US IN THIS CHAPTER THAT 2 OUT OF 3 JEWS WILL DIE IN ISRAEL AT THE SECOND COMING.
THE REMNANT (THOSE WHO SURVIVE) WILL SAY, “THE LORD IS MY GOD.”
ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 14 SYNOPSIS:
THE PROPHET TELLS US THAT AT THE SECOND COMING ALL NATIONS WILL GATHER AGAINST JERUSALEM TO BATTLE.
JERUSALEM WILL BE TAKEN, THE HOUSES RIFLED, and WOMEN RAPED.
HALF THE CITY WILL BE CAPTURED.
THEN THE LORD WILL FIGHT THE NATIONS.
JESUS CHRIST WILL STAND UPON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF JERUSALEM AND THE LAND WILL CLEAVE EAST AND WEST MAKING A GREAT VALLEY. THIS WILL BE THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
JESUS CHRIST WILL THEN BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH.
“A PLAGUE WILL SMITE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST JERUSALEM; THEIR FLESH SHALL CONSUME AWAY WHILE THEY STAND UPON THEIR FEET, AND THEIR EYES SHALL CONSUME AWAY IN THEIR HOLES, AND THEIR TONGUE SHALL CONSUME AWAY IN THEIR MOUTH.”
THE BOOK OF MALACHI
MALACHI MEANS “MY MESSENGER.” THIS PROPHECY OF MALACHI WAS SPOKEN ABOUT 430 BC.
MALACHI CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
GOD TELLS MALACHI HOW THE JEWS DESPISE THE LORD BY OFFERING POLLUTED BREAD UPON THE ALTAR AND BY SACRIFICING ANIMALS WITH BLEMISHES.
THE PROPHET TELLS US THAT IN THE LAST DAYS, THE LORD’S NAME SHALL BE GREAT AMONG THE GENTILES. (IT IS!)
MALACHI CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
THE PRIESTS ARE REPROVED FOR NOT KEEPING THEIR COVENANT AND TEACHING THE PEOPLE.
THE JEWS ARE CONDEMNED FOR DEALING TREACHEROUSLY ONE WITH ANOTHER.
MALACHI CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
MALACHI TELLS US THAT THE LORD’S MESSENGER SHALL PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE SECOND COMING.
(COMMENTARY: THE MESSENGER IS JOHN THE BAPTIST. UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAST DAYS BEGAN WHEN CHRIST CAME THE FIRST TIME AROUND 3-8 A.D. WE HAVE BEEN TECHNICALLY LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS FOR 2000 YEARS!)
CHRIST SHALL SIT IN JUDGEMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF EARTH.
“AND I WILL COME NEAR TO YOU TO JUDGEMENT; AND I WILL BE SWIFT WITNESS AGAINST THE SORCERERS, AND AGAINST THE ADULTERERS, AND AGAINST FALSE SWEARERS, AND AGAINST THOSE THAT OPPRESS THE HIRELING IN HIS WAGES, THE WIDOW, AND THE FATHERLESS, AND THAT TURN ASIDE THE STRANGER FROM HIS RIGHT, AND FEAR NOT ME, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT . . .”
ISRAEL IS COMMANDED TO PAY TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
CHRIST MAKES REFERENCE TO THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE OF WHICH ALL OUR WORDS IN THIS LIFE ARE RECORDED FOR A TESTIMONY FOR OR AGAINST US IN THE SECOND COMING.
MALACHI CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
MALACHI ENDS HIS PROPHECY OF THE LAST DAYS BY TELLING US:
AT THE SECOND COMING THE PROUD AND THE WICKED SHALL BE BURNED AS STUBBLE.
THE PROPHET ELIJAH SHALL RETURN BEFORE THE SECOND COMING.
“BEHOLD, I WILL SEND YOU ELIJAH THE PROPHET BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD. AND HE SHALL TURN THE HEART OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, AND THE HEART OF THE CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS, LEST I COME AND SMITE THE EARTH WITH A CURSE.”
THIS IS THE END OF THE MINOR PROPHETS. THIS IS ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BROUGHT TO A CLOSE. YOU NOW HAVE IT IN SUMMARY BEFORE YOU.
NEXT: THE RECORD OF THE APOCRYPHA OR INTERTESTAMENTAL PERIOD OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY.