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Zephaniah 3

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1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!

2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

3 Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

4 Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

5 The just LORD is in the midst of her; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is no inhabitant.

7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, however I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

8 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 my indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

9 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.

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring my offering.

11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, in which thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.

13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thy enemy: the King of Israel, even The LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.

16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thy hands be slack.

17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.

20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

   

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Fearful

  

The fearful signify people who have no faith.

(Odkazy: Apocalypse Revealed 891)

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Apocalypse Revealed # 891

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891. 21:8 "But the fearful, faithless, and abominable." This symbolizes people who have no faith and no charity, and are consequently caught up in evils of every kind.

The fearful symbolize people who have no faith, as will be seen next. The faithless symbolize people who have no charity toward the neighbor, for they are dishonest and deceitful, thus faithless. The abominable symbolize people who are caught up in evils of every kind, for abominations in the Word symbolize in general the evils listed in the last six of the Ten Commandments, as can be seen in Jeremiah:

Do not trust in lying words, saying, "The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah are they... Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, and swear falsely..., and then come and stand before Me in this house...(while you) do... these abominations?" (Jeremiah 7:2-4, 9-11)

And so also everywhere else.

That the fearful symbolize people who have no faith is clear from the following:

(Jesus said to His disciples,) "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26, cf. Mark 4:39-40, Luke 8:25)

(Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue,) "Do not be afraid; only believe, then (your daughter) will be made well." (Luke 8:49-50, cf. Mark 5:36)

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

The same are meant by those told not to be afraid in Matthew 17:6-7; 28:3-5, 10; and elsewhere.

It can be seen from all these passages that the fearful, faithless, and abominable symbolize people who have no faith and no charity, and who are consequently caught up in evils of every kind.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.