Help me out with Zephaniah 3.

Don't Google it then copy and paste.

I need to hear from those who have studied it.

Is chapter 3 verses 14-20 about when the exiles come back or the Millennial reign......or both?

Zephaniah, two or three generations related to Hezekiah (a key character of Isaiah 1-39).
It’s been years since I studied Zephaniah, probably decades, but your question echo’s the message of Isaiah 56-66, which I’ve been studying of late.

Generally, the prophets communicated judgement (3:1-8), repentance and restoration… this passage concerns the last, with the intent to express that God is faithful and is graceful to those that respond to him in faith.

Genre in Zephaniah (and Isaiah 40-66) is prophetic poetry, anticipate parallelism, repetition and metaphor while interpreting the passage.

The message of the later third of Isaiah is addressed to those that are destined to return to Israel.
With a quick look at Zephaniah it seems to apply as well.

Isaiah is looking forward in time, he often doesn’t clearly distinguish between end times events 1) the immediate fulfillment (return to the land from exile), 2) the spiritual redemptive work of our Savor, and 3) the glorious hope.
Context is king.
To answer your question: "Is chapter 3 verses 14-20 about when the exiles come back or the Millennial reign......or both?" I'd say both.

This passage provides immediate hope to returning exiles (which as the children of God, includes us). Better times are coming.

Rob

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 thine 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 thine 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.

This is right now as the Kingdom expands worldwide.
Jesus is ruling and reigning from heaven right now. he speaks comfort to the church from heaven.
heb.12:
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Thank you both. No time to read tonight, but I will read them both in the morning.

Scarlett O. said:

Don't Google it then copy and paste.

I need to hear from those who have studied it.

Is chapter 3 verses 14-20 about when the exiles come back or the Millennial reign......or both?

Click to expand...

In verse 14 we see there is great joy and shouting. The God who had judged them will have at that point taken away the judgement and restore Israel.

In verse 15b we see a clue to when this occurs. "The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil."

Two things occur here that are very very important. 1. The King is in their midst, 2. and they will have no need to fear their enemies any more.

Do not mistake the King being in their midst with the understanding of how we know God is with us as believers today. This is meant in a very different way. This not only describes God being with them but in a very specific way. See it is the "King" who is with them. The Lord Jesus will be with them literally in the Millennium and will sit on the throne of David.

Other verses in which you can see this as well can be found in: Isaiah 33:17-22; 40:9-11; 52:7; Daniel 2:45; 7:25-27; and Micah 5:2-5.

We can be sure that this is a literal and physical manifestation of Jesus Christ in the millennium.

The second aspect of when this occurs is that Israel will have no need to fear again from their enemies. This is because the King is with them and Israel has been restored and all the covenant promises will have come to full fruition.

Zephaniah 3:20c "... when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” says the LORD."

The Abrahamic Covenant, Davidic Covenant (which we see specifically described in this passage above), the Palestinic Covenant all fulfilled here. Not only does the presence of the King make Israel secure but the fulfillment of all of His promises being seen right in front of their eyes bring faith, security, and rejoicing in a way never seen before.

Revmitchell said:

The Lord Jesus will be with them literally in the Millennium and will sit on the throne of David.

Click to expand...

Lo! Here! He's sitting on a throne in the new temple on the temple mt in Jerusalem, Israel!

Not! Don't bother to go.

20 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21 neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
23 And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here! go not away, nor follow after them:
24 for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day. Lk 17

He is everywhere. Now.

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Scarlett O. said:

Don't Google it then copy and paste.

I need to hear from those who have studied it.

Is chapter 3 verses 14-20 about when the exiles come back or the Millennial reign......or both?

Click to expand...

In our senior adult study of the minor prophets, yes it was definitely considered millennial.

Thank you to all who responded. I appreciate it.