After my last entry on prophetic judgment and salvation I read the book of the prophet Zephaniah. Once again I was struck by the close connection between judgment and salvation. Look at what God is saying through the prophet:

God is saying that he will pour out his fiercest anger and fury on the nations and devour all the earth by the fire of his jealousy. To me that seems like a total destruction. Who can survive his fierce anger when he devour the earth by his fire? My Norwegian version is actually saying that his fire will destroy the entire earth and make it desolate and empty. But by the grace of God he will not let anger and devouring fire be the end. In his anger God shows mercy!

Then, at this time of judgement, God is actually doing a redemptive work. His saving power is even at work in his acts of fierce anger. Through his judgements on the nations of the world and the work of his devouring fire on the earth God is actually purifying the peoples of the world and bringing them together in worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ.

The world is going to see more crisis occur and awful catastrophes take place in the days ahead. The fierce anger and fury of God will be seen i action in many realms of our societies. The fire of God's judgement will devour the entire earth. But the outcome will not be destruction. God works in redemptive ways in time of crisis. A lot of shaking will take place. Many dramatic changes will occur in the nations of the world. Many nations will face severe difficulties. Even the wealthiest nations of the world will be shaken in their foundations in these days. There will be uphealval and confusion in every area of life.

In this time of judgement God is bringing multitudes of people groups into his Kingdom. In the day of his devouring fire God is actually purifying the people. He is redeeming a holy people for his own glory. He is purifying the world by saving mulitudes of people from every area of society in every nation.

Therefore we pray with the prophet: God, in your wrath show mercy! Let your judgements bring redemption to a world in slavery to sin.