Dispensational Proof 13
13. Zephaniah and Zechariah
The Minor Prophets are some of the richest passages that speak of God’s plan for the “day of the Lord” and the millennial kingdom. Joel uses the phrase the “day of the Lord” the most. Zephaniah uses the phrase the “day of the Lord” second most in the Old Testament. Although the phrase “day of the Lord” is used about some local judgment events in the geography around Israel, the dispensationalist will understand the “day of the Lord” passages generally speak of the great day of Jacob’s trouble and a world-wide judgment that is yet to come upon the earth. It is said that 11 of the 12 minor prophets speak of an everlasting kingdom of God on the earth. The Messiah will come and subdue the nations and reign upon the earth. They are also the books that give very specific and minute details such as Jesus birth in Bethlehem in Micah 5:2. Zephaniah and Zechariah give amazing promises to Israel about their rescue and restoration in the land with their coming Messiah. The reason these are great proofs for dispensationalism is that they are clear and direct promises that repeat what was spoken to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. Zephaniah 3 includes warnings of judgment upon the nations of the earth and great verses regarding the restoration of Israel. Even the language of the earth will be different. Zephaniah 3:9 declares after the earth is purged from the wicked nations that God will restore a pure language, “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the Lord to serve him with one accord.” Zephaniah speaks of a remnant of Israel that is believing and worshiping the Lord in peace and righteousness.
Zephaniah 3:12–13 (NKJV): I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.”
The writings of some of the prophets are after the time that Israel was taken out of the land. The prophets at the end of the OT revelation proclaim God’s message of restoration and a literal kingdom even after they returned to the land with Ezra and Nehemiah. The return to the land and a renewed temple worship was not the fulfillment because they did not have a throne nor did they compose a nation because of the Persian, Greek and Roman empires. The literal throne of David must be present with David and Christ ruling and reigning from that throne in literal Jerusalem. Zechariah 12-14 is believed by some dispensationalists to be the strongest polemic in all the Old Testament for a literal return of the Messiah to rescue His people Israel just before a millennial Messianic Kingdom. These three chapters again include all the covenant promises to Israel. Zechariah is not speaking of the return from Babylon by some of the Jews. The language of the text goes far beyond the possibility of a local fulfillment in the 5th century BC.
