“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. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering.” Zephaniah 3:9-10.
Verse eight, the one before the above passage dealt with the tribulation period and the return of Christ to reign over the earth. This was covered in the last post, The Tyrannical City, Part 6, on 7-24-24.
Beginning with verse 9 to the end of the chapter it deals with different aspects of Christ’s physical millennial reign here on earth (one thousand years).
“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 3:9.
Different commentaries have said that the pure language referred to is one without profanity or filthiness. Or it is speech cleansed of idolatrous chants that most of the nations would have engaged in as they worshiped idols and the Antichrist.
The pure language may be a reference to the world’s return to one universal language as it was before it was confused at the tower of Babel, see Genesis 11:1-9.
Taken in context the verse is likely to mean just that, a universal language. During the thousand-year reign of Christ the world will be centered around Jesus Christ as sovereign, not man as it was in Babel.
The problem with a world centered around man is as follows.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
“This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all [death]. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” Ecclesiastes 9:3.
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord. An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” Proverbs 29:25-27.
Not only are ungodly men unfit to rule on this earth, but they follow Satan. This is why he is truly called the god of this world because men follow his every direction.
“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1 John 5:19.
Still, we should obey the authorities. God has put those in authority over us and to rebel against the powers that be is to rebel against God. If you are unhappy with them, pray for God to change them, and vote in every election if you are in a free country.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
Jesus is fit to rule because He is concerned for the welfare of those under His rule. Jesus cannot be bought, flattered, judge unjustly, or do any unrighteousness, even good men can be fooled, Jesus is omniscient, all knowing.
Jesus loves us, and shed His blood for our salvation, what more proof do we need that He is for us.
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2.
No one will love you as much as the One who gave His life for your sake. Jesus will be the greatest most righteous ruler the world has ever known. His thousand-year reign will be history’s breath of fresh air.
If Jesus is going to reign on the earth, would not the return to a “pure language”, one tongue remove much confusion?
“…that they all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.” Zephaniah 3:9b.
“That they all may call on the name of the Lord”, in a pure language; whether this a language cleansed of blasphemy, filth, profanity, or if we might suppose just one language, or both, it is to serve the Lord with one accord, or “shoulder to shoulder” as some translations put it.
There will be no denominations, Methodists, Baptists, or Pentecostals, only one faith, one Lord, one gospel, and one teaching, the pure word of Christ.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:1-6.
When the Lord Jesus sets up His kingdom and gives the nations a pure language after the battle of Armageddon, He will draw all of mankind to Himself to setup His kingdom and they will worship Him.
“…since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
Zephaniah 3:10 is said to be about the return of the Jews from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, however a closer look at verses 9 and 10 will show us that it is the Gentiles that God has in mind here.
“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 3:9.
A language barrier can be overcome, yet how much better for all to speak the same language. Notice the first phrase in the above verse, “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language…” what peoples is referred to here?
If God were talking about Israel He might have used the words, My people. It appears then that God is referring to another people, the Gentiles, which refers to all non-Jews.
It was the Gentiles who rebelled in Babel and began building a tower to the heavens for idolatrous purposes and it was because of them that the languages were changed.
Now for the sake of the Gentiles the curse would be lifted as they are gathered to worship the true and living God not idols.
“From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering.” Zephaniah 3:10.
Consider now the phrase, “beyond the rivers of Ethiopia”, literally this would mean Africa. Some though have rendered the word Ethiopia as being Cush.
If it is Cush, the area spoken of would likely be most of the Middle East, Babylon which is in Iraq and Assyria which would cover the huge country of Iran.
The Assyrian empire took in a large chunk of real estate. Within their borders were Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sinai Peninsula, and Lebanon, some of Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, everything but Judah. The Assyrian capital was Nineveh right on the outskirts of modern Mosul in Iraq.
One map of the Babylonian Empire indicates that it covered all the Assyrian Empire, which they had conquered. They were also able to take over more of Turkey and Saudi Arabia and went as far north as Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea.
The Babylonians also carried off virtually all of Judah which was their punishment for ignoring God’s warnings to them here in Zephaniah chapter three and elsewhere.
Another thought would be that those beyond the rivers of Ethiopia could mean all believers living on earth who would soon stand before the King.
Whatever the case, God calls them here in verse ten, “My worshipers”, He then adds, “The daughter of My dispersed ones…”
The term daughter depending upon its use does not always mean someone’s child. It has also been used to refer to a small village which is near a larger city, or even a city of Zion such as Jerusalem.
“The elders of the daughter [Jerusalem] of Zion sit on the ground and keep silence; they throw dust on their heads and gird themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem bow their heads to the ground.” Lamentations 2:10.
“Sing, O daughter [people] of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter [people] of Jerusalem!” Zephaniah 3:14.
The term daughter may also be used for an adopted child or an in-law. Since this word might be used metaphorically, poetically, or literally, great care should be used when reading it in its context, which brings us back to verse ten.
“From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering.” Zephaniah 3:10.
The words, “My worshipers” tell us that these are people who have received Christ as their Savior. These worshipers are the daughter of God’s dispersed ones, and these dispersed ones are believing Israelites.
Jews have been dispersed for nearly 2,000 years; they are now re-gathering in Israel in unbelief at this time. Yet Israel will suffer intense persecution in the second half of the coming tribulation, scattering them again and turning many to Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
There will also be 144,000 Jewish evangelists called out at the beginning of the tribulation who will preach Christ throughout the entire seven years of tribulation, see Revelation 7:1-8.
“The daughter of My dispersed ones” then means that the Gentiles beyond the rivers of Ethiopia have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ from Jewish evangelists, have accepted Him as their Savior, and have been adopted into the family of God.
“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name [Jesus Christ] …” John 1:10-12.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29.
The Tyrannical City, Part 7 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 4-24-17, updated on 7-27-24 ck.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.