Zephaniah 1:1-6 – “The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah:

2 “I will completely remove all things From the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.  3 “I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked; and I will cut off man from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

4 “So I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests. 5 “And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven, and those who bow down and  swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom, 6 And those who have turned back from following the LORD, and those who have not sought the LORD or inquired of Him.” NASB

As I read this prophecy and warning of impending judgment through this prophet, I cannot help but relate it to our day in many ways.  We read, in numerous passages, that the patience of God is not unlimited.  There will come a time when He says, “Enough!”  I am not alone in my declaration that I truly believe, based on what I know of the Bible, through prayer and observation, that there is coming a ‘purge’ in Christendom and the world as a whole. 

Sadly, in our present world, and America in particular, we have severely tested the limits of God’s patience.  We have allowed the eviction of God and the Bible from all things public. We have allowed the insistence that praying in school or at government-sponsored events or activities should not be allowed.  We have determined that it is acceptable to force people to violate their convictions to accept a lifestyle or activity that they believe anti-biblical. 

We have allowed the slaughter of MILLIONS of babies in the womb.  We have allowed this nation to become so secularized and guided by Political Correctness that churches and ministers walk on eggshells fearing to let their voices be heard. 

In a real sense, the spirit of Baal is imposing its will on churches through the federal government’s edicts.  We have allowed worldliness to enter the church. In our pursuit of tolerance and acceptance, we have diluted the Gospel message and included teachings that are specifically and directly foreign to the Bible.  Many have been and are being led astray by diabolical ministers and well-meaning ministers alike. 

God will not tolerate the perversion of His Gospel, and He is the one who sets up kings and takes them down also sets up Christian leaders and takes them down.  There is coming a shaking in the church and the world, and when it comes, it will be both terrible and wonderful.  It will be terrible because the shaking will cause such chaos and embolden many who hate the Bible, and perilous times will become more pronounced.  It will be wonderful that those God raises up to take the place of the fallen leadership will go with the spirit and power of Elijah and Elisha, as well as the diplomacy of Moses and the courage of Paul.  God will have a harvest in these last days, and the shaking or purging will open the door to a MIGHTY REVIVAL, which is coming soon.

God bless you, and may you find that when the shaking comes, you are on a solid foundation in Jesus with a pure heart and the right motive.