Zephaniah 2:3

"Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger."

"All ye meek of the earth ..." This cannot possibly mean merely the meek and righteous remnant of Israel, proving that in this passage there is a much wider view reaching the ends of the earth and referring to the second "Israel" in the kingdom of Messiah, a "remnant" indeed, but nevertheless a remnant from which none of the old Israel will be excluded, provided only, that they truly wish to be included.

"It may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger ..." It is fashionable for present-day scholars to downgrade Zephaniah in this for his failure to mention God's mercy, and for the uncertainty that seems to remain in the promise, "Ye may be hid." We do not agree with any faultfinding. The cocksure attitude of modern theologians claiming eternal salvation on the basis of "faith alone," and declaiming continually on the love and mercy of God does not echo the teachings of the Word of God. Even the apostle Paul said, "I count not myself to have apprehended" (Philippians 3:13); and, in Jesus' picture of the eternal judgment (Matthew 25), those turned aside into eternal doom were precisely those who were the most cocksure that they were fully entitled to eternal life. Christ also asked, "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46). As Deane also pointed out, "Even the righteous shall scarcely be saved (1 Peter 4:17,18)."[10]

Criticism of this prophecy following the fashion just mentioned are also remiss in another way. If there is anything to the Old Testament at all, these words should be understood, not as the impressions and prognostications of Zephaniah at all, but as the Word of God. This is exactly the way we receive it. Satan is continually at work to discredit, in any manner possible, the Word of God, and especially its warning to rebellious men.