The Rapture is when the Lord has turned back your enemy.
Zephaniah 3:14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
Why are they watching in the night to prevent the house from being broken into? Clearly they were fearing some harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
"Do not let your hands hang limp" -- this is what we are saying now to the church, you have to wake up and take a stand.
17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
In that day we will be calling the Lord the Mighty Warrior. Our rapture is similar to our exit from Egypt.
18 “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. 19 At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
"In every land" indicates this is worldwide. The Mighty Warrior will be dealing with all who oppressed you. Today we see them shutting down churches, arresting pastors, forbidding the gospel to be spoken, forbidding Bibles, and many other forms of oppression.
20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.
To "gather you" and to "bring you home" is a reference to the rapture.
Zephaniah 3:14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.
Why are they watching in the night to prevent the house from being broken into? Clearly they were fearing some harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.
"Do not let your hands hang limp" -- this is what we are saying now to the church, you have to wake up and take a stand.
17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
In that day we will be calling the Lord the Mighty Warrior. Our rapture is similar to our exit from Egypt.
18 “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you. 19 At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
"In every land" indicates this is worldwide. The Mighty Warrior will be dealing with all who oppressed you. Today we see them shutting down churches, arresting pastors, forbidding the gospel to be spoken, forbidding Bibles, and many other forms of oppression.
20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.
To "gather you" and to "bring you home" is a reference to the rapture.