A Clean Sweep

Zephaniah 1:2-3 (NIV)

2 “I will sweep away everything

from the face of the earth,”

declares the Lord.

3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;

I will sweep away the birds in the sky

and the fish in the sea—

and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”

“When I destroy all mankind

on the face of the earth,”

declares the Lord,

Zephaniah 1:7-9 (NIV)

7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

for the day of the Lord is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;

he has consecrated those he has invited.

8 “On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice

I will punish the officials

and the king’s sons

and all those clad

in foreign clothes.

9 On that day I will punish

all who avoid stepping on the threshold,

who fill the temple of their gods

with violence and deceit.

Matthew 21:12-13 (NIV)

Jesus at the Temple

21:12-16pp — Mk 11:15-18; Lk 19:45-47

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The Old Testament prophesied about the cleaning that will take place on the day of the Lord. Jesus demonstrated His zeal for the righteousness of His house. On that day coming, He will sweep His house clean of every bit of the leaven of wickedness. 

The face of the earth may imply His chosen people. Jerusalem is at the center of God’s earth and Israel is the face of mankind that stands before God. The great tribulation in Revelation is the final punishment of Israel before they are restored to their place and glory among the nations.