Zephaniah 2 (KJV), verse-by-verse, using a literal reading of the King James text as the standard.

The Lord throughout is identified as Jesus Christ. Ancient places are given modern equivalents. This chapter shifts from judgment on Judah/Israel (Chapter 1) to a call for the meek remnant to seek the Lord before the day of His anger, followed by specific judgments on surrounding nations.

Revelation parallels appear in the day of the Lord’s wrath against nations, the desolation of proud cities, the spoiling of enemies by the remnant, and the eventual worship of the Lord from the isles/nations (cf. Rev 6:17; 11:18; 16–19; 18; 21–22).

2:1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

The nation not desired (Judah/Israel in its unrepentant state) is commanded to gather itself together. This is an urgent call prior to judgment.

2:2 Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you.

Gather before the decree goes forth, before the day passes like chaff, and before the fierce anger of the Lord (Jesus Christ) and the day of His anger come. This is the day of the Lord already described in Chapter 1, paralleling the wrath of the Lamb and the day of wrath in Revelation 6:16–17 and related passages.

2:3 Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.

The meek of the earth who have done His judgment are told to seek the Lord (Jesus), seek righteousness, and seek meekness. It may be they will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. This offers a possibility of protection for the remnant, consistent with those sealed or preserved through judgment in Revelation (e.g., Rev 7:1–8; 9:4, & Rev 12).

2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

The Gaza will be forsaken, Ashkelon a desolation; Ashdod driven out at noon, and Ekron rooted up. These are Philistine cities on the Mediterranean coast (modern day ‘Palestine’ aka the Gaza Strip and adjacent southern coastal areas of Israel). The Lord (Jesus) brings desolation on them.

2:5 Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.Woe to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites.

The word of the Lord (Jesus) is against them. Canaan, the land of the Philistines (modern Gaza Strip/coastal region), will be destroyed so that there is no inhabitant. Even today we see the destruction of the Gaza in the wake of HAMAS war with Israel. What the world is calling ‘Genocide’, is the early fulfillment of God’s prophecy of judgment against a wicked nation.

2:6 And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

The sea coast (Gaza/Philistine region) will become dwellings and cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks—pasture land after the destruction.

2:7 And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah (Israel). They will feed there; in the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down in the evening. The Lord their God (Jesus) will visit them and turn away their captivity. This is a restoration promise for the remnant of Israel after the judgments. We see this fulfilled in the book of Zechariah’s promises.

2:8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

The Lord (Jesus) has heard the reproach of Moab and the revilings of the children of Ammon (both regions of modern Jordan). They have reproached His people and magnified themselves against their border (Israel’s border).

2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

As the Lord of hosts (Jesus), the God of Israel, lives, Moab (Jordan) will be as Sodom and Ammon (also in Jordan) as Gomorrah—breeding nettles, salt pits, and perpetual desolation. The residue and remnant of His people (Israel) will spoil and possess them. This permanent desolation of proud enemies parallels the final destruction of opposing powers in Revelation.

2:10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.

They receive this because of their pride in reproaching and magnifying themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts (Jesus).

2:11 The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

The Lord (Jesus) will be terrible to them. He will famish (starve/remove) all the gods of the earth, and men will worship Him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. This anticipates the universal worship of the Lord seen in Revelation (e.g., Rev 5:9–14; 7:9–10; 15:3–4; 21:24).

2:12 Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.

The Ethiopians (Cushites; historically the region of Sudan) will be slain by the sword of the Lord (Jesus). It is largely believed Sudan would be one of the ten nations of the antichrist seen in Revelation 13.

2:13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.

He (the Lord / Jesus) will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria, making Nineveh a desolation and dry like a wilderness. Nineveh is the ancient capital of Assyria (modern northern Iraq, near Mosul). Nation Babylon/Assyria region corresponds to Iraq and parts of modern Syria. The Antichrist will rise as The King of The north (Syria ruler) as told by Daniel 11. This prophecy predicts future end times conflict with both nations.

2:14 And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

Flocks and the beasts of the nations will lie in the midst of Nineveh (Iraq aka ancient Babylon). The cormorant and bittern will lodge in its upper lintels; their voice will sing in the windows; desolation will be in the thresholds; the cedar work will be uncovered. Complete ruin of the once-great city.

2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.

This is the rejoicing city (Nineveh, modern Iraq) that dwelt carelessly and said in her heart, “I am, and there is none beside me.” She becomes a desolation, a place for beasts. Everyone who passes by will hiss and wag his hand. The proud, self-exalting language and sudden desolation parallel the fall of Babylon the Great in Revelation 18 from the nation/city of Babylon/Assyria as Iraq.

Chapter 2 thus calls the meek remnant to seek the Lord (Jesus) before the day of His anger, pronounces desolation on the Philistine coast (Gaza/’Palestine region), Moab and Ammon (Jordan), Ethiopia/Cush (Sudan), and Assyria/Nineveh (Iraq/Syria), and promises that the remnant of Judah (Israel) will possess the lands of their enemies while the Lord is worshiped from the nations.

This will be the day that Israel as a nation under the leadership of the returning Lord Jesus will obtain the fulness of the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants. The faithful remnant of Jews who recognize Christ as their messiah at the end of the tribulation (Zechariah 12, Zechariah 14, Revelation 19).