Is the World Witnessing Zephaniah’s Prophecy Today?
Could President Trump’s latest proposal for Gaza be setting the stage for ancient biblical prophecy to unfold? That’s the question best-selling author and Middle East analyst Joel Rosenberg is asking after Trump made waves with his bold vision for the war-torn region.
At a recent event, Trump declared, “I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East and maybe the entire Middle East.” He went even further, saying, “The United States is going to own Gaza and rebuild it and make it beautiful.”
The idea is stunning—both in its ambition and in the shockwaves it sent through the political and diplomatic world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu never asked for such a plan, and even members of Trump’s team were reportedly caught off guard. But Rosenberg sees something even bigger at play—something with prophetic significance.
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A Biblical Judgment on Gaza?
For Rosenberg, Gaza’s suffering is not just political—it’s biblical.
“I believe that the people of Gaza are under biblical judgment,” he said, adding that this judgment is tied to Genesis 12:3, where God promises to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse it. “For the last eight decades, the people of Gaza have been cursing Israel and the Jewish people day after day after day,” he explains, pointing to wars and terrorist attacks against Israel.
But even while declaring that Gaza’s current fate is divine judgment, Rosenberg urges Christians to show compassion.
“We should still have love and compassion on them… we need to pray for the people of Gaza,” he said, likening the situation to the story of Jonah, where the people of Nineveh repented and God relented in His judgment.
Does Zephaniah 2 Predict Gaza’s Fate?
The biggest question, though, is whether Trump’s vision aligns with Zephaniah 2, an often-overlooked biblical prophecy. In that chapter, the prophet states: “Gaza will be abandoned.”
Rosenberg breaks it down: “The prophet tells us that Gaza, the people of Gaza, are going to be judged in the last days, that Gaza itself will be abandoned of its residents, and then Gaza will be handed back over, returned to the possession of Judah.”
He highlights another key verse: “That land will belong to the remnant of the people of Judah.” In other words, the prophecy seems to suggest that Gaza’s Palestinian population will leave, and the land will ultimately return to Israel.
Is that what Trump is unknowingly putting into motion? Rosenberg isn’t making definitive claims, but he isn’t dismissing the possibility, either.
“I’m not saying that’s what’s going to happen. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he admits, but notes that “the events of the last few weeks have been stunning.”
A Shocking Proposal, A Prophetic Possibility
Whether or not Trump’s plan comes to fruition, undeniably it has sparked a conversation—both politically and prophetically. His declaration that America will take “ownership” of Gaza has raised eyebrows, but it also echoes biblical texts written thousands of years ago.
So, is this just another geopolitical gamble, or are we watching prophecy unfold in real time? As Rosenberg puts it: “The controversy that President Trump has set into motion is a real controversy.” Perhaps it’s time to pay closer attention.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
