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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Month: October 2020

the next president and THE COMING KING

October 30, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #194 ~

Never in my life have I seen people so passionate about an election. All this money that’s being spent, all these ads, mailers, debates, signs, and tweets, and all this campaigning and commentary, and for what? Yes, the person who gets elected will affect this country in some small ways, but as Christians, we must keep things in perspective. An earthly leader cannot solve the problem of sin and death, cannot meet our need for love, joy, and peace, and cannot bring real peace to this earth. What the world really needs is a Savior and a King!

A long time ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth. He lived an absolutely perfect life, continually taught the truth, did all these amazing miracles, and then died on a cross to pay for people’s sins. Whoever repents and believes Jesus Christ died to pay for his sins and then rose from the dead, is forgiven and becomes a child of God. Indeed, Christ is the one person people need to know, the gift people need to receive, the life people need to have, and the reason people need to live. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21

Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead, He talked with His disciples about the kingdom of God. It was obvious they wanted Him to stay and set up His kingdom on earth, but that was clearly not God’s plan at that time. Jesus reminded His disciples what He had told them before, that they were to be His witnesses to the world – and then He ascended into heaven. As they gazed into the sky an angel told them that Jesus would be coming back, and they knew that meant He would be returning as a King. In the meantime, the church is to do the work of being a witness to the world and spiritually building the kingdom of God. Matt. 6:33, 28:19-20

So here we are in 2020, and quite the year it has been with the impeachment, the pandemic, sickness, death, lockdowns, riots, fires, hurricanes, and now this election. But as Christians we’re not to be fearful and get sidetracked, we’re to be sober-minded, we’re to stay focused on Christ and on the work He wants us to do (1 Thess. 5:4-9). That we live in the end-times means Christ will soon be coming back to earth. Should we not be excited about this? Should we not be diligently working for Christ while we are patiently waiting for Him. Should we not know that life on earth will dramatically and wonderfully change when He returns?

Christ is longing to come back, and when He does, you will see Him in action – without delay, He will rapture the church, transform the bodies of believers, pour out His wrath on the world, redeem a remnant of Jews, defeat the Antichrist, bind up that evil devil, and begin His reign on a restored earth. You ought to be thinking about these things, that the King of kings will return to this world, take charge, and then rule like no leader has ever ruled before. What the world needs is a Savior, and now, more than ever, a King. “‘Behold, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:21

This theme of Jesus Christ being the King of the world is seen throughout God’s word:
* 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – “I will raise up your descendant after you… and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” Jesus, our eternal King, is a descendant of king David.
* Psalm 2:6 – “Yet, I have set My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.” God the Father gave the world to His Son, and the authority and power to be King and rule over it.
* Psalm 45:6 – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” Jesus Christ, the most righteous King, will reign forever and ever.
* Psalm 47:7-8 – “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Jesus is God and He will be King of the entire world, over every single nation on the earth.
* Psalm 48:2– “Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Jesus, our King, will be reigning from the city of Jerusalem.
* Isaiah 9:6-7 – “A Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us… there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom.” Jesus will perfectly govern, His kingdom will keep growing, and there will be peace.
* Daniel 7:14 – “To Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all peoples and nations of every language might serve Him.” Everyone in the world will serve King Jesus.
* Micah 5:2-5 – “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” The coming King, the One who is eternal, is also a man, for He was born as a baby in Bethlehem.
* Luke 1:31-33 – “Do not be afraid Mary… behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus… and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary was the mother of the Son of God, the King of kings.  
* 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 – “Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” One of Christ’s purposes during His millennial reign is to defeat death, His chief enemy.
* Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Jesus Christ will officially become King of this world at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, at the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
* Revelation 19:16 – “On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Christ the King, the One with authority over all kings, will defeat the Antichrist.
* Revelation 20:6 – “They will be priests of God and will reign with Him forever and ever.” Christians will reign with Christ the King, and not just for 1000 years, but forever and ever.

There’s great turmoil in our country, and with that, great difficulties; and in the near future, there will be great tribulation for both Jews and Christians. But don’t be sad, upset, or fearful. Get your eyes on God, and think how blessed you are, for you have been saved from sin and death, have eternal life, and now and forever have the honor of worshiping and serving Jesus, your Savior and King.

It won’t be long before you leave this earth and then you will see Jesus. Soon after that you will be back on earth, again worshiping and serving Him, and more than that, reigning with Him over this world. Just imagine how magnificent and gloriously wonderful this will be? This is no made up story, no dream – this is the truth, your future, that you will happily live forever with the King of kings. “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood – and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Rev. 1:5-6

P.S. Psalm 146 instructs us not to “trust in princes, in mortal men,” but to put our hope in the Lord God. Always remember that God is the answer, not men or women. And this is true today, and especially as we think about this election. Here is a related post that tells my own story on this subject – “Politicians, Judges, and Jesus, Our Coming King.”

Questions and Answers About the Antichrist

October 23, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #193 ~

1) Who is the Antichrist? The Antichrist is described as the little horn, the man of lawlessness, the man of destruction, and the beast – and he will be the devil’s man on earth. That we are now in the end-times means it won’t be long before this most wicked man will be ruling this world and carrying out the work of the devil. Dan. 7:8; 2 Thess. 2:3; Rev. 13:3-8

2) What will the Antichrist be like? He will be arrogant, the proudest man on earth. He will be very intelligent. He will be a smooth talker, a charismatic man, a great deceiver, making people think he is God when, in fact, he is doing the work of the devil. He will be more influential than any other person on earth. He will have the utmost hatred for God and His people. He will be wholly opposed to God’s word, and all that is good, right, and true. He will be the most lawless and evil man this world has ever seen. Dan. 8:23-25, Dan. 9:32, 36, Rev. 13:5-8

3) Where is the Antichrist from? Many believe the Antichrist will be from either Syria or Iraq. Let me explain why people say this. From Dan. 8:8-26 and Dan. 11:29-45 we learn about Antiochus Epiphanes, a devilish leader who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175-164 BC. His most evil act took place when he defiled the temple in Jerusalem, which is just what the coming Antichrist will do (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4). Therefore, we consider Antiochus to be a type or figure of the coming Antichrist. The reason we believe the Antichrist will be from present-day Syria or Iraq is because that was the territory Antiochus ruled.

4) When will the Antichrist be revealed? When will Christians clearly know who he is? Some may suspect he is the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week when he makes a treaty with Israel, but for sure we will know he is Satan’s man when he desecrates the temple at the midpoint, the 3½ year mark of that week. “In the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:1-4

5) Are there other antichrists? There have been many antichrists throughout the church age, people who openly deny God and Jesus Christ, and their work on earth. John tells us, “even now many antichrists have appeared”, but he also says, “you have heard that antichrist is coming.” (1 John 2:18, 22-25; 1 John 4:3). The Antichrist to come will be the most powerful and evil antichrist in history. He may be alive on earth at this time, and if he is, he is not yet openly opposing God and Christ, but he will be soon. Dan. 8:23-25, 2 Thess. 2:3-10, Rev. 13:4-7

6) Where does the Antichrist get his authority? The Antichrist gets his authority and power from the devil himself. “They worshiped the dragon (devil) because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast” (Rev. 13:4). Yet it is God who sovereignly permits the devil and, therefore, the Antichrist to carry out their evil deeds. Dan. 2:21, Rev. 17:17

7) What is the purpose of the Antichrist? The Antichrist’s purpose is understood by knowing that the prefix “anti” means “against” or “in place of”. The Antichrist is against God, hates Him with a passion, and desires to take His place and become ruler of the world. Most of all, he wants to be worshiped as God, which will happen, but only for a short time. “… the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thess. 2:3-4

8) What will the Antichrist do in the end-times? The Antichrist will be the key player in getting Israel to sign a covenant (treaty) with other nations (Dan. 9:27). He will lead a coalition of ten nations, which is the power base by which he will rule the world (Dan. 7:20). He will desecrate the temple in Jerusalem, setting himself up to be God (Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). He will be boasting about himself and blaspheming God (Rev. 13:5-6). He will persecute both Jews and Christians. He will fight against God by fighting against His people who live on earth. “He persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child… It was also given to him to make war with the saints.” (Rev. 12:13-17, Rev. 13:7). The Antichrist, working with the other beast, will cause unbelievers to take his mark and worship his image. Rev. 13:11-17

9) Is God sovereign over the Antichrist? Yes, God is sovereign over the Antichrist and his ungodly work on earth. This vile and devilish man is like a dog on a leash, and can only do what God wants and allows him to do. God’s sovereignty over the Antichrist and his activities will result in God’s plans being fulfilled, and great glory being given to Him. Prov. 21:1, Rom. 8:28-29, Eph. 1:9-11, Rev 17:17

10) Will Christians be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed? Yes, Christians will be on the earth at that time. At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist will be revealed and begin persecuting the church. This persecution, part of great tribulation, will be cut short, and then the church will be raptured and gathered to Christ. Matt. 24:21-31, 2 Thess. 1:5-10

11) What is the mark of the beast? It is a mark on the hand or forehead that the Antichrist causes unbelievers to take during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. It is one of the primary ways by which the Antichrist will control them, for only those who take the mark will be able to do business, to openly buy or sell during this time. Those people who receive the mark will be eternally damned and punished, and deservedly so. Luke 21:28-31; Rev. 13:16-17, 14:9-11

12) Can a person take the mark of the beast and still get saved? Once a person takes the mark of the beast, he cannot be saved. That person who takes the mark is an unbeliever and has sealed his destiny, and will be damned, doomed, and forever be “tormented with fire and brimstone.” Rev. 14:9-11

13) Can a Christian take the mark of the beast? No. A Christian cannot receive the mark of the beast, and then be damned to hell. Once a person is saved, he is sealed by the Spirit, is eternally secure in Christ, cannot lose his salvation, and will forever be with Him. Eph. 1:14, 4:30

14) Will all non-Christians living during the Great Tribulation take the mark of the beast? No, some of them will not take the mark of the beast, and many of those who do not take the mark will get saved and then, at the coming of Christ, be raptured and glorified. Rev. 7:9-14

15) What is the image of the beast? This word image, from the Greek word “icon”, is a picture or symbol of the Antichrist that unbelievers are to worship in the end times. It is the primary means by which the devil, working through the false prophet, will force people to worship the Antichrist. Those people who do not bow to this image will be pursued by the armies of the Antichrist so as to be persecuted and killed. Luke 21:12-19, Rev. 13:14-15

16) What will happen in the world before the Antichrist is revealed and comes to power?
– The world will experience “birth pains” in various places. There will be wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and economic distress. Matt. 24:4-9, Luke 21:8-11, Rev. 6:1-8
– The United States will decline in power, and no longer be the world’s leading superpower.
– We will see a growing desire for globalism, economically, politically, societally, and militarily.
– There will be a growing desire among the unsaved for someone to solve the world’s problems and bring peace.  
– Nations will be realigned, specifically those which become part of the Antichrist’s kingdom.
– It will be a time like the days of Noah, with ever increasing sin and evil. Matt. 24:12, 37-38
– The one becoming the Antichrist will make a firm covenant with Israel and other nations at the very beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:27
– The Jews and the Christians will face growing hostility and persecution. Luke 21:12-24
– The sophisticated technology that the Antichrist needs to surveil people and carry out his devilish plans will be fully developed and ready to use. Rev. 13:14-17

17) How will the Antichrist control the world during the end times? Revelation 13
– Because of the Antichrist’s apparent resurrection, and the amazing miracles the other beast performs on his behalf, he will be famous and greatly loved, and be looked to as a world leader.
– He will have the authority and power of the devil, of Satan himself.  
– He will be a skilled speaker, one who is very deceptive and persuasive.
– He will rule militarily over the world with great might and power.
– He will rule economically by requiring everyone to take the mark of the beast.
– He will rule spiritually by forcing people to worship his image, the “image of the beast”.

18) How long will the Antichrist be in power? Rev. 13:5 says that “authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” This means the Antichrist will be in power from the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, when he is revealed, to the end of that week. During those forty-two months, on a day we do not know, Christ will return to rapture the Christians, and then pour out His wrath on the earth (the Trumpet judgments – Rev. 8-9). The Antichrist’s ability to rule will be diminished during this time when God’s wrath is being poured out.

19) When will the Antichrist be defeated? Shortly after Daniel’s 70th week is over, the Antichrist, along with the false prophet, will be defeated and captured during the battle of Armageddon. “That lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:8). “These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire.” Rev. 19:19-20

20) How should you live when the Antichrist is ruling the world? You are not be afraid of the Antichrist, for you are not to fear man but God (Luke 12:4-5). Persevere, knowing that Jesus is with you, and that the Antichrist will be here for only a short time. (Psalm 37, Matt. 28:20). Have faith and hope, knowing that God is working all things together for good, and has a great future in store for you (Rom. 8:28-29). Remember God’s promise, that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Finally, don’t forget that “they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Rev. 12:11

P.S. Isn’t it amazing how much information God has given us about this most evil man who will soon be ruling over this world? You need to know these things, and know your God, display strength and take action (Dan. 11:32). I encourage you to read my article on the Antichrist – “The Coming of the Antichrist, the Devil’s Man on Earth.”

Questions and Answers About Christ’s 2nd Coming

October 16, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #192 ~

1) What is the next major event to take place in this world? The coming of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, to this earth.

2) What is the coming of Christ? The word coming is a noun that means both arrival and consequent presence. Christ’s coming is not an instantaneous event, but a period of time during which Christ’s presence and working on earth is clearly evident. It begins after the coming of the Antichrist, and after the end of this age. Matt. 24:15-31, 2 Thess. 2:1-9

3) Why is Jesus Christ coming back to earth? Christ is coming back to rapture the Christians, pour out His wrath, save a remnant of Jews, begin His 1000-year reign, fulfill His promises to believers, and be worshiped. Matt. 24:31, Rom. 11:26, Phil. 2:9-11, Rev. 8-9, Rev. 11:15

4) How is Jesus Christ coming back? He is coming back suddenly, “just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west” (Matt. 24:27). He is coming back visibly, for “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud” (Luke 21:27). He is coming back audibly, “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thess. 4:16). He is coming back as a King, “with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30, Zech. 14:9

5) What is the end-times? The end-times are the final years, the last stage of this church age, a long period of time during which many prophesied events will be taking place, making it increasingly clear that Christ’s return is getting closer and closer. Ezek. 36-37; Dan. 12:4, 9; Matt. 24:4-34; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 1:5

6) How do we know we are in the end-times? The main reason we know we are in the end-times is because a great number of Jewish people have come back to their homeland, to Israel, as prophesied in Is. 11:11, Jer. 32:37, and Ezek. 36-37. Since the 1880’s, the Jews have steadily been returning to their land, resulting in Israel becoming a nation in 1948. God’s work with the Jews in the end-times is in conjunction with His work with the church. Matt. 24:4-26, Rev. 7

7) What is Daniel’s 70th week? It is a seven-year time period described in Dan. 9:24-27 and Rev. 12-13, 17. At the very beginning of this period the Antichrist makes a treaty with Israel. At its midpoint, the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist is revealed and puts an end to temple sacrifice. At the end of this 70th week, a remnant of Jews are saved. Rom. 11:25-26

8) When is Jesus Christ coming back? We do not know the exact time Christ is returning, but we do know the general time, that it will happen sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, after the coming of the Antichrist, but before God pours out His wrath on this evil world. Many prophesied signs and events will be occurring during this time, enabling us to see that His coming is drawing near. Matt. 24:4-14, Matt. 24:32-24, 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Heb. 10:25

9) Are there two separate comings of Christ? No, there is only one second coming of Christ. This word coming is used in the singular when referring to Christ’s return, which means there will not, as many mistakenly suppose, be a coming of Christ to rapture the Christians on earth at the start of the 70th week, and another coming for the salvation of the Jews at the end of this week. There is only one coming of Christ, beginning sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, at which time the rapture, the Day of the Lord, and the salvation of a large remnant of Jewish people will occur.

10) Is there a secret coming of Christ for the Christians? There is no place in the Bible that states there is a secret coming of Christ. Many verses tell us that Christ will appear or be revealed, which means that His return will a visible return, and that it will not be a secret coming only for Christians. Matt. 24:30, 2 Tim. 4:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 John 2:28

11) What is the rapture? The rapture is the culmination and climax of this church age. At the end of this age, Christ will come on the clouds of the sky and suddenly, quickly, and safely take the Christians who are on the earth to be with Himself. At the rapture, all believers, those who have already died and those still on the earth, will be given new immortal bodies. The rapture, the first event to occur at Christ’s coming, takes place during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, after great tribulation, but before the Day of the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:17, 2 Thess. 2:1-3

12) Who gets raptured? Only true Christians will be raptured. A great multitude of believers will stand firm, survive great tribulation, be alive on the earth at the end of the age, and then be raptured. Matt. 24:13, Eph. 6:10-13, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 7:9-14

13) What does redemption mean? In a spiritual sense, it speaks of those who are saved, who are spiritually delivered from sin and are no longer its slaves (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:13). In a physical sense, it refers to believers being delivered from their fleshly body and from this evil word, which happens when Christians are raptured from the earth. Eph. 1:14, 4:30; Rom. 8:23

14) Who are the elect in Matthew 24:22? The elect refers to the Christians who are raptured during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, and the Jewish people who are saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:9, Rev. 7

15) Will Christians be living on earth when the Antichrist comes to power? Yes, Christians will be alive on earth when the Antichrist is here. The Antichrist will be revealed and come to power at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Matt. 24:9-15, 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 13

16) What is the great tribulation? It refers to the great distress and persecution that affects both Jews and Christians in the end-times. This persecution is not God’s wrath but Satan’s wrath. Directed by the Antichrist, it starts at the midpoint of the 70th week but it is cut short just before Christ comes from heaven to rapture the Christians. Matt. 24:9-22, Rev. 13:7

17) What age are we living in? We are now living in an evil age, an age that began thousands of years ago with the sin of Adam (Gen. 3:1-7). Satan is the ruler of this evil age, though he is still under God’s sovereign control. Gal. 1:4, 1 John 5:19

18) When will this evil age end? We know this age has come to an end when we see great signs in the heavens, when “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matt. 24:29

19) What will be happening in the end-times, in the years leading up to the end of this age? There will be birth pains (earthquakes, wars, famines, and plagues – Matt. 24:4-8). There will be a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27). A Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem (2 Thess. 2:4). A 10-nation evil kingdom will be formed (Dan. 7:19-24). There will be a great apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3) The Antichrist will arise and rule over the world. (Rev. 13). The Jewish temple will be desolated by the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15). Great tribulation and persecution will affect both Christians and Jews (Matt. 24:9, 21). The gospel will be preached to all the nations (Matt. 24:14). There will be great signs in the heavens. Matt. 24:29

20) How should Christians live during the end-times?
– We should love God and love one another. Deut. 13:3-4, Mark 12:30-31
– We should share the gospel with the lost. Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20   
– We should have faith, praying and trusting that God will lead us and take care of us. Luke 18:8
– We should have hope and be looking forward to Christ’s return. 1 Peter 1:13
– We should be sober, and be putting on faith, hope and love. 1 Thess. 5:8
– We should live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:11-13
– We should be wise in how we live. Dan. 11:33, Rev. 13:18
– We should be thankful that we are able to live for Christ in the end-times. 1 Thess. 5:18
– We should encourage one another day after day. Heb. 10:24-25        
– We should persevere to the end of this age. Matt. 24:13, 1 Thess. 4:15, Rev. 14:12
– We should be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord. James 5:7-11
– We need to know our God, display strength, and take action. Dan. 11:32

P.S. What a blessing that God gives us answers to questions we may have about Christ’s coming and the end times. Next week I plan to give answers to questions about the Antichrist. In the meantime, here are two posts to read – “That Evil Antichrist and His Short Rule on Earth” and “Reasons for the Rise and Rule of the Antichrist.”

A New Earth for the Kingdom Age

October 9, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #191 ~

What’s going to happen to this earth? Will there ever be a nuclear holocaust that affects the whole world? Will a massive meteor shower suddenly wipe out the world? Will there ever be climate change so severe that it results in the destruction of this earth? Will a huge geomagnetic storm wreck the entire planet? Will this physical earth stay like it is, or will it somehow and someday dramatically change, or be changed? I am sure many of you have thought about questions like these. In this blog post, I usually focus on the future of people, but what about the future of this planet? What does God have to say about this? This is what He tells us:

Romans 8:19 – “The anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.” This word “creation” isn’t referring to mankind, but rather to this physical earth, to animals, plants, rivers, seas, fish, plains, mountains, heavenly bodies, etc. Figuratively speaking, the creation is longing and waiting for that time when believers are revealed and seen by the world, and then everything will change for the good.

Romans 8:20 – “The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope…” Why is creation anxiously longing? Because it was subjected to futility, to vanity, to emptiness. That is, the creation does not presently exist as God intended it to be. A long time ago, when Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden (Gen. 1-2), everything was good, and in fact, everything was perfect. Then Adam and Eve sinned, and they spiritually died, and all creation was cursed (Gen. 3). The world was no longer perfect, and it was not creation’s fault, it was man’s fault. But God was sovereign over man’s sin, for his sin and its consequences are part of His eternal plan for mankind and creation.

Romans 8:21 – “… the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Because of Adam and his sin, the physical earth has been corrupted. There is decay, disease, and death. There are forest fires and fire ants. There are tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. There is pollution and there are poisons. Animals fight other animals, and birds sing in a minor key. And when I was recovering from back surgery this past June, my garden rapidly filled up with weeds. These are just a few examples of a world that has been cursed and corrupted because of man’s sin.

Romans 8:22 – “We know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pain of childbirth until now.” The creation is in an impossible situation, for it is still enslaved to corruption, and therefore is groaning and grieving. Though this verse was written about 2000 years ago, the creation is still suffering the pains of childbirth. But God is faithful to His promise, and that He has gathered a great number of Jewish people back to Israel means we now live in the end-times, and it won’t be long before the birth of a renovated and remodeled earth.

Here are some important things to know about you and planet earth:

1.People living on earth should be good stewards and, environmentally speaking, take care of this earth. We should do what we can to keep the air and water clean. We should not be wasteful, but conserve and reuse what God has given us. Gen. 2:15
2. The problems in our physical world are partly because people are not good stewards, but primarily because of Adam’s sin resulting in God’s curse upon this planet. Gen. 3:17-18
3. Even though the earth is physically corrupted, we still see the beauty, goodness, and glory of God. The creation is a visible testimony of God’s power and divine nature. Psalm 104, Rom. 1:20
4. Man should not worship the world, but only the One who created the world. Rom. 1:20-23

5. As much as we should be good stewards, man must realize that he cannot fix this world, he cannot reverse the curse and the resulting corruption. For example, during this age, there will always be spring and summer (life) followed by fall and winter (death). Rom. 3:23, Gal, 1:4
6. Neither man nor creation will bring ultimate destruction to this world. The destiny of this earth is not in the hands of man, but in the hands of God. Eph. 1:9-11, Rev. 8-9, Rev. 21
7. After believers are glorified, the world will be set free from the curse of sin, and the corruption we now see and experience (Rom. 8:21). This occurs at “the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:20), which will happen at the beginning of the next age. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Col. 3:4  
8. Man’s restoration to righteousness will result in the restoration of the earth. Rom. 8:17-25

Acts 3:19-21 – “… and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things.” When Christ returns from heaven, He will restore, will set in order all things, which includes the creation. In Matt. 19:29 we read, “… you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” The word “regeneration,” used in Titus 3:5 to refer to the new birth of Christians, is used here to refer to the rebirth of the earth at the time of Christ’s second coming. As Jesus told the apostles, this will take place when God is “restoring the kingdom to Israel.” Acts 1:6

What will this new earth be like? “Although it will not yet be a totally new earth (Rev. 21:1), it will nevertheless be wonderfully superior to the present fallen and unredeemed earth.” (John MacArthur’s commentary on Matthew 19:28 – p. 204). This earth will be dramatically different during the 1000-year kingdom age, when Christ reigns over the world, the twelve apostles rule over Israel, and the believers reign over the rest of the earth (Rev. 5:10). Indeed, this present earth is “waiting eagerly” for the “revealing of the sons of God.” Rom. 8:19

The Old Testament describes what this restored earth will look like. Psalm 65:8-9 – “You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You enrich it greatly.” Psalm 67:6 – “The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.” Psalm 96:11 – “Let the heavens be glad and the sea rejoice.” Psalm 98:8 – “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” Isaiah 35:1, 7 – “The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom… The scorched land will become a pool.” Isaiah 55:12 – “… The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before You, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 65:17 – “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:25 – “The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Joel 3:18 – “In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water.” Habakkuk 2:14 – “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” This is great news! The creation really has something to look forward to, but so do the Christians. Rom. 8:23 – “Not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

P.S. It is so wonderful to know that we have a future, and that this earth also has a future. There is much in the book of Psalms about what God has in store for us, the Jewish believers, and this planet. You can learn a lot more about this by reading my three articles on Psalms and how it relates to prophecy – here is one of them: “Prophecy Psalms for the Jews and for You – Part 2.”

Raptured, Redeemed, Revealed – And a Restored Earth

October 2, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #190 ~

What a magnificent and glorious salvation we have been given! And God gets all the glory! As Christians, we have been saved from the penalty of sin, are now being saved from the power of sin, and will soon be saved from the presence of sin. The book of Romans, more than any other epistle, best describes our salvation. From justification to sanctification to glorification, it gives us the big picture, telling us how we were saved by Christ, are to grow by the Spirit, and will be glorified by God. As always, our focus in this blog post is the future, and it’s Rom. 8:17-30 that tells us what God has in store for us, and what we should be eagerly waiting for.

From Romans 8:14-17 we learn we are children of God, that we are His spiritual sons and daughters, that we have been adopted into His family. That we can have an intimate relationship with God, our heavenly Father, is a most wonderful blessing and experience. Now we are at the very beginning of this relationship, this eternal life, but it will continue on forever, and only get better and better and better.

Romans 8:23 says, “having the first fruits of the Spirit… waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Eph. 1:14 tells us, “you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession.” 2 Cor. 5:5 says something similar, that “He who prepared us for this very purpose (redemption) is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.” Your Christian life has just begun, and you are not yet fully saved, for what God planned for you back in eternity past has not yet been realized. But God gave you the Holy Spirit as a pledge, as a guarantee that your salvation will be completed. The apostle John says it this way, “now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2 

Did you get that? “It has not appeared as yet what we shall be.” The world doesn’t know who we are, and even we don’t have a full grasp of who we are, and will be. As Christians, we are still encased in this sin-prone body. Rom. 7:14-15 tells us, “I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin… I am not doing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” Rom. 8:23 says, “Even we ourselves groan inwardly.” 2 Cor. 5:4 reminds us, “For indeed, while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened…” We still sin, cry, get sad, get tired, suffer, get sick, feel pain, and still grow old – that is, we are not yet acting like perfect children of God., like we were created and saved to be. 

Yes, the Holy Spirit lives in us, and because of Him we give off some spiritual light. There’s a little truth and holiness in us, and we do bear some fruit, like love, joy, peace, patience, etc. At the present time, we do have a little of God’s glory in us, for “we all, with unveiled face, beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). Be encouraged, for if you are a true Christian, you are indeed growing, and going “from glory to glory.”

A Christian is now a little bit like Christ, but soon will be a lot like Christ, for “when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). That “we will be like Him” when we see Him is truly miraculous and most encouraging. What this means is that when Christ comes back, all Christians still on earth “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). Then we will be raptured and “glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:17), be bodily “redeemed” (Rom. 8:23), experience “freedom” from sin (Rom. 8:21), and then be revealed as “sons of God” (Rom. 8:19). (Vines Dict. correctly defines the redemption of our body as “the deliverance of the believer from the presence and power of sin, and of his body from bondage to corruption, at the coming of the Lord Jesus.”)

This is not just good news, this is great news, for when we see Jesus, our salvation will be complete, we will be perfect, and we will be with loved ones who “have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thess. 4:13-14)! It’s not just the Christians on earth who will be glorified at Christ’s coming, but all believers who have already died and gone on to heaven. “The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17

This is our future, what will be taking place not long from now. God wants us to be “waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). Every Christian should be looking forward to this, expecting this, hoping for this to happen. “In hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:24-25

But there’s much more, “for the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God,” for then “the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:19, 21). It’s not just man who has experienced huge consequences because of his sin, but an entire creation has been corrupted because of his sin (Gen. 3:17-19). Only when Christians are revealed as sons of God at the start of the next age will this creation be restored and then filled with the glory of the Lord (Col. 3:4). “… that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of the restoration of all things” (Acts 3:20-21). “The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3

P.S. God has given us so much wonderful detail about our future, for He wants us to have hope and to be encouraged by what He has planned out for us. This article will really help you understand more what God has in store for you – “Being in Heaven With Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body.”

© Steven J. Hogan and ChristsKingdom.org, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Steven J. Hogan and ChristsKingdom.org with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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