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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Month: November 2024

I Am Thankful That Christ is Coming Again!

November 27, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #319 ~

I am thankful that close to 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to earth and died to pay for all my sins and then rose again, this resulting in me being forgiven, being a child of God, being greatly loved by Him, and receiving eternal life. And I will keep being thankful until Christ comes again, and then forever and ever. “Do this in remembrance of Me… As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Cor. 11:25-26

I am also thankful for the wonderful future God has planned out for me and all His people: 
– I am thankful that Jesus Christ is coming again. Matt. 24:30
– I am thankful that Jesus Christ is coming again, and soon. Rev. 22:7, Heb. 10:37
– I am thankful that God told me what will be taking place in the end-times. Matt. 24:3-31, Luke 21:7-31, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Thess. 2:1-11
– I am thankful that God told me all we need to know before Christ’s return. Mark 13:23
– I am thankful that God’s word tells me how to live and what to do in the final years of this age. Rom. 13:11-14,1 Thess. 5:4-11, Rev. 12:11, Rev. 13:9-10
– I am thankful that by observing world events and knowing God’s word, I can see that Christ’s coming is drawing closer. 1 Chron. 12:32, Luke 12:54-56, Heb. 10:25

I am thankful that God powerfully, purposefully, and precisely “works all things after the counsel of His will” so as to bring about the return of His Son, and “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Eph. 1:9-11
– I am thankful that God is sovereign, that He is working all things together for good during the final years of this dark, difficult, and evil age. Rom. 8:28-30
– I am thankful that God wanted me to be alive “for such a time as this“, to be living for Him in the last years leading up to Christ’s return. Esth. 4:14, Ps. 31:15a
– I am thankful that God carefully planned out my life, that He knows exactly what He wants me to do in these last days of the church age. Ps. 23:3b, Eph. 2:10
– I am thankful that Christ will keep growing the church during these end-times, and will help me do my part in seeking Him, proclaiming the gospel, and making disciples. Matt. 6:33, 24:14, 28:19

I am thankful that my earthly work results in God being glorified. 1 Cor. 10:31
– I am thankful that my earthly work has eternal value in believer’s lives, in this age and in the ages to come. Eph. 1:21, 2:6; Phil. 1:21-25
– I am thankful that my earthly work results in being eternally rewarded and in having eternal friendships. Luke 16:9, 1 Cor. 3:8, Rev. 22:12
– I am thankful that during my life on this earth, God will never leave me, is with me to the end of my physical life or to the end of this age. Matt. 28:20, John 14:16-17
– I am thankful that it won’t be long before God takes me home to heaven, whether by death or by rapture. 1 Cor. 15:51, James 4:14, Heb. 10:37

I am thankful for God’s love, power, wisdom, holiness, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion, for I need these to successfully live for God. Ps. 9:10, Eph. 1:3
– I am thankful for God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and the church, for I need these to live for Him in the end-times and when that devilish Antichrist is ruling this world Acts 2:24; Rev. 12:7-17, 13:3-18
– I am thankful that God will protect and deliver me from evil and the evil one and bring me safely and triumphantly to heaven. Ps. 121:7, Matt. 6:13, 2 Tim. 4:18
– I am thankful that if God’s plan is for me to be raptured, then He will enable me to endure to the end of this age and Christ’s coming. Matt. 24:13, 1 Cor. 1:8-9
– I am thankful to be in a church with believing and loyal friends who also understand the future God has planned out for us. 1 Cor. 12:18, 2 Thess. 2:1-12
– I am thankful that it won’t be long before I see Jesus face to face. Job 19:25-27
– I am thankful that I will see my loved ones in heaven. 1 Thess. 2:19-20, 4:13-14

I am thankful that this evil age, this age when Satan is ruling the world, will soon come to a just and glorious end. Ps. 37, Matt. 24:29-31, 1 John 5:19, Rev. 11:15
– I am thankful that the Antichrist and the false prophet will be defeated and cast into the lake of fire. 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 19:20
– I am thankful that Satan will be locked up during the 1000-year kingdom age, and then cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10

I am thankful that God continues to show His love and faithfulness to the Jewish people, and that His prophecies about them and promises to them are being fulfilled in the end-times and the age to come. Gen. 12:1-3, Is. 60-61, Luke 21:24
– I am thankful that Christ is returning to rapture the church. 1 Thess. 4:17
– I am thankful that Christ will return to judge an evil world. Rev. 6:12-17, Rev. 8-9
– I am thankful that Christ is returning to save a Jewish remnant. Is. 45:17, Rom. 11:26
– I am thankful that Christ is returning to reign over this world. Ps. 47, Zech. 14:9
– I am thankful that God has my eternal life all planned out, now and forever. Jer. 29:11, Luke 19:16-19, John 3:16, Eph. 2:10
– I am thankful that God will be giving me a brand-new body – a powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorious body, one perfectly fit for God and for all eternity. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:20-21

I am thankful that in the kingdom age, the world will be filled with the knowledge and glory of God. Ps. 72:18-19, Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14, Rev. 5:13, Rev. 7:12
– I am thankful that in the kingdom age Christ will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. Ps. 46:10
– I am thankful that the kingdom age is a good age, a time when we will say, “Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven.” Matt. 6:10- I am thankful that in the kingdom age, God’s holiness, truth, power, love, mercy, wisdom, and justice will be on display in the world like never before. Ps. 67, Is. 12
– I am thankful that in the kingdom age I will see Christ showing mercy to those who are afflicted and hurting. Ps. 72:12-14
– I am thankful that in the kingdom age, Christ will be carying out perfect justice. Ps. 72:4
– I am thankful that in the kingdom age, I will be reigning with Christ. Rev. 20:6
– I am thankful that in the kingdom age, I will be perfectly loving, serving, and glorifying God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Ps. 145:1-2, Mark 12:30

I am thankful that at the end of the kingdom age, “death and hades” will be “thrown into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:14
– I am thankful that after the 1000-year kingdom age, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes… there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Rev. 21:4
– I am thankful that after the 1000-year kingdom age, “then comes the end, when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and all power.” 1 Cor. 15:24

I am thankful God has given me hope, that I have many things to look forward to. Rom. 5:2, 8:18-25, 8:29-30, 8:38-39, 11:25-27, 13:11-14, 15:8-13, 16:27
– I am thankful that the best is yet to come, being with Jesus, being in a new body, being with believers, being rewarded, and being in my heavenly home on a perfect earth. John 14:1-3; Col. 3:23-24; 1 Thess. 5:9-11; Heb. 12:22-24; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 21:1, 10-23

Believers should be thankful for the past, present, and future. And my focus today is on your glorious future. Being thankful will help you understand the immense and eternal love God has for you. It will help you be more excited about the hope God has given you. And it will be a glory to God and a blessing to your soul.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart” (Ps. 9:1). “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 69:30). “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good, His love is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 100:4-5). “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God” (Col. 3:17). “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:17

P.S. What a glorious future that God has given to all His children. Might we be ever thankful to God and for all that He has done and will do for us. To Him be all the glory!!! Here are three good articles to read – “Being Thankful, the Character of a Christian”, and “Thinking of Jesus Christ”, and “Over 100 New Testament Verses on Christ’s Second Coming.”

The King and His Kingdom

November 16, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #318 ~

We live in a world divided into all these different countries, and each one has its own leader. But it won’t be long before we see Jesus Christ, the King of kings, return to earth, and He will be its sole leader, and be visibly and powerfully ruling over the entire world. God repeatedly promised that His Son Jesus would be a great King with a glorious Kingdom. Here are some Old Testament verses that are predictive and descriptive of Christ and His kingdom.

2 Sam. 7:12-13 – “I will raise up your descendant… He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” God told us that the coming King would be a descendant of David, and Matt. 1 proves this to be true. We also learn that Jesus’ kingdom will forever display God’s name – His character, purposes, and glory.

Psalm 47:2-3 – “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth…” The coming King is God, the Lord Most High, and He will be more loving and powerful than any other being in history. He will be the most glorious King ever, and be greatly respected and praised. And He will subdue and rule over every nation on earth.

Isaiah 9:6-7 – “A child will be born to us… The government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace…” The coming King is both God and man. And He’s wise, powerful, holy, just, eternal, and fatherly. And He will bring real peace to the whole world.

Psalm 2 – “… As for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain…” The leaders of this world are strongly opposed to God and Jesus Christ, and are being warned by Christ that they need to worship Him, or else. But they won’t, and so at the end of this age, Christ will defeat and judge these evil kings and their kingdoms, and then establish His glorious kingdom on this earth.

Many other Old Testament passages speak of the coming King and His Kingdom: Psalm 10:16; Psalm 22:27-28; Psalm 24:7-10; Psalm 29:10-11; Psalm 45:6; Psalm 48:1-3; Psalm 65:8-13; Psalm 67; Psalm 72; Psalm 89:27-29; Psalm 98; Psalm 102:12-22; Psalm 132:10-18; Psalm 145:1-2, 10-13; Isaiah 2:1-4; Jeremiah 10:10; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:13-14, 23-27; Micah 5:2-5a; Zeph. 3:14-17; Zech. 14:1-9

The New Testament also tells us about Christ the King and His Kingdom.
* Matthew 1-2 speaks about the ancestry of the King, the birth of the King, the birthplace of the King, the mother of the King, the name of the King, the purpose of the King, the worship of the King, the enemies of the King, and the escape of the King. 
* Luke 1-2 talks about Jewish believers who were excitedly looking forward to seeing the King and His blessing upon Israel. There were Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, and Anna.

* Luke 19:32-38 – Many Jews were saying this as Christ entered Jerusalem – “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” They hoped He would set up His earthly kingdom but they were mistaken, for His primary purpose at His 1st coming was to die to save people from their sins. At His 2nd coming, Christ will rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and establish Himself as King over this earth. 
* John 19:37 – Jesus told Pilate, “You say correctly that I am a King.” Jesus admitted to Pilate that He was a King, but His goal at that time was not to rule as a King but to be a Savior, to die on a cross and be raised again to save people from sin and from death. 

* Matthew 24:3-31 describes in detail what has to happen before the coming of the King. He tells His disciples that there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, increasing lawlessness, false teaching, betrayal, the desecration of the Jewish temple, the revealing and rule of the Antichrist, great persecution of Jews and Christians, preaching the gospel to the nations, and signs in the heavens. Lk. 21:7-24; 1 Th. 4:13-18; Rev. 6:1-17, 13:3-18
* Matthew 19:27-28 tells us that in the “regeneration”, the rebirth of the earth in the coming age, Jesus’ disciples will reign with Him over the nation of Israel.

So what do you need to know and do before Christ returns?
1. Learn from God’s word what needs to happen before Christ returns. Mark 13:23
2. Pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom. Matt. 6:9-10 – “Our Father, who are in heaven, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
3. Be diligently doing the work God wants you to do. Eph. 2:10
4. Be alert for you don’t know when Christ is coming. And be ready for Christ, watching for Christ, and looking forward to being with Christ. Matt. 24:42-51

Here is a summary of the millennial kingdom age:
1. Jesus Christ will reign over the entire earth, over all the nations. Ps. 72:8
2. Christ will reign from the city of Jerusalem. Ps. 48:1-2, Zech. 14:9
3. The earth will be restored, be renewed, be remodeled. Acts 3:21, Rom. 8:20-21
4. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Isaiah 11:9
5. The earth will be filled with the glory of God. Ps. 72:19
6. This part of Christ’s kingdom will exist for exactly 1,000 years. Rev. 20:1-7

7. The heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice during this kingdom age. Ps. 96:11
8. The gospel will be preached to all nations, and many will be saved. Ps. 96:2, 98:2-3
9. Israel will be greatly blessed as a nation, and God’s blessing on them will result in the entire world being blessed. Is. 12, Is. 60
10. Every knee will bow to Christ, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Phil. 2:9-11
11. The kings and the nations of the world will serve Christ. Ps. 72:11
12. The millennial kingdom will not be an evil age, but a good age. Hab. 2:14

13. Agriculturally, the earth will be extremely fruitful and productive. Ps. 65:9-13
14. The apostles will rule with Christ over the nation of Israel. Matt. 19:27-29
15. Believers will reign with Christ. 1 Cor. 6:2-3; Rev. 5:12, 20:6
16. Believers will be gifted and empowered to carry out Christ’s work. Luke 19:16-19
17. Jerusalem will be a holy city, and no one will be weeping or crying. Is. 65:19
18. Christ will have mercy on the poor and needy, and help them. Ps. 72:13

19. People on earth during the kingdom age will live a very long time. “The one who does not reach the age of 100 will be thought accursed.” Is. 65:20
20. Animals will get along, for the “wolf will dwell with the lamb.” Is. 11:6-9
21. Even children and snakes will get along, for “the weaned child will put his hand in the viper’s den.” Is. 11:8
22. Satan will be released at the end of this age, gather sinners to himself, lead a rebellion against Christ, be quickly defeated, and then be cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:7-10
23. Christ will abolish all rule, authority, and power; all things will be subject to Him; and He will cast death and Hades into the lake of fire. 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 20:11-15
24. The millennial kingdom will be followed by the eternal kingdom. Rev. 21:1

Do you see where we are now at and where we are going? We are living in the end-times and God wants you to be fully informed about these last years before Christ’s coming and His 1000-year kingdom. He wants you to be encouraged, to have hope, to be looking forward to seeing and being with Christ and worshiping and serving Him in the coming kingdom age.

“Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 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.” Revelation 1:4-7a

P.S. One of my favorite subjects is the coming kingdom age. I like it and I need it because it gives me hope, and you need hope too. Here are two other posts on this important subject of the millennial kingdom age: “The Coming Kingdom Age – 1000 Years of Glory”, “The KING of Kings is Coming.”

THE ELECTION, THE CHURCH, AND CHRIST’S KINGDOM!

November 2, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #317 ~

The King is coming back! And for 1,000 years, Christ the King will perfectly reign over this earth, bringing justice, peace, and love. Now you live in an evil world that is increasingly becoming more sinful and corrupt (Matt. 24:14). And you need hope – you must know that Christ is returning soon to clean up this world and begin reigning over it.

But now you live on earth, and there’s an important election in this country. As a Christian, vote for that person who most aligns with God’s truth and values, who promotes freedoms that enable you to share the gospel, and to “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-6 ). May God have mercy on us!

But don’t ever put your hope in a human king or leader. God commands you, “Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to earth” (Ps. 146:3-4). It is true that God ordains governing authorities at this time (Rom. 13:1-7), but you must never put your trust in them.

Psalm 146:5 goes on to say, “How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” You must trust in God, for He is the only One who can really help you. Only He can spiritually bless you, can save your soul, forgive your sins, and take you to Jesus. If there’s any physical blessing from human leaders, it’s God who wanted it, ordained it, and caused it to happen. Truly, both spiritual and physical blessings are from God. Ps. 103, Ps. 146:6-10

So don’t be overly focused on elections – don’t ever think that what some leader may do for you is most important, for it’s not. What’s most important is your relationship with God, loving Him, knowing Him, and experiencing His love, joy, and peace in your heart. What’s important is setting your mind on the things above, on the kingdom of God, not on the things below, on the kingdoms of men. Ps. 73:25-26, Ps. 91:14-16

It’s being preoccupied with doing God’s will, knowing that He will physically bless you, will meet all your needs. So what is God’s will, what does He want you to do?
– Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33
– Jesus says, “I will build the church” (Matt. 16:18). Work with Jesus in building the church.
– Jesus says, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world… and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). Join with the church in preaching the gospel.
– Jesus says, “Go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Do your part in making disciples.

(Notice the word “end” in the last two verses? God wants you to do His will in view of the fact that Christ will come back at the end of this age. You can only carry out God’s plans as you see the big picture, as you have hope, as you are looking for Christ to return to take you to heaven, and then set up His kingdom on earth.)

So God tells you what to do but He also instructs you to pray: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10). What can you learn from this and related verses?
1. That God will establish His kingdom on earth, and it will be a 1000-year kingdom, immediately followed by an eternal one. 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 20-21
2. That God’s kingdom is heavenly and godly kingdom in nature. And God’s will, His holy and heavenly purpose for earth, will be carried out during this time.
3. That God wants you to be regularly praying for Him to set up His kingdom on earth.

4. That this kingdom will be led by Jesus Christ. He is holy and will reign on this earth, fulfilling all God’s purposes, enacting justice and giving mercy. Ps. 72
5. That we need hope. We live on an evil earth, in a corrupt, unjust, unloving world. And you must know that things will get supremely better, and you should be looking forward to the coming of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth. But be patient and persevere, wait on God and trust His timing. Jms. 5:7-11

6. That we live in the end-times – that’s because the Jews came back to their land, to Israel. Therefore, it won’t be long before the church is raptured, the world is judged, Jews are saved, and Christ sets up His kingdom on earth.
7. That you are to do the work God assigned to you. Your work, in conjunction with the work of all the believers on earth at this time in history, is part of God’s overall plan in sending His Son back to this world. Mk. 13:33-34, 1 Thess. 1:9-10
8. That Christ will be building both a spiritual kingdom and a physical kingdom during this 1000-year age. But now, during this church age, we are to be focusing on the church, the spiritual kingdom. Matt. 6:33, 16:18, 24:14, 18:19-20

Let me conclude with a number of verses about Christ the King, and His kingdom:
* Zech. 14:3, 4, 9 – “The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle… In that day, His feet will stand on the mount of Olives… And the Lord will be King over all the earth.”
* Daniel 2:44 – “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms but will itself endure forever.”

* Luke 1:32-33 – “He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David; and He will reign over the house of David forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”
* Isaiah 9:6-7 – “A child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

* Rev. 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
* Rev. 19:15-16 – “He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
* Psalm 2:6 – “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

* Psalm 47:2 – “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.”
* 1 Cor. 15:24 – “Then comes the end, when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and authority and power. He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”
* Psalm 10:16 – “The Lord is the King forever and ever.”
* Psalm 145:1, 13 – “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever… Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.”

P.S. For me, thinking about the coming kingdom age is extremely motivating. Here are two other posts on this most important subject: “God’s Kingdom Work”, and “The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age.”

© 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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