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Month: December 2024

My First Real Christmas!

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #321 ~

Rome – The painting Adoration of Magi in the church Chiesa id san Giuseppe alla Lungara by Mariano Rossi (1768).

It was 30 years ago, Dec. 2-4, 1994, that my wife and I went to a prophecy conference on the book of Revelation given by Marvin Rosenthal. Talk about changing our lives! That weekend of Bible study and interacting with Marv set in motion 30 years of learning, hope, and excitement about Christ’s coming and the 1000-year kingdom age!

After going home, I could not stop thinking about Christmas and Christ’s 1st coming in conjunction with His 2nd coming. And I was wondering why many churches were just focused on Jesus’ birth. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not dismissing the necessity of His birth, the Incarnation, for it’s vital to the gospel and God’s purposes. But I was learning that there was so much more, that Jesus’ birth was part of a much larger picture.

Hearing Marv’s excellent end-times’ Bible teaching, being immersed in God’s prophetic word for three days, was helping me to fully see God’s plan for Christians, Christianity, and the world. That weekend started me on a journey of understanding the connection between Christ’s 1st advent and His 2nd advent, of seeing the big picture, of knowing the entirety of God’s purpose for His people and planet earth.

There was Christ’s birth, and His life, death, resurrection, ascension, the church, and His return to rapture the church, punish the sinners, and reign over this world. And for the first time ever, I had a panoramic view of my own life, that I was chosen, foreknown, predestined, called, that I was justified because of what Christ did at His 1st coming, that I am now being sanctified, and that I will be glorified at His 2nd coming. Rom. 8:28-30

Let’s now look at Matt. 1-2 and Luke 1-2 for it helps us see the big picture – it speaks of Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, of Christ being both a Savior and a King.
– Matt. 2:1-12. The magi were searching for the King, for they wanted to worship Him and give Him gifts. They ask, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we… have come to worship Him” (vs. 2). Vs. 5 is based on the Mic. 5:2-5 prophecy predicting that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and be a ruler. “Bethlehem, land of Judah…out of you shall come forth a ruler.” Rev. 12:5 confirms this truth about Jesus – “She gave birth to a Son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations.”

Luke 1:26-35. The angel Gabriel, on a surprise visit to Mary, told her that she would miraculously give birth to a baby, the son of man, and that He would be the Son of God. Not only that, but He would be a King, the fulfillment of God’s promise to David – “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Lk. 1:32-33, 2 Sam. 7:12-13). That Jesus is a King and will be the King of this earth is a major theme of the Christmas story.

Luke 1:54-55. “He (God) has given help to Israel His servant… as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” Mary knew the Davidic Covenant, God’s promise to David, and the Abrahamic Covenant, God’s promise to Abraham. (Gen. 12:1-3). She believed this promise, that Abraham would be greatly blessed, that his descendants (Jewish people) would become a great nation, inherit a special piece of land (Israel), and that they and all the people of the earth (Gentiles) would be greatly blessed.

Luke 1:67-75. Zacharias also spoke about the Abrahamic Covenant, “… His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father” (Lk. 1:72-73). And he understood redemption and salvation, the New Covenant, that God would forgive people their sins. “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel… I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more.” Jer. 31:31, 34; Lk. 2:68-69, 77-79

Luke 2:25-35. Simeon, knowing God’s promises to the Jewish people, was expecting the Messiah to fulfill them, knowing this would result in Israel being comforted (Is. 40:1, 61:1-2). Simeon was convinced that the Messiah would deliver the Jews from their sins, bless them with land, and be a great and glorious King who would rule over them and the entire world. “I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Ezek. 37:21-28

Simeon then saw Jesus, the Messiah, and actually held Him. Praising God, he said, “Mine eyes have seen Your salvation” (Lk. 2:30). Simeon knew that the Messiah, a descendant of Jews, didn’t just come for Jews but also for Gentiles. He then prophesied, “this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel” (Lk. 2:34). The “fall” tells us that many Jews would reject Christ as their Savior, and since His 1st coming this has been true. The “rise” is saying that a few Jews will be saved during this church age, but moreso at Christ’s 2nd coming and in the kingdom ages. Ps. 96, Is. 45:17, Rom. 11:25-27

Luke 2:36-38. Anna, believing God’s promises to the Jews, was expecting, was waiting for the Messiah, was “looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Anna knew that God had promised spiritual and physical blessings to the Jewish people – salvation, land, and a King who would rule over Jerusalem, Israel, and the whole world.

Do you see what God is saying? God is telling us that the key players in the 1st coming of Christ knew ahead of time about His birth, and that He would fulfill His promises to the Jews, the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants. They understood the overall plan that God had for His people. But they did not know the timing, that Christ would go back to heaven, and much later come back as a King and then begin His rule on earth. Psalm 2, 47

During this Advent season, might you see the big picture. Might you understand what Matt. 1-2 and Luke 1-2, in conjunction with God’s prophetic word, is saying. Let me summarize some key thoughts and takeaways from these passages:
* God’s promise of salvation is already being realized all over this world by a great many Jews and Gentiles.

* God’s promises to the Jews about land and a King were not fulfilled at Christ’s 1st coming but will be fulfilled at His 2nd coming. These promises also relate to Christians, for we too will inherit the earth, and reign with Christ as King. Matt. 5:5, 24:30; Rev. 5:10
* We’re much closer to Christ’s 2nd coming than His 1st coming. Since we live in the end-times, we know Christ’s return is not a matter of millennia or centuries but decades, not hundreds of years away, but years away. “Behold, I am coming soon.” Rev. 22:7, 12

* Be like Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, etc. They were excited about the coming Christ and were expecting Him to live on earth and fulfill His promises to them. They were praying (Matt. 6:9-10 – “Your kingdom come”). And like them, might we also tell others about Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King.
* Being glorified, being fully saved, is the first thing to happen at Christ’s 2nd coming, and is in conjunction with God’s renewed work with the Jews and the fulfillment of His promises to them. Matt. 24:9-31, 1 Cor. 15:20-23, 2 Thess. 2:1-9

I am so grateful that God opened my eyes to these important and relevant truths about God’s plans for the end-times, Christ’s coming, and the millennial kingdom. It’s imperative that Christians, and now at this Christmas time, clearly understand that Christ came to be a Savior, and that He is coming again, and soon, to be a Judge and a King. “Even a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us (1st coming); and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace… (2nd coming).” Isaiah 9:6-7

Here are some previous posts about the real meaning of Christmas: “First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming”, “The Christmas Story and Christ’s Second Coming”, “Christmas is More than Baby Jesus”, and “The True Meaning of Christmas.”

Loving Jesus Now, in the Future, and Forever

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Satuday Morning Post #320 ~

About 50 years ago I met an older and godly man named Abe. He was my Sunday School teacher in a small Baptist church in a small NE Iowa town. Never have I met anyone so filled love with love for God, who just beamed with joy, and who spoke so excitedly about being in heaven with Jesus. His example has truly encouraged and motivated me through the years.

There is a clear connection between loving Jesus Christ now and loving Him in the future. As a Christian, you should be looking forward to seeing Jesus in person, and loving the One who loves you far more than anyone else. If you don’t have a close relationship with Jesus, if you are not actively loving Him now, then you are probably not excited about seeing Him and being with Him in heaven. 

So how is your relationship with Jesus? Is He #1 in your life? Is He your best friend? Are you getting good alone-time with Him? Are you telling Him how much you love Him? Do you praise Him and sing to Him with all your heart? Are you like Mary, “seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word?” Remember, “only one thing is necessary” (Lk. 10:39, 42), and that’s being with Jesus, and loving Him and learning from Him.

If Jesus is first in your life, then you will know His love for you; you will be filled with joy; you will be at peace; you will be perfectly satisfied; you will be loving others; you will be helping Jesus make disciples “to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20); and you will be wanting Him and waiting for Him to take you to Himself and home to heaven.

If you don’t have a strong love for Jesus, if you aren’t doing what He wants you to do, if you aren’t excited that He’s coming again to be with you, then consider these questions:
* Are there sins that have captured your heart, that have taken hold in your life, sins you need to confess to God and Christ? Ps. 32:1-5, 1 John 1:5-9
* Are you fleshly, are you loving the things of the world? 1 Cor. 3:1-4, 1 Jn. 2:15-17
* Are you remembering what Christ did for you at His 1st coming? Do you know what He did for you on the cross, that He died to pay for all your sins? Are you regularly taking communion? Do you realize how much God has forgiven you? Do you think often about Christ’s love for you? Ps. 86:12-13; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Jn. 4:10,19

* Do you understand the truths about God redeeming you, justifying you, forgiving you, reconciling you, adopting you, and sealing you with the Spirit? Eph. 1:3-14
* Are you in a solid church, in a good, Christ-is-coming, Bible-preaching church? 2 Tim. 4:1-2 – “In view of His appearing and His kingdom… preach the word.” 1-2 Thess.
* Are you having good fellowship with other Christians? Heb. 10:24-25
* Do you have good Christian friends that you are accountable to and that are an encouragement to you? Prov. 18:24b, Rom. 16:3-16, Col. 4:7-15
* Do you know what Christ will do for you at His 2nd coming? Are you filled with hope? Do you understand the glorious future God has planned out for you? Do you realize that “to live is Christ” but “to die is gain,” that being with Jesus in heaven is better than being with Jesus on earth? Rom. 8:18-25, Rom. 15:13

* Do you realize how much Jesus wants to be with you, how much He wants to show you His love in the future and for all eternity? Jesus told you, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). Jesus prayed, “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (Jn. 17:24). Jesus “died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” 1 Thess. 5:11

The most important thing in life is knowing God’s love and loving Him! That’s it! And Jesus does not hesitate to correct Christians – “I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Rev. 2:4). O, may this not be true of you! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mk. 12:30, 1 Cor. 16:22

Looking forward to loving Jesus in the future is an important sign that you love Him in the present. So are you wholeheartedly loving Jesus now and excited about loving Him in the future? If you are not sure, then go over the questions I listed, and get some answers; ask God to search you, cleanse you, and instruct you (Ps. 139:23-24); and He will surely revive you. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:19-20

Finally, remember what Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me” (Job 19:25-27). And say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20

P.S. During this Christmas season are we emphasizing the importance of our relationship with Jesus? As you know, this is what is most important. Here are three posts that speak of your love for Jesus and your relationship with Him: “The Rapture, a Love Story”, “Loving the Lord and Longing to See Him”, “Loving God Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.”