A Letter to the Last Generation of Non-Christians
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #379 ~
The last generation of Christians will see all these signs and events leading up to Christ’s return. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matt. 24:33-34). The last generation of non-Christians will also see these signs and events, but will not realize their spiritual significance. Today, I am writing a letter to these non-Christians, specifically those living during the first half of Dan. 70th week. My goal is to help them and all unbelievers understand what is happening, and to share the gospel. I encourage you to pass this letter on to unbelievers, whether it’s now or in the future, in hopes they will read it and that God will save their souls from sin and eternal death.
Dear friend,
I encourage you to read this letter for it’s very important, maybe the most important letter you have ever read. What I am writing is not based on my thoughts but on God’s word, and it’s what God wants you to know and believe. And it’s urgent, a matter of spiritual life or spiritual death, your relationship with God, and your eternal destiny.
Jesus Christ is returning soon, and judgment and wrath is coming to all who do not know Christ, who are not children of God, but eternal joy and blessing to all who have been born again, who are saved from their sins. “He who hears My word, and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24). Let me explain this more fully:
We live in the end-times, the last years of this age. We know this because the Jews have returned to their land and, once again, became a nation. It’s what God predicted over 2,500 years ago. That the Jews are now back in their land is the main reason we know this age is soon coming to an end, immediately followed by the return of Jesus Christ. Why is Christ coming back? To take the church that is on earth to heaven, to judge unbelievers still on earth, to spiritually save a remnant of Jews, to physically restore this planet, to begin His 1,000-year reign on this earth. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:9
Jesus Christ first came to earth over 2,000 years ago. He lived a sinless life, died to pay for peoples’ sins, and was raised from the dead, thereby, defeating sin and death. God predicted this would happen, and it did. God also predicted that Christ would come a 2nd time, and that many things would occur before His coming. “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment; so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time.” Hebrews 9:27-28
What are these things that have been happening, things you have been hearing about, and maybe are affecting you. There are birth pains: false teaching, wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and economic problems, and they are occurring in various parts of the world – not everyone experiences them. And many people are dying because of these calamities. “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Matt. 24:28
This is causing people to clamor for peace and security. But all these things are only beginning birth pains, and are not signaling the immediate end of this age. I want you to understand that I am writing as if you were living in the first half of what is called Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year period when many of these birth pains are happening (Dan. 9:24-27). “Nation will rise against nation… in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.” Matthew 24:7
In the middle of Dan. 70th week, the Antichrist is revealed. This evil, devilish, powerful man is in Jerusalem and he desecrates the Jewish temple that had been recently built. He acts like he is God but, in reality, is blaspheming God, and is expressing his hatred for Jews and Christians. The Antichrist becomes dictator over the entire world. “The man of lawlessness is revealed… 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 Thessalonians 2:3-4
The Antichrist and his partner, the false prophet, perform great signs and wonders with a goal to deceive unbelievers, people like yourself. This results in a great polarization between non-Christians and Christians. Not only that, but the Antichrist, aided by AI, devises a means by which people worship his image, and if they don’t, they are to be killed. The Antichrist also tries to force people to take the mark of the beast, a permanent mark on their hand or forehead. This identifies them as a follower of the Antichrist, and it enables them to conduct business. “He causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor… to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead… no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark.” Revelation 13:16-17
The vast majority of people worship the Antichrist’s image and take his mark. But I warn you, don’t do it, for doing it means you have sold your soul to the devil and are bowing to the Antichrist, this beast, this most wicked man. To non-Christians, it may seem he has brought peace and prosperity. People are buying and selling, eating and drinking, and having a good time. But they are terribly deceived, for they are not loving the true God, but a false god. “… they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:4
The short-lived results of worshiping this godless man may seem good, but they are eternally hellish. That’s because all who take his mark are rejecting the living and true God, and will forever be punished in the lake of fire. “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand… he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels.” Revelation 14:9-10
At this time, Jewish people are being greatly persecuted in Israel, but many escape. The Antichrist then chases after Christians. This leads to mass defections in churches, which means many were not truly saved, were so-called Christians. Many defectors then betray true Christians and turn them into the authorities. There is also more lawlessness – crime, corruption, lying, immorality, stealing, cheating, slander, idolatry, false teaching, etc. The hearts of unbelievers are cold. The result is the greatest persecution of Christians in all of history – massive numbers are hated and killed. “They will deliver you (Christians) to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations.” Matt. 24:9
If you are not a Christian, I plead with you to ask Jesus to save your soul from your sins, and from eternal death. Turn to Him before that imposter, the Antichrist, is revealed, before further deception fools you, and results in you giving your allegiance to the Antichrist. If you don’t turn to Jesus, and the Antichrist is then revealed, again I say, don’t take his mark. I urge you to look to Jesus for mercy, for forgiveness of sins. “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Many Christians will be on earth during the time of the Antichrist. Their primary purpose is to love other Christians, and to share the gospel with non-Christians, with people like yourself. So don’t persecute them – don’t hate them, hurt them, or turn them in to the authorities. Listen to what they say about Jesus. Ask them to share the gospel, and how Jesus wonderfully changed their lives. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, and new things have come.” 2 Cor. 5:7
I want to more fully explain the gospel, how you can become a Christian:
* It’s knowing that God created you, that He made you to know Him, worship Him, and serve Him. “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Matthew 4:10
* It’s knowing that you are a sinner, outwardly and inwardly, in thoughts, words, and deeds. It’s knowing that you have not loved and worshiped God but have loved yourself and the things of this world. It’s knowing that you been proud, disobedient, greedy, idolatrous, lying, disrespectful, hateful, impure, immoral, malicious, etc. “There is no fear of God before their eyes… all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:18, 23
* It’s knowing you have to be perfect in every way to be right with God, to be a child of God, to be in heaven with Him. It’s knowing that you are not perfect, that you have sinned against a holy and loving God, that the penalty for your sins, your life of spiritual crimes, is death, is being eternally separated from God and eternally punished for your sins. “Those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus, these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.” 2 Thess. 2:8-9
* It’s knowing that being saved is not a matter of good works, of being a good person. It’s not whether your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds. It’s not whether you go to a church, a temple, a mosque, or get baptized, give money to others, or have a good family. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it’s the gift of God, not as a result of works.” Ephesians 2:8-9
* It’s knowing that God made a way for you to be holy in His sight. Over 2,000 years ago, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth. He was born a baby, grew up to be a man, lived a perfect life, died on a cross to pay the penalty for peoples’ sins, and was raised from the dead. It’s knowing that Jesus is the only way to be saved, to be right with God, and be forever in heaven. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
* It’s asking God to deliver you from your sins and from death. It’s repenting, it’s telling God that you are genuinely sorry that you sinned against Him. It’s believing that Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and then rose again, gaining the victory over sin and death – physical, spiritual, and eternal death. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
This is the gospel message. It’s God’s word, it’s the truth, and it’s for you. Repent of your sins and believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins and then rose again. When you do, you are saved and are forgiven, you have a personal relationship with God and Jesus, you are a new person in Jesus, you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you can live the Christian life, you will be with Christians in heaven, and you will be given a brand-new body – a powerful, immortal, perfect, and spiritual body: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
If you turn to Jesus and become a Christian, you have hope, for you have an amazing, perfect, God-glorifying future. Yes, you may suffer now, you may be persecuted, you may die, but it’s well worth it to live all out for God. You are on earth for only a short time, and then you will be forever in heaven with Jesus. And not long from now, Jesus will return to rapture the Christians still on earth, judge the world, and then begin His 1,000-year reign on this restored earth. Then there is the eternal kingdom. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4
God really wants you to be saved, to be His child, to know Him! He wants you to realize that Jesus Christ is coming again, not quietly and secretly, but visibly and powerfully and gloriously! What a day that will be when you see Jesus, are like Jesus, and are with Jesus! “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 1:5-8