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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

A Difficult Future for Israel – Then Salvation and Blessing

May 18, 2024 /

By StevenJ. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #304 ~

View of the Old City Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives with olive trees in the foreground

The story of Israel is a story of the purpose of God, the glory of God, and the people of God. Around 2050 BC, God promised to Abraham that he and his descendants would be blessed with a great nation of people and a glorious piece of land. For the next 2000+ years, God focused on building and blessing the nation of Israel. Because of their sin and Satan, the Jewish people had a checkered and difficult history. But God, because of His promise, power, and patience, kept them going through all those years. Nehemiah 9

Close to 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came to Israel and His people and fulfilled the most important mission in all of history. Christ died on a cross to pay for people’s sins and satisfy God’s demands for justice. Then He was raised from the dead and, shortly after that, ascended into heaven. Since that time, Christ has been building His church, those who truly repent of their sins and truly believe that He died for them. Rom. 5:8

In the 1st century, God set aside the nation of Israel, and for a long time. Then in the 1880’s, He began bringing the Jewish people back to their land. God was restarting His plans for the Jews, for He was committed to keeping His promises to them. That the Jews are now in their land is the strongest evidence that we are living in the end-times, and that Christ will soon rapture the church and carry out His plans for the Jews. Matt. 24:3-36, Psalm 67

During these past 140 years, God has greatly blessed the Jewish people, and in 1948, they became a nation. But their many enemies have greatly persecuted them (Ps. 83). Over 6 million Jews were murdered during World War II. Then there were all these wars, one in 1948, one in 1956, one in 1967, one in 1973. Then there were two intifadas, one from 1987-1990, and another one from 2000-2005. Because of God’s purpose, power, and love, Israel prevailed in every war. Now there’s the Hamas war. So what’s going to happen? I’m sure this war will come to an end, and there will be a truce, but it won’t solve all her problems.

So what is Israel’s future? God’s word tells us, explicitly and implicitly. In Luke 21:24, Jesus predicted that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles.” This trampling, this persecution, this killing of Jews, this Antisemitism, began shortly after Jesus left Israel, and has continued up to the present day. It will keep going and get even worse “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” which is when Christ returns to earth at the end of Daniel’s 70th week to save a remnant of Jews, and begin His glorious reign over the earth. Psalms 47, 72; Zech. 14:3-

What else does God tell us will happen to the Jewish people before the end of Daniel’s 70th week?
* Matthew 4:4-8 and Luke 21:9-11a speak of birth pains occurring in various parts of the world, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and wars. Some of these will harm, will hurt the Jewish people, signs to them that Christ is coming soon.
* Israel isn’t going anywhere. She will never be defeated. And she won’t be displaced from her land, for God will protect her and keep in mind His promises to her. Ezek. 37:21-23

* Israel, as a nation, will remain sinful and unrepentant, rejecting Jesus as her Messiah until she says, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matt. 23:37-39
* The Antichrist will be raised up in the coming years. We don’t know exactly when, but he must be a grown man by the start of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:27

* Nations around the world will be realigning, eventually resulting in a strong ten-nation kingdom controlled by the Antichrist during Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 7:19-22
* Most nations in the world will remain strongly opposed to Israel, and this Satanic animosity will get even worse. In the near future, even the United States will betray Israel, leaving her in a very precarious position. This will result in Israel being desperate for someone or some nation to come to her aid, to protect her from her enemies. Zech. 12:3, 8, 9

What I have just written is a brief summary of things happening to Israel from now to the start of Daniel’s 70th week. I will now talk about major prophesied events that will be fulfilled during this 70th week, the most important eschatological period in the end-times.

* Daniel 9:27a – “He will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” At the start of Daniel’s 70th week, the coming Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel, and it will turn out to be a deal with the devil. This extremely evil person, also known as the prince, will provide Israel with the protection she needs, but only for a while. I believe a key component of this covenant is that Israel will be permitted to build a temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifices.
* Revelation 11:1-2 talks about this important temple and that Jewish worshipers are in it. “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it.”

* Matthew 24:15 (“when you see the abomination of desolation”) confirms the truth of Dan. 9:27b, that this temple un Jerusalem will be desecrated by the Antichrist, resulting in all sacrifices being stopped. It is then that Christians and discerning Jews will know that this man is truly the Antichrist. 2 Thess. 2:3-4 says this about him – “the man of lawlessness is revealed, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god… he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.” This “abomination” occurs at the 3½ year mark, the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week.

* Matthew 24:21-22 tells us of great tribulation, a devilish persecution against Jews beginning in Judea (Dan. 12:1, Rev. 12:13), and then spreading to Christians all over the world. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matt. 24:9, Rev. 12:17
* Revelation 12:13-16 describes how a remnant of Jewish people will escape the devil and be kept safe during this time of great tribulation. “She could fly into the wilderness… where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (3½ years).”  Matt. 24:16-25

* Matthew 24:29 speaks of these heart-stopping heavenly disturbances – “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light…” These are signs that this evil age has come to an end. Many Jews will know that these signs are predicting the day of the Lord and that they need to turn to the Lord before it’s too late. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered… in Jerusalem there will be those who escape.” Joel 2:30-32

* Revelation 7:1-8 informs us that God will seal 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. This will happen sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. These godly Jews will be Christ’s bond-servants and will continually be worshiping and serving Him. “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” Rev. 14:4

Revelation 11:3-13 talks about two powerful Jewish witnesses in Jerusalem during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week – they will be performing great signs and proclaiming God’s truth to the Jews. “I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days.” And they will be martyred, but then raised from the dead, proving to be God’s special witnesses to Israel and the whole world. “A tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

Romans 11:25-27 – “All Israel will be saved… this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” These amazing but true verses about the salvation of a Jewish remnant will be fulfilled at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:24 predicted this – “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people… to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness…” Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:31-34

Many people nowadays are very confused about the future of the Jewish people. Some even say they will be wiped off the face of the earth. But God wants you, the Christian, to know the truth, that God has a wonderful and eternal future for Israel and Jewish people. We know this because He told us, and because He will fulfill His promises to them. “He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; alll the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of God.” Psalm 98:3

P.S. We must not close our eyes to what’s going on in this world, and some of the most important things relate to what God is doing in Israel and with the Jewish people. Keep watching God’s work with them for it relates to His work with you. What an exciting time to be alive! Do read “God’s Plans for the Jews – From Now to the Coming of Christ.”

Loving the Lost – Evangelizing in the End-Times

May 4, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #303 ~

The most important message in the whole world is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can be forgiven of our sins, children of God, and forever in heaven with Christ and fellow believers. To receive this new life, this eternal life, we need to repent, and believe that Christ died to pay for our sins. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). “God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8

“Therefore, in anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-21). So what does God want us to do while we live on this earth? He made us ministers of reconciliation, and wants us to tell unbelievers how they can be forgiven of their sins, how they can be children of God, how they can be eternally right with God. Eph. 1:4-7

But we are now living in the end-times which means we are fast approaching the end of this age. This church age will soon be over. It won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world. Should we not be even more motivated to tell the good news of Christ to the lost? Should we not be even more energized in the work of evangelism? YES! YES! YES! Many verses emphasize this very point. Let’s look at them:

Matthew 24:14. In this important prophecy chapter, there’s a key verse on evangelism: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” After the gospel is preached to all the nations this evil age will come to an end, and Christ will come back to earth. Christians are to make the most of the time and be testifying for Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… baptizing… teaching… I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” In the very last two verses of Matthew’s gospel, we are told by Jesus to focus on making disciples, which includes evangelizing to the lost. Then this age will be over, and Christ will return to rapture the church, and begin His reign on earth. Rev. 11:15

Mark 13:9-13. This prophecy portion of Mark’s gospel tells us to preach the good news until the end of the age. “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations… you will be hated by all… the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” This passage also warns us about end-times’ persecution, that governments, churches, and even family members will oppose us and the gospel. By the power of the Spirit, we must keep loving the lost by witnessing to them, and persevere to the end.

Luke 3:4-18. This passage talks about John the Baptist preparing the way of Christ before His 1st coming, and passionately so. It is also instructing church-age believers to prepare the way of Christ. How does it say we are to do this? By preaching the gospel – “he preached the gospel to the people” (vs. 18), by exhorting people to repent of their sins (vss. 3, 8), by warning people of the coming wrath (vs. 9), and by telling people about the coming kingdom – “all flesh will see the salvation of God” (vss. 5-6). Since this passage also refers to Christ’s 2nd coming, it’s particulaly relevant for those living in the end-times.

Luke 21:12-19. “They will lay their hands on you… it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.” Mark 13:9-13 is similar to this prophecy passage, but here we learn that opposition from our enemies will lead to open doors for the good news, to opportunities to share our testimony with the unsaved. Phil. 1:12-14

Acts 2:17-21. This summarizes the last days, which is the church age. It starts with the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost and stops with the end-of-the-age signs that appear in the skies just before the day of the Lord. During this church age people are being saved from their sins. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2. “In view of His appearing and His kingdom…Preach the word.” Our purpose is clear: Christians are to preach God’s word in light of Christ’s coming, and in view of Christ’s kingdom, His reign on earth. Since we are in the end-times, we know His coming and kingdom will be happening soon. Now more than ever, we should excitedly be proclaiming the good news, the life and love of Jesus Christ, and especially as we see and hear so much bad news, so much sin, sadness, hate, heartache, disease, and death.

James 5:7-11. The end-times is the last time in this age to harvest souls for God. And what do we learn from James? That we are to “be patient… until the coming of the Lord.” And why? Because souls need to be readied, the crop needs to get ripe, and only then can we reap a harvest. So might we be praying for the lost and preaching the gospel – and patiently waiting.

Revelation 12:10-12. The Antichrist will soon be on earth and, along with multitudes of demons, be fiercely fighting against us. We will need to be in battle mode as we struggle against this devilish enemy – and how? “They overcame him… because of the word of their testimony.” Christians can only be victorious by speaking forth the gospel, God’s word, and by sharing their testimony, God’s work in their life.

Be thankful that you are alive at this time in history, in these end-times! But don’t be polluted by the flesh, be led astray by the devil, or live according to the world. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2-3). What people need and what this world needs is Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and King! Remember God’s marching orders: be “the salt of the earth… the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14); “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4); be an “ambassador for Christ” (5:20); “conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders making the most of the opportunity” (Col. 4:5), and “seek first the kingdom of God”. Matthew 6:33

P.S. Are you being a witness to the lost by your words and deeds? Are you sharing the gospel with the unsaved? Might God help you do His kingdom work in these last years of the end-times. Here are two other posts about evangelizing the lost – “The Gospel Will be Preached to All the Nations – Then Christ Will Return”, “Make Ready the Way of the Lord.”

The New Testament Tells Us the Future of Israel

April 20, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #302 ~

View of Jerusalem with calanit – red poppy flowers, national flower of Israel

The 4,000-year history of Israel has been an up and down journey and, at times, very dangerous and deadly. She has been in her land, out of her land, in her land, out of her land, and now back in her land. The devil has continually been against Israel, but God has always been for her – He has mercifully and faithfully kept her going through all the years. There’s no doubt that God will carry out and complete all His plans for Israel. Psalm 33:10-12

As you know, Israel is again in the middle of another difficult conflict, and you may be wondering what will happen next. But don’t believe what politicians and news people say, for they don’t know. Look to God and His word. The Old Testament gives 100’s of verses about the future of the Jewish people. But what does the New Testament say?

I have discovered 21 New Testament passages that speak about God’s plans for the Jews in these end-times and in the ages to come. So what do they say?  
* Matthew 5:17-19. “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets… but to fulfill.” Jesus is telling us that everything God told us in the Law and the Prophets about the future will come to pass. That includes everything that He said about the Jewish people. Is. 46:9-11
* Matthew 5:35. “Jerusalem… is the city of the great King.” When Christ came the 1st time as the Messiah, Jerusalem was not the city of the great King, but it will be when He comes the 2nd time. Then He will be The King of the Jews and will reign over the whole world. Ps. 48:1-2

* Matthew 19:27-28. “You shall sit upon 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” Jesus Christ will sit on His throne in Jerusalem during the coming kingdom age, and His disciples will reign with Him over the tribes of Israel. Matt. 25:31
* Matthew 23:37-39. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Most of the Jews rejected Christ at His first coming and, therefore, were left desolate and were punished. But a Jewish remnant will be glad to see Him at His 2nd coming and will repent, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Isaiah 53

* Matthew 24:15-27. “… the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel…” This describes the Antichrist’s desecration of the Jewish temple, his pursuit of the Jews, the great tribulation he brings upon them, and the coming of Christ for them and the Christians. This occurs sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
* Luke 21:20-24. “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot… until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Christ predicted that the Jews would be punished, scattered, and gathered back to Israel, all of which has been fulfilled. We also learn that the Gentiles’ influence over Israel will come to a complete end. Then Christ will judge the world, save a remnant of Jews and, from Jerusalem, begin reigning over this earth. Luke 19:41-44

* Acts 3:21. “… the period of restoration of all things…” When Christ returns to rule the world, all things on earth will be physically renewed and restored as was promised by the prophets. (Is. 35, 65:17-25). This restoration happens during the millennial kingdom.
* Acts 15:16-18. “… so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord…” In the age to come, the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, Israel will be a fruitful and glorious place, Christ will reign over the world, and the Jews will be a godly witness to the Gentiles. Pss. 72, 96

* Romans 8:18-21. “… the creation itself will be delivered from its bondage to decay.” The sons of God, both Jews and Gentiles, will be revealed, the creation will be set free from sin, and God’s glory will be displayed on earth like never before. Is. 6:3
* Romans 9:27-29. “Isaiah cries out,… ‘though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved…’” An important promise that God will fulfill is the salvation of a remnant of Jewish people. Is. 45:17, Dan. 9:24

* Romans 11:25-27. “… all Israel will be saved…” This important promise, that a Jewish remnant will be saved, is repeated. This will take place at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. These Jews will live in Israel and will assist Jesus Christ in His reign over Israel and the entire world. Jer. 31:31-34
* Romans 15:8-13. “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.” Our hope is that in the coming ages, Jesus Christ will rule over the world, and all people, Jewish and Gentile believers, will be unitedly worshiping Him. Ps. 117

* 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9. “… the man of lawlessness… exalts himself above every so-called god.” The Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. He takes his seat in the Jewish temple and displays himself as God, for he wants to be worshiped by the world. Soon after that, Jesus Christ comes and soundly defeats the Antichrist, and it is Christ who is worshiped by the world. Rev. 19
* Hebrews 8:7-12. “I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” God made a special covenant with Israel, that through Christ, both Jews and Gentiles would be forgiven and know Him. This covenant is being fulfilled during this church age, and when a large remnant of Jews is saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. 

* Hebrews 11:1, 8-16, 39-40. “God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them.” God promised spiritual and physical blessings (salvation and land) to all true descendants of Abraham, all those justified by faith in Christ. These blessings will be realized in the kingdom ages. You will see that the hope of Abraham and the Jews is related to the hope of all believers. Ps. 37:11 – Matt. 5:5
* Revelation 7:4-8. “…we have sealed the bond-servants of our God.” During Daniel’s 70th week, before the church is raptured into heaven, 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel, will be sealed and kept for Christ. They will be Christ’s special servants. Rev. 14:1-5

* Revelation 10:1-7. “… the mystery of God is finished” at the sound of the trumpet of the 7th angel. This occurs at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Then a remnant of Jews will be saved, the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of God, the nations will be judged, and all things will be summed up in Christ. Eph. 1:9-11, Rev. 11:15
* Revelation 11:1-15. “I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days.” During the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, we see this focus on the temple, Jerusalem, the powerful preaching of two godly witnesses, and the glory of God.

* Revelation 12. “She gave birth to a son… who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” Rev. 12 tells us key elements of the Jews’ history. We read of her birth as a nation, her purpose in giving birth to Jesus the King, her lifelong battle with the devil, being persecuted in the end-times, her great escape, and God’s protection of her.
* Revelation 20.1-10. “… The thousand years…” refer to the millennial kingdom and is vividly described in the prophets and Psalms. Christ rules the world during this time, and believers, both Jew and Gentile, reign with Him. At the end of these 1,000 years, Christ will cast the devil and the dead, all unbelievers, into the lake of fire. Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 5:10

* Revelation 21:10-13. “… the new Jerusalem… with 12 gates… names were written on them… the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel.” This glorious city comes down out of heaven at the end of the 1,000-year kingdom age. Then Jewish and Gentile believers will live forever with Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, Husband, and King.

In conclusion, here are several important thoughts to remember:
1. These NT verses about the Jewish people confirm and complement many of God’s OT promises to them. Dan. 9:27 – Matt. 24:15
2. These NT verses about the Jews is overwhelming proof that God did not forget His promises to them, that He won’t go back on His word, that He hasn’t given up on them, and that He will carry out all His plans for them. Is. 46:9-11

3. Reading these NT verses makes it clear that the Jews are back in their land, the land of Israel, and that it’s a special place, a God given and glorious land.
4. The main themes of these NT verses focus on God’s working with the Jews. Primarily, they describe what happens to them during the end-times, their salvation, and the kingdom ages to come.

5. These NT verses say nothing about another country occupying the land God promised to the Jews. Not only that, but there will be no permanent two-state solution. The land of Israel will be occupied by the Jewish people and ruled by Jesus Christ. Gen. 13:15, 15:18-21; Zech. 14:9
6. These NT verses make it clear that God is simultaneously working with both Jews and Christians in these end-times and in the kingdom ages to come.

7. These NT verses tell us that these years before the end of this age will be a very difficult time for the Jews. They will not experience any great blessings and glory until the millennial kingdom when Christ is reigning over them and the earth.
8. Be excited and thankful that you are alive at this time in history, and that you can witness God’s working with both Gentile and Jewish believers. And remember, it won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His reign over the world.

“All nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed. Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen,” Psalm 72:17-19

P.S. There’s so much going on in the world and, as a Christian, you will be lost and confused if you don’t know what God says about the Jewish people and the end-times we live in. I encourage you to read these previous posts: “A Jewish Reading Lesson”, “Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers”, and “Jews and Gentiles Unitedly Glorifiying God.”

God has Good Plans for Israel and Her Land

April 6, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #301 ~

“O Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of Your people and covered all their sins” (Ps. 85:1-2). Israel – what a people, what a nation, what a land, what a history, and what a future! Around 2,050 BC God promised to Abram that he and his descendants would be a special people. They would inherit a choice piece of land (Gen. 12:1, Ez. 37:21), be ruled by the King of kings (2 Sam. 7:16, Ez. 37:22), be saved from their sins (Jer. 31:31-34, Ez. 37:23), and be greatly blessed. Gen. 12:2, Ez. 37:24-28

The Jewish people first entered their land about 1400 BC (Josh. 3-19). Close to 800 years later, God made them leave because of their sins. Exactly 70 years later, in 538 BC, God mercifully began bringing them back (Jer. 29:10-14). It was about 4 BC when Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world, came to Israel (Lk. 2:1-20). Most of the Jews rejected Jesus, and their leaders had Him crucified. But being killed and then resurrected was God’s sovereign plans for Jesus, the only means by which He could save His people from sin and death. Forty days after Jesus was raised from the dead, He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of His heavenly Father.

Before He left for heaven, Jesus told us some things we need to know about the future:
1. He said He would build the church, people who were called and saved by God to be members of His spiritual body. And from the day of Pentecost to the end of this age, Jesus has been building His church. Acts 2:1-21; Matt. 16:18, 28:19-20
2. He predicted that He would come back on the clouds just after the end of this age to gather all believers from heaven and earth so they would be with Him. Matt. 24:29-31
3. He told us that the Israelites would be punished and scattered all over the world which happened just like He said. Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-24
4. Jesus made it clear that the Israelites would return to their land (Lk. 13:34-35, 21:24). This has been miraculously occurring since the 1880’s – and it had to happen for God to fulfill all His promises to the Jewish people. Ezekiel 37:21-28

That the Jews are back in their land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times (Dan. 12:4). During these end-times, the final years of this age, God is renewing His work with the Jews and finishing building the church. Evidence for God’s simultaneous working with Jews and Christians is seen in many New Testament prophecy passages. Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27; Luke 21:12-19, 20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3-9; Rev. 7:2-8, 9-14; and Rev. 12:1-16, 12:17. (Christians, Jews). Knowing how God is working with the Jews helps us to see the general time frame for Christ’s return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:15-36

I must talk to you about what the New Testament says about God’s end-times’ work with the Jews. Before I do, I need to help you understand an important prophecy passage from the Old Testament – Daniel 9:24-27. Here are some key points from these verses:
* There are 70 weeks decreed for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The context tells us that each week is 7 years long – therefore, this 70 weeks is referring to a 490-year period. During this time, the Jewish people are living in their land. 
* The purpose of these 490 years is stated in Dan. 9:24: the sin of the Jews will come to an end; there will be atonement for their sins; a Jewish remnant will be saved; the Holy Place (millennial temple) will be anointed; and everlasting righteousness will begin.
* The first 69 weeks, lasting 483 years, began with a decision to rebuild Jerusalem (445 BC), and ended when the Messiah (the Christ), was cut off, was killed in 30 AD.

* There’s a long gap of time between the end of the 69th week and the start of the 70th week. As things look now, I believe it will last at least 2,000 years. During this time, Jesus Christ is focused on building the church.
* Daniel’s 70th week gives us a time frame, a divine time schedule that will help you see and understand the sequence of end-time events.
* The 70th week has not yet begun. We know that because events prophesied in Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:15-26, 2 Thess. 2:3-8, and Rev. 13 haven’t yet happened. And because we are in the end-times, we know it won’t be long before the start of this 70th week.

* Here are some key events occurring during this 70th week: at the beginning of the week, the Jews make a 7-year covenant with the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27); during the first half of the week a Jewish temple is built (2 Thess. 2:3-5); at the 3½ year mark the Antichrist breaks his treaty with the Jews and desecrates the temple (Matt. 24:15); sometime during the 2nd half of the week the church is raptured (Matt. 24:30-36); at the end of the 70th week a Jewish remnant is saved. Rom. 11:25-27
* Jesus Himself speaks of Daniel’s 70th week in Matt. 24:15. Note that the verse says, “Let the reader understand.” God is impressing upon us the importance of this 70th week – and He wants us to know that it is relevant not just to Jews, but also to Christians.

Many non-Christians, along with some Christians, do not believe that the land we know as Israel is for the Jews. Debates and disputes about this are happening in our country at the present time. And many do not believe that God has a future for the Jewish people, one that was extensively prophesied about in the Old Testament. Many believe that God rejected the Jews because of their sin and their past rejection of Christ, and that many of the promises He gave to the Jews are now for the church. But this is just not true!

God keeps His Word! In the next blog post we will examine several passages in the New Testament that are specifically about the Jews and how God is working with them and fulfilling His promises. It’s imperative that you understand and are encouraged by God’s working with the Jewish people. “Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land… The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.” Psalm 85:9, 12

P.S. God raised up the nation of Israel and gave her some land, and He won’t take it away frim her. The post today talks about this, with a focus on Daniel’s 70th week, a key 7-year prophetic period. I encourage you to read the two other posts I have written on this most critical week – “The Divine Timetable, Daniel’s 70 Weeks”, and “Daniel’s 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End Times.”

It’s True! Christ is Coming Again!

March 23, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #300 ~

There’s an enormous volume of verses about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Obviously, God wants you to be convinced of this most important truth. It’s imperative that you realize its relevance, especially now that we are living in the end-times. Christ’s coming is not a minor, secondary truth, but a major, primary truth. Just think, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could come back in your lifetime. You may actually see Him return on the clouds to rapture you and the church.

That God gives us so many verses about Christ’s coming means that it must be a subject He really wants you to know and understand. My purpose in this post is not to address all the details in these 2nd coming verses, but to impress you with this singular message, that Jesus Christ is coming again!

The verses I have written out are those containing the word coming, appearing, and revealing. The word coming is in both a noun form, speaking of Christ’s arrival and presence, and a verb form, referring only to the fact that Christ will arrive. Appearing means to shine forth, telling us that Christ will be visibly evident to the whole world – no one will miss Him. Revealing speaks of the uncovering, the unveiling of our coming Lord and King. Jesus Christ is very much alive, and for Christians, He is spiritually in our hearts, but now He is physically in heaven and hidden from view. Soon enough, Christ will physically come, physically appear, and physically be revealed, and the entire world will see Him in all His glory. What a day that will be!!!

Here are 54 verses about the coming of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 23:39 – “I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 24:3 – “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:27 – “Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:30-31 – “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.”
Matthew 24:37-38 – “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away. So will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:42 – “Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 26:64 – “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 8:38 – “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 12:37-38 – “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when He comes; truly I say to you, that He will gird himself to serve and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them…”
Luke 12:40 – “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Luke 17:29-30 – “On the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”
Luke 18:8 – “However when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
John 14:3 – “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.”
Acts 1:11 – “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
1 Corinthians 1:8 – “You are not lacking any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will keep you strong to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 – “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

Colossians 3:4 – “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
1 Thessalonians 2:19 – “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”
1 Thessalonians 3:13 – “… so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 – “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not proceed those who fall asleep. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 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 in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “… may your spirit and soul and body be persevered complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 – “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – “We request you brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…”
2 Thessalonians 2:8 – “Then 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.”

1 Timothy 6:13-14 – “… keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will being about at the proper time.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort…”
Titus 2:12-13 – “… live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 9:28 – “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation, without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
Hebrews 10:37 – “In a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
James 5:7 – “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it.”
James 5:8 – “Be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
1 Peter 1:7 – “… so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 5:4 – “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

2 Peter 3:3-4a – “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’”
1 John 2:28 – “Now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
1 John 3:2 – “We are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be… when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.”
Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is He who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what He has done.”
Revelation 22:20 – “Behold, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Here are 49 more verses about Christ’s coming, ones that are either duplicates, Old Testament verses, or do not have the words coming, appearing, or revealing in them. Job 19:25-27; Ps. 2:6, 98:9; Is. 40:10; Joel 2:30-32; Zech. 14:4:9; Mal. 4:5; Matt. 16:28; Mark 13:26-27, 13:33-35; Luke 12:42-46, 17:24, 21:27-28, 34-36; Acts 3:20-21; Rom. 8:22-25; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 1:6, 1:10, 2:16, 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 2 Thess. 1:6-7; Jude 21.

I encourage you to read and reread all the above verses. Study them, and study them in their context. And share them with others. May they encourage your soul and give you hope. Now more than ever before, be looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, your Savior, Lord, and King.

P.S. In my opinion, the truth that Christ is coming back is the single most important subject about the future. Here are four other posts about Christ’s coming: “The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ”, “When is Christ Coming Back?”, “What Will Happen When Christ Comes Back?”, “Why is Jesus Christ Coming Back?”

The Continuing Journey of the Jewish People

March 9, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #299 ~

Peaceful orange sunset over the Sea of Galilee, with flower-covered hill slope in the foreground, and the city of Tiberias and surrounding hills, including the Arbel cliff in the background; Israel

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came from heaven to the land of Israel to do the work of His Father. He lived a perfect life, loved everyone, taught the truth, did all kinds of miracles, and trained disciples. Yet, He was crucified, He was killed by His enemies – and it was His Father’s will (Acts 2:23). “Christ died once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18), so that God might forgive us of our sins and give us eternal life. Three days later, Christ rose from the dead, and 40 days after that, He left Israel and ascended into heaven to be with His Father. Heb. 1:1-3

Many Jewish people wanted Christ to remain in Israel to be their King and defeat their enemies. But He had other plans (Matt. 16:18). From heaven, Christ would be building the church, a spiritual body of believers, ones who would be saved from their sins, and then serve Him while they lived on earth. But what about God’s promises to the Jewish people? Would He still fulfill His plans for them? Yes, He would! Let me explain what needed to happen first.

Jesus was in Jerusalem that last week before He died, and He had a strong and sobering message for the Jews. He told them, “… your enemies… will level you to the ground and your children with you… because you did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Lk. 19:41-44). Jesus also warned His disciples about this impending disaster. “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then recognize that her desolation is near… these are days of vengeance… there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-24, Luke 23:27-31

Jesus, the Messiah, had come to Israel, but most Jews rejected His offer of mercy. God had no choice but to condemn them as a nation and cast them out of their land. Jesus’ own people, ones He loved and wept over, had to be punished. It was around 70 AD that Roman soldiers savagely and mercilessly attacked the people of Israel. The result was that an enormous number of Jews were killed, and a great many others were taken as prisoners to nations all over the world. But would God’s chosen people ever return to the land of Israel? Yes, they would!

Many Old Testament passages predicted that the Jews would return to their land. Here are a few of them: “I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. They shall be My people and I will be their God” (Jer. 32:36-44). “I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… and one king will be king for all of them” (Ez. 37:21-22). “I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.” Zech. 8:7-8  

Jesus Himself predicted that the Jews would return to Israel – “Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:23). “Until” means “up to the time of the event mentioned.” That is, Jewish people will be in their land and have total control over it only when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, only when the Gentiles no longer have any power or influence over them.

History tells us that the Jewish people were forced out of their land around 70 AD. But in the 1880’s, according to God’s promise, they started returning to their land. And they kept coming and coming and are still coming, and now there are close to 7.2 million Jews living in Israel. To have a people group dispersed from their land for over 1800 years and then return to that same land with the same religion, same language, and same culture is unbelievable, amazing, unheard of, and truly miraculous!

4,000 years have now passed since God first set in motion His plans for the Jewish people. Let me summarize their long and difficult journey: it began with God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). About 600 years later, around 1400 BC, Joshua led the Jewish people into the promised land (Josh. 3-19). Close to 800 years later, they were exiled out of the land of Israel. And exactly 70 years later, in 538 BC, Jewish people began returning to their land. Jer. 29:10-14, Ezra

Finally, in 4 BC, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Israel (Lk. 2:1-20), and He left 33 years later, but promised that He would return (Matt. 24:3-31). Around 70 AD, the Jewish people were, once again, exiled from Israel – and this time they were scattered all over the world (Lk. 21:24). And they were gone from their land a lot longer, for close to 1800 years, until the 1880’s. And now its 2024 AD and nearly half the world’s Jewish population has returned to their homeland.

The fact that the Jews are back in their land means we are living in the end-times (Dan. 12:4, 9), and this is relevant not just for Jews, but also for Christians. The following end-times’ passages testify to this – Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27, Luke 21:12-19, 20-24, 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3-9, Rev. 7:2-8, 9-14, and Rev. 10-12:1-16, 12:17 – 13 (italics are the church, and bold are the Jews). Note that these eschatological verses about Jews and Christians are sitting side by side, are adjacent to each other. Do you see what God is saying, and is doing? In the last years of this church age, He is renewing His work with the Jews and is finishing building the church.

God is setting the stage, is getting everything and everyone in place for the return of His Son to earth. In a little while, Christ will come back to rapture the church, judge the world, and save a remnant of Jews. Then He will be in Israel and, from there, reign over the world – and we will reign with Him, and be praising Him. “Sing praises to our King… For God is the King of all the earth” (Ps. 47:6-7). “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:1-2

P.S. It’s imperative that you understand the history of the Jewish people in their land, from around 2000 BC up to the present day. I have written a series of posts on this subject and encourage you to read them all. They are #’s 290, 291, 292, 295, 296, and this present one, #299. In my next post, #300, I will write out a number of verses on this blogsite’s primary subject – “Christ is Coming Again.”

Jesus Christ – Living in Israel Doing the Work of God

February 24, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #298 ~

To truly know where things are headed in this world, you must understand God’s purpose and plans for Israel. It started about 4,000 years ago when God promised to Abraham and his descendants that they were to be His people, that He would give them a special piece of land, and that He would greatly and eternally bless them. Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-16, 17:1-8

It was around 1845 BC when Israel was born in the nation of Egypt. She grew to be about 2,000,000 people, and then in 1445 BC, Moses miraculously led her out of Egypt. And 40 years later, Joshua led her into the promised land. For about 800 years, she lived in this good land, but God drove her out because of all her sins. In 538 BC, exactly 70 years after she was exiled, God sovereignly brought a Jewish remnant back to Israel. Indeed, God kept His promise to His people – “When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place,” Jeremiah 29:10-14

What was the main reason God brought some Israelites back to their land? Because He wanted His Son to save people from their sins. And for that to happen, His Son, Jesus, needed to be the Son of man, a descendant of Jewish people, and be born in this land of Israel. For the next 500+ years, God was getting everyone and everything in place, and it all went according to His plans. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12

The 2000-year history of the Israelites was culminating in the coming of Jesus Christ, of God’s Son to earth. And Jesus came to the land of Israel, not to Persia, Magog, Edom, Italy, Greece, Assyria, Egypt, Ethiopia, or any other place. It was in Israel that God would accomplish His most important work, the suffering, death, and resurrection of His own Son, so as to save souls from sin, death, and hell. Matthew 26-28; Romans 3:23, 6:23

Finally, “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4). The Son of God was born of a woman and, thus, was also the Son of man, and He had to be God and Man to fulfill His most important work. The last 3 years of Jesus’ 33-year life were the most critical, for He was completely focused on the people and carrying out God’s work. “I brought You glory by completing the work You gave Me to do.” John 17:1-4

During those last few years of His earthly life, Jesus was crisscrossing the land of Israel, going from villages to cities, to places like Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, Bethany, Jericho, Bethsaida, Bethesda, Chorazin, and Jerusalem. Jesus dearly loved the people; He was always gentle, patient, and kind; He worked extremely hard; He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead; He was continually teaching the truth; He was devoted to training disciples; and He “would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5:16

Jesus was also fulfilling prophecy, predictions about His life when He was in the land of Israel, ones God had made 100’s of years earlier. Mic. 5:2 said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Is. 9:1-2 told us He would be a great light in the land of Galilee. Is. 35:5-6 spoke of miracles being performed in Israel, which Jesus did. Zech. 9:9 predicted that that this Messiah would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. These prophecies and many others came true, confirming Jesus’ identity, and the plans God had for His Son. Matthew 1:18-2:6

By all He said and did, Jesus proved that He was God in the flesh. Jesus made it clear that He was and is the greatest man ever, not just in Israel, but in all the world. Yet, for loving people and sharing the truth, He was mocked, slandered, beaten, flogged, and killed. In all this, Jesus wasn’t thinking about Himself but others – He was humbly, willingly, and lovingly sacrificing His life for the lives of others. Philippians 2:1, 5-8

It was just outside the city of Jerusalem where Jesus Christ, a perfect man, died on a cross to pay for the sins of all those who would repent and believe in Him. Shortly after He died, He was buried, and three days later He was raised from the dead, proof that He had gained the victory over man’s sin by satisfying God’s demands for justice. Rom. 3:21-26, 4:24-25, 5:6-11, 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18

Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He lifted off from Israel and went to heaven to be with His Father. His work to save people’s souls was completely finished. Ten days after His ascension, Jesus, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, began building the church. (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 2:19-22). It’s now close to 2000 years later, and Jesus is still in heaven and the church is still growing. But is He returning to earth and to Israel? Yes, He is! Jesus kept telling us He would come back, and He will definitely keep His word! Matt. 24:27, 30-31, 37-42; John 14:1-3; Rev. 22:12

Why is Jesus Christ coming back? He’s coming back to rapture the church, those on earth at the end of this age, and take them to Himself and then home to heaven. “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” (John 14:3). “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another” Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Jesus is coming back to judge an unbelieving world, those on earth after the church is raptured. “The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations” (Zech. 14:3). “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and wages war… From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations… and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” Revelation 19:11-21

Jesus is coming back to Israel so as to reign over her and the entire earth. “… In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem… the Lord will be King over the whole earth” (Zech. 9:4, 9). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.” Psalm 67:4. Psalm 2:7-9, Psalm 47:2-4, Matthew 19:28

What a great time to be alive! Now we can look back over the last 4000+ years and see all that God has done with the nation of Israel and with the church. And now we live in the end-times, the final years before Christ returns to rapture the church, judge the world, and begin reigning over this earth. Be excited and rejoicing! Be worshiping Christ, working for Him, and waiting for His coming! “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory be over all the earth.” Psalm 57:11

P.S. Jesus Christ came to the land of Israel, the land where He would do the work to save us from our sins, and the land He will return to in the near future. The following post will help you see the importance of the land of Israel in the past, present, and future – “God Promised ‘The Land’ to Israel.”

The Great and Wonderful Love of God

February 14, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #297 ~

If you are a child of God, if God is your heavenly Father, then you are greatly, personally, and forever loved by Him. God wants you to know and experience His love every day of the week and every year of your life. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.” Psalm 90:14

If you are not satisfied by God’s love, then you will look to people or things in the world. That will not be good for you and will not bring glory to God. So go after God, seek Him, and make it your goal for your soul to know and be satisfied by His love. Then you will love God and love others and be able to joyfully carry out His plans for your life. Then you can make it through the tough times and these end-times. And then you will greatly glorify your God and Father.

I have written up a long list of Bible verses on God’s love. They are in my most recent article on this blog site. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing these truths about love, thinking about them, and seeing them impact your life on earth. Listed below are several thoughts about love from these verses.

1. The greatest demonstration of God’s love for you is seen in Christ’s death on the cross, in that He was punished to pay the penalty for all your sins, and that God the Father was perfectly and forever satisfied by what His Son did for you.
2. The love of God is based on the truth of God.
3. God’s word gives you a great amount of information about God’s love.
4. God’s love for you began in eternity past and will continue into eternity future.

5. There is never a gap, a break in God’s love – it is constant and continual.
6. Ask God to show you His love so you can know His love.
7. Never expect or depend on a person to love you, but do expect and depend on God to love you.
8. God’s love is seen in many ways: it is good, kind, gentle, forgiving, patient, and compassionate.
9. Keep thanking God for His amazing and incredible love for you.

10. God’s love is shown in that He thinks about you, speaks to you, and works for you.
11. Knowing God’s love is one of the most important keys to loving people.
12. Singing about God’s love is good for your soul.
13. Being filled with God’s love is necessary to be fruitful and blessed.
14. You need to rely on and be satisfied by God’s love every day of your life. You may start the day with a cup of coffee but you must start the day with God’s love.

15. You see God’s love dimly during this life, but you will see it much more clearly and fully after your life on earth, when you are with Him in heaven.
16. God expresses His love to you in many ways. He loves you by giving you His Spirit, by being with you, by never leaving you, by providing for you, by leading you, by protecting you, by spiritually blessing you, by physically blessing you, by speaking to you through His word, by using you for His purposes, by giving you Christian fellowship, and by giving you hope.

17. Its vitally important to keep yourself in God’s love (Jude 21). You do this by: spending time with God, and for more than just a few minutes a day; meditating on verses about love; remembering what Christ did for you on the cross; loving God; obeying God; being filled with the Spirit; believing the truth of God’s love; having communion with Christians; confessing  your sins to God; being thankful; sharing God’s love with others; and having fellowship with Christians.

18. Remember how God loved you in the past; focus on His love for you today; and think about how He will love you in the future, especially when you are in heaven.
19. A key to perseverance, to not giving up, is thinking about the personal and never-stopping, never-ending love of God.
20. God loves you even when you do not feel like He loves you. Never gauge His love for you by how you feel, by your emotional state, or by the kind of day you are having.

21. That God made you and then made you His child is a good and powerful sign of His love for you.
22. God’s love is true, unfathomable, incomprehensible, infinite, and eternal.
23. You cannot love God and love the world – they do not mix. If you love God, you are not loving the world, and if you love the world, you are not loving God.
24. Disobeying God means you are not being led by and filled up with His love.

25. One way to know God’s love is seeing how He is sovereign over your life.
26. God’s caring and compassionate love is really needed when you are going through troublesome and trying times.
27. The more you know God loves you, the more you will work and fight for Him.
28. Great tribulation, great persecution, is coming upon this earth. But during this time, nothing will keep you from God’s encouraging and comforting love.

29. Many of the verses I have listed in Article 52 are about David. I believe he is our best human example in the Bible of one who knew the love of God. Learn about God’s love by reading the Psalms and learning from David’s life.
30. The more you know and walk in God’s love, the more you will glorify God.

P.S. This is Valentine’s Day, a day that focuses on human love. But as Christians, we must focus on God’s love. I strongly encourage you to read and print out the verses on God’s love that are in my recent article, “The Love of God”, and then take the time to think about them. And pass them on to family and friends.

A Jewish Remnant Returns to the Land of Israel

February 3, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #296 ~

You can’t fully understand God’s plans for the Jewish people unless you learn about the land God gave to them. It was around 2,050 BC that God first promised this land to Abram, and He kept reminding him and his descendants that it was their land. (Gen. 12:1, 13:14-15, 15:18-21, 17:7-8; Ps. 105:8-11). Finally, around 1,400 BC, under Joshua’s leadership, the Jewish people entered this promised land. During their extended stay in this land, God did many great and glorious things for them. But because of all their terrible sin, they only lived there for about 800 years, and then God made them leave – but only for a short time.

God tells us exactly when the Jewish people would come back. Through Jeremiah, God predicts, “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:10-11). Then there’s Daniel pleading with God, reminding Him of His promise to Jeremiah to bring His people back to their land. (Dan. 9:1-19). Finally, Cyrus, “in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah”, issues a decree that the Jews can go back to their land to “rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel.” Ezra 1:2-4

After being exiled out of their land for exactly 70 years, Jewish people began returning – and it happened in three stages, in 538 BC, 458 BC, and 445 BC. Here are several important things to note about the Jews’ return to their land and the years that followed:

* Nearly 2,000,000 Israelites entered their land close to 870 years earlier, but in this first stage there’s a remnant of only about 50,000. Yet, God’s purposes were destined to be fulfilled.
* Life in the land of Israel was difficult, was very different from what it was like when they were deported 70 years earlier. The city of Jerusalem and its walls were in ruins, and there was no temple, no sacrifices, and no security for the people.

* The Israelites were in their land, but it was controlled by the Persians – thus Israel had no king for she was not a sovereign nation. Nehemiah said, “We are slaves today, and as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and bounty, behold, we are slaves in it. Its abundant produce is for the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins… We are in great tribulation” (Neh. 9:36-37). The Jewish people were poor, were not in charge, and had forfeited God’s blessings because of their ancestors’ sins.

* For the Jews it was the time of the Gentiles. No divinely appointed king was ruling over them, and this would continue until the 2nd coming of Christ, the return of the King. Luke 21:24, Zech. 14:4,9
* The ethnic and national identity of the Jewish people was truly preserved. They were back in their land, they had their religion and culture, and the priestly lines were still intact. Temple worship and sacrifices could take place with hopes that God’s presence and glory would return.

* Haggai the prophet was part of the 1st wave of Jews who came back to their land in 538 BC. He exhorted the people to live godly lives and rebuild the temple, which was then completed in 516 BC. He prophesied of a future temple, future glory, and a future king, whom we know is Christ the King, One who will “fill this house with glory” and “destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations.” Haggai 2:7, 22

* Ezra, a scribe and a priest, led a 2nd wave of Jews to their land in 458 BC. Devoted to teaching God’s word, Ezra helped lead a great revival among the Jewish people (Neh. 8-10). By instructing them about God’s past dealings with their ancestors (1-2 Chron.), he encouraged the people and gave them hope about the future. “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever… the covenant which He made with Abraham… He confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan.’” 1 Chronicles 16:14-18

* Nehemiah, a strong and godly leader, was instrumental in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem – and he also served as her governor. An excellent summary of God’s merciful and patient working with His people is given in Neh. 9. We are again reminded of God’s promise to His people about the land – “You are the Lord God who chose Abram… You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites… to give it to his descendants” (Neh. 9:7-8). There’s no doubt that God wanted His people to remember His everlasting faithfulness and His promise of land. 

* Zechariah was a priest and a contemporary of Haggai. “Zechariah” actually means “God remembers”, and God always remembers His promises to His people. They had just returned from captivity, and the situation in Israel was bleak. To encourage the people, God commissioned Zechariah to tell the people about their hope, specifically about the coming kingdom age. He gives many references about their glorious future: Zech. 1:16-17; Zech. 2:1-13; Zech. 3:6-10; Zech. 6:1-8; Zech. 8:1-8, 12-13, 20-22; Zech. 9:8-17; Zech. 10:1-12; Zech. 12:7-14; Zech. 13:1-9; Zech. 14:1-21. These verses speak of Israel living in their land during the time when Christ is King over them and the entire world. “In that day His (the Lord’s) feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… the Lord shall be King over all the earth.” Zech. 14:4, 9

* Satan strongly opposes the Jewish people from their return to the land up to Christ’s 1st coming. Satan’s plan is to prevent the Messiah from coming to earth, and so he employs four devilish empires to go after the Jewish people – but Satan is thwarted every time. Dan. 7:1-8 and Rev. 12:1-5 describe these as beast empires, as vicious, animal-like, God-hating kingdoms. These beasts represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, with the fourth beast becoming a future 10-horned kingdom, one ruled by the Antichrist. The book of Esther speaks of the Medo-Persian empire and her attempt, through Haman, to wipe out the Jewish people – but they failed. Yes, the Jews were in a weakened state during these 530+ years, but God was so loving and strong, and He always protected and preserved His people. His promises to them never failed.

The prophet Malachi had much to say to the Jewish people. Yes, they had a fresh start when they returned to their land, but they had sunk to a depth of sin that was as bad as it had ever been. So Malachi clearly points out the sins of the priests and the people. There was corruption, complacency, divorce, defiled sacrifices, hard-hearts, intermarriage, bad teaching, legalism, withholding of tithes, etc. So God warned them of coming judgment, of “the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). Despite this judgment, God has a faithful remnant of Jews, saying to them, “to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2 

The book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, the last time God speaks to His people until Christ’s 1st coming. It’s around 430 BC, and the land of Israel was under foreign rule; the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants had not been fulfilled; the Jewish people were still being oppressed; the future still looked bleak; and the Messiah had not yet come to Israel. But God never forgot His people and His promises to them – He knew exactly what He was doing and would be doing. 

Scholars call these 430 years before the coming of the Messiah, before the birth of Jesus, the intertestamental period. God knew that certain things had to be in place “before the fullness of the time came,” before He would send Christ to earth (Gal. 4:4). During this peiod Jewish synagogues were built; rabbis, Pharisees, and Sadducees came to be; the Greek and Latin languages were established; the Greek Septuagint was written; there were the Roman roads; and there was Pax Romana. God was doing detail work, getting everyone and everything in place before sending His Son to earth. 

It wouldn’t be long before Christ would come, not to Persia or Edom or Italy or Greece or Assyria or Egypt or Ethiopia, but to the land of Israel and the Jewish people. Once in Israel, Christ would live a perfect life, die for our sins, be raised from the dead, and then ascend into heaven. Then at His 2nd coming, it will be said, “The Lord be magnified beyond the border of Israel… My name will be great among the nations” (Mal. 1:5, 11), and “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land.” Malachi 3:12

P.S. I am strongly convinced that we need to understand the long and amazing history of the Jewish people and their land, the land of Israel. I have written four different posts about the Jews and their land, and I encourage you to read them all – #290, #291, #292, and 295. And I am planning on writing two to three more, from the time of Christ up to the present and into the future.

“The Land”, from the River to the Sea, is for Israel!

January 20, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #295 ~

There has never been anyone like the Jewish people! Beginning with God’s unbreakable promise to Abraham around 2,000 BC (Gen. 12:1-3) and her supernatural birth as a nation in Egypt, she has miraculously survived through all the years, and she is still going today. The Israelites have had all these ups and downs, victories and defeats and, twice now, God drove them from her land and then brought them back. Despite all her sin and rebellion against God, we continue to see His unbelievable patience, awesome power, and incredible grace for them. Psalms 78, 105, 106

Why is this? Because Israel is God’s country. He chose her out of all the other nations in the world to be His people (Deut. 7:7-9). God has great and glorious plans for Israel, ones He has been fulfilling these past 4,000+ years, ones carefully recorded in His word, and ones impacting them and the entire world. And because God’s plans for Israel are eternal in nature, then He will bless her forever. Gen. 13:14-16

In recent posts, we’ve looked at Israel’s history as it relates to the land she first entered about 3,400 years ago. God’s relationship and work with the Israelites relates directly to her land. If you talk about the people of Israel, then you need to also talk about the land of Israel. “The Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants, I have given this land.’” Gen. 15:18

Last time we learned that Joshua led the Jewish people into their land around 1400 BC. “Joshua took the whole land… and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel.” (Josh. 11:23). Her east-west boundaries were from the river to the sea, “from the Jordan even to the Great Sea” (Josh. 23:4). This land was for Israel and not for anyone else. Ps. 105:8-11

Hundreds of years later, in 722 BC, 606 BC, and 586 BC, God exiled the Israelites out of the land He had given them. Why was God punishing His own people and forcing them out of their land? Because of sin, disobedience, and idolatry. Deut. 28:47-63 – “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart … The Lord will bring a nation against you… You will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it.” Jer. 25:8-11 – “Because you have not obeyed My words… This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” Ezek. 5:12 – “One third of you will die of plague or be consumed by famine… one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.” Ezek. 7:23 – “The land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.” Jer. 12:7-11, 16:18; Ezek. 4:13, 9:9, 11:23; Dan. 9:7-14

What about this Jewish remnant that was taken away from the land of Israel? God had plans for His people in the land where they were exiled, and He was present with them during their entire 70-year stay. Jer. 29:5-7 – “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons… Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile.” Ezek. 6:8 – “I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword… when you are scattered among the countries.” Ezek. 11:16 – “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Though I had removed them far away among the nations… yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.’”

What did God’s prophets say about the Messiah, the Israelites, and their land during their exile? They had a great deal to say, especially about the far distant future, about the end-times and the coming kingdom age. These prophecies make it very clear that God is committed to the Jewish people and committed to communicating His plans to them and to Christians too. The advantage we have at this time in history is that we can look back and better understand God’s plans for the Israelites, and how it now relates to us. Ezek. 36:6 – “Prophesy concerning the land of Israel…” Ezek. 36:24-28 – “I will… gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land… I will give you a clean heart and put a new spirit in you. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers, so you will be My people and I will be your God.” Ezek. 37:21-28 – “I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob my servant in which your fathers lived… I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them.”

Ezekiel 38:7 – “In the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations… it shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.” Ezek. 39:25-28 – “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name… They will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations and gathered them again to their own land.” Dan. 9:25-26 – “You are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince there will be 7 weeks and 62 weeks… After the 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”

God promised the Jewish people that He would bring them back to their land. He told His people that they would be exiled out of their land (Jer. 25:8-11) and then return 70 years later (Jer. 29:11-13) – and this took place just as God promised. Deut. 30:1-5 – “When all of these things have come upon you… and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him… then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity… the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed…” Jer. 16:14-15 – “I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.” Jer. 29:10-11 – “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Ezek. 11:17 – “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’’

Why do I spend so much time on Israel and her land? Because there’s so much written in God’s word about Israel and her land, which means she is extremely important to God. And because you need to know God’s plans for Israel if you’re to truly understand His plans for the church. Yes, there are people who question Israel’s purpose and place in the world, but what did God tell us in His word? You need to carefully study what God says about Israel in the Old and New Testaments, and then you will know the real truth and relevance of God’s plans for her and for you. Matt. 24:9-31, Rom. 15:8-13, Rev. 21:10-14

I am amazed and in awe when I see God’s works and ways through the years, whether it relates to me, the church, Israel, or the world. Be thankful that you can be part of God’s plans and can serve Him in the last years of this church age. Might you say, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders, and blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen” (Ps. 72:18-19). And be looking forward to when you can say, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3

P.S. I am writing all these posts about Israel and her land because she is the most important country in the world, and because its relevant to our world today and in the future. I encourage you to read my previous posts on this subject: “God Promised ‘the Land’ to Israel”, “‘The Land’: God’s Promise and Plans, and Israel’s Possession”, “Israel’s Long Stay in ‘the Land’ and God’s Glory.”

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