Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Author: stevenj777 (Page 2 of 38)

I Will Praise YOU Forever and Ever

January 24, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #351 ~

As a Christian, you are to see and know God for who He is, what He is like, and what He does. When you do, you will thank Him and praise Him. You will give Him the honor only He deserves. You will give Him the glory for the good things He does. You will tell Him you love Him. You will sing to Him and shout to Him with a joyful heart. You will worship God alone. And you will praise God in these end-times, in these tough times, when life is extremely difficult. 

So how are you doing in praising God? Most days, there are tens of thousands of thoughts and words on your mind and your lips – but are you praising God? Without question, praising God is the single most important thing you can do. “Praise God for His mighty deeds, praise Him for His excellent greatness… Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Ps. 150:2, 6

All creation is made to praise God, to worship Him. And if you are not worshiping God, you are worshiping someone or something else. It may be yourself, a friend, a celebrity, or it may be money, music, work, food, sports, a car, or some other idol. To not worship God, to not praise God, is sin, the most basic sin, a sin that is at the root of, that leads to every other sin. “I am the Lord your God… you shall have no other gods before Me.” Ex. 20:2-3; Jer. 2:5, 13; Rom. 1:20-25

The book in the Bible that speaks most about praising God is the Psalms. Last time we looked at a number of “praise” verses from the Psalms. Today we talk more about what it means to praise God and what motivates us to praise Him.

What are some keys to praising God? First, you learn who God is, that He is God, the only God, the supreme being, the One who has infinite value, and who is holy, holy, holy! You see that He is the Creator, that He made you and everyone and everything else in the world. You recognize that He is Lord, that there is no other, that He is in charge of all things, and that He does what He wants. You believe that God is the Savior, the only One who can save people from sin, death, hell, and the devil. You understand that God is the Judge, that He decides what is right and wrong and then rewards or punishes accordingly. You realize that God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that He is a Trinity. You know that He is the King over the whole world, and that in a little while, you will be reigning with Him. So praise God for who He is. But there’s much more.

Second, you know what God is like, His character, His attributes, His name. You learn that He is holy, just, loving, good, gracious, great, kind, patient, forgiving, sovereign, wise, compassionate, gentle, etc. You understand that God is unique, eternal, self-sufficient, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, etc. This is amazing, wonderful, unbelievable! You conclude that infinite worth and value must be given to God alone, and that only He deserves to be praised. “Praise the name of the Lord” (Ps. 113:1b). And there’s still more.

Third, you learn what God is doing. By studying God’s word, and by watching, thinking, praying, reading, and talking to others, you discover God’s works, you learn what He is doing in your life, your family, your friends, the church, and in the world. You learn that God is working in the lives of the lost and saving them. You see that He is working in the lives of the saved, and is loving, teaching, leading, correcting, forgiving, and changing them. You learn about His work in this country and around the world. You see His miraculous work, power, mercy, greatness, blessings, goodness, holiness, wrath, and glory. Observing and thinking about these things results in you giving God glory, praise, and honor, and in you being filled with His joy and peace.

To sum up, the keys to praising God are knowing who He is, what He is like, and what He is doing. I separated these three to help you understand what they mean, but they go together. Here are two examples: 1) “God (who)saved (what He did) us because He loved (what He is like)us.” 2) “God (who), by His power (what He is like), will take us to heaven (what He will do).”

Here are several other important truths about praising God:
1) Only a true Christian can praise the true God. Ps. 113:1, Phil. 3:2-3
2) Praising God is a big word, for exulting in Him, singing to Him, and exalting, extolling, worshiping, blessing, thanking, adoring, honoring, celebrating, appreciating, and loving Him, can also be defined as praising God. Ps. 96
3) God commands you to praise Him because it’s the right thing to do. But praising God should not be something you feel you have to do, but what you want to do and are excited to do.  
4) Praising God gives Him glory, and results in His blessing in your life, now and forever.
5) Praising God is personal, between you and God – and it can be done in private or in public.

6) When there’s a problem, praise God. You’ll see that it’s often the key to solving the problem. 2 Chr. 20:20-23
7) Thanking God usually leads to praising Him. For example, thanking God for a specific thing, like a meal, often leads to praising Him for a general truth, like His love. Ps. 100:4
8) Praising God isn’t just what you do on Sunday, but what you are to do all week long. Ps. 145:2
9) Reading God’s word helps you know what specific work God is doing in your life which helps you to praise Him when you see this work. Ps 119:15
10) When you praise God, you recognize that He is your Lord – and you’re humble, you’re not proud.

11) If you are not praising God, it’s because of sin. You are focused on yourself and on worldly and fleshly things instead of thinking about God and loving Him.
12) Being with other believers who are praising God motivates you to praise Him. Rom. 12:10
13) Thinking about and thanking God for your salvation results in praising God. 1 Cor. 11:23-26
14) Praising God may or may not be emotional. You need to learn to praise God when you don’t feel like it, which often leads to praising Him with great feeling. Ps. 13:5-6
15) Praising God causes you to be united with God, and increases your intimacy with Him. Ps. 63:1-5

16) Praising God is foundational for all aspects of your spiritual growth. It’s heart-purifying, joy-filling, soul-strengthening, faith-increasing, peace-producing, and God-glorifying.
17) Be part of a church that is committed to praising God. Acts 2:42
18) Praising God has a positive and godly effect on the lives of other Christians.
19) Take the time to think about what God is doing in your life, the church, the lives of others, and the world around you. Ps. 77:12-15, 92:2, 111:1-2
20) Praise shows who you value, who you feel most strongly about – might it always be of God.

We live in the end-times, in a very sinful and troubled world – and as we get closer to Christ’s return, it will only get worse. I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping God front and center in your life, of praising Him at all times and in all situations. Expressing your love to God by praising Him is a priority, is practical, is a stabilizing and energizing force in your life. And in the coming kingdom ages, you will be praising God more and more and more. “Every day I will bless you, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Ps. 145:2

P.S. Here is a link to a number of excellent, God-glorifying Scripture Songs (Scripture Songs – Our Legacy – Volume 1 and Volume 2) that our church music team recorded when I was in Tampa. And here is another post about praising the Lord – “Worshiping the King, the Greatest Celebration Ever.”

Praise the Lord, From This Time and Forever!!

January 10, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #350 ~

The most important thing you can do as a Christian is to praise the Lord! When you read the Psalms, the longest book in the Bible, the book that has the most to say about your relationship with God, you learn that praising Him is the #1 subject. In today’s post, I write out a number of verses that speak about praising the Lord.  

First, let me summarize some things we learn from the Psalms about praising the Lord:
* Praising the Lord brings you into His presence.
* Praising the Lord gets your eyes off yourself and your problems and onto Him.
* The word “praise” is comprehensive, encompassing many aspects of what it means to worship God. Other words describing different facets of praise are sing, thanks, bless, extol, exalt, shout, ascribe, boast, glory, love, laud, and honor.
* An excellent way to praise God is by singing praises to Him. As you know, the Psalms are songs.
* Praising the Lord is always personal, and can be done in private or in public.

* Praise God for His work, and for His name, His character, whether it’s His truth, love, power, greatness, goodness, righteousness, justice, or faithfulness.
* Praising the Lord results in you being close to Him, and being blessed by Him.
* Praising the Lord is what you are to do all day long, day after day, and forever.
* Praising the Lord is a good measure of your spiritual health, a sign to you and others of how you are doing as a Christian.
* Jesus Christ reigns over the world during the millennial kingdom, and your primary duty will be praising Him. During this kingdom age, the whole world will be praising Christ. The focal center of praise during that time will be Jerusalem.

Here are 81 verses from the book of Psalms that talk about praise. I encourage you to read through the entire list – you will find it instructive and motivating.
9:2 – I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 9:13 – Be gracious to me, O Lord… that I may tell of all Your praises. 18:49 – I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing praises to Your name. 18.13 – I call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised. 21:13 – Be exalted, O Lord in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power. 22:26 – The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. 30:4 – Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name. 30:11-12 – You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. 33:1-2 – Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre, sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. 34:1 – I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 35:18 – I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng. 35:28 – My tongue shall declare Your righteousness and Your praise all day long. 42:5 – Why are you in despair, O my soul?… Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

47:6 – Sing praise to God, sing praises; sing praise to our King, sing praises, for God is the King of all the earth. 48:1 – Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. 48:10 – As is Your name O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 56:4 – In God whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. 57:7-10 – My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises… I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds. 59:17 – O my strength, I will sing praises to You; for God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness. 63:3-5 – Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You… My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 66:1-2 – Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. 66:4 – All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; they will sing praises to Your name.

69:30 – I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving. 69:34 – Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them. 71:6 – By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother’s womb; My praise is continually of You. 70:8 – My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long. 71:14 – As for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. 71:23 – My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; and my soul which You have redeemed. 76:10 – The wrath of man shall praise You. 84:4 – How blessed are those who dwell in Your house. They are ever praising You. 89:5 – The heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 96:4 – Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 98:4-5 – Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. 99:3 – Let them praise Your great and awesome name; holy is He.

100:4 – Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. 101:1 – I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, to You, O Lord, I will sing praises. 102:18, 21 – This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord… that men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion and His praises in Jerusalem. 104:33 – I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 104:35 – Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord! 105:42-45 – He remembered His holy word with Abraham His servant… He gave them all the lands of the nations… praise the Lord! 106:1 – Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the Lord, or can show forth all His praises? 106:47 – Gather us from among the nations to give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel from everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the Lord!

108:1, 3 – My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul… I will sing praises to You among the nations. 111:1 – Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly. 111:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. 113:1 – Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord… from the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. 113:9 – He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord! 117:1 – Praise the Lord all nations; laud Him all peoples, for His lovingkindness is great toward us and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. 119:164 – Seven times a day I praise You because of Your righteous ordinances. 135:3-4 – Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely, for the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself. 145:1-2 – I will extol You, my God, O King… Every day I will bless You. And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

145:21 – My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever. 146:1-2 – Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord while I live, I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Ps 146:10 – The Lord will reign forever, Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! 147:1 – Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is becoming. 147:12 – Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. 148:1, 7, 11, 12, 13 – Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise Him in the heights… Praise the Lord from the earth… let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted. 149:1 – Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. 149:3 – Let them praise His name with dancing; let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. 149:9 – To execute on them the judgment written, this is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the Lord! 150:1, 2, 6 – Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds. Praise Him for His excellent greatness… Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! 

We live in the end-times, the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church. In this post, we have focused on the supreme importance of praising the Lord. So does it not make sense that praising the Lord needs to be your #1 priority during these final years of your life on earth? And is it not true that God deserves all your praise? And do you not see that praising God is central, is critical to His glory, your work, and your success and joy as a Christian?

Revelation 4-5 describes a heavenly scene, the awesome, powerful prelude to God’s holy and victorious work on earth – and the principal theme is that the four living creatures, the 24 elders, the angels, and the believers are praising God the Father and Jesus Christ. Rev. 4:8, Rev. 4:11, Rev. 5:9, Rev. 5:11. Rev. 5:13 – “Every created thing which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’ And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen’. And the elders fell down and worshiped.”

P.S. When I was in our church in Tampa, we sang a number of Scripture songs, songs that were straight from the Bible, and many of them from the Psalms. Our music team recorded many of these encouraging, God-glorifying songs, and here are the links to them: Scripture Songs – Our Legacy, Volume 1 and Scripture Songs – Our Legacy, Volume 2

Thinking – Thanking – Praising – Proclaiming

January 3, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #349 ~

There are four things God wants you to do in 2026, 2027, and forever – thinking, thanking, praising, and proclaiming – and they are essential for your relationship with God and your spiritual growth. Doing these things brings God glory, gives you joy, and are keys to spiritual success. And they are sequential, for thinking leads to thanking which leads to praising which leads to proclaiming. Many Psalms talk about these godly instructions. So let’s look at them:

Psalm 9. Vs. 1a says, “I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart” (thanking). Vs. 2 tells us, “I will give praise to Your name, O Most High” (praising). Vs. 1b informs us, “I will tell of all Your wonders”, and similarly, vs. 11 says, “Declare among the people His deeds” (proclaiming). The rest of the Psalm tells us what David is thinking, that God watches over His people but judges the nations, which is the reason he is thanking and praising God, and proclaiming His deeds.

Psalm 105. Vs. 1a says, “O give thanks to the Lord” (thanking). Vs. 2a tells us, “Sing praises to Him” (praising). Vss. 1b and 2b instruct us, “Make known His deeds among the peoples”, and “Speak of all His wonders” (proclaiming). Vs. 5 tells us to “remember His wonders” (thinking), and vss. 6-45 go on to share these wonders, that God raised up the Jews and led them into the promised land, which explains what the writer is thinking, and why he is thanking and praising God, and proclaiming His deeds. Ps. 136:10-24 gives a similar history of the Jews, and repeatedly states that what God is doing shows His love for them, and they are to thank Him for this.

Psalm 106. Vs. 1b says, “Give thanks to the Lord.” (thanking). Vs. 1a tells us, “Praise the Lord” (praising). Vs. 2 states that we are to “speak of the mighty deeds of the Lord” (proclaiming). This Psalm focuses on Israel’s sins and yet, God still loved them, led them, and did mighty deeds for them. So we are to think about God’s deeds for it leads us to thanking, praising, and proclaiming.

Psalm 111. Vs. 1b tells us to “give thanks to the Lord” with all our heart (thanking). Vs. 1a commands us to “praise the Lord” (praising). Vs. 2 says that “the works of the Lord are studied by all who delight in them”, and vs. 4 tells us,“He has made His wonders to be remembered” (thinking). Vss. 5-9 summarize God’s wonderful work and character, which is what the Jews are to think about and which results in them thanking and praising God. The Psalm rightly concludes by saying, “His praise endures forever.” Ps. 111:10

Psalm 145. Vs. 5 tells us to “meditate” on God’s “wonderful works” (thinking). Vs. 10a says we are to give “thanks” to the Lord (thanking). Vss. 1-2 instructs us to “praise” the Lord (praising). Vs. 4 tells us to “declare” God’s mighty acts (proclaiming). Ps. 145, like Ps. 106, has much to say about God’s work and character. And vss. 14-20 give many examples of how God’s work displays His character (vss. 8-9), and we are to thank and praise God for this. Vss. 11-13 gives the big picture for it speaks of God’s eternal kingdom – and we will be with Christ in His kingdom, and forever thinking of Him, thanking Him, praising Him, and proclaiming Him as Lord. Phil. 2:9-11

Let’s now look at the meaning of thinking, thanking, praising, and proclaiming: First, think about the works of God. The word meditate means to think, and we know the importance of daily meditating on God’s word. (Ps. 1:2). So too you are to daily think about what’s happening so as to learn how God is working. I suggest taking time every night to think about your day, to reflect on His work to see what He’s doing in your life and in the lives of others. “I meditate on all Your doings.” (Ps. 143:5). And look back over the past week, month, year, or even your entire life, and think about key events and people during those times. I cannot stress enough the value of taking the time to think about what God is doing. Then you will thank and praise Him and say, “You are great and do wondrous deeds.” Ps. 86:10

Second, thank God for His works. Thinking about God’s work is the basis for thanking Him. Thinking about His work results in recognizing His involvement and activity in your life. Doing this enlarges God in your mind, making Him and His work more visible to you. This warms your heart for God, fills you with love for Him, and motivates you to be thankful, to be grateful to Him.

The greatest work of God is your salvation, that He has forgiven you, given you eternal life, and made you His child – and it pleases God when you thank Him for this, which should happen every day of your life and when you have communion (1 Cor. 11:24-25). It’s also good to thank God for what He does in general, like loving you. And thank Him for specific things, for food, friends, children, church, trials, weather, work, money, etc. “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you” (1 Th. 5:18). Thinking about God’s work brings His character into view, His love, holiness, kindness, power, patience, wisdom, sovereignty, etc. and it’s a blessing to thank Him for this as well. “I will… magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Ps. 69:30

Third, praise God for His works. The phrase “praise” and other forms of“praise” appear 214 times in the book of Psalms (KJV), and this is a strong statement from God to you that this should be a major part of your life. Praise is defined as boast, celebrate, shine, glory, or exalt. It’s not lifting up and thinking about self, sin, or evil things, but lifting up God and godly thoughts, and glorifying Him, celebrating Him, and boasting about Him. “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Ps. 34:3

Praise starts in your heart, in your innermost being, and is heard in your words and seen in your actions. “You are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14).“Light shall shine out of darkness” (2 Cor 4:6). Praising God is essential for your relationship with Him; being able to live for Him; being holy; being filled with love, joy, and hope; loving others; spiritual success; and much, much more.

All people are to praise God, but unbelievers praise themselves, things, and others – singers, athletes, actors, actresses, politicians, celebrities, etc., and they are idolaters. Christians are only to praise God, for He is their Creator, Savior, and Lord, and He is loving, holy, and powerful. And the more you praise God, the more you see Him for who He is, the more united you are with Him, the more intimacy you have with Him, and the more you love Him. So praise the Lord at all times, and all day long, and in these end-times. And praise the Lord when life is good, when it’s sunny, or when life is hard, when it’s stormy. “Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1-2

Fourth, proclaim the works of God. It’s not enough to just think about God’s work and thank and praise Him for it – you are to tell others about it. God wants you to be a good witness, to lovingly and clearly testify of His glorious work, from being saved, to how He is working in your life and in the lives of others, to what He is doing in this world, and to His Son’s return to establish His kingdom on earth.

“Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation” (Ps. 71:18). “One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts… men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness” (Ps. 145:4, 6). “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). “They reported all that God had done for them.” Acts 15:4

You must know what’s happening in these end-times, but you must also know what you are to do. And thinking, thanking, praising, and proclaiming is what God wants you to do, and is at the heart, is essential for everything else He wants you to do. Focus on these four things, and I guarantee you that you will have not just a good year, but a great year, and a great forever. I say forever because thinking, thanking, praising, and proclaiming is what we will be doing for all eternity. “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13

P.S. So in general, what will be taking place this year” Here is a post that will tell you: “God’s Plans for 2024 and Beyond.” Here is another post about what God wants you to do in the end-times: “How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?”

Christmas – A Crucial Part of the Big Picture, of God’s Eternal Purposes

December 24, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #348 ~

During this time of the year we focus on Christmas, a celebration of God becoming man and being with us, of the incarnation and of Immanuel. In this post, we look at God’s word to see how Christmas fits into the broader picture, in God’s eternal plan, from the past to the present to the future. I examine key events and people leading to Jesus’ birth and up to the present day and then to the glorious future God has in store for His children.

John 1:1-2. In the beginning, in eternity past, was the Word, the One who is the Son of God, and He was with God, and He is God. That Jesus is the Word means He is a communicator, and His purpose is to tell the world the truth of God through His life and His words. Heb. 1:1-3

John 1:3. The Son of God is the Creator, for by Him all things are made and are sustained, spiritual beings and physical beings, things you see and cannot see, things animate and inanimate. His most important creation are humans, for only we are made in the image of God. Gen. 1:26

Genesis 3:1-10. The 1st humans were Adam and Eve and they were perfect, but they sinned against God, resulting in them and this entire earth being cursed by God. And their sin was passed on to all their descendants, to all mankind (Rom. 5:12). Since God is holy, then He must punish a person’s sin, for He cannot let the guilty go unpunished. Exod. 34:7

Genesis 3:15. The first one to sin against God was Lucifer, who tempted Eve to sin. That he rebelled like this means he is an enemy of both God and man. This “1st gospel” predicts that a descendant of Eve, One we know as Jesus Christ, would defeat this devil. That Jesus would descend from Eve means He would be a man. That the devil would bruise Jesus’ heel means that He would be wounded. That Jesus would bruise the devil’s head means that he would be defeated.

Genesis 3:21. The garments of skin worn by Adam and Eve signifies that an animal was sacrificed and blood was shed, symbolizing the fact that God would kill a substitute to atone for man’s sin – and this is Jesus Christ, God the Son, One who would be God and man, and a mediator between God the Father and man.

Genesis 12:1-3. God wants to bless the families of the earth, even though people sin against Him. Gen. 3:15, 21 hints as to how this would happen, but there’s more. Abram is the father of the Jewish people, and God wanted Jesus Christ to descend from him. That is, Jesus would be a Jew. The rest of the Old Testament describes the history of the Jews and of Israel. Matt. 1 and Luke 3 give us Jesus’ genealogy, the names of His human ancestors. So it was through Jesus, Abram’s descendant, that the world would be delivered from its curse and then forever blessed.

Isaiah 7:14. God gave a sign to the Jews so they would know the identity of the Savior. The sign was that Jesus would miraculously be born of a virgin. So Jesus would not come into the world as a grown-up man, but would be born, be a child, and be a Son. We also learn that He is called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” That God wanted to do this shows His great, amazing love for us – and only since Jesus is both God and man could this happen and would it happen. That Jesus becomes a man means He is like us, can relate to us, talk to us, and love us, and that we can see Him, be with Him, talk to Him, and love Him.

Isaiah 9:6-7. This prophecy, like Is. 7:14, says that the coming Savior would be a child, a son, one born of a woman. We also discover that He would be a descendant of David, that He would be a wise, loving, and powerful King over the whole world, One who would bring peace and rule forever and ever.

Isaiah 52:13-15–53:1-12. This speaks about Jesus Christ and that He would be God’s servant, and would suffer and sacrifice His life for the sins of people, and then be greatly exalted, and greatly influence all the kings of this world. More than any other Old Testament passage, Is. 53 explains the gospel, that Jesus, at His 1st coming, would suffer and die to forgive the sins of all the people who would repent of their sins and believe that He died on the cross to be punished for their sins. Rom. 5:8, Rom. 6:23, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pet. 3:18

Micah 5:2-5. This prophecy is precise, for it tells us exactly where Jesus would be born, the little town of Bethlehem Ephrathah. It also makes it clear that Jesus will be a ruler, that He “will be great to the ends of the earth”, that He will shepherd His people, and that He will bring peace to the world.

Revelation 12:3-4. This sums up the life and death struggle between the Jewish people, who were to bring forth Jesus into the world, and the dragon, the devil, whose goal was to wipe out the Jews to prevent the birth of Jesus. The Old Testament describes in great detail this battle between the Jews and the devil. The 7 heads and 10 horns represent 8 empires the devil works through so as to defeat the Jewish kingdom. Vs. 4b refers to the Roman empire, specifically to Herod’s failed attempt to kill baby Jesus, for God foiled him. Lk. 2:1-8, 16-18

Galatians 4:4. Since eternity past, God had planned out the perfect time for His Son to be born of a woman, to be the God-man, to be God and man at the same time, which is an increible miracle, what we call the Incarnation (John 1:14-18). The Old Testament times of the Jews and about 400 “silent years”, along with all the other events and people in the Gentile world during that period, led to the birth day of Jesus. Not only that, but the Savior would come into this world at the right time, when the rulers, languages, roads, and nation of Israel were just what God wanted and had already planned them to be. Is. 46:9-11

Luke 1:26-35. The angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is the “favored one”, for she would be the mother of the Savior, the Son of the Most High. He also informs her that her son would be a King, and that He would “reign over the house of Jacob forever.” Mary was surprised but thrilled to know that as a virgin, she would bear a son, who we know to be Jesus Christ, and that He was the son of man but also the “Son of God”, the Savior, her Savior, and the Judge and King of the world. Luke 1:46-55

Matthew 1:18-25. An angel tells Joseph that Mary, his future wife, would give birth to a son, and that would be a miracle for she was a virgin. So her son would be the Son of God, be both God and man (“For in Him, all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form” – Col. 2:9, John 1:14, Phil. 2:5-7). He also tells Joseph that her son’s name would be Jesus, and that’s because His purpose was to be a Savoir, for He would “save His people from their sins.”  Not only that, but Jesus would be “Immanuel”, which means “God with us.” Put together, these three powerful and unbelievable truths sum up the main message of Christmas, that God wanted His Son (1) to be a man (2) so that He would save us (3) and we would be with Him forever (3). To know that the great and perfect God wants to be with us and have an intimate and wonderful relationship with us for all eternity is amazing, astonishing, the best and greatest gift and blessing imaginable.

Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2. The central message of Christmas is summed up in the previous point, but there’s much more to this story, and it’s found by examining the entire Matt. 1-2, Luke 1-2 narratives. Let me sum it up: 1) Jesus Christ is Immanuel, Lord, Savior, Judge, King, the Son of God, and son of man. 2) Jesus is the main character but there’s a supporting cast: the righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s parents; Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Joseph, her husband; Simeon and Anna, two godly believers who were expecting the coming of the Messiah; lowly and humble shepherds; three wise men worshiping the King; the angels; and that evil king Herod. Apart from Herod, all of these characters are godly, righteous, humble, devoted, faithful believers.

What else do we learn? 3) There are the ancestors of Jesus. 4) A huge spiritual battle was taking place, for enemy forces, the devil along with Herod, tried to kill Jesus. 5) Prophecies relating to the birth of Jesus were fulfilled – about Him being King over His kingdom, Abraham and his descendants receiving land, and the salvation of both Jews and Gentiles. 6) Both people and angels worshiped Jesus. 7) Glory was given to God. 8) God’s character, His wisdom, power, love, joy, holiness, faithfulness, greatness, humility, sovereignty, etc., was manifested. 9) God’s plans and purposes were perfectly carried out and fulfilled. All this big-picture information is part of the larger Christmas story, taking us from long before the birth of Jesus up to His birth over 2,000 years ago, and then up to the present day, and then to the eternal future when, with His Father, He is reigning as King over the world, and being worshiped by all.

Mattthew, Mark, Luke, and John. From these four gospels, we read about Jesus’ life, how He was both God and man. We see examples of His perfect character, His love, compassion, zeal, patience, forgiveness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, diligence, and perseverance. We learn about His purpose: He was preaching the gospel, teaching the people, discipling believers, and predicting the future. We read about His suffering and death, that He died on a cross for us, that He was punished for our sins, and thus paid for all the sins of those who would believe in Him. We know that Jesus was raised from the dead, thereby proving His victory over sin and death. We find out that there were many witnesses to His death and resurrection, which is historical proof of these most important events.

Matthew 16:18. There is the church age, beginning on the day of Pentecost and ending with signs in the heavens and the world going dark (Acts 2:17-21). During this age, Jesus is building His church, working through His word, the Spirit, and believers. The gospel is preached, His word is obeyed, disciples are made, the church is growing, and Christ is victorious, defeating sin and death in those who believe in Him. That the Jews have returned to Israel, to their homeland, is the #1 sign that we now live in the end-times, and that we are fast approaching the end of this age, that time when Christ the King returns to rapture the church, judge the world, save a Jewish remnant, and begin His 1000-year reign over the world.

Matthew 24. This outlines what occurs in the end-times, what happens before the end of this age and Christ’s coming. We read of birth pains, wars, famines, and earthquakes. We learn about the great persecution of the church, that Christians are betrayed and killed, and that they are to persevere and keep preaching the gospel of the kingdom until the end of this age. There’s the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 9:27), the abomination of desolation, when the Antichrist desecrates the temple, and then greatly persecutes the Jews.

All this persecution of Jews and Christians is suddenly cut short and, at a time unknown to us, Christ returns to rapture the church. As believers, we should be excited about Christ’s coming, be watching and waiting for our Savior and King to come back to rapture the church and punish the world. The information in this chapter is extremely important at this present time, along with Dan. 7, 9; Luke 21; 1 Thess. 4-5; 2 Thess. 1-2; and the book of Revelation.

Revelation 12:5. This, as well as Isaiah 9:6-7, are the perfect end-times’ Christmas verses. Rev. 12:5 tells us that the woman gave birth to a male child, referring to the birth of Jesus 2,000 years before this time. But it does not talk about His life on earth at His 1st coming, or about Him being born to be a Savior, or about His death and resurrection. It does talk about His ascension into heaven, and that Jesus was born to be a King – and that He will rule the nations of the earth with force, with a rod of iron, which happens at Jesus’ 2nd coming.

The Christmas story about Jesus being born is only fully complete when we realize that it’s about Jesus being a Savior (Ps. 22) at His 1st coming, a Shepherd (Ps. 23) during this church age, and a Sovereign at His 2nd coming (Ps. 24). This true story about Jesus being born, becoming a man, and being Immanuel, God with us, is not the beginning or end of God’s working on this earth, but a key part, a continuation of the story of Jesus, the story of man, the story of our eternal life and eternal reign with Jesus Christ in His eternal kingdom. Rev. 1:4-8, 5:10

Isaiah 9:6-7. “A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”

P.S. Indeed, Christ always lives for us, and may we always live for Him. To read the rest of my Christmas posts, go to the search bar and enter the word Christmas. May the Lord Jesus greatly bless you this Christmas season, and in the years to come, and forever and ever.

When the Foundations are Destroyed…

December 13, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #347 ~

I have been talking about the state of the “United” States, specifically, the sinful condition of our country. And all this horrible, God-rejecting sin you see is the reason our spiritual foundations are now being destroyed. Ps. 82:5 says that sinners “do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.” John 3:19, 8:12

God wants you to know that our nation’s extreme sin has put us on a depraved, demonic, and downward path (Rom. 1:19-32, 1 Tim. 4:1-2). God, being holy and just, and knowing all our sin, has no choice but to judge and punish us. And in the coming years, God’s punishment will become increasingly evident, prominent, and severe. Prov. 15:3, Jer. 4-8, Rom. 1:18

As you see sinners and their sin, you might react by being sad, upset, angry, or worried. But how does God want you to respond to the evildoers and their evil in this country? Ps. 11:3 asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” What does God want you to do? How does He want you to think? Let me share God’s plan, God’s will for you in these days, in these last years before Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world.

* Know that you are greatly and forever loved by God! Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:35-39, Ps. 23:6, 1 John 4:16
* Praise the Lord! Love the Lord! Stay close to Him, enjoy Him, walk with Him, and talk to Him! “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” Mark 12:30, Gen. 5:22, Ps. 11:7
* Love the people God puts in your life! “Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.” Col. 3:12-13

* Preach the gospel, the most important message in the world. “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.” Matt. 24:15, Matt. 28:19-20
* Do not seek the kingdoms of men, but the kingdom of God. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33, Ps. 2:1-8, Ps. 33:10-12
* Pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven…” (Matt. 6:9-10), and for the kingdom of this world to “become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” Rev. 11:15

* Pray for justice on this earth, for God to judge and punish the evildoers. “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night” Luke 18:7, Acts 17:30-31, Rev. 6:9-11
* Be holy. We often judge others for their sin, but first and foremost, we must judge ourselves, and be living a holy life (Matt. 7:1-5). “Be holy yourselves in all your behavior.” 1 Pet. 1:15-16
* “Have faith in God” (Mk. 11:22), believing Him for both big things and little things. “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7; Ps. 31:14, 37:3, 62:8; Heb. 11:6

* “Be filled with the Spirit”, the One who is in you, who teaches you, purifies you, leads you, comforts you, helps you, and empowers you. 1 Cor. 16:19; John 14:16, 16:13; Rom. 8:14
* Know that God is with you and that He never leaves you. “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5-6). “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20
* Be filled with hope, with the expectation that God will give you good things in the future. “May… you abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13, Rom. 8:18-25

* Know that God will keep you going, will enable you to persevere. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8, Jude 24-25
* When life is hard, don’t run to a physical refuge but run to the Lord, your spiritual refuge. “In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain?’” Psalm 11:1
* “Encourage one another day after day” (Heb. 3:12-13), especially during difficult times. “Encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25

* Do all the work God wants you to do. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God created beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10, Ph. 2:12-13
* Learn all that God wants you to know about the end-times and the kingdom ages. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23, 2 Tim. 2:15, Is. 41-66
* Learn from the prophets: they called out peoples’ sins; they told them to repent; they warned them of God’s wrath; they preached forgiveness; and they gave people hope. “The voice of one calling in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord.” Luke 3:3-18, Isaiah – Malachi

* Know that God is sovereign, that He “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11), that He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him…” Rom. 8:28
* Be watching and waiting for the coming of Christ. “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thess. 1:9-10
* Be a watchman – know what’s happening in our country and in our world, and how it all relates to end-time prophecies. “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman” (Ezek. 3:17). “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do.” 1 Chr. 12:32

* Be assured that Christ is building His church, that everything is going according to plan, and that the “gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:18-21, 2:19-22, 3:20-21
* Persevere, whether it’s to the end of this age or the end of your physical life. “Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” Col. 1:23

We live in the end-times, a crazy time, a God-directed time, and it won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church and reign on earth. This is the time God has determined for you to be alive. As His child and servant, be thrilled and thankful that He wants you to be alive at this unique and special time in history. Also, be sober, discerning, and obedient, living full out for God, loving Him and living for Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk. 12:30). “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). “Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20

P.S. I hope you are understanding the moral corruption in our country, and that difficult times are coming because of our sin. Here are three other posts relevant to this subject: “How Then Should We Live in the End Times?”, “The Most Important Country in the World, and It’s Not the United States”, “It’s Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better.”

The State of the “United” States – Part 4

November 29, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #346 ~

The United States, one of the most blessed countries in the history of the world, is in serious spiritual decline and, therefore, is being judged by God! But be assured that Jesus Christ is successfully building His church and that God’s purpose is being carried out in this country, and in your life. Matt. 16:18, Rom. 1:18-32

That God is judging our nation has been the theme of the past three posts. In the 1st post, I stated that our country’s #1 problem is her sin (Jer. 2:5, 11-13), and the only answer is the gospel, that through Jesus Christ, God saves people from sin and death (Rom. 5:8, 6:23). In the 2nd post, I gave many examples of our sins, and why God is severely judging us. In the last post, I shared the big picture, that we live in the times of the Gentiles. And in the near future, Christ will return, rapture the church, defeat the Gentile nations, and save a Jewish remnant. Then the times of the Jews will begin, and Christ will reign over the great nation of Israel and the entire world for 1,000 glorious years. Ps. 33:10-12, Ps. 47, Is. 60-62

What are some of the ways God is now judging and, in the future, may judge this country? Atheists, evolutionists, and antisemites speaking lies; criminals running free; human sex trafficking; divorce; $38 trillion in debt, inflation, and poverty; evil leaders and Marxist mayors; blue cities; gangs ruining cities; abortion; so-called “churches” led by so-called “pastors”; an increasingly uneducated nation; social media spewing out immoral, devilish content; elections; corrupt elections; enemies hacking and harming our institutions and infrastructure; paganism; legalized assisted death; Satanism; and Communists, Muslims, and the Chinese infiltrating educational, economical, political, cultual aspects of our society.

There’s depravity; dehumanizing humanoids; AI, AGI, and ASI; non-assimilating immigrants; a nation no longer united – division; leaders breaking the law and promoting lawbreaking; sanctuary cities that are a safe place for sinful conduct; cities overcome with drugs and homelessness; addictions – food, alcohol, and drugs; violence; shootings and mass shootings; fentanyl; gods and goddesses – singers, actors, actresses, elite athletes, politicians, etc.; soul-corrupting music, movies, television, and video games; deaths due to drugs; and catastrophic and cataclysmic events like floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wars, volcanoes, earthquakes, famine, droughts, or EMP’s. Lam. 3:38, Amos 3:6b

What else can we say about God’s judgment of the United States?
* God is judging this nation because of her sin, because people are rejecting Him and rebelling against Him. Jer. 2:5, 13
* Sinful conduct, man’s evil behavior, is itself often a means of God’s judgment. The Prophets
* God’s judgments may be gradual or sudden, over a short or long period of time. 
* God’s judgments may be local, regional, or national. Gen. 7, Gen. 14, Gen. 19

* The collective, cumulative effect of God’s judgments in our country is getting worse and worse.
* Some judgments affect only unbelievers, but others affect both believers and unbelievers.
* God knows the specific judgments He is bringing upon this nation, their location, duration, and the impact they will have on people. Lam. 3:37, Amos 1
* Judgments upon unbelievers result in misery, sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, conflict, chaos, destruction, injury, and death.

* God is sovereign over the division we are witnessing in our country. Jesus said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:51
* Economic prosperity and technological innovations will not diminish or negate the judgments of God upon our country. Only a wholesale repentance of sin can make our country truly great, but this will not happen. Rom. 1:20-32
* God’s judgment upon this nation is irreversible, not that God won’t show some mercy, but He is just, and her influence, economy, military might, global status, etc., will be waning.  

* Judgments are occurring because of this country’s sins but also because God must make a way for the Antichrist. This nation must go down so this wicked man can rise up and take over the world. Rev. 13
* The United States will lose her global influence, and only God knows if another superpower or two will arise on this planet before the arrival of the Antichrist and his kingdom.

I’m not saying this nation is completely washed up, for there will always be a remnant of believers. And at present, there are many strong pastors, churches, and Christians in this country. Not only that, but God has raised up a “Cyrus”, a President who is fighting against crime and corruption, and fighting for the freedoms of people, including Christians. (Is. 45:1). But this nation is too sinful, too spiritually sick, to fully recover. Yes, we can and should pray, “In wrath, remember mercy” (Hab. 3:2c), and God may give us a brief awakening, a small revival, but I don’t believe it will last very long.

So what does God want Christians to know and do at this time?
1. Do not seek the kingdoms of men, but the kingdom of God. Sharing the gospel and discipling Christians so they obey God’s laws is much more important than focusing on this nation with a goal to get people to obey man’s laws. Matt. 6:33, Ps. 146:3-5
2. Be involved in a Bible-teaching, gospel-preaching church, one that is holy, loving, and faithful. If possible, be in a church that is pre-millennial and that is clearly and consistently teaching the soon coming of Christ.

3. Be like John the Baptist and prepare the way of the Lord. Tell people about “the wrath to come” and that Christ “will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Share the totality of the gospel, the gospel of the kingdom of God, how a person can be justified, sanctified, glorified, and a member of the church and of God’s kingdom. Matt. 4:23, 24:14, 28:19-20; Lk. 3:3-18; Acts 20:24-25
4. Pray for one another (Eph. 6:18), for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2), for believers to grow in knowing God (Col. 1:10), for discernment (Eph. 1:9-11), for open doors (Col. 4:2-4), for mercy (Hab. 3:2c), for justice (Luke 18:7-8), and for the coming of Christ’s kingdom. Matt. 6:9-10

5. Do your part by serving God and doing all the work He wants you to do. Mk. 13:34, 1 Cor. 12:18, Eph. 2:10
6. Keep reminding yourself of God’s character, that He is holy, just, powerful, loving, wise, good, faithful, forgiving, patient, and sovereign. And fear Him and love Him with all your heart. Jer. 9:24, Mk. 12:30
7. Be a watchman (Ezek. 3:17). See how God’s prophetic word relates to His work in the world. Be like the men of Issachar who “understood the times” and knew what they should do (1 Chr. 12:32). Tell people that the day of Christ is drawing near. Heb. 10:25

8. Tell family, friends, and church members what you know about the end-times, Christ’s coming, and the kingdom ages. Encourage them to read this blog site.  
9. Tell others the sequence of key events: a. birth pains, b. Jews confirming a covenant, c. building of a Jewish temple, d. revealing of the Antichrist, e. great persecution of Christians and Jews, f. Christ’s coming and rapture, g. the day of the Lord, h. the salvation of Jews, i. Christ’s 1000-year kingdom, j. the great judgment, k. and the eternal kingdom. Matt. 24:4-31, 2 Th. 2:1-9, Rev. 6-22

10. Have hope – know and remember that you will be in heaven with Jesus, be glorified, be with believers, be rewarded, and be wholeheartedly worshiping and serving Him forever and ever. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Rom. 15:13

P.S. Christians need to know that this country is in critital condition. If you have not yet done so, you need to read the last three posts on the state of this country: #343, # 344, and #345. If you have time, I would also suggest that you read “Matthew 24 – a Road Map of the End Times”, and “Make Ready the Way of the Lord.”

The State of the “United” States – Part 3

November 15, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #345 ~

The “times of the Gentiles” is coming to an end, and then the time of the Jews will begin. (Luke 21:24, Rom. 11:25-27). Therefore, the United States will no longer be a global superpower. This relates to the end of this age and Christ’s return to carry out His purposes. Let me explain:

God has always worked through nations. All people are descended from “Shem, Ham, and Japeth,” and Gen. 10 speaks of them as the ancestors of those who had a language and a land, and formed nations. Gen. 12:1-3 promises that from Abram would come a great nation, what we know as Israel. And most of the Old Testament is focused on Israel, that they are God’s people, and are to share His word and show to the world His righteousness, power, and glory.

For much of Israel’s existence, she rebelled against God. The reigns of David and Solomon were exceptions, along with those of a few good rulers – but for the most part, Israel was ungodly. A key theme of the prophets is that God punished her and other evil nations for their sins against Him. The prophets, Isaiah to Malachi, go into great detail about Israel’s sins and how God justly dealt with her. “Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity… they have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel” (Is. 1:4). “I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me… and worshiped the works of their own hands.” Jer. 1:16, Ez. 16:1-52, Hos. 1:1-13, Obad. 2-9, Mic. 1:2-7, Zeph. 1

The prophets, along with the Psalms, speak of God’s justice and His love. They predicted Christ’s 1st coming, that He would be both God and man, and by dying to pay for our sins and then rising again, He was able to deliver us from sin and death. The gospels, Christ’s biography, talk of His life and ministry on earth, and that He would build the church through God’s children, through Christians. Ps. 22:1-18, 69:21; Is. 7:14, 9:6-7, 53:3-12; Mic. 5:2; Matt. 16:18

Israel, as a nation, rejected Christ, and so God chose the church to be His instrument by which He would speak His truth, display His righteousness, and “make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt. 28:19-20). In 70 AD and in the years following, the Jews, because of their evil, were “led captive into all the nations”, and Jerusalem was “trampled underfoot by the Gentiles.” Lk. 21:24a

After being exiled from their country, the Jews were greatly persecuted. This did not mean God had abandoned them, that His plans for them had been revoked, been rescinded, but only that Israel had been set aside for a while. Instead, God would focus on the church and on the Gentiles (Rom. 11). And as Luke 21:24b informs us, “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

So now we are in the church age, and the New Testament speaks extensively of how Christians are to be godly disciples, have faith, hope, and love, and be witnesses and workers for Christ. They also predict Christ’s 2nd coming, that at the end of this age, He will return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and set up His kingdom on earth. Matt. 28:19-20, 24:27-31; Rom. 11:25-27; 1 Thess. 4:14-18, 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:16; Rev. 7-9, 16; Rev. 20

I spoke of the fact that the Jews were exiled from their homeland, and the phrase, the end-times, refers to when they are back in their land. It was in the late 1800’s, according to God’s promises and plans, that the Jews miraculously began returning to their land, and in 1948 Israel once again became a nation. Daniel 12:4, 9, Is. 11:11, Jer. 31:10, Ez. 36:24, Zech. 8:7-8

The gospels and epistles give several side-by-side passages of the Jews and the church. That’s because in the end-times, God is working with both groups, preparing them and using them for His purposes in advance of Christ’s 2nd coming. We will be seeing the fulfillment of many prophecies about the Jews and the church in the end-times, signaling Christ’s soon return to earth. Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27; Lk. 21:12-19, 20-24; Rev. 7:4-8, 9-14; Rev. 12:13-16, 17

What about the United States? What are God’s plans for her? God sovereignly raised her up about 250 years ago, and it was for His purposes. Growing from 13 colonies to 50 states, she has had incredible success – educationally, economically, militarily, technologically, politically, and culturally. Without question, she has been a global superpower, the most prosperous and influential nation on earth these past 80 years. Most importantly, she has had an amazing spiritual effect on this world. Whether it’s with missionaries, materials, or money, the United States has greatly and wonderfully impacted this planet, much more than any other nation.

Yet, the United States is now terribly sick, and it’s because of all her sin. She has stage-4 spiritual cancer and it has affected every part of our country and every aspect of our society – churches, marriages, families, schools, media, government, businesses, and culture – and this cancer is too far advanced to be cured. God’s justice demands that her wickedness be punished. Rom. 1:18-28 outlines this downward spiritual spiral, this progression of perversion, telling us that God delivers unrighteous, unrepenting nations over to impurity, immorality, homosexuality, and depravity, which is what we have been seeing these past 60 years. Consequently, there won’t be a nation-wide revival, and this country won’t be experiencing a long-lasting golden age.

The decline and downfall of the United States is happening not just because of her sin but also because God’s end-time plans must be carried out. Here’s what we learn from God’s word:
1. The Antichrist will come and his kingdom will rule the world, and this means no other nation will be a superpower at that time, including the United States. So this country will soon lose her #1 standing in the world. We don’t know if another superpower or two will rise up before the Antichrist becomes dictator of the world. But there will be a time when we say, “authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nations was given to him (the Antichrist). All who dwell on the earth will worship him.” Rev. 13:7-8, Dan. 7:23

2. God prophesied that He will defeat all Gentile nations, including the Antichrist’s kingdom. This hasn’t happened yet, but it won’t be long before it does. “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Dan. 2:44-45, 7:26-27; Psalm 9:4-5; Luke 21:24; 2 Thess. 2:8-9; Rev. 19:11-21

3. God prophesied that He will save a remnant of Jews, and these people, with Christ leading the way, will be a God-blessed nation, a physical and spiritual nation, the most powerful and influential nation in the world. “Israel has been saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation” (Is. 45:17). “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations… Blessed is the nation (Israel) whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:10-12). “The Lord will rise upon you (Israel) and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Is. 60:2-3

4. God told us that Christ will reign over the nation of Israel for 1,000 years. It’s not the United States or any other Gentile nation, but a Jewish nation that God will supremely bless which will rule with Him and lead the world in worshiping and serving Him. “They will be priests of God and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Rev. 20:6; Ps. 18:49-50, 102:18-22, 147:1-2

God told us that all Gentile nations will be defeated, and this includes the United States. Now that we are in the end times, God’s final plans for this world are being fulfilled and, therefore, Christ will be coming soon. The “times of the Gentiles” (Lk. 21:24, Rom. 11:25-26) will end, and the times of the Jews will begin. And Jewish and Gentile believers will worship the Lord together. “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people… Let all the peoples praise Him.” Rom. 15:10-11

“Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing… He who is enthroned in the heavens laughs… as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain” (Ps. 2:1-6). “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15). “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth…” Ps. 47:6-8, 145:9-11; Is. 60-62; 1 Cor. 15:20-28;Rev. 21-22:5

P.S. You can only understand God’s work with the United States if you understand God’s past, present, and future work with Israel. Here are some posts about that subject – “A Short Summary of God’s Working with the Jews”, “Why the Jews Are Important for You and the Church.” Here’s another post about the future of the United States – “The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ.”

The State of the “United” States – Part 2

November 1, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post # 344 ~

This country is in dire straits, is in extremely grave danger. And it’s not because of Russia, China, Iran, AI, climate change, drugs, bad schools, crime, debt, or nuclear war. It’s because of sin. It’s because most people in this nation have turned away from God. They are idolaters – they love self, money, pleasure, food, sports, clothes, and possessions instead of loving God. Exod. 20:2-5

This is the depressing and sobering reality of our country’s spiritual state. And as Christians, we must be like the prophets and declare to the lost that sin is the root problem, that it results in deadly consequences, and that they need to turn to God for mercy (Luke 3:7-18). In this and the next post, I will share what this sin looks like, how it progresses, the reasons we are being severely judged, how God judges it, and how He wants us to live.

Some sins and manifestations of sin in the United States: lawlessness; stealing; anger; self-righteousness; immorality; evil is good; good is evil; racism; factions; lack of true justice; violence; violence against Christians; hate; loving food; loving fortune; loving fun; loving fame; loving things; not loving others; sensuality; homosexuality; lewdness; people doing what’s right in their own eyes (libertarianism); hypocrisy; a false gospel; false religions; false churches; impatience; rudeness; sorcery; adultery; swearing; silly talk; course jesting; pornography; foolishness; laziness; the evolution lie; drunkenness; disputes; witchcraft; bragging (pride); malice; bitterness; lust; boys in girl’s bathrooms and vice versa; and drag shows.

There’s not fearing God; greed; murder; abortion (over 63 million babies killed since 1973 – Guttmacher Institute); selfishness; disobeying your parents; bribery; rich people not helping the poor; communism; misinformation, disinformation, deception (lying); inventing evil; corruption in the government; evil government spending; slander; gossip; not paying taxes; transgenderism; not respecting authority; Satanism; prostitution; gluttony; trusting in your self; trusting in your looks; flaunting; insolence; terrorism; strife; carousing; insensitivity; cruelty; not trustworthy; covetousness; immoral movies and music; human trafficking; and governments not being “a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Rom. 13:4

I am talking about our nation’s sins, and the negative and synergistic effect of it is growing and getting much worse. And God sees every single sin, and as a country, He is judging us. “God will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” Exod. 34:7

Rom. 1:20-24 tells us how sin begins in the life of a person and collectively in a country. It starts when a person doesn’t honor God as his Creator, doesn’t thank Him for who He is and for the world that He made. This is pride and is evident when a person worships the creation instead of the Creator. And this is disobeying the great commandment – this person is not loving God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. Mark 12:30

Sin in the life of a person who rejects God and continues sinning gets worse and worse. God speaks of this downward spiral, that He delivers the sinner over to impurity, immorality, and homosexuality. Then He gives him over to a depraved mind – the person isn’t thinking right, he’s out of his mind, he’s crazy, he has no common sense (Rom. 1:24-28). This wicked, worsening, cumulative sin, this descent from not fearing and honoring God to sexual sin to depravity is what we have been witnessing in the United States for close to 60-70 years. It was impurity and immorality in the ‘60s and ‘70s, homosexuality in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and depravity these past 25 years.

The last stage of this nation-wide degradation is when this full-blown, full-grown sin, this homosexuality and depravity, is approved and promoted (Rom. 1:32). This is what we have been seeing and hearing in the United States – in families, in schools, the media, the news media, the arts, music, movies, businesses, and the government. That people are applauding this sin but not praising God is a clear sign to Christians that He has given this nation over to her sin. God has also given the devil more freedom to carry out his wicked plans (Job 1:6-12). The devil’s demons are adding fuel to the fire by further corrupting the fleshly minds of sinners, which leads to even more evil and unrighteousness. 1 Tim. 4:1-2

This sin, like a metastasizing stage-4 cancer, has infected the entire country. “In the last days difficult times will come. Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:1-4). 2 Tim. 3:12 tells us what discerning Christians have been observing these past 20-30 years – “Evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse.”

Sadly, the United States is so weighed down with sin that there’s no way God will allow her to return to a place of widespread godliness, sanity, civility, peace, and prosperity. This nation is now past the point of no return. This sin is piling up, and it’s a spiritually-sickening stench to our most holy God, and it should be to believers as well. And because of her serious and gross sin, God has been judging this country, and will continue to do so.  

Let me sum up the reasons why God is severely judging our country:
1. This country is righteously being judged because of increasing and pervasive sin. This refers to that long list of sins I wrote out in the first part of this post. Mark 7:20-23, Rom. 1:29-31, Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:3-5, 2 Tim. 3:1-5
2. This country is greatly being judged because of the breadth of her sin, but also the depth of her sin. We have been witnessing this worsening wickedness, from impurity to immorality to homosexuality to depravity. “God gave them over to… depravity” Rom. 1:24, 26, 28

3. This country is justly being judged because she, more than any other nation, is influencing and enabling this world to sin. She promotes, sells, and sends out evil movies, music, video games, and pornography. She is a bad example through godless TV shows and media platforms. She gives financial incentives for abortion, LGBTQIA+, and trans agendas. She sells massive killing machines, deadly weapons of war. And her false teachers peddle a fake and deadly false gospel. “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks… woe to that man (or nation) through whom the stumbling block comes.” Matt. 18:7

4. This country is being judged because historically speaking, God’s work has been carried out much more than any other nation. Look at all the churches and how God’s word has been taught and the gospel has been preached more than any other nation. In spite of all this, not that many people have truly listened and responded, especially in the past 60-70 years. Instead, they have rejected God and His truth and have loved their gods and listened to lies – thus she will be severely judged. “You, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless, I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” Matt 11:20-24

5. This country is deservedly being judged because she’s increasingly becoming anti-Semitic. Demon-inspired people promote and push an anti-Jew, anti-Israel message. We hear it in universities, mosques, from politicians, in street protests, and even in churches. At this time, the leaders of this nation, in general, support Israel and the Jews, but it won’t be long before this country, as a whole, is anti-Semitic, and then God’s judgment will be more obvious and more severe. “The Lord said to Abram… ‘I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you… and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you, I will curse.’” Gen. 12:1-3

6. This country is rightly being judged because her churches are increasingly weak and unholy. We are to be salt and light, we are to have a positive influence on the nation, but this is not happening as in years past (Rev. 3:7-13). This lack of widespread moral seasoning is a major reason why righteousness is decreasing and unrighteousness in increasing. As churches go, so goes the country. Sad to say, our churches are going down, and so too is our country – spiritually, morally, and physically. “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world…” Matt 5:13-14

Upon reading all this, you may think I’m negative, pessimistic, and unbelieving. And you may think I am unaware of the fact that there’s a relative peace at this time in our country, that there does seem to be an awakening with young people. I do believe God is working, and that we may be witnessing a mini revival. Hab. 3:2c tells us, “In wrath, remember mercy”, and 2 Pet. 3:9 says that God “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

But I’m talking about the big scheme of things, not about the reprieve it appears God has given us. If you are aware of the evil in our nation and understand God’s word, particularly the prophets, and that’s there’s not been wholesale repentance, I believe you will come to the same big-picture conclusion, that this country, collectively speaking, has rejected God and, consequently, is in critical condition. You will realize that this great and grievous sin is our nation’s worst problem and that she’s being judged by our holy and just God.

So how should we think and what should we do?
1. We are not to give up, we are not to quit, we are to persevere, and we should keep praying for our leaders that “we may lead a tranquil and godly life” (1 Tim. 2:2).
2. We are to share the gospel with people, we are to tell them that Jesus Christ is the only answer, that He died on the cross to pay for their sins, and then rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death. We are to tell them that all who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus died for them will be saved, will be forgiven of all their sins, and be given eternal life. Rom. 5:8, John 3:16, Rom. 6:23

3. We should have no expectation that there will be a long-lasting, great and glorious golden age. We live in the end-times, and things will get worse for unbelievers, and especially for believers, notably in the last few years before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. Matt. 24:9, 21
4. Our primary purpose is not to seek the kingdoms of men but the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Make disciples until the end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20). Preach the gospel “in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt. 24:14

5. Pray for Christ’s kingdom to be established on earth. “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9-10
6. Have hope. It won’t be long before your salvation is complete and you are in heaven in a new body with Jesus and all the angels and saints (Phil. 1:6). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13

P.S. This was hard for me to write, but I did so because I am convinced of the dreadful state of this nation. God is holy and just, and we can’t just think everything is all right – God is judging us because of all our sin. Here are three important posts: “A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ”, “Processing the Present Tough Times”, “Sinners and Saints in the End-Times.”

The State of the “United” States – Part 1

October 18, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #343 ~

I am shocked at what’s been happening in the United States these past few years. As you know, we have been witnessing more violence, shootings, terrorism, division – and sadly, the assassination of Charlie Kirk. But we can also be glad and that’s because Charlie is in heaven with Jesus, and because God is using his life, death, and homegoing in a remarkable way. Regardless of what’s been happening in our country, God is sovereign, and all that’s been taking place is part of His grand plan to get the gospel to sinners, and to bring about Christ’s return to rapture the church, to judge the world, and to reign over this earth. In this and the next post, I plan to go over several things about the state of the “United” States, the gospel, and our role as God’s servants.

There is SPIRITUAL WARFARE – “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11). Spiritual warfare has always been occurring in our country, but I believe it’s worse now than ever before. The unseen forces of good and evil, of God and His angels and the devil and his demons, are fiercely battling each other. And as Christians, we are on God’s side, and Christ our Commander is leading us in this war and we are fighting with Him, and we are the winners, the victorious ones. Ps. 18

1 John 5:18 tells us, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Eph. 6:12-13 describes our struggle as not against people, but against the devil and his forces, “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Dan. 10 gives examples of this spiritual warfare, of angels and demons fighting against one another. Rev. 2:9 speaks of “a synagogue of Satan”, a Satan-controlled synagogue (think of false churches) in opposition to Christians.

Rev. 2:12-13 talks of Pergamum as a city “where Satan’s throne is” (think of evil cities). In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” Luke 4:13 talks about temptation – “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.” 2 Cor. 4:4 states, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.” These verses help us understand the immense, spiritual warfare occurring in people’s lives, in our cities, and in our country. Without question, there’s an incredibly intense struggle between good and evil, between truth and error.

The devil’s invisible, behind-the-scenes’ work is visibly seen – more demons are influencing more bad people to do more wicked things. The hate that Satan’s children have for God’s children is undeniable, heard not just verbally, but seen in increasingly violent ways. This growing and obvious polarization between the righteous and unrighteous is unmistakable. And God warned us that this spiritual world war would get much worse before Christ’s coming. (Matt. 24:11, 2 Tim. 3:1-3). “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you…” 1 Peter 4:12-19

The main problem in our country is SIN. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Sin is the root problem, and our primary sin is not loving God (Mk. 12:30). Sin manifests itself in idolatry, pride, rebellion, disobedience, selfishness, anger, covetousness, immorality, greed, gluttony, gossip, jealousy, murder, theft, laziness, sorcery, loving money, loving pleasure, and loving evil. There’s also adultery, abortion, racism, drunkenness, human trafficking, rape, war, euthanasia, all kinds of crimes, and brazen Satanism.

Sin starts with evil thoughts which lead to evil words and evil actions. This adds up to an incalculable number of sins in a person’s life – and God knows every sin that’s ever commited. The life of a God-rejecting sinner is summed up this way – “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” Rom. 1:20

What are the consequences of sin? As you know, God cannot and will not be silent. He will not excuse sin, or let it go, or forget about it. “God will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Ex. 34:7). God is the Judge, and He is perfectly righteous, and He will judge every sin that’s ever committed in the whole history of the world. For example, Jesus says this about sinful speech – “I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.” Matt. 12:36

The result of sin is DEATH. Rom. 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” Ez. 18:4 states, “The soul that sins will die.” What is death? It’s spiritually and relationally being separated from God; it’s physically not being alive, with the result that the soul is separated from the body; it’s eternally being separated from God, having no relationship with God.

If a person is not forgiven of his sins by God before he physically dies then he’s eternally dead – he’s spiritually, physically, and forever cut off from God. Death is a huge and horrible problem, the worst problem in the world. And God is infinitely holy, and will justly punish deserving, unrepentant sinners. “Your sins have made a separation between you and your God.” Is. 59:2

Sinners who die during this age go to Hades (Lk. 16:22-23), a fiery place of pain and punishment. During the 1000-year kingdom age, all unrepentant sinners will continue to be punished in Hades (Rev. 20:13-15). After that, during the eternal kingdom age, there’s the lake of fire, a tortuous, everlasting judgment for all unrighteous unrepentant unbelievers. “Depart from me accursed ones into the eternal fire… into the eternal punishment.” Matt. 24:41, 46

The answer to sin is JESUS CHRIST. The penalty for sin is spiritual, physical, and eternal death. But God wants to save people from sin and death. So what did He do? In His wisdom, by His power, through His justice, and because of His love, He devised a solution by which our sins would be wiped away, be forgiven, by which our eternal punishment would be dealt with. How did God do this? “God made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:18

God sent His Son to this earth to die in our place, to take our sins upon Himself, to be punished for us, so as to make a full-final-forever payment for our sins. God showed His justice when Jesus suffered and died so we would be just, so we would be perfectly holy. God showed His love when Jesus suffered and died so we would be perfectly loved, so we would always be cared for. Jesus’ death was infinitely purposeful, the most meaningful, important death ever, one that changed the whole course of history, that defined and impacted all eternity.

So Jesus died, and then miraculously rose from the dead, gaining the victory over death. “God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death” (Acts 2:24). By His resurrection, Jesus dealt with death so God could make us alive, could give us life. “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him.” Eph. 2:4-6

But not everyone is saved, is made alive. It’s not just that Jesus died and rose again so that everyone from all time is saved. Jesus told us, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). To be saved, a person must respond to God, and to the fact that Jesus His Son suffered, died, and rose again. He must tell God that he is sorry that he sinned against Him – and he must believe that Jesus is the Christ, God in the flesh, and that He died and rose again to deliver him from sin and death. If he does this, he will be forgiven and receive eternal life – a spiritual, physical, purposeful, satisfying, everlasting, God-blessed, God-glorifying life in heaven and on earth. Heb. 12:22-24

It must be said that salvation is a free gift – it’s not by our works, by anything good we do, but by God’s work, by what God through Jesus Christ did for us. “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:23, Gal. 2:16, Tit. 3:5

The worst Problem in the world is SIN and DEATH. It’s not divorce, heart disease, cancer, money woes, a bad leader, losing your job, a car crash, a drug overdose, or a family member dying. It’s sin and death. And the only Answer is JESUS CHRIST. It surely isn’t the government, more money, more education, a good relationship, a better family, a better job, being healthy, crime-free streets, or getting a new car, a nicer home, or having fun. It’s Jesus Christ, and He’s the only solution, the only way a person can get victory over sin and death, be forgiven, and be given eternal life, a super-blessed and joyful life with God, Jesus Christ, the angels, and all the believers. “I came that you might have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

P.S. There’s a lot going on in this country and we must come back to the basic, bottom line truth that sin and death is the problem, and that Christ is the only answer. As Christians, we must not get off track from the real issue, from what’s essential. Here are two posts further explaining this most important subject: “The Most Important Thing for You”, “A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ.”

Preach the Word in View of Christ’s Appearing and Kingdom

October 4, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #342 ~

Three of the last four posts have focused on preaching the gospel of the kingdom (338, 339, 341). Jesus Christ is coming back soon to establish His kingdom on earth, and we know that because we live in the end-times. Therefore, these three lessons about God’s kingdom are critically important. That’s why eschatology, the study of last things, is a major doctrine at this time in history. Christ’s coming and kingdom comprise a comprehensive truth about the future that must be fully and clearly taught so that it’s fixed in the hearts of all believers.

A church’s teaching must focus on Christ’s death and resurrection, our spiritual growth, and the church age, but should also include truths about being glorified and reigning with Christ in the kingdom ages. We need to know about God’s love, holiness, sovereignty, justification, sanctification, but we also need hope, and therefore must preach and promote doctrines describing our glorious future with Christ and all the saints in heaven and on earth. 

The book of Acts emphasizes the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God, signifying that it’s a primary purpose of the church. Acts 1 starts off by summarizing Jesus’ teaching during His last 40 forty days on earth. He was “speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” (vs. 3), which would have been both the spiritual kingdom (the church), and the physical kingdom. It’s vital that we know this, and imitate Jesus by doing the same.

Jesus taught His disciples about the entire kingdom of God. He wanted them and us to understand the whole of our Christian life in the context of God’s kingdom, and to then tell people this good news of His death and resurrection, the church age, and the kingdom ages. To live rightly for God, we must have an eternal perspective, God’s great, grand, glorious plan of an eternal life with His Son.

In Acts 3:21, Peter tells us that Christ will return to bring about the “period of restoration of all things”, which speaks of the millennial kingdom. Acts 8:12 says that Philip was “preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.” In Acts 14:22, Paul instructs his disciples, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Paul is talking about suffering for God during this life, and then entering His heavenly and physical kingdom.

In Acts 15:13-18, James quotes from Amos 9:11 to let us know that Gentiles will also be part of God’s coming kingdom. “I will return… I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, all the Gentiles who are called by My name.” Acts 19:9 states that Paul was “speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God”. Surely, he was speaking about God’s kingdom from a present and eternal perspective. He told them the good news about the present and future reign of Christ in our lives, and His future reign over this world.

Paul is talking to the Ephesians elders (Acts 20:17-38), and what he taught them is for all elders to understand, model, and teach. He wanted them to know that he had declared to believers everything that “was profitable”, that He “went about preaching the kingdom”, and that he taught them “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:20, 25, 27). Equating these three phrases makes it quite clear that God wants us to know and preach the totality of our eternal life, from being justified to being sanctified to being glorified to reigning with Christ in His coming kingdom.

The last chapter of Acts says, “Paul… was… solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus… He stayed two full years… preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:23, 31). In this conclusion to Acts, this accurate church history, Paul was teaching people about Jesus and His kingdom. I hope you are realizing that God wants His people to always be occupied with the big picture, the person of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. As in the first verses of Acts (Acts 1:3-11), so too in the final verses of Acts, the focus is on Jesus Christ and God’s kingdom.

What does Paul tell Timothy in his last letter? “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…” (2 Tim. 4:1-2). The “appearing” refers to Christ’s coming, that point in time when we are glorified and our 3-part salvation is complete. The “kingdom” refers to the visible, kingdom age when we are with Christ and are reigning with Christ (Lk. 21:28, 31). To all believers, Christ’s appearing and kingdom must be in view, must always be on their hearts.

A believer must not be spiritually static, stagnant, or stuck in the present, or think that he is. He must see the present in light of the future, must have the whole of his eternal life in mind. He must know that he was justified and is being sanctified and will be glorified, and then will enter the kingdom – and he should be longing for it. He must know that what God is doing in his life, in the church, and in the world, is in light of an incredibly amazing future. He must know that he is on a journey, that God is leading and directing him and all believers to the end of this age, to Christ’s coming, and to be glorified, and to the kingdom ages, to when Christ is supremely glorified and we are reigning with Him. Ps. 72:19, Hab. 2:14

A pastor must not forget the hope that he and all believers have. that we will soon and forever be with Jesus Christ. A pastor must remember his primary purpose, to preach God’s word in view of Christ’s appearing and kingdom, whether his teaching is Spirit planned, Spirit prompted, a sentence or two, an entire message, a series of messages, or whether it’s a song, closing verse, benediction, or in a private conversation, etc. To rightly do this, a pastor must diligently study the end-times, Christ’s coming, the Jewish people, the kingdom ages, Isaiah, Daniel, Matt. 24, Luke 21, 1 Th. 4-5, 2 Th. 1-2, Revelation, etc. Then what is in his heart will come out of his mouth – he will declare the whole counsel of God, he will preach God’s word in view of Christ’s appearing and kingdom.

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3). “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25

P.S. It’s extremely encouraging and motivating knowing that we belong to the greatest royal family of all time, and that we are children of the King. Here are two more posts on the kingdom: “They Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done”, and “Christ’s Kingdom is Coming.”

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