Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Author: stevenj777 (Page 21 of 38)

The Coronavirus Alarm – Christians Need to Wake Up!

March 27, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #162 ~

As you know, the coronavirus has resulted in people getting sick and even dying. It has caused quarantines, social distancing, slowdowns, shutdowns, shortages, markets falling, job losses and financial losses. I am amazed and astounded how this one little virus has spread all over the world and affected so many lives. But has not God not ordained this? Yes, He has, and I believe one reason for this is because He wants to get our attention, He wants Christians to wake up and not be so worldly and fleshly minded. 1 Cor. 3:1-3

There is this physical virus, but much worse than that, there’s a spiritual virus in the souls of many believers, for they are busy loving themselves and the world, but aren’t loving God. While I am sad that many are sick and dying, I am also thankful that God is using this coronavirus to cause us to slow down, to even stop us, and why? So we see what’s most important and seek Him. David said, “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2). More than anything or anyone else, you need the Lord. He must be first in your life, your most important relationship, the One you greatly love. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” Ps. 73:25-26, Col. 3:1-4, 1 John 2:15-17

My favorite verse on this subject is John 17:3. Jesus said to His Father, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God, as having a relationship with God and Himself. This is so incredible, so wonderful, that we can have a personal and permanent relationship with the living God, that He can talk to us and we can talk to Him, He can love us and we can love Him, we can know Him, spend time with Him, and be satisfied by Him. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, I have no good besides You.’” Psalm 16:2; John 4:14, 6:51, 10:11

What a miracle, what a blessing, that we can know God and have a relationship with Him. What Christ did for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead resulted in more than just being made righteous but being reconciled to God and having a relationship with Him. God could have saved us and set us in some far corner of the universe for all eternity. But no, He saved us so we could be His children and have this intimate relationship with Him, and then someday, leave this earth and literally be with Him in heaven. Psalm 23:6, 1 Thess. 4:15-17

Your relationship with God is the single most important thing in your life, and He doesn’t want you to be deceived, to think you are doing good if, in fact, you are living on the “junk food” of the world. Sadly, this deception describes the lives of many Christians: “Thus says the Lord… they went far from Me and walked after
emptiness and became empty… My people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.’” Jeremiah 2:5, 13

I hope you realize that worldly and fleshly desires wage war against your soul, and to have a close relationship with God is a continual struggle, one you need to keep winning. (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Here’s how Paul says it – “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7-10). God wants you to see the present and eternal value of knowing Him and Jesus. And to know Them means you know who They are, Their offices, character and purpose. God is your Father, and Jesus is your Creator, Lord, Savior, and coming King. Their character is perfect – They are holy, just, wise, good, powerful, loving, patient, forgiving, faithful, sovereign, etc. And God’s purpose is to be glorified, and for us to be satisfied, rejoicing in Him, and worshiping Him. But it’s not just knowing these things in your head but also knowing them in your heart and life.

One of God’s primary desires for you, whether that’s here or in heaven, is for you to know Him. Let me ask you: are you experiencing God’s forgiveness? Do you see that He is patient with you? Do you see that He is good to you? Do you see how He is sovereign in your life? Do you see how He loves you? Can you say, “Your love is better than life” (Ps. 63:4). I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing God, who He is and what He is like. Here’s what Jeremiah says, “Let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises
lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth.” Jer. 9:24

But it’s more than that. Your relationship with God is not one-sided. It’s not just what God says to you or does for you – it’s you relating to Him and responding to Him. Prov. 8:17
– It’s thanking God for saving you, for providing all your needs, for giving you a job, a place to live, a church, a family, friends, and so many spiritual and eternal blessings. 1 Thess. 5:18
– It’s praising God, exalting Him, loving Him with all your heart. Psalm 118:28
– It’s loving God’s word and meditating on it. It’s believing the truths and promises in His word. And it’s obeying His commands. Psalm 1:2, 119:55-56, 119:97
– It’s praying – it’s seeking Him and asking Him to help you and others. Heb. 11:6
– It’s getting time alone with Him, and pouring out your heart, praying to Him, listening to Him and learning from Him, and being spiritually refreshed. Mark 1:35
– It’s walking with God, going through the day knowing He is with you. It means loving Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, confessing sin, asking Him for help, and being encouraged by Him. Gen. 5:24

I strongly believe God is using use this Coronavirus Pandemic to wake up Christians, to revive us so that we are joyfully walking with Him and living for Him. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). You have a Father who loves you so much, a Savior who died for you, lives for you, prays for you, and can’t wait to see you! And He doesn’t want you sleeping. During this time of social distancing, make sure you are not distant from God, but are awake and close to Him. In His rebuke to the lukewarm Laodicean Christians, Jesus says, “‘Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me’” (Rev. 3:19-20). Jesus said to Martha, and to us, “… you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

This blog site is about the end-times, and the closer we get to Christ’s return, the more difficult life will be. What’s most important now, and in times of great tribulation, is your relationship with God. If you are walking with God, then you will have all the grace and peace you need, and everything will work out for His glory and for your good. During our life on this earth, might we say, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27

P.S. The Coronavirus Pandemic is presently the greatest physical danger in the world, and God is trying to teach us some important lessons. Here are three posts on this subject, and I recommend that you read them: “The Coronavirus, Plagues, and the End-Times”, “The Coronavirus – Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace”, and “The Coronavirus, Christians, and the Coming of Christ.”

The Coronavirus, Christians, and the Coming of Christ

March 22, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #161 ~

This plague, the Coronavirus Epidemic, is one of God’s way of telling Christians that our world is experiencing “birth pains,” defined as wars, famines, earthquakes and plagues (Matt. 24 and Luke 21). These signs, occurring in various parts of the world, are to wake us up, to alert us to the fact that we are living in the end-times, and that it won’t be long before the coming of Christ to rapture the church. But many people, seeing what is happening with regards to this epidemic, and not understanding God’s overall purposes, are afraid, even panicking. In my last post I talked about this fear, but more needs to be said, for God doesn’t want you to ever be afraid, but to know Him and what He’s doing. Let’s continue, and learn some more important lessons:

1. God is sovereign over the coronavirus, and the Coronavirus Pandemic. “I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One
forming darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity.” (Isaiah 45:6-7). God is the First Cause, the One who decreed this virus, and allowed it to spread to over 150 countries, and infect hundreds of thousands of people. It’s imperative that you see this pandemic as part of God’s divine purposes, part of His grand plan for you, the church and the whole world. Knowing that God ordained it, that He is in charge, should humble you. That, along with the fact that God is wise, good and loving, should alleviate your fears, and give you peace. Indeed, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28

2. When you are afraid, go to God’s word. “In God, whose word I praise, in God, I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Ps. 56:4). Not having God’s word in your heart will cause you to lose your footing and direction in life. When you are fearful, remember God’s truth, for it is foundational – it anchors your soul. Remember God’s commands, for they give clear direction to your life, paving the way so you can walk and not get weary and run and not get tired. Remember God’s promises for they speak of hope, a much better time and place when all is perfect. In times of a crisis and fear, God’s word, coupled with the Spirit’s work, will strengthen, guide and encourage you, enabling you to be useful to Him. God’s word is always the answer to every problem that is spiritual in nature. Matt. 24:35, 2 Tim. 3:16-17

3. Get quality time with God. You can easily be overwhelmed by the things you think you need to do. If you are worried and bothered by the details of life, it may mean that you are not getting the time with God that you need. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Psalm 73:23-26). The single most important thing you can do in life is to spend time with God, for when you do, you will be comforted by His love, strengthened by His truth, and fearless when facing problems. “Only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

4. Do not to be afraid when global calamities take place. Psalm 46 is about the end-times when wars and earthquakes are happening, and people are fearful. We are told four things: 1. Go to God for He is your refuge and strength, the One who is with you and can really help you (vss 1-4, 7, 11). 2. Put your hope in God, for He has a great and perfect future for you (vss 4-7). 3. Know that God will put a stop to earthquakes and wars (plagues too) and bring peace to this earth (vss 6, 8-9). 4. Stop worrying, stop trying to be in control – “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (vs 10). God uses these calamities to humble us, to remind us that He is God, and that His ultimate purpose is to be glorified in all the earth. Hab. 2:14, Phil. 2:9-11

5. Seek God’s kingdom instead of worrying about your own needs being met. Many people worry about food, drink, and the necessities of life, but you are not to be anxious, even when the store shelves are empty. You are to trust your heavenly Father to provide your needs. I am not saying you are not to work or shop for food, but you are not to worry about these things. Don’t waste your time and energy pursuing earthly things but set your mind on heavenly things. Get your priorities right. Your purpose in life is not getting lots of earthly goods but doing your part in helping to build God’s heavenly kingdom. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt. 6:33, Luke 12:13-33

6. Do not be afraid when attempting the Lord’s work. When you want to do God’s work, don’t be surprised if you start feeling fearful. In the Bible we read about God giving His people work to do, and He would often command them, “Do not be afraid,” and that’s because they had this fleshly tendency to be afraid (Josh. 1:7). And so too with us. No Christian can do what God wants him to do if he is filled with fear. We must learn to overcome our fear(s). Look to your Father and be filled with His Word and Spirit, and you will be Christ-like, filled with peace, as well as the power to carry out God’s work. Now that we are in the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church, I cannot stress enough the importance of being fearless, of being a strong-and-courageous Christian who is serving his Commander in Chief. Josh. 1:7-9

7. Let your light shine. One reason for this pandemic is for the gospel to be preached. What people need most during this difficult time is not masks for their face or food for their body, but salvation for their soul. Don’t be afraid to share with people the good news. You are a child of God, and this is your time to boldly and lovingly tell the lost about their sin and about the Savior, Jesus Christ. Tell them their need to repent, and to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins, and rose again, with the result that they will be born again, be forgiven, receive eternal life, and become a child of God whose permanent home is in heaven. “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14-18

8. Be strong in the Lord. As Christians, we are in a spiritual war, and when the battles come, don’t be afraid. Yes, it is true that the devil and his forces will come at you with all they’ve got, and that they are too strong and clever for you. But go to God and be humble and be filled with His word and Spirit, and then you will be strong in the Lord, and “you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having
done everything, to stand firm.” Eph. 6:10-13

9. Do not be fearful of death. Many people are afraid to die, but as Christians, what may seem to be the worst thing that could happen is actually the best thing that could happen. Death should not be feared, but looked forward to, for “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). The reason we should never fear death is because we know what Jesus Christ went through for us. Since He died and rose again, and since we are in Christ, then when we physically die, we know we will continue to spiritually live, not on earth, but in heaven. Then we will be raised, be physically glorified on the last day, when the church is raptured. And if God wants you to die before the rapture, even be martyred, then that is not something to be feared, but to be faced, for then you will see Jesus, and your loved ones who went to heaven before you. “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of death and of Hades.” Rev. 1:17-18, Rev. 2:10, John 11:25-26

P.S. As you know we are in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here are the other posts I have written on this subject that will help you understand what God is doing, and how He wants you to think and live at this present time: “The Coronavirus – Fear and Panic or Faith and Peace” and “The Coronavirus, Plagues and the End-Times.”

Here are some more verses about fear, faith, the future and the work and glory of God.
* Isaiah 35:3-4 – “Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not, behold your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.’”
* Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
* Isaiah 43:1 – “Thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’”
* Daniel 10:19 – “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous.”
* Matthew 6:25-26 – “For this I reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you shall eat and drink… Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? … Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

* Matthew 10:31 – “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”
* Mark 4:40 – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
* Luke 1:30 – “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.”
* Luke 1:74 – “… to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
* Luke 5:9 – “For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken… And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.’”

* Luke 12:4 – “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
* Luke 12:29, 31-32 – “Do not seek what you will eat… and do not keep worrying. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
* John 14:1, 27 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me… Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
* Philippines 1:14 – “… and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
* Philippines 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

* 2 Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and discipline.”
* Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
* Hebrews 13:5-6 – “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” 
* 1 Peter 3:6 – “Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”
* 1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

* 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
* Revelation 2:10 – “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
* Revelation 21:3-4 – “God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.”

The Coronavirus – Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace

March 18, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #160 ~

Most of you have been following the Coronavirus crisis which has now affected more than 150 countries in the world. For many people, it has been extremely frightening to see this epidemic so quickly become a pandemic, to see more and more people getting sick and dying. Coupled with that, many are concerned, and rightly so, about their families, jobs, financial situation, and future. But as Christians, God doesn’t want us to be afraid, to panic, but to have faith, to be trusting Him, knowing that He will give us all the grace and peace we need. For those of you who don’t know Christ, I encourage you to turn from sin and turn to Him, believing that He died to pay for your sins so you could be forgiven and be given eternal life. “For Christ also died fir sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18

Because of the present distress, I have been studying faith and fear, and it’s a big subject in the Bible. My purpose in these next two posts is to share some lessons I have learned about this. I have also written out a number of verses for your personal encouragement and study.

Here are some lessons:
1. God does not want you to be afraid. God is your heavenly Father and knows it’s not good for you when you are afraid. He wants you to see that you are His child and that you are to go to Him when you are fearful. His desire is for you to be filled with His perfect peace, which is not a natural or human emotion, but a spiritual and godly experience. This peace is a fruit of the Spirit, what God freely and abundantly gives to you and every one of His children. Gal. 5:22, John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

2. Everyone has fears, no person is immune from them. But for the Christian, God doesn’t want us to try to resolve our fears in a fleshly or worldly way, but in the way He tells us in His Word. Yes, there are human ways of dealing with fears, but they do not solve the real problem. Without God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly get rid of our fears, for only God has written out the right prescription for us. “He who abides in Me and I in Him, he bears much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

3. What’s ultimately important is fearing God. This is a major theme in the Bible, for if you are not fearing God, you will be fearing people and things. Fearing God means you are in awe of Him, that you revere and respect Him, that you know He is holy, all powerful, and sovereign. If you are seeing God for who He really is, and you know He loves you, then there is nothing and no one to be afraid of. When God is first and central in your life, then you won’t be an anxious, worried and a fearful person. Isaiah 8:12-13, Luke 12:4-5 – “My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast you into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

4. God allows fearful situations to test you, to teach you to trust Him, to believe in Him, to be close to Him so you experience and are encouraged by His peace, comfort and power. John 14:1, 2 Cor. 1:3-11, James 1:2 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”  

5. This present Coronavirus pandemic is a test, a trial for you and all Christians. How are you doing during this crisis? Are you trusting God and depending on Him? God wants you to learn this lesson of not being afraid, but of trusting Him with your life, family, job, finances, and future. By His grace, might you not just pass this test, but ace it. Psalm 56:4, 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

6. God’s love drives out all human fear. If you are afraid, worried, or scared, then you are not experiencing the love of God like you ought. You are like a little child who is crying and distressed because he cannot see His mother or father. And so, when you are afraid and feel alone and helpless, look to God, knowing that He is with you, and that He is gentle, loving and kind. Let Him hold you and help you, and then you will find peace. 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

7. God does not want you to be afraid like the unbelievers in the world, but instead to be at peace, and to be confident and courageous. Then you will be a light to the lost, a witness to the worriers, and seen as one who knows God the Father, and Jesus, His Son. Matt. 5:16, Acts 4:13 – “As they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

8. Now that we are in the end times, there will be more and more “birth pains.” Plagues, (e.g. this Coronavirus) are but one of them, along with wars, earthquakes, famines, and financial problems (Matt. 24:4-8, Rev. 6:1-8). Now is the time, in this calm before the big storms, to learn this lesson of trusting Him, for these global calamities will continue to occur, and increasingly so, in these last years before Christ returns to rapture the church. I cannot help but believe that God is getting His people ready now for what lies ahead, when things become even more difficult, especially when there is great tribulation. Luke 21:11 – “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines.”

9. God tells us how to overcome fear. First, know that you are exceedingly valuable in God’s eyes, that you are His precious child, and He doesn’t want you to be afraid. Second, trust God, believe in Him. And to trust Him, you need to know Him and His character of love, power, wisdom, goodness, sovereignty, etc. Third, seek Him, asking Him to take away your fears, and instead give you peace, the tranquil spirit of knowing that everything is all right, for your Father is much stronger and much smarter than everyone else, and He will let nothing hurt you. Matt. 10:31, Psalm 34:4, Phil. 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

10. Do not be afraid of the future, of tomorrow, next week, next year, of the unknown. God knows your future, has wisely planned out your future, and will carefully carry out His plans for you, leading you in the way you should go. You see, God has gone ahead of you, and will then go with you, and be with you every step of the way. Learn to take one day at a time and, like Enoch, walk with God. You need not fear the future, but be like the godly woman of whom it is said, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.” Prov. 31:25, Gen. 6:22, Psalm 32:8, Matt. 6:34, Deut. 31:7-8 – “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land… The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Here are some verses about fear, faith, the future and the work and glory of God.
* Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.’”
* Exodus 14:13-14 – “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today… the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
* Exodus 20:20 – “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
* Numbers 14:9 – “Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”
* Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is fighting for you.”

* Deuteronomy 20:3 – “Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic or tremble before them.”
* Deuteronomy 31:7-8 – “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land… The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
* Joshua 1:7-9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
* Judges 6:23-24 – “The Lord said to Gideon, ‘Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die. Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it the Lord is Peace.”
* 2 Kings 6:15,16 – “Behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’”

* 2 Chronicles 20:3,17 – “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord… ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf… Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’”
* Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with Me.”
* Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”
* Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
* Psalm 46:1-2, 10 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea… Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

* Psalm 56:4 – “In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid… What can mere man do to me?”
* Psalm 112:5-7 – “It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
* Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
* Isaiah 8:12-13 – “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy,’ in regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.”
* Isaiah 26:3 – “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”

P.S. So many people are wondering what is happening with COVID-19, and we really need to know how it relates to prophecy and the end-times. If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to read my posts titled, “The Coronavirus, Plagues and the End-Times,” and “When the Storms Come, Don’t be Afraid.”

Step by Step Till We See Jesus

March 13, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #159 ~

At this time in history, what the Bible calls the end-times, we need watchmen, people who know what God has prophesied about the present and the future (e.g. the Coronavirus) and are then looking for these things to take place. A watchman for the church needs to know three things:
# 1, that Jesus Christ is coming back to rapture the church,  
# 2, that God has prophesied specific events and general conditions that need to take place in the world before Christ returns to rapture the church, and
# 3, that regardless of whether it’s specific events or general conditions, there are usually steps leading to their fulfillment, what I call pre-conditions. As watchmen, God wants us to be seeing these pre-conditions (#3), knowing they are leading to the fulfillment of these prophecies about the end-times (#2), prophecies that are pointing to the soon return of Jesus Christ (#1). Let me share some examples that will help you understand this.  

First, there are prophesies regarding specific events:
The peace treaty. This prophecy is that there will be the signing or confirming of a treaty between Israel and other nations at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, made possible by the coming Antichrist. (Dan. 9:27). Ever since Israel became a nation, we have been hearing about peace treaties, but so far, no treaty has really worked. Someday, and I believe soon, this Dan. 9:27 treaty will be passed, fulfilling God’s prophecy. Once it is signed and we know it’s signed, then we will realize that Daniel’s 70th week has begun, and that it won’t be long before the church is raptured, and we see Jesus.

The Antichrist. This prophecy is that the Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:27). Before we see this prophecy fulfilled, people will be rejecting nationalism and be open to the idea of globalism. That’s because they will be looking for a “savior” who they hope can solve the world’s problems and bring peace. Then we will see a person (probably from the Mideast) growing in power and forming a 10-nation kingdom, and he will be the Antichrist. Once the Antichrist is revealed, discerning Christians will know that the rapture of the church is less than a few years away. Dan. 7:7-8, Rev. 17:17

The temple. This prophecy is that the Jewish temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). Obviously, the pre-condition necessary for the fulfillment of this prophecy is that the temple needs to be built. When you see that this temple has been built in Jerusalem and that sacrifices are being offered by Jewish priests, then you know it won’t be long before this desolation occurs, before the Antichrist sets himself up as “God” in this temple.

The mark of the beast. This prophecy is that people, to openly buy and sell, must take the mark of the beast, the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-17). Before this prophecy is fulfilled, people will be wanting their identity and personal information to be more protected, so much so that they are willing to take this mark. There will also need to be a massive, super-secure system that can hold all this information and make all these transactions. As you know, sophisticated technological advances are being made in this area, like the implantation of chips in animals and people. For the first time in history, we are realizing that it is feasible for this prophecy to be fulfilled.

Second, there are prophecies regarding general conditions: 
Increasing lawlessness. This prophecy is that lawlessness will increase in the end-times. (Matt. 24:12). It’s obvious to me and everyone I talk to that lawlessness is getting worse, that there’s more corruption, crime, lying, disrespect, and immorality than 50-60 years ago. It’s true that there’s always been evil in the world, but now that we live in the end-times, we know this prophecy will be fulfilled. Wickedness will get worse and worse, and then the “man of lawlessness,” the Antichrist, will take over the world. 2 Tim. 3:1-5

Apostasy. This prophecy says there will be a great apostasy before Christ’s coming (Matt. 24:10, 2 Thess. 2:3). Most people my age (66) are aware that there are far less churchgoers than there were 60 years ago. It’s quite clear that churches are getting weaker, that God and the gospel are not popular, false teaching is spreading, and the religion of secularism is growing. When we get closer to Christ’s coming, God will send a delusion resulting in most unbelievers being deceived and rapidly falling away from their religions and so-called churches. This apostasy, this falling away of people from fake churches and false religions, will pave the way for the Antichrist to be worshiped all over the world. Rev. 13:3-4

Great persecution. This prophecy says great tribulation and persecution will be directed against Christians in the end-times (Matthew 24:9, 21). Ever since the church started, for close to 2000 years now, she has been persecuted. At this time, our society, academia, media, culture and the government are increasingly anti-God and anti-gospel. It won’t be long before laws will be passed with the sole purpose of silencing gospel-preaching Christians. Then, when the apostasy takes place and the Antichrist is in charge, hate for Christians will suddenly and dramatically increase, and there will be great persecution, and many Christians will be martyred, but many will live to be raptured. Rev. 12:17, 13:7

Realignment of countries. God prophesied that there will be a ten-nation, Antichrist-led kingdom in the end-times. This means we will see the decline of the United States resulting in her no longer being a world super-power. Coinciding with that, there’ll be the realigning and reforming of countries in Europe and the Mideast, fulfilling God’s geographical plan for the end-times, leading to the Antichrist’s takeover of the world. Daniel 2, 7; Ezekiel 38:1-6

Preaching the gospel. This prophecy is that the gospel will be preached to all the nations, and then the end (of the age) will come (Matt 24:14, 28:19-20). At this time, we are all aware that the gospel is being preached and that disciples are being made in nations all over the world, “even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Indeed, Jesus Christ is building His church, and once His work is fully completed, then this age is over, and He will immediately return to earth to take God’s children home to heaven. (A positive and related note is that people from 117 different countries and territories have viewed posts on this blog site in the last year.)

There are three important things watchmen need to know about the future: #1, Christ is coming back to rapture the church. #2, God prophesied that many specific and non-specific things would happen before Christ’s return. #3, Observant Christians will see the pre-conditions, the step by step working of God, leading to the fulfillment of these prophesies.

Might you be seeing these pre-conditions as they are happening, realizing that they are part of God’s purposeful and providential working in the world, leading to the fulfillment of His end-time’s prophesies. I have no doubt that God wants you to see this divine process, and the continual progress He is making in bringing about Christ’s return to rapture the church. Mark 13:23, Hebrews 10:25

P.S. My continued desire and prayer is that you have a good understanding of what needs to take place before Christ comes back. Here are two other posts that will help you learn what needs to happen before the return of Christ – “Bible Prophecy Enables Us To See the Future” and “What the Bible Says About the Future.”

Being a Watchman for the Church in the End-Times

March 6, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #158 ~

God has lovingly and wisely given us His prophetic word, His plans for the future. Now that we are in the closing years of this church age, it’s imperative that we read “and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). But we also need to be watchmen, ones who 1) study God’s word to find out what He wants us to know about the future; 2) teach this prophetic truth to other Christians; 3) see these prophecies fulfilled in the world around us; and 4) tell others they are being fulfilled, thereby encouraging one another that Christ is coming soon to rapture the church. Study, teach, see and tell – this is what it means to be a watchman. But what should you do to become a watchman for the church in the end times?

* Ask God to give you understanding. God is your Teacher and, through the Holy Spirit, will reveal His truth to you as you seek Him and study His word. Prov. 2:3-7, Luke 24:44-45

* Study the primary prophecy passages. God told us ahead of time what will be taking place in the coming years, and we need to study His word to find out what He wants us to know. Here are the main subjects: end-time events, Christ’s coming, the rapture, the day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and the age to come. To learn about these things, study Dan. 7-12, Matt. 24, Luke 21, Romans 11, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 – 5:11, 2 Thess. 1-2, and Revelation.

* Understand the chronology, the order of end-time events. God knows exactly what He is going to do and when He is going to do it. He has not told us all the details, but He has given us a general plan, a good outline of the end-times. There is a lot of confusion as to what and when things will happen, and this should not be. Be a teacher and a watchman so you can help others clearly understand the chronology, the divine sequence of end-time events.

* Learn the timing words and look for them, for they help you see the overall chronology of end-time events. Frequently used ones are “then, before, after, immediately, at that time, until, when, end.” For example, when you study Matthew 24, you will notice these timing words, which help you to know what happens when, and how one event leads to another and to another, until that time when Christ returns to rapture the church.

* Study the prophecy terms. When you study a subject, there are particular terms that need to be understood, and so too with prophecy. Here are some examples: end-times, birth pains, apostasy, Daniel’s 70 weeks, Daniel’s 70th week, Antichrist, seals, trumpets, bowls, abomination of desolation, Day of the Lord, Christ’s coming, rapture, and millennium. I encourage you to study the list of Key Terms, for that will help you understand them.

* Know that we are now living in the end-times. That millions of Jewish people have gathered back to their land, to Israel, is the main reason we know we are living in the end-times. When you study prophecy, you realize it cannot be fulfilled unless the Jews are back in their land. Not only that, but during these end-times, God’s work with the church coincides with His work with the Jews, leading to Christ returning to rapture the church and save a remnant of Jews. Ezekiel 36-37; Dan. 12:4, 9; Rom. 11:25-27

* At this time in history, we are at that stage called the “beginning of birth
pangs” (Matt. 24:8). Many events characterize this stage of the end-times – wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and financial distress. It must be noted that these events aren’t occurring in every country but are happening in various places around the world. Now some say these “birth pangs” only occur during Daniel’s 70th week, but I believe they have been going on for over 100 years and will continue into this still future 70th week. As these things take place, the watchman needs to reassure fearful Christians that “those things must take
place, but that is not yet the end” (Matt. 24:6). These “birth pangs” are signs from God that we are in the end-times, that Christ’s coming is drawing near, but will not happen right away.

* Know the other signs and prophesied events, and how they fit in with the end-times. There will be a peace treaty, apostasy, increasing lawlessness, great persecution of Jews and Christians, the revealing of the Antichrist, the desolation of the temple, the mark of the Beast, and world-wide preaching of the gospel (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:9-14, 2 Thess. 2:1-9, Rev. 13). As a watchman, it’s important for you to see the pre-conditions, things leading up to these aforementioned events. Here are some examples: that the Antichrist will rule this entire earth means the United States will decline from her position as the world’s #1 super-power; that the temple will be desolated means it first has to be built; that there will be apostasy means we will see the continued downgrade of the visible church, the so-called church; that the gospel will be preached to all the nations means we will continue to see this happen in the years ahead. The end-times’ watchman is a God-loving, truth-studying, clear-thinking saint who understands the times (1 Chron. 12:32). He sees what is taking place around the world, connects it to God’s prophetic word, and then tells others how it relates to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church.

* Learn about Daniel’s 70th week, a future, seven-year time-frame packed with prophetic activity. Know the main events taking place during this week, the peace-treaty at the beginning of the week, the revealing of the Antichrist at its midpoint, the rapture taking place sometime during the last half of this week, and the salvation of the Jews at the end of the week. Once we are at the midpoint, then we know with certainty that it’s only a matter of time (less than 37 months) before Christ comes back to take us home to heaven.

* The final sign to occur before Christ’s coming is the heavenly lights being
darkened. At this time the rapture is both imminent and immediate, for in a matter of seconds, you will see your Savior in the clouds, be suddenly snatched off the earth, be joyfully reunited with other believers, be perfectly glorified, and then forever be in Jesus’ glorious presence.

* “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). One generation of people, a select and special number of Christians on earth, will see all these things spoken of in Matthew 24. It might be you, your family, your friends. For God’s sake, be a good student and know these things written in Matthew 24 and other prophecy passages. Be a watchman and be looking for God’s word to be fulfilled, and when it does, tell others what it means, and that it won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church. Be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

P.S. When the Coronavirus and other major calamitous events take place, it’s important to know clearly what God says about the future. God does not want you to be afraid, but to be confidently and excitedly looking ahead to Christ’s coming. Here are two posts that will help you understand what God wants you to know: “What Needs to Happen Before Christ Returns?” and “What the Bible Says About the Future?”

The Coronavirus, Plagues, and the End-Times

February 27, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #157 ~

I assume you have heard of the coronavirus, the contagious flu virus that started in China and has been spreading to other countries. This respiratory ailment, also called COVID-19, can be deadly, particularly with the elderly, and the sick. This can be frightening, especially when you hear about quarantines, lock-downs, social distancing, cancellations, and see people wearing masks and, worst of all, that many are dying. As of today (3/11/20), reports (worldometers.info) are that 125,810 people have been infected, and that 4,607 have died, most of these in China. On one hand, there’s reason to be afraid, for there’s presently no proven cure, and we don’t know where it will spread, and how many more will die before scientists develop a vaccine. 

That being said, some say this virus is being hyped-up, that it is not now and will not in the future be as deadly as plagues in the past. At “cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index”, we read, “CDC estimates that influenza (in the U.S.) has resulted in between 12,000 – 61,000 deaths annually since 2010.” Those are huge numbers of people dying just because of the flu. Then there’s the 1918 influenza pandemic with an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide (“cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources), a number that dwarfs the now known deaths from COVID-19. But to be honest, there are too many unknowns to predict what is going to happen with this particular virus.

Regardless of how many will die from what has just been declared to be a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, there have always been contagious diseases (plagues), and they will continue in the future. One reason we know this is because the Bible says so. Now only one verse in the New Testament talks about plagues and, interestingly, it is found in a passage that describes the end-times and Christ’s coming. What does it say? “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). Jesus is talking, among other things, about plagues. Vine’s dictionary defines it as “a pestilence, and deadly infectious malady, (it) is used in the plural in Luke 21:11.” A plague is a pestilence, an infectious disease which can be deadly and is usually widespread.

What does God want us to learn about plagues in the end-times?
1. Jesus tells His disciples many things that will be occurring in the end-times before His 2nd coming, and one of these is plagues. He gives us advance notice so we aren’t afraid, and so we are alerted to the fact that He will soon be returning to rapture the church.

2. The immediate context lists other things that will be taking place: wars, famines, great earthquakes, terrors and great signs from heaven. In addition to these, Matt. 24:4-26, 2 Thess. 2:1-8, and Rev. 6:1-14 describe conditions and different events occurring on the earth before Christ’s return. There will be increasing lawlessness, financial meltdowns, persecution, deception, apostasy, the Antichrist on earth, and the desolation of the temple. Therefore, the rapture of the church is not imminent, and cannot happen at any time.

3. These plagues, along with wars, famines and earthquakes, will be occurring in “various places” around the world. This means none of these particular events are happening all over the world, just in “various places.” With regards to these plagues, this seems to say that there will never be a global pandemic. For example, as of now, only a handful of people in the United States have been diagnosed as having this coronavirus, which means the vast majority are just hearing about it, but are not experiencing it. Matthew 24:6

4. Matthew 24:8, in reference to these plagues and other end-time signs, says, “All these things are… birth pangs.” Before a woman gives birth, she experiences birth pains, which increase in both intensity and frequency, and likewise, these plagues and other events will increase in both intensity and frequency. In context of the larger picture, it must be seen that this present plague, COVID-19, is one of many birth pains. The accumulated effect of these birth pains will be deteriorating conditions around the world, which will result in people wanting a “savior.” Sadly, billions of people will be deceived when this “savior”, this evil, devilish man, the Antichrist, begins ruling the earth. But always remember, these birth pains are pointing to that time when Jesus Christ will come back to rapture the church and defeat the Antichrist.

5. With regards to these signs and events, Jesus says, “these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately” (Luke 21:9). In Matt. 24:8, Jesus tells us, “All these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” As you probably know, a pregnant woman has beginning birth pains, which are not extremely painful, but her pain intensifies the closer she is to giving birth. So too, the plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars are just beginning signs indicating that Christ’s return is drawing near. As time goes on, these prophesied events will continue to take place, and increasingly so. When I look at God’s word, and look out at what’s happening in the world, I believe we are now at this beginning stage, that we are living in the last years of this church age. But many more things still need to happen before Christ comes backs to take His bride to heaven, particularly, events related to Daniel’s 70th week and the Jewish people.

6. These plagues and other events taking place are wake-up calls for the Christians, are to alert us and make us aware that it won’t be long before our Savior returns to rapture the church. Luke 21:28 says it this way, “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Romans 13:11 tells us, “Do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation now is nearer than when we first believed.”

7. These events, like loud-sounding sirens warning of danger, are also for the unsaved. It is not physical death that is to be feared, not a plague, an earthquake or a war, but Christ Himself, the Judge of all the earth. Might unbelievers be terrified by these events, so they turn from their sin and turn to Christ. The greatest disease is not a physical disease, but the spiritual disease called sin, a spiritual cancer that kills the soul – and the only cure is Jesus Christ. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “God made Him 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). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but receive eternal life” (John 3:16). If Jesus Christ has not saved your soul, if you have not yet been forgiven of your sins, then now’s the time to turn to Him and receive eternal life. Do this before it’s too late, before Christ returns to rapture the church, before you are left on earth fearfully trying to hide from Him, knowing you will be judged forever by the Holy and Mighty One. But “whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

P.S. It’s important that we are not afraid during difficult times like these. Here’s a post that I believe will help you to have the peace God wants you to have – “The Coronavirus – Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace.” And here is another post that will help you understand what God wants you to know about the end-times. “Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?”

The Rapture Won’t Happen Until …….

February 21, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #156 ~

I am concerned that millions of Christians are mistaken about the timing of the rapture. I fear they will be completely caught off guard when various prophesied events begin to happen, for they thought they’d already be gone from the earth. They are ones who believe the rapture is imminent, that no signs or prophesied events need to occur before Christ returns to take us home to heaven. In fact, they think the rapture could even happen today, this week, or this year, that Christ could suddenly speed down from heaven and snatch us from the earth. But this is error, and must be corrected, for Christians need to know the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Last week, I explained why the rapture isn’t imminent, and can’t happen at any moment. We know this for two reasons: First, the Bible says the rapture takes place at His coming and not at some other distinct time (Matt. 24:27-31, 1 Cor. 15:23, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 2 Thess. 2:1). Second, the Bible specifically points out many prophesied events that will occur before Christ’s coming and, therefore, before the rapture. An extensive list of these events is found in Matthew 24:4-31 and 2 Thess. 2:1-12 – earthquakes, wars, plagues, the coming of the Antichrist, the desolation of the temple, great tribulation, deception, apostasy, and the skies going dark. Knowing that the rapture occurs at Christ’s coming, and that prophesied events take place before His coming, is conclusive proof that the rapture is not imminent.

But I need to continue with this theme, and in particular, explain why many people believe the rapture is imminent. Here’s how they think:
1. They correctly say that Christians are rescued from God’s wrath. John 3:36, 5:24; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9
2. They incorrectly believe that the tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24 is God’s wrath.
3. They incorrectly say the entire 70th week of Daniel is tribulation and great tribulation, leading them to believe that this 70th week, this entire 7-year period, is God’s wrath.
4. Their correct understanding (point 1), along with their two incorrect assumptions (points 2 and 3), lead them to incorrectly conclude that the rapture takes place before this tribulation, this so-called wrath, which they believe occurs during the entire 70th week. This is called the pre-tribulation rapture view.  
5. Since many major prophesied events occur during Daniel’s 70th week, they also incorrectly conclude that the rapture happens before all these events and, therefore, is imminent, can happen at any time, and without notice.  

Let me elaborate on why points 2 and 3 are incorrect, and lead to a wrong conclusion. With regards to point 2, we know tribulation is not God’s wrath because no place in the Bible says tribulation is God’s wrath. What we do know is that this wrath is God punishing unbelievers, but tribulation is what believers experience during the church age. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Paul said, “Momentary, light tribulation is producing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). These verses and others clearly communicate that Christians go through tribulation during their time on earth. Rom. 8:35, 1 Thess. 3:1-4, Rev. 7:14

Prophecy passages also talk about this tribulation. 2 Thess. 1:4-10 says Christians will suffer tribulation right up to the end of the age, when Christ is revealed and gives us relief from it by rapturing us to heaven. Then in Matt. 24:9, Jesus says, “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Notice that the “you” in these verses refers to Christians. Then in Matt. 24:21-22, Jesus talks about “great tribulation” affecting the Jews, and then greatly affecting the Christians, which we just read about in Matt. 24:9, and which is also described in Rev. 12:13-17. What you need to know is that tribulation and great tribulation refer to the persecution and suffering that Christians will go through until the end of the age, when Christ raptures the church.

Let’s now talk about point 3, that oft believed assumption that the entire 70th week of Daniel is tribulation and great tribulation. This point is easy to answer, for the Bible never says the entire 70th week of Daniel, this 7-year period, is tribulation and great tribulation, which is wrongly assumed to be wrath. What the Bible tells us is that there will be tribulation and great tribulation affecting the Christians, and wrath affecting the non-Christians.

Let me explain this further: Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week and then desolates the temple, a point Jesus refers to in Matt. 24:15. Shortly after that, in the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, great tribulation begins, starting with the Jews and then spreading to the Christians. Both Jews and Christians had been experiencing tribulation before this time, but now it intensifies becoming great tribulation. This great tribulation continues for a short while, but is suddenly cut short. The skies are darkened, then immediately lit up by Christ’s coming, and the church is raptured, Christ suddenly taking her from the earth. After the rapture, God’s wrath is poured out on an unbelieving world. This divine chain of events is also described in Rev. 6-9 – there’s persecution (Rev. 6:9-11), signs in the heavens (Rev. 6:12-14), rapture (Rev. 7:9-14), and wrath (Rev. 8-9).   

The main point of this post is to help you understand that the rapture is not imminent, that many prophesied events must happen before the rapture. In summary, Christians alive on earth during Daniel’s 70th week, having undergone tribulation and great tribulation, will be raptured, not at the beginning of that week, but sometime during the 2nd half of it, a time known only to God. Because God loves us, He gives us advance notice about the upcoming tough times, and when we see these prophesied events happen, we know we will see Him soon. Of course, we don’t know the exact day and hour, but we will know that Christ’s return and the rapture is getting closer (Hebrews 10:25). By God’s grace and with hope in our heart, we will persevere, and those alive during that time will all see Jesus, some by being martyred, and some by being raptured. Either way, it will be glorious for us, and a great glory to God.

P.S. God wants Christians to know the general timing of Christ’s return and the rapture, and that’s why I continue to write posts related to this subject. Here are three previous posts that will help you understand this: “The Timing of the Rapture”, “Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation”, and “The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teaching is False.”

Why the Rapture is Not Imminent

February 14, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #155 ~

The rapture is not imminent. But the vast majority of evangelical Christians in the United States believe it is imminent, that no signs or prophesied events need to happen before Christ comes back to snatch the church from the earth. People who think the rapture is imminent are mistaken, in error, and don’t know what must happen before the church on this earth is suddenly taken to heaven. Let me explain why the rapture is not imminent.

First, we need to understand that the rapture takes place at the coming of Christ. Many people believe the rapture and Christ’s coming occur at two different times, but that’s not true. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 says, “This we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Verse 17 says, “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The same exact phrase, “we who are alive and remain” appears in both verses. Verse 15 speaks of those alive and remaining until the “coming of the Lord.” Verse 17 says those alive and remaining will be “caught up.” When you put these verses together and see how they relate to each other, it’s obvious that the rapture takes place at Christ’s coming, and is, in fact, the first event to occur at His coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 says the same thing: “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…” Being gathered is referring to the rapture, which happens at the coming of our Lord. Then there’s 1 John 3:2 that says we’re glorified when He appears, and 1 John 2:28 that says Christ appears at His coming. This means we’re glorified at Christ’s coming, and since we’re glorified when we’re raptured (1 Corinthians 15:50-52), then we know the rapture takes place at Christ’s coming. Look at Matthew 24:37-41 and 1 Corinthians 15:23 and you will realize they also validate this very important point, that the rapture occurs at Christ’s coming.

Second, we need to see that many prophesied signs and events occur before the coming of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, speaking of the day of the Lord, which occurs during the coming of the Lord, says, “it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction (the Antichrist) who opposes and exalts himself above every so called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God.” From this we understand that four things will take place before the day of the Lord and before Christ’s coming, and therefore, before the rapture: the apostasy, the revealing of the Antichrist, the building of the temple, and the desolation of the temple. That Christ’s coming and the rapture are after these four things forces us to conclude that the rapture is not imminent, that it cannot happen until these events take place.

Matthew 24:4-31 also makes it clear that Christ’s coming isn’t imminent. In verse 27, Jesus tells us about His coming – “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” His coming is further described in verse 30 – “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” In verse 31, we find the rapture – “they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” What takes place before these things? In verses 4-26, Jesus tells us there will be false christs, wars, earthquakes, famines, great tribulation, the betrayal of Christians, increasing lawlessness, false prophets, the preaching of the gospel, the desolation of the temple, Jews fleeing the enemy (the Antichrist), and signs in the heavens. All these things, including plagues, like the Coronavirus (Luke 21:11), will take place before Christ’s coming (verses 27, 30) and the rapture of the church (verse 31).

By reading these and other prophecy passages (Mark 13, Luke 17, Luke 21, Revelation 6-7), it’s obvious that many prophesied signs and events will take place before Christ’s coming, proving that the rapture of the church is not imminent, and cannot happen at any moment. For example, it cannot happen today, tomorrow, next week, next year, 10 years from now, or any other time in the future, unless all these prophesied events take place first.

That the rapture is not imminent is confirmed by Matthew 24:33, for Jesus says, “when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” When we “see all these things” Jesus talked about in verses 4-29, then we know His coming and the rapture is near, at hand, will take place very soon. To drive this point home, Jesus goes on to say, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (verse 34). When Jesus uses the word “truly”, He is being emphatic about the fact that Christians will see “all these things” before He returns to rapture the church. There will be a “generation” of Christians who will observe “all these things” and then be raptured.

Another key verse on this subject is Matthew 24:25, where Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything in advance.” What is “everything”? It is “all these things” pertaining to His coming. Why has He told us these things? And why has He told us these things ahead of time? Just so we can know what they are. Of course not. Jesus is telling us these things because we need to know them, and when we see them taking place, we will be confident that His coming, and the rapture, is getting closer. Jesus wants us to know what will be happening before He raptures the church because He doesn’t want us, His bride, to be afraid or caught off guard. He wants us to be ready, alert, and expecting and looking for His return. 

Jesus’ coming and the rapture are not imminent and will not happen until particular signs and events take place. And He told you “all these things” because He loves you and doesn’t want you to be surprised, but to be awake, aware of what is going on in the world, and excited about seeing Him. Jesus knows life will be extremely difficult for Christians on the earth at that time, and He wants you to have hope. But it’s not just about you having hope, but about you telling others so they have hope, for Hebrews 10:25 says, “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

P.S. This subject, that Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are not imminent, is extremely important for you to understand. Here are three other posts that will help you understand this subject: “We Will See the Day of Christ Drawing Near”, “Reflections on the Timing of Christ’s Return”, and “When Is Christ Coming Back?”

What Happens When Christians Are Raptured?

February 7, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #154 ~

When we speak of the rapture, we are talking about a most spectacular, life-changing, and God-glorifying event! It’s when Jesus Christ comes back in the clouds and powerfully and lovingly snatches all the Christians from the earth and brings them to Himself. The rapture is a specific event occurring at a specific time, but many believers use this term in a general way, referring to it as more than Christ coming and taking the Christians from the earth. Today, we will look at some verses in this general sense, helping you see that your life will immediately, dramatically and wonderfully be changed when Christ returns.

* 1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” This is the classic “rapture” verse. Now the words “caught up” are from the Greek “harpagisometha”, which was translated as “rapiemur” in the Latin Vulgate, from which we get the English word “rapture.” This phrase caught up, or rapture, means to snatch, seize, carry off, or take by force. When Christ returns, Christians will be suddenly, quickly and forcefully taken from the earth to forever be with their Savior. That it says “caught up together” means Christians will be jetted off the earth to be instantly united with all believers from all of history, and then together be taken to the Lord.

* Matthew 24:29-31 – “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Jesus Christ will come from heaven with His angels and dispatch them to the world below and the skies above, gathering to Himself all the believers, those still living on earth, and those who have already died. This glorious “rapture” event will occur at the end of this age, after the skies are suddenly darkened, and then immediately lit up by Christ’s coming.

* 2 Thessalonians 2:1 – “We request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.” Again, we read that the believers will be gathered together to be with Jesus Christ. This gathering takes place at Christ’s coming, and is, in fact, the first event to occur at His coming. Verses 2-9 tell us that the rapture and the gathering take place after the apostasy, and after the “man of lawlessness” is revealed, which happens at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. This most evil man is the Antichrist, a devilish man who desecrates the Jewish temple.  

* Luke 17:34, 36 – “On that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left… Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.” When the rapture occurs, believers and unbelievers will suddenly be separated, for Christ, with “lightning speed” quickness, will lovingly take His bride from the earth. For some Christians the rapture happens at night, and for others it’s during the day. For the saved, it means immediate perfection, and for the unsaved, it means wrath on earth and wrath in hell.   

* Luke 21:8 – “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” The “redemption” takes place at the rapture. One result of the rapture is that earth-dwelling believers will be redeemed, delivered, rescued, and quickly escape from a wicked world and their sinful body, and be taken to Jesus.

* John 14:3 – “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus comforts His troubled disciples by telling them that He is coming back to bring believers to Himself, and to a special place in heaven that He has prepared for them. That you now live in the end-times means there is a strong possibility that the rapture may happen in your lifetime.

* 1 Corinthians 15:52 – “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” This verse tells us many things that take place at the rapture. First, it will happen quickly, “in a moment,” in a split second. Second, it will occur at the loud blast of the last trumpet. Third, the believers who have already died will, at that time, be resurrected, be glorified. Fourth, immediately after the resurrection of these heavenly believers, the Christians who were living on earth will be changed, be glorified, be given brand new bodies!

* 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 – “To give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.” Throughout history, Christians have suffered and been persecuted, and so too in the end times. God will give rest and relief to His children who are greatly suffering on earth. This happens when the rapture takes place, when Christ is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. What a relief the rapture will be for the Christians, but not for the unsaved unbelievers.

* Matthew 24:13 – “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Jesus had just mentioned four difficult things affecting the believers – great tribulation, being betrayed, false prophets, and increasing lawlessness. So He tells us to endure, to persevere, with the result that we will be saved. This word “saved” is not referring to spiritual salvation, but physical salvation that occurs at the rapture, when we are suddenly and safely taken from the earth and miraculously glorified, and are then with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

* 1 Thessalonians 1:10 – “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” Judgment and wrath are coming, for Christ is coming to judge the world. Thanks be to God that He is sending His Son down to earth to rescue us from this world-deserving, world-devastating wrath.

* 1 John 3:2 – “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” At Christ’s coming, He appears, and we will see Him, and be like Him, meaning we will be given a glorified soul, mind and body. That we will have a Christ-like body shows God’s incredible mercy and kindness, for then we will finally be with Jesus, have fellowship with Him, be greatly loved by Him, and be able to greatly love Him.

* How do we respond to this good news, this most glorious news? 1 Peter 1:13 – “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 – “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Matthew 24:42 – “Be on the alert, for you do not know what day your Lord is coming.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – “Encourage one another with these words.”

P.S. The rapture is a most important subject which is why I write so much about it. Here is a list of many of my rapture posts: “The Rapture, a Love Story”, “The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ”, “When Does the Rapture Take Place?”, “The Return of Christ and the Rapture of the Church”, “The Resurrection and Rapture – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18”, “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church“.

When is Christ Returning to Rapture the Church?

January 31, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #153 ~

This is an important question, one not to be ignored, but one that needs to be answered. Some might say this question should not even be asked. But the prophets wanted to know (1 Peter 1:11). The angels wanted to know (1 Peter 1:12). Jesus’ disciples wanted to know (Matthew 24:3). And all Christians, especially at this time in history, should want to know. The truth is, God wants you to know, and gives you all the information you need so you can know when Christ will be coming back to rapture the church. What does God tell us?

* We live in the end times (Daniel 12:4, 9), that time during which the rapture will occur. That the Jewish people have regathered to their land means that God is, once again, actively carrying out His plans for them, and is proof that we live in the end times. Daniel 7-12 describes many conditions that need to be in place before Christ comes and fulfills His promises to the Jews. Then Matthew 24:4-27, Luke 21:8-33, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 and Revelation 6-7, show us that what happens to the church in the end times corresponds and / or coincides with what happens to the Jews in the end times. Therefore, in these last years before Christ’s return, it’s imperative to know what God says about Jews and Christians, for His work with both groups culminates in Christ’s coming, resulting in the church being raptured, a Jewish remnant being saved, and His kingdom being set up on earth. 

* The rapture of the church takes place at Christ’s coming, and is the first event to occur at His coming. There are not two comings. There is not the rapture, and later on, Christ’s coming. There is only one coming of Christ, at which time there’s the rapture of the church, God’s wrath, and many Jews being saved. Matthew 24:27-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1

* Christ’s coming is not imminent, cannot happen at any time, and does not happen without God giving us advance notice. Some people believe no prophesied signs or events need to occur before Christ’s coming, but that is not true. God tells us many things that need to take place before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church (Matthew 24:4-30, Luke 21:4-28, Revelation 6). Matthew 24:33 makes this point very clear: “When you see all these things (events listed in Matthew 24:4-30), recognize that He is near, right at the door.” 

* We do not know the specific time of Christ’s return. Anyone who says they know exactly when Christ is coming back is wrong. Jesus said it best, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Matthew 24:36

* We know the general time of Christ’s coming. As was previously stated, many events will occur before Christ’s coming and the rapture. The last generation of Christians living in the end times will see these things taking place and realize Christ’s return is at hand (Matthew 24:32-34). God wants us to know that His Son’s return is getting closer. He wants to give us hope, and to be looking forward to Christ’s coming, and to be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

* Understanding Daniel’s 70th week is key to knowing when Christ will return to rapture the church. At the beginning of this 70th week, a peace treaty between the Jews and the Antichrist will be signed; at the midpoint of this week, the Antichrist is revealed; and at the end of this 7-year time frame, a Jewish remnant is saved (Daniel 9:24-27). Then we learn, as we will see next, that the rapture occurs sometime during the last half of this 70th week.

* The church is raptured after the Antichrist is revealed. Daniel 9:27 informs us that the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Matthew 24:15-31, Mark 13:14-27, and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 each give a chronology of end-time events, making it clear that Christ’s coming occurs after the Antichrist’s coming. Therefore, the rapture, the 1st event at Christ’s coming, takes place after the Antichrist is revealed, which means it happens sometime during the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week, at a time unknown to us.

* The last signs taking place before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are a great earthquake, the sun turning dark, and the powers of heaven being shaken. These earth-shocking events mark the end of this age! Immediately after this, the skies light up – “as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27-31). “The Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first.” The Christians still on earth, seeing, feeling and hearing all these things, will know their Savior has come to take them home to heaven. “We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

* God gives us a list of events that need to occur before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. There will be false Christs, birth pains (earthquakes, famines, plagues, wars), increasing lawlessness, the signing of a treaty by the Jews, a great apostasy, the building of a temple in Jerusalem, the desolation of the temple by the Antichrist, the preaching of the gospel to the entire world, great persecution against Jews and Christians, the forming of a ten-nation kingdom led by the Antichrist, the forcing of people to worship the Antichrist and take his mark, a great earthquake, and the celestial lights going dark. Then the whole world “will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:3-31; Luke 21:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9; Revelation 6, 13, 17

* What God says about Christ’s return and the timing of His return is 100% true, and that’s because God’s word is 100% true. That is, the reason we know the “what” and the “when” about Christ’s coming is because God tells us, and God never lies – He always tells the truth. To drive that point home, in the middle of five verses that actually speak about the timing of His return, Christ says this about God’s prophetic word – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). With absolute certainty, God is telling you that His Son, Jesus Christ, is coming again, and that He is coming soon, sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

P.S. Another post that helps you understand when the rapture will occur is “The Timing of the Rapture.” As most of you know, the Super Bowl is this Sunday night, but here’s a previous post that tells you what’s most important: “Super Events Are Coming Soon.”

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