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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: Antichrist (page 1 of 2)

Blog posts about the Antichrist.

They are Scared to Death!!!

May 8, 2021

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #215 ~

As Christians, it’s important to think about what our lives will be like in the end-times. But what about the non-Christians? What will their lives be like? When we study the Bible, we discover there is a lot said about the sinful thinking and actions of unbelievers in those last few years before Christ’s return to rapture the church. That’s because God doesn’t want Christians to be surprised by the lives of sinners, for they will affect us much more than we realize.  

First, God wants you to know the state of an unbeliever’s heart, how he will be thinking. 1 Thess. 5:4-5 says the unsaved will be living in darkness – they will be sinning, and therefore,  spiritually sound asleep. They don’t think Christ is coming to judge the earth and punish people like themselves – they believe the world is going along just fine, and they aren’t expecting anything to change. To them, Christ “will come just like a thief in the night.” 1 Thess. 5:2

From 2 Thess. 2:12, we learn how much the non-Christians love their sin, for they “took pleasure in wickedness.” As Rom. 1:25 says, they do not love God or God’s truth, but in fact, love the lies of the world and the devil. They are terribly deceived with the result that their sinful minds are depraved – they are not thinking right, they have “lost their minds.” God will reject these God-rejecters and send “upon them a deluding influence” (2 Thess. 2:11). These fools will “oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith” and they “will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 2:8, 13). The Antichrist will be wickedly influencing the sinners at that time – they will be so deceived that they will actually worship and follow this most devilish man.

Second, how will the unsaved be living? It will be like the days of Lot: “they were eating and drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building” (Luke 17:28). Workers will be at their jobs, children will be going to school, businessmen will be making money (Rev. 18), and retirees will be taking it easy. This reminds us what the rich man said to himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take life easy, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, ‘You fool.’” Luke 12:19-20

These godless sinners will be living life with no thought of a soon-coming world catastrophe. Like the days of Noah, they will also be “marrying and giving in marriage” (Matt. 24:38). They will not just be carrying out daily activities but will be making plans for the future. It’s not that they won’t know about Christ’s coming, it’s that they won’t believe it, and will even mock those who tell them the shocking, sobering truth about what’s to come, that God Almighty will be pouring out His wrath upon the entire world. Laughingly, they will ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:4

What’s more amazing is that these sinners will actually be saying, “Peace and safety.” Wars, famines, and economic problems (birth pains) will have subsided, due in large part to the power, charm, and rule of the Antichrist. Most unbelievers will have received the mark of the beast, with the result that they will have what they need – and life will seem good. Not only that, but the Antichrist will be hunting down those “dumb and crazy Christians”, who along with the Jews, will be the most hated people on earth. Great numbers of them will be taken into custody, and most of them will be martyred. Many sinners will assist the evil Antichrist by betraying and turning in the saints, some who are their own family members (Mark 13:11-13). For Christians, it’s going to be very bad, and very hard – it will be great tribulation (Matt. 24:9). But for unbelievers, there will be a sense of peace in the world at that time, but it will be a fake peace, a false peace, one that will soon be shattered.

The last day of this age will be like most other days – people will be eating, drinking, studying, working, shopping, playing, partying, sleeping, relaxing, and sinning. Suddenly “there was a great earthquake… the sun became black… the whole moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell to earth… and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains” (Rev. 6:12-15). The sinners will be scared to death, crying, anguishing, shouting, screaming, swearing – and running for safety. But there will be none – for they will not be able to hide from the presence of God and the wrath of Christ. A world of wicked people will be “fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). Without a doubt, they will know that “the great day of Their wrath has come.” Rev. 6:17

These peace-shattering signs are only the beginning of the end, the dreadful and deadly end for most unbelievers on earth. Immediately after these signs, all Christians will be wonderfully rescued from the coming wrath (1 Thess. 1:10) and be quickly taken up and away to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17). It is said, “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 left” (Luke 17:34-36). “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52), millions of Christians will be raptured from the earth, with a world of sinners witnessing the greatest escape in history.

What will these sinners think when they see this? They may be confused, or because they are in shock, because they are scared, so gripped by an all-consuming fear, they won’t care. The massive earthquake, the darkened sky, the mysterious rapture – everything will happen so fast, and the unsaved will only be thinking about finding a safe place, a refuge. But there will be none.

Then what? Thirty minutes of the most sobering silence will be heard all over the world, anticipating the holy day of the Lord, the outpouring of His wrath. First, it will be the Trumpet judgments, and then the Bowl judgments, destructive and devastating calamities occurring over a period of many months, or maybe years. It will be drawn out, unrelenting, and tortuous, a series of events tormenting the unrepenting unsaved. One of the judgments will be so bad that “men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them” (Rev. 9:6). The very next judgment results in one third of mankind being killed, which will be billions of people (Rev. 9:18). Sadly, and stubbornly, “the rest of mankind… did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts” (Rev. 9:20-21). In a future post, I will give a more detailed summary of the Day of the Lord, God’s glorious, righteous, end-time judgment of the world.

Before the day of the Lord, Christians on earth will be persecuted, and only for a little while. But the unsaved will be punished, the day of the Lord being the very beginning of a just and eternal penalty for all their terrible sins. “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.” 2 Thess. 1:7-10

What do Christians need to know and do during these most times?
– Stay close to Jesus. Love Him with all your heart. Read His word and remember His promises. Psalms 63:1-8, 105:4, 119:5; Luke 10:40-42
– Be thankful for all things and in all situations. 1 Thess. 5:18
– Remember what God told you about the end-times, and tell others. Mark 13:23, Rev. 1:3
– Make sure you love your enemies, those who persecute you – and pray for them. Matt. 5:44
– Share the good news with the unsaved. Tell them how they can be saved from their sins and the coming wrath on earth and an eternal and punishing hell. Tell them to turn from their sin and to believe in Jesus Christ before it’s too late. Matt. 24:14, John 3:16, Col. 4:2-7
– Keep trusting God, have faith in Him, the God of the impossible. Prov. 3:5-6, Luke 18:8
– Have hope – think about the wonderful future God has in store for you. Rom. 8:23-28
– Encourage one another during those difficult times, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Heb. 10:25
– Be praying for Christ’s kingdom to be established on earth. Matt. 6:10
– Fervently love the Christians, and always pray for them. Eph. 6:18, 1 John 4:7-21
– In the evil day, as the battle rages, resist the enemy and stand firm. Eph. 6:13
– Persevere, knowing that God will give you all the grace you need to keep going to the end. Matt. 24:13, 2 Cor. 12:9-10
– Keep looking for Jesus to come and take you to be with Him and then home to heaven. “Wait for His Son” (1 Thess. 1:10). “Be on the alert… you also must be ready.” Matt. 24:42-44

P.S. Most people don’t think much about God’s coming wrath on earth, but they need to, for it’s a holy, sobering exercise, motivating us to live for the Lord and to tell the lost the good news of Jesus Christ. We all wish that better days for our world were ahead but I can’t say that. For all you Christians, I encourage you to read two other important posts – “It’s Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better” and “Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation.”

“When Christ Comes, Will He Find Faith On The Earth?”

March 26, 2021

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #210 ~

Jesus tells us a story about the necessity of faith, and it relates to the end-times (Luke 18:1-8). There was a widow who needed legal protection and she goes to the city judge, but he’s unrighteous, a man “who did not fear God or respect man.” He was a mean and uncaring man, unwilling to help this poor woman. But she keeps bothering him, keeps begging him for help, and finally, because of her persistence, he gives her the protection she wants. The lesson God wants us to learn is one of continued faith, of persevering prayer, and especially in the end times, in those last few years before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church.

Life on this earth will be extremely difficult for Christians in the end-times, especially when the Antichrist is ruling, during that time we call great tribulation. “Nation will rise against nation… and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes” (Matt. 24:7). “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.” (Matt. 24:9). “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child…” (Mark 13:13). “… A quart of wheat for a day’s wages….” (Rev. 6:6). “It was also given to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them” (Rev. 13:7). “No one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark (of the beast, the Antichrist).” Rev. 13:17

Can you imagine how hard it will be to live and survive in those days? Christians alive at that time will be going through some of their darkest days, their most difficult experiences on earth. That’s why they will need faith, for it’s the means by which they can stay close to God and get help from Him so they can keep on living for Him. God wants us to know that in the midst of any trial, or during the coming great tribulation, by faith, we are safe, and can be filled with His love, joy, and peace. “…who are protected by God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet 1:5). “I will be glad and rejoice in Your love for You knew my affliction and the anguish of my soul” (Psalm 31:7). Might it be said of the believers who are living during those most trying times – “Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” Rev. 13:10

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” What about you? Will you have faith, will you be looking to Him and trusting Him when times are tougher than they are now, harder than they have ever been before? You need to think about this question now, not later when the Antichrist is here. God wants you to be growing in faith in the present, and in the years leading up to that time when there will be great trials and tribulation. But how do you grow in faith? How do you grow in trusting God? How do you learn to walk more by faith and less by your flesh and your feelings? How do you go from being a person with little faith to a person with great faith? Here is what God says about how we can be growing in faith.

The first key to faith is God’s word. Only by knowing God’s word can you have true faith, and then experience the love, life, leading, and power of God and the Holy Spirit. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17, Ps. 56:4). If you want to increase your faith, keep reading and thinking about God’s word, and then the Spirit will stir your spirit and enable you to trust Him. “Take… the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:18

The second key is knowing God’s character. “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:10). Knowing that God is loving, holy, good, strong, wise, sovereign, merciful, and compassionate, is essential to trusting Him, to having faith. Whenever I recite “The ABC’s of God’s Character”, a list of 26 character qualities of God, I’m spiritually refreshed, and am moved to love and trust Him.

The third key is trials. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3). None of us in our flesh like trials, but they are good for our spiritual lives, especially for our faith. God gives you trials to get you out of your comfort zone, to cause you to trust Him, to depend on Him instead of on yourself and others. (Pr. 28:25-26). When you go through a trial and are trusting God, then you will draw closer to Him and experience all the grace you need. “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ … I am well content with insults, weaknesses, distresses, persecution… for Christ’s sake… for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Cor. 12:9-10

The fourth key to faith is learning from others. God has given us many examples of those who love Him and trust Him. It’s important that you learn from their lives and see how they trusted God through the years. “Join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil. 3:17). Early on in my Christian life, I became friends with some godly men who had great faith, ones who encourage my life to this day. “Though he is dead, he still speaks” (Heb. 11:4). And as you read the Bible, you discover hundreds of believers who looked to God, trusted Him, depended on Him, who had faith. Then there’s Hebrews 11, the single best chapter on faith, for it sums up the experiences of these saints who had faith in the living God. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“Have faith in God!” (Mark 10:22). God commands you to have faith in Him. This means all day long, wherever you are at, whoever you are with, whatever you do, you are to be trusting God and His word. It means you depend on Him to lead you; you rely on Him for strength; you believe He will meet your needs; you ask Him to bless your work; you trust Him to use your relationships; you expect Him to reward you; you count on Him to protect you, and enable you to make it to the end of your life on this earth and on to heaven. I cannot stress enough the importance of you trusting God, of having faith in Him now, and for the rest of your life on this earth. And if you are a “little faith” person, one who is doubting, fearful, and complaining, ask God to make you a “great faith” person, for that’s what God wants you to be and knows you can be. Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 11:20, 14:31; Matthew 8:10

Most importantly, faith is how you experience the joy of the Lord, the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14). It’s how you have a close and meaningful relationship with God Himself. Without question, this is what you need more than anything else. Way too often we walk by sight, our eyes fixed on worldly things, and we are trusting ourselves, others, and things, with the result that we are spiritually empty – but as we trust and rely on God, then we will be fully satisfied by Him. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.” Jer. 17:5-8; Jer. 2:5, 13

One more thing – the parable tells us one thing we are to be praying for, and it’s justice. As Christians, we will suffer, be under great pressure, and be persecuted, but we have hope, for we know Christ is coming, that He will rapture us (1 Thess. 4:17), and give us relief (2 Thess. 1:7). And being persecuted on earth will result in great rewards in heaven (Matt. 5:10-12). But what is Luke telling us? “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night… I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly” (Luke 18:7-8). There’s a great deal of injustice and lawlessness in this world, and it’s only going to get much worse (Matt. 24:12). But we are instructed to cry out to God, knowing that it won’t be long before Christ comes to judge the world, and pour out His wrath on all the evil unbelievers who have rejected Him. “The great day of Their wrath has come” (Rev. 6:17, Rev. 8-9, 2 Thess. 2:7-8). Hallelujah! The good news is not just that Christ will enable us to escape this wicked world and bring us to Himself and to heaven, but also that there will be justice on earth. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness.” Psalm 98:9

P.S. Some have said that Christians in this country are soft, and I am sure there is some truth to that. Might we see that we are soldiers of Christ and take up the shield of faith. You must have this shield or you will get hurt and be ineffective for God. This is the time to learn, and be growing in faith, and I have no doubt this is what God is teaching you. I encourage you to read “Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Special Forces”, a good article about being a good soldier.

Questions and Answers About the Antichrist

October 23, 2020

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #193 ~

1) Who is the Antichrist? The Antichrist is described as the little horn, the man of lawlessness, the man of destruction, and the beast – and he will be the devil’s man on earth. That we are now in the end-times means it won’t be long before this most wicked man will be ruling this world and carrying out the work of the devil. Dan. 7:8; 2 Thess. 2:3; Rev. 13:3-8

2) What will the Antichrist be like? He will be arrogant, the proudest man on earth. He will be very intelligent. He will be a smooth talker, a charismatic man, a great deceiver, making people think he is God when, in fact, he is doing the work of the devil. He will be more influential than any other person on earth. He will have the utmost hatred for God and His people. He will be wholly opposed to God’s word, and all that is good, right, and true. He will be the most lawless and evil man this world has ever seen. Dan. 8:23-25, Dan. 9:32, 36, Rev. 13:5-8

3) Where is the Antichrist from? Many believe the Antichrist will be from either Syria or Iraq. Let me explain why people say this. From Dan. 8:8-26 and Dan. 11:29-45 we learn about Antiochus Epiphanes, a devilish leader who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175-164 BC. His most evil act took place when he defiled the temple in Jerusalem, which is just what the coming Antichrist will do (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4). Therefore, we consider Antiochus to be a type or figure of the coming Antichrist. The reason we believe the Antichrist will be from present-day Syria or Iraq is because that was the territory Antiochus ruled.

4) When will the Antichrist be revealed? When will Christians clearly know who he is? Some may suspect he is the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week when he makes a treaty with Israel, but for sure we will know he is Satan’s man when he desecrates the temple at the midpoint, the 3½ year mark of that week. “In the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:1-4

5) Are there other antichrists? There have been many antichrists throughout the church age, people who openly deny God and Jesus Christ, and their work on earth. John tells us, “even now many antichrists have appeared”, but he also says, “you have heard that antichrist is coming.” (1 John 2:18, 22-25; 1 John 4:3). The Antichrist to come will be the most powerful and evil antichrist in history. He may be alive on earth at this time, and if he is, he is not yet openly opposing God and Christ, but he will be soon. Dan. 8:23-25, 2 Thess. 2:3-10, Rev. 13:4-7

6) Where does the Antichrist get his authority? The Antichrist gets his authority and power from the devil himself. “They worshiped the dragon (devil) because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast” (Rev. 13:4). Yet it is God who sovereignly permits the devil and, therefore, the Antichrist to carry out their evil deeds. Dan. 2:21, Rev. 17:17

7) What is the purpose of the Antichrist? The Antichrist’s purpose is understood by knowing that the prefix “anti” means “against” or “in place of”. The Antichrist is against God, hates Him with a passion, and desires to take His place and become ruler of the world. Most of all, he wants to be worshiped as God, which will happen, but only for a short time. “… the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thess. 2:3-4

8) What will the Antichrist do in the end-times? The Antichrist will be the key player in getting Israel to sign a covenant (treaty) with other nations (Dan. 9:27). He will lead a coalition of ten nations, which is the power base by which he will rule the world (Dan. 7:20). He will desecrate the temple in Jerusalem, setting himself up to be God (Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). He will be boasting about himself and blaspheming God (Rev. 13:5-6). He will persecute both Jews and Christians. He will fight against God by fighting against His people who live on earth. “He persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child… It was also given to him to make war with the saints.” (Rev. 12:13-17, Rev. 13:7). The Antichrist, working with the other beast, will cause unbelievers to take his mark and worship his image. Rev. 13:11-17

9) Is God sovereign over the Antichrist? Yes, God is sovereign over the Antichrist and his ungodly work on earth. This vile and devilish man is like a dog on a leash, and can only do what God wants and allows him to do. God’s sovereignty over the Antichrist and his activities will result in God’s plans being fulfilled, and great glory being given to Him. Prov. 21:1, Rom. 8:28-29, Eph. 1:9-11, Rev 17:17

10) Will Christians be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed? Yes, Christians will be on the earth at that time. At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist will be revealed and begin persecuting the church. This persecution, part of great tribulation, will be cut short, and then the church will be raptured and gathered to Christ. Matt. 24:21-31, 2 Thess. 1:5-10

11) What is the mark of the beast? It is a mark on the hand or forehead that the Antichrist causes unbelievers to take during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. It is one of the primary ways by which the Antichrist will control them, for only those who take the mark will be able to do business, to openly buy or sell during this time. Those people who receive the mark will be eternally damned and punished, and deservedly so. Luke 21:28-31; Rev. 13:16-17, 14:9-11

12) Can a person take the mark of the beast and still get saved? Once a person takes the mark of the beast, he cannot be saved. That person who takes the mark is an unbeliever and has sealed his destiny, and will be damned, doomed, and forever be “tormented with fire and brimstone.” Rev. 14:9-11

13) Can a Christian take the mark of the beast? No. A Christian cannot receive the mark of the beast, and then be damned to hell. Once a person is saved, he is sealed by the Spirit, is eternally secure in Christ, cannot lose his salvation, and will forever be with Him. Eph. 1:14, 4:30

14) Will all non-Christians living during the Great Tribulation take the mark of the beast? No, some of them will not take the mark of the beast, and many of those who do not take the mark will get saved and then, at the coming of Christ, be raptured and glorified. Rev. 7:9-14

15) What is the image of the beast? This word image, from the Greek word “icon”, is a picture or symbol of the Antichrist that unbelievers are to worship in the end times. It is the primary means by which the devil, working through the false prophet, will force people to worship the Antichrist. Those people who do not bow to this image will be pursued by the armies of the Antichrist so as to be persecuted and killed. Luke 21:12-19, Rev. 13:14-15

16) What will happen in the world before the Antichrist is revealed and comes to power?
– The world will experience “birth pains” in various places. There will be wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and economic distress. Matt. 24:4-9, Luke 21:8-11, Rev. 6:1-8
– The United States will decline in power, and no longer be the world’s leading superpower.
– We will see a growing desire for globalism, economically, politically, societally, and militarily.
– There will be a growing desire among the unsaved for someone to solve the world’s problems and bring peace.  
– Nations will be realigned, specifically those which become part of the Antichrist’s kingdom.
– It will be a time like the days of Noah, with ever increasing sin and evil. Matt. 24:12, 37-38
– The one becoming the Antichrist will make a firm covenant with Israel and other nations at the very beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:27
– The Jews and the Christians will face growing hostility and persecution. Luke 21:12-24
– The sophisticated technology that the Antichrist needs to surveil people and carry out his devilish plans will be fully developed and ready to use. Rev. 13:14-17

17) How will the Antichrist control the world during the end times? Revelation 13
– Because of the Antichrist’s apparent resurrection, and the amazing miracles the other beast performs on his behalf, he will be famous and greatly loved, and be looked to as a world leader.
– He will have the authority and power of the devil, of Satan himself.  
– He will be a skilled speaker, one who is very deceptive and persuasive.
– He will rule militarily over the world with great might and power.
– He will rule economically by requiring everyone to take the mark of the beast.
– He will rule spiritually by forcing people to worship his image, the “image of the beast”.

18) How long will the Antichrist be in power? Rev. 13:5 says that “authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” This means the Antichrist will be in power from the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, when he is revealed, to the end of that week. During those forty-two months, on a day we do not know, Christ will return to rapture the Christians, and then pour out His wrath on the earth (the Trumpet judgments – Rev. 8-9). The Antichrist’s ability to rule will be diminished during this time when God’s wrath is being poured out.

19) When will the Antichrist be defeated? Shortly after Daniel’s 70th week is over, the Antichrist, along with the false prophet, will be defeated and captured during the battle of Armageddon. “That lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (2 Thess. 2:8). “These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire.” Rev. 19:19-20

20) How should you live when the Antichrist is ruling the world? You are not be afraid of the Antichrist, for you are not to fear man but God (Luke 12:4-5). Persevere, knowing that Jesus is with you, and that the Antichrist will be here for only a short time. (Psalm 37, Matt. 28:20). Have faith and hope, knowing that God is working all things together for good, and has a great future in store for you (Rom. 8:28-29). Remember God’s promise, that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Finally, don’t forget that “they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Rev. 12:11

P.S. Isn’t it amazing how much information God has given us about this most evil man who will soon be ruling over this world? You need to know these things, and know your God, display strength and take action (Dan. 11:32). I encourage you to read my article on the Antichrist – “The Coming of the Antichrist, the Devil’s Man on Earth.”

The New Testament Tells Us God’s Plans for the Jews

August 14, 2020

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By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #183 ~

There’s no question that God has special plans for the Jewish people during this church age and in the ages to come. Now it’s true that God’s plans for the Jews were put on hold around 70 AD when, for rejecting Christ, they were punished, scattered all over the world, and since then, have been greatly persecuted (Luke 21:20-24). Last week we looked at five New Testament passages that prove God’s plans for the Jews are still valid and will be fulfilled in the near future. What is both striking and instructive is that these verses about the Jews are sitting next to verses about the church. As I stated last week, this means that God’s end-time plans for the Jews are somehow connected and related to His end-time plans for the church. 

Here are several more passages which contain end-time verses about the Jews and the church.
1. Matthew 24:9-27. Verses 9-14 give an important summary of what the church needs to know in the end-times: 1) Christians will be going through great tribulation. 2) There will be false prophets, apostasy, and increasing lawlessness. 3) We are to persevere until the end of the age. 4) We are to keep preaching the gospel until Christ returns to rapture the church. Verses 15-27 are about the Jews, but notice what Jesus says, “let the reader understand.” It’s Christians who are reading this, and they need to know that the temple in Jerusalem will be desecrated by the Antichrist and that he will then chase after the Jews. Seeing what’s happening to the Jews will be a signal to the church that great persecution will soon begin, as also told us in Rev. 12:17, and then described in Matt. 24:9. “They deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

2. Mark 13:9-23. Verses 9-13 describe the persecution that Christians have been and will be experiencing during this church age. Again, we are instructed to preach the gospel and persevere to the end of this age, at which time we will see Christ and be raptured by Him (vss. 26-27). Verses 14-23 are about the Jews, and similar to what we read in Matt. 24:15-27, tell us about the Antichrist’s desolation of the temple and his pursuit of the Jews. But notice what Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Jesus is alerting Christians, for He wants us to know that He has told us everything we need to know about His end-time’s work with the Jews and the church. Might we be good students and learn all these things. Rev. 1:3     

3. Luke 21:12-32. Verses 12-19, similar to Mark 13:9-13, describe the suffering the church has been going through since her beginning days. And again, she is instructed to share the gospel during this church age. Verses 20-24 summarize God’s plans for the Jews, and how she has been trampled upon since Jerusalem’s destruction (~ 70 AD), and which will continue until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Verse 28 gives us hope, for it says, “your redemption is drawing near” which refers to the rapture of the church. Verse 32 then says, “the kingdom of God is near,” which speaks of the physical and millennial kingdom Christ will establish on earth at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, and which will be a great blessing to believing Jews and the church! Psalm 37:11; Matt. 5:3, 6:10; Rev. 5:10, 11:15

4. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9. This is a critically important end-time’s passage for the church. We learn that this man is revealed as the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist) when he arrogantly acts like he is God and takes his seat in the temple of the Jews (Matt. 24:15). This happens in Jerusalem at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:27), and before the Day of the Lord, during which time God pours out His wrath upon the world (vs 2). Since Christ’s coming is after the Antichrist’s coming (vs 9), and since Christians are gathered (raptured) to Christ at His coming (vs. 1), then we can conclude that the rapture occurs after the midpoint, sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, but before the Day of the Lord. From this passage Christians can see that the rapture is not at the beginning or end of Daniel’s 70th week, but sometime after the midpoint. Matt. 24:36, Rev. 13

5. Revelation 7:1-17. Two momentous events are described in this chapter. Verses 1-8 talk about the sealing, the setting apart and protecting of 144,000 Jews. Verses 9-17 tell us about the church on earth coming out of the great tribulation (being raptured), and then standing before and worshiping God (the Father) and the Lamb (the Son) in heaven. Both of these events occur after the 6th seal is broken, the signs in the heavens (Rev. 6:12-16), but before the 7th seal is broken (Rev. 8:1) which results in the blowing of seven trumpets and God’s wrath being poured out upon the earth (Rev. 8-9). These two dramatic, back to back, God-directed events, the sealing of the Jews and the rapture of the church, take place at the end of this age.

6. Revelation 12:6-17 – 13:1-17. Rev. 12:6-16 focuses on Satan and his attempts to capture a number of Jews, but God miraculously enables them to physically escape his devilish wrath (Matt. 24:15-26); and later, at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, He spiritually saves them. (Dan. 9:24). The dragon (Satan), seeing that he can’t catch the Jews, chases after the church (vs.17), which leads to Rev. 13. This dark chapter tells us, “It was also given to him (the beast – the Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” Christians will need to be wise and to persevere, and to remember that God is sovereign over everything that happens, even the death of fellow believers (Rev. 6:9-11, 17). Then there is another beast, the Antichrist’s evil partner, and he uses the technology of the time to deceive and control the unbelievers (vss. 11-17). Thankfully, the efforts of this 2nd beast will not harm the church.

What can we conclude?
1. In the New Testament, there are many side-by side, end-time’s passages about the Jews and the church – Matt. 24:9-27; Mark 13:9-23; Luke 21:12-33; Acts 1:6-11, 2:17-21, 3:18-21, 15:14-17; Rom. 11, 15:7-13; 2 Thess. 2:1-9; and Rev. 7:1-17, 12:6-17 – 13:1-17, 21:10-14.
2. These verses give us solid, super-strong evidence that God has not reneged on His Old Testament promises to the Jews, but that His plans for them will be completely fulfilled.
3. It’s important for Christians to see that God’s end-time’s work with the Jews is connected to and in conjunction with His end-time’s work with the church. We need to understand these passages and know how they relate to us. “Let the reader understand.” Matt. 24:15
4. Take the time to study these passages so you can be convinced about God’s plans for the Jews and the church in the end-times, and can then share this truth with others. 2 Tim. 2:15
5. Seeing God’s plans for the Jews being fulfilled will result in being filled with joy and peace, for it means realizing that we are getting closer to the end of this age. Rom. 15:13
6. “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” Romans 15:10. (We will look at this next week).

P.S. I hope you are learning how how all these New Testament Jewish verses are relevant to the church. There are many excellent charts that will help you to more clearly see God’s plans for His chosen people. Here are three: “70 Weeks of Daniel,” “God’s Plan for the Jews in the End Times,” and “Promises for the Jewish Remnant.”

Murder, Looting, and Anarchy – It’s Sin

June 4, 2020

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #173 ~

I can’t believe it! What’s been happening this past week is shocking, horrific, sickening, some of the worst things I have ever seen in our country. It started with the brutal murder of George Floyd by that depraved and evil “policeman.” Then there were peaceful protests, people being rightly upset about the crime that had been committed. But then there were rioters, looters, gangs, and anarchists, smashing, stealing, shooting, and burning, creating mayhem in many of our cities – I have never seen such a blatant disregard for law and order. Some of the people were looking for “excitement,” others wanted “loot”, and others want a new “American Revolution,” with a goal to fundamentally transform this country.  

What’s the reason for all these problems? It’s our sin – the root problem is our sin, our rejection of God. You may say that’s too simplistic, that some of the reasons relate to families, government, education, and the church. To some extent, I agree, but I am not here to analyze all the factors contributing to our present problems. I am here to say that the underlying problem is sin, whether that’s in the policeman’s life, the lives of the rioters, or your own life. I was reading Jeremiah this morning, and what he said about God’s judgment of man’s sin motivated me to write this post. “… The Lord pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord brought it about, and has done as He said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey His voice, this thing has come upon you.” Jeremiah 40:3

This verse, like hundreds of others, tells us that sin is our real problem, and it must be judged – and right now, it is being judged. Our country is spiritually going downhill, and our recent history is evidence of that – a country politically divided, a pandemic that has resulted in the loss of 109,000+ lives and has slammed our economy, and now this recent murder of a black man accompanied by this sudden outbreak of crime and violence. That Jeremiah verse, along with many others, is to let us know that God is righteously angry, and not pleased with our sinful and corrupt country.

But what is this sin? At it’s heart, it means we are not loving God but, instead, are loving ourselves or things, whether that’s our body, money, houses, cars, music, movies, etc. Sin is also seen when we are racist, when we are thinking and acting like we are better than those of a different race. Col. 3:8 describes sin as “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech.” 2 Tim. 3:2-4 says sinners “will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God.” God gives us many lists of sins because He wants us to know that it is our main problem. Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:28-31, Galatians 5:19-21

Sin started with Adam, and then spread to all mankind. Genesis 4 tells us about Cain’s murder of Abel. Genesis 6 talks about an entire world greatly sinning against God, except for Noah and his family. Genesis 11 describes a rebellious world trying to build a tower to the heavens. Genesis 19 speaks about the hideous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the prophets go into great detail about the sin of Israel and other countries. You and I then should not be shocked by the sin in our country, for it has always been evident during this evil age. And this most recent eruption of evil reveals once again the sin that is in the heart of man. As I said, God is now judging the sin in this country, and He will continue to judge it, and the time will come when she’s no longer the world’s number one power, paving the way for the devilish kingdom of the Antichrist to be raised up and become this world’s last superpower. Revelation 13, 17:8-17

What’s God’s answer to the sin in this world, in your life, and to that most wicked Antichrist? It’s Jesus Christ, sent by His Father to this earth to be a mediator between God and man. Christ died on a cross to deal with this sin, both paying for man’s sin so God’s justice would be satisfied, and disarming and defeating the devil. God could then forgive sinners, and give eternal life to all those who repent and believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins, and then rose again. This eternal and spiritual life that God gives a true believer is love, joy, peace, a relationship with Himself, and a purpose in life, that will satisfy their soul like nothing in the world can ever do. John 7:37-38; Rom. 5:8, 6:23; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:10; Col. 2:15

Now as Christians, we are part of the church, which has continued to grow for close to 2000 years, her holy light shining in the darkness. But since we still live in this evil age, this sin still greatly affects the entire world. And we wish things were better, that there would be no more hate, murder, racism, or riots, but instead, only love, peace, and unity. But that’s not the way it is, and it’s not going to really change until Jesus Christ comes back. In fact, Matt. 24:12 tells us lawlessness will increase in the end-times, which means this world will become even more evil and wicked, until that time when Christ returns to rapture the church. Matthew 24:30-31

I have mentioned this coming Antichrist, one described as “the man of lawlessness,” the “son of destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3). Yes, there’s lawlessness and destruction now, but this most wicked man will make things much worse, especially for the Christians and Jews he will be persecuting. But in all this, don’t be afraid – be strong, courageous, and loving, knowing that this is our time to live for God, to tell people the good news about how they can know Jesus, be forgiven, and be a member of His great and glorious kingdom. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I write all this so you understand that sin is the main reason we are having all these problems, and that only Jesus Christ can truly make things better in your life, and in this world – and so don’t be looking for the answer to be found in some President, governor, or mayor. While you are still here on earth, don’t focus on politics, but instead seek God’s kingdom, and do the work He wants you do. And soon, Christ will come back to take you to heaven, and will then judge this evil world and the Antichrist, during what’s called the Day of the Lord. Then He will take back control of the world, and begin His 1000-year reign as King, and like never before, there will be glory to God, peace on earth, and good will toward men. Isaiah 6:3, Luke 2:14

P.S. This subject of sin and God’s judgment of it is an important one, and one you need to understand. When you get time, read “It’s Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better,” and “The Antichrist is Coming Soon, and It’s Before the Coming of Christ.”

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.”

Suffering for Jesus in the End Times

October 11, 2019

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #139 ~

When you study the major prophecy passages, one thing that stands out is that God talks about suffering in every single one of them. Why is that? Because God wants us to know about this suffering, this end-time’s persecution of the saints. Because Christians will be going through a lot more suffering the closer we get to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. Because God wants us to be ready, and not be caught off guard. In this post I will summarize what these passages have to say about suffering:

Matthew 24:3-41 (Suffering – Matthew 24:9-11, 15-22, 28, 29) 
* The suffering spoken of here begins at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (when the Antichrist is revealed), and continues until the end of the age. Matthew 24:15-29
* This suffering starts with the Jewish people in Jerusalem, and then spreads out and affects Christians all over the world. Matthew 24:9-22, Revelation 12:13-17
* This suffering is related to great tribulation. It is great in scope in that it is worldwide, and in severity, for a great number of believers will be martyred. Matthew 24:9, 21, 29
* Our primary purpose during this time is to be preaching the gospel. Matthew 24:14
* Christians enduring to the end will be saved (raptured and glorified). Matthew 24:13, 31, 40-41

Luke 21:5-36 (Suffering – Luke 21:12-19, 20-24)
* The suffering that affects Christians starts at the beginning of the church age, and continues on until the redemption (rapture) of the church. Luke 21:12, 27-28
* The Jewish people will be greatly persecuted, starting around 70 AD and continuing on until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled at the end of the age. Luke 21:20-24, 19:43-44, 23:28-31
* The enemies of the Christians are religious and governmental in nature. Luke 21:12
* One of the most difficult aspects of this persecution is that Christians will be betrayed by their own parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends. Luke 21:16
* This persecution will lead to opportunities for Christians to share their testimony and proclaim the gospel. God will “give you utterance and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” Luke 21:13-15
* Remember, it’s all about Jesus, and it’s for His name’s sake that you suffer. Luke 21:12

Mark 13:1-37 (Suffering – Mark 13:9-13, 14-20)
* This prophecy passage is very similar to what we read in Matthew 24, but also contains elements from the Luke 21 passage.
* The suffering focuses on the end-times, particularly that which starts at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and which affects both Jews and Christians. Mark 13:9-20
* A whole world of unbelievers will hate the Christians, wanting to put them to death (Mark 13:13). We learn, like in Luke 21, that believers will be betrayed by their own family members – brother against brother, parents against children, and children against parents. Mark 13:12
* “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). God tells us this ahead of time, for He doesn’t want us to be surprised that we will suffer greatly in the end-times, and that many will be martyred.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 (Suffering – 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7)
* This persecution, this affliction (tribulation), is what the early churches experienced and what all Christians will go through – and it will continue right up until the end of the age, when Christ is revealed and the church is raptured and glorified. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10; Acts 14:22
* This end-time’s persecution and suffering will last only a short time, for Jesus, your Savior and King, will return and give you relief, and eternal rest. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 14:13
* These verses keep things in perspective, for you realize that you may suffer a little while on earth, but the unsaved will suffer forever in hell, paying “the penalty of eternal destruction.” Because of the love of God and the sacrifice of Christ, you will not receive the punishment you deserve, but instead, you will be blessed forever. Revelation 21-22

Revelation 6:1-17 (Suffering – Revelation 6:8-11)
* The fifth seal speaks about martyrdom, the climax and conclusion of suffering for some, for their suffering is over, and then they go to heaven to be with Jesus.
* End-times’ martyrs will be wondering how long it will be before those who murdered them will get justice. The sixth seal signals that this suffering is all over, and that it’s time for God’s wrath to be poured out upon the unbelievers still on earth. Revelation 6:12-17
* God is sovereign over suffering. He already knows who will be killed, who will die for Him. You need not worry, for your heavenly Father is in charge, and He knows what He is doing, for your eternal good, and for His eternal purposes and glory. Revelation 6:11

Revelation 13 (Suffering – Revelation 13:7, 10, 17)
* The beast, the Antichrist, will “make war with the saints,” and overcome many of them. This may sound sad and tragic, but it is God’s will, and in the end, God will crush the Antichrist, getting a complete and decisive victory over him. Revelation 13:7, 19:19-21
* Christians need to persevere, and trust in God, knowing that He is good and holy, and that Christ will return to rescue them, and then be greatly glorified. Revelation 13:10, 7:9-14, 19:1-7

What God tells you about this end-time’s suffering is the truth, what He wants you to know, and what you need to know. Remember Jesus’ words: “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 5:10-12

P.S. As Christians, we must not sugar coat the truth. Here is what God tells us, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” Here are two more must reads on suffering: “Christians Go Through Tribulation” and “Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation.”

Antichrist Revealed, and Then the Rapture – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

June 7, 2019

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #121 ~   

The apostle Paul had written one letter to the Thessalonian church, and much of that focused on the future, on details about the coming of Christ. But it wasn’t long before Paul became very concerned about them, for he heard that many in this young church were alarmed and troubled. They received a letter, heard some message, or somehow got the impression that the day of the Lord had already started, which worried them, and made them wonder if they were even saved, and therefore, had missed the rapture.

Paul dearly loved these Christians and knew he needed to write another letter to clear up any confusion, to answer any questions they had. In 2 Thessalonians 1, he tells them that the rapture, and the relief that comes with it, would occur before God’s retribution, before the day of the Lord, before God’s punishment of unrepentant sinners. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Paul reminds them that at the coming of the Lord, all believers would be gathered to Him. Then in verse two, Paul referred to the day of the Lord.

But before we go any further, you need to see how the coming of the Lord and the day of the Lord relate to each other. First, let me define this word coming. It is a noun and means arrival and continuing presence, and in this case, the arrival and presence of the Lord. It is not referring to a simple, instantaneous event, but to a comprehensive whole, which includes many events directed by Christ. The 1st event to occur at His coming will be the rapture of the church, immediately followed by the 2nd event, the day of the Lord. I say immediately because of what Luke 17:29-30 says: “On the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” What this tells us is that the day of the Lord starts on the same day as the rapture of the church. At the coming of Christ, the church is raptured, and after that, on that same day, the day of the Lord begins.

Now let’s go back to 2 Thessalonians 2. In verse one Paul speaks of the coming of the Lord. In verse 2 he mentions the Day of the Lord. In verse 3 he tells us about two identifiable events that will occur before the day of the Lord, and also before the coming of the Lord. He says there’s the apostasy, and that the man of lawlessness needs to be revealed. This word apostasy means rebellion, defiance or defection; and I believe part of this apostasy relates to the revealing of this lawless man, the Antichrist, which occurs at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, a seven-year time-frame. Daniel 9:27

Let me explain the connection between the apostasy and the revealing of the Antichrist. Sometime in the first half of Daniel’s 70th week, the Jews will be permitted to build a temple and offer sacrifices to God, for which they will be very happy. Then along comes the most arrogant and evil man ever, the Antichrist, and in total defiance of God, he desecrates their temple. Verse 4 tells us that he “opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15

This shocking display of pride and power, along with other signs, will cause many Jews, and many so-called religious people around the world to be deceived, to defect, and to turn away from God (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). The result will be that most of them will begin to worship this lawless man, this beast, this Antichrist. (Revelation 13:3-17). What Paul is saying is that the apostasy and the revealing of the Antichrist will occur before the day of the Lord. These two events did not take place back then, and still have not taken place today, close to 2000 years later. In particular, we have not seen the Antichrist on earth, at least not yet. Therefore, we know that the day of the Lord has not yet started, and we know that the Lord has not yet come in the clouds and raptured the church, but He will, and it will not be long from now.

In the near future, the Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and after that, at some unknown time to us, the coming of the Lord and the day of the Lord will begin. Since the rapture of the church is the first event to occur at the coming of the Lord, we know the rapture will take place sometime after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, after the Antichrist is revealed, sometime during the last half of that 7-year period. This means Christians will be living on earth when the Antichrist is revealed, and is ruling over the world.

Let me go back to the first word in this passage. It is the word request and is translated as beg, plead or beseech. In verse 3, Paul says, “Let no one in any way deceive you.” Paul, a concerned pastor, was strongly pleading with these young Christians, warning them not to be tricked, lied to, nor led astray by anyone, in any way. I have the same concern, that you know the truth about the end-times and the coming of Christ, and are not at all deceived, confused, or in error. God wants you to know about these events that will be taking place before the coming of the Lord, and also have a clear grasp as to where they fit in, that is, understand the sequence of these end-time events. When you understand these things, you will realize that you may go through some short-lived tribulation brought on by the Antichrist, but you will not go through the eternal wrath brought on by God. This is very good news, for “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ… we will live together with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

P.S. What I am talking about in this post relates to the sequence, the chronology of end-time events, something all good students and teachers of Bible prophecy need to understand. The best chapter that covers this subject is Matthew 24. I encourage you to read my article, entitled, Matthew 24 – The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.

Revelation 12: The Jews, The Devil and Our Victorious God

September 7, 2018

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #84 ~

There is a God-promised, God-glorifying future for the Jews. Revelation 12 is a key passage confirming this, for it summarizes God’s work with the Jews throughout their history. This chapter takes us from the birth of the Jews to the birth of Jesus, skips the church age, and then focuses on the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. In spite of Satan’s continual attacks against the Jews for over 4,000 years, God has consistently enabled them to get the victory. When we see the big picture of God’s working with the Jews, we must conclude that they are not losers, but winners, for God has, and will, fulfill His wonderful plans for them. Psalm 33:10-12

Revelation 12 starts with signs, the first being that of a woman, and she is not Mary, nor the church, but rather, is representing Israel and her twelve tribes (Genesis 37:1-11). The woman’s primary purpose was to give birth to Jesus, to bring Him into the world, but it was hard labor, a long 2000-year battle with the forces of darkness.

These evil forces are described in the next sign, that of a dragon (Revelation 12:3-4), and this is the Jew-hating devil who, with the help of 1/3 of the spirits, does all he can to devour the woman’s child, to thwart the Jews and abort the birth of Jesus. We see that Satan works through eight beast empires, the crowns on 7 heads referring to 7 devilish kingdoms who, in the past, have been opposing and oppressing the Jews: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and I believe, Hitler’s third Reich. All this is leading to the future and final ten-horned 8th kingdom, one ruled by the Antichrist.

The 6th kingdom, the Roman empire, led by Herod and Satan, was not able to stop Israel from giving birth to Jesus, and also failed in her devilish scheme to kill Him by murdering little baby boys. The first 2000 years of Jewish history were extremely difficult, but by God’s grace, the woman persevered through the labor pains, and finally, Jesus was born. But nothing is said in Revelation 12:5 about Jesus being a Savior, about His sacrificial death and resurrection, and nothing is said about the church, just the fact that He will be the King ruling all the nations, and that, as we know, is at His 2nd coming. The church age is skipped over because the focus is on the Jews and on Jesus, and that He was taken to heaven, and that at the end of His 1st coming.

Revelation 12:6 summarizes God’s dealings with the Jews during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, with verses 7-16 expanding on verse 6, giving more details about the last 3½ years of that most important week. There will be a great heavenly battle (Revelation 12:7-9), with Michael and his angels soundly defeating the devil and his demons, who will forever be cast out of heaven. This divine drama is far bigger than you can imagine, for the outworking of Christ’s crushing defeat of Satan at the cross is seen in that this deceiver, this accuser, will be thrown down to earth. Heaven will be so happy, for she will finally be done with the devil. But “woe to the earth,” for the devil will literally be on this earth, and he will be mad, full of wrath, his utter hate for God now focused now focused on both Jews and Christians.

But you must know that Satan’s time on earth will be very short. You need not fear, for God’s promise is that you will defeat the devil. By the blood of Jesus, you are saved, and forever safe in the hands of God. By the truth of God, by Jesus’ love for you and your love for Jesus, you will overwhelmingly conquer in all these things. Revelation 12:10-12

Once on earth, the devil empowers his man, and he becomes a beast, a superman, this Antichrist who pursues a remnant of Jews. But again we see God’s victory, for somehow, they miraculously get away from the Antichrist and his forces of evil, and are then nourished, taken care of for 3½ years (Revelation 12:13-16). Then that evil devil, who couldn’t get to the Jews, goes after the church (Revelation 12:17). As we know, Christians will also be victorious, for whether by death or by rapture, they will be taken up to be with Jesus. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35

Over four thousand years ago, God’s plan for the Jews began, and they have been persecuted, murdered, and scattered throughout the earth. By the grace of God, they were successful in phase one, for 2000 years ago, they brought Jesus into the world. God’s plan for the Jews was then suspended, but has now been revived, for the Jews are back in their own land, and phase two is beginning, for now we live in the end-times.

It won’t be long before Daniel’s 70th week begins, and the Antichrist, that weakling, will again put up a fight. But at the end of that 7-year week, God will again get the victory for His people, the spiritual salvation of a Jewish remnant (Romans 11:25-27). That devilish Antichrist will finally be defeated, and cast forever into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). Then begins the millennial kingdom, when Jesus Christ will gloriously reign over the whole world with all the believing Jews and Gentiles. Hallelujah!!! Revelation 20, Psalm 47, Psalm 67, Psalm 72

P.S. Understanding God’s working with the Jews is critically important when it comes to understanding prophecy. If you haven’t read these already, I would encourage you to read A Jewish Reading Lesson  and Charting God’s Miraculous Work With the Jews .

What About the Unrepentant Unbeliever in the End Times?

August 24, 2018

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #82 ~

You have seen the movies and read the books where the bad guys appear to be winning. They have locked up the good guys, taken control of the city, or hijacked the airplane, and things aren’t looking good. But these are just stories. When the Antichrist appears and takes over the world, it won’t be just a story, it will really happen. Truly, this will be a dark time in history, for the devil and his people will seem to be winning. Let me tell you what you need to know about unrepentant unbelievers in the end-times. They will be:

Unloving. Matthew 24:12 – “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” In the end times, unbelievers will be increasingly lawless. They will be unloving, unholy, arrogant, lovers of self, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4). We live in an evil age, and it’s going to get a lot, lot worse in the last few years before the return of Christ. But as Christians, we will be the light of the world.

Worshiping Satan. Revelation 13:4 – “They worshiped the dragon (Satan), and they worshiped the beast (Antichrist).” Unbelievers will hear about this man rising from the dead; they will see this 2nd beast perform great signs; and they will be amazed, in awe, and worship this man, this 1st beast, and also worship the devil himself. But believers will be loving God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Mark 12:30

Taking the mark. Revelation 13:16 – “He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.” Most unbelievers will take this mark of the beast, with the result that they will be able to openly buy or sell, do business, go shopping, or go out to eat.

Deceived and deluded. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 – “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” Sinners will hate the truth, but will love their evil and wicked ways. Therefore, God will cause them to be deceived all the more, resulting in a rapid and dramatic increase in the depravity of the world.

Mocking Christians. 2 Peter 3:3-6 – “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’… But by His word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” During the Antichrist’s rule, unbelievers will be mocking, taunting, ridiculing, and making fun of the Christians.

Hating and killing. Matthew 24:9 – “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” After the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, most unbelievers will see the Christians as a terrible menace, a harmful blight to the world. Non-Christians will be emboldened and impassioned in their hate for Christians, so much so that they will want to kill them, to rid the earth of them. “An hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think he is offering service to God.” John 16:2

Betraying family members. Luke 21:16 – “You will be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” Many unbelievers will turn against their own family members, those who are Christians, and turn them in to the authorities, and some of these will be killed. Without a doubt, this will be one of the saddest and hardest things for Christians to go through in the end-times. “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

Eating and drinking. Luke 17:28 – “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: They were eating and drinking, they were buying and selling, they were planting and building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.” There will be a pseudo-peace on earth during the Antichrist’s rule, and unbelievers will be happy, living like everything is just fine. But they will be so deceived, and will be shocked and scared when they see the sudden return of Christ.

Doomed. Revelation 6:12-17 – “There was a great earthquake… the stars of the sky fell to the earth… the sky was split apart like a scroll… and the kings… and the great men… and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves… for the great day of God’s wrath has come.” Great signs in the heavens and on the earth will signal the end of this age and the return of Christ. Just after the rapture, the day of the Lord will come, and unbelievers will be doomed, eternally damned by God.

Punished in hell. Revelation 14:9-10 – “He will be tormented with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.” Those who receive the mark of the beast will go to hell, and later be cast into the lake of fire, where they will be punished forever (Revelation 20:15). This will be the sad, but righteous, reality for the unrepentant, Christ-hating, Christian-hating unbeliever.

You need to know the truth about unrepentant unbelievers in the end-times, especially if you are alive during the rule of the Antichrist. These last few years before the coming of Christ will prove to be a great opportunity to serve the Lord, love your enemies, and share the gospel with them, with the result that some unbelievers will repent of their sins, and be saved. Don’t forget, God will give you all the grace and peace you need. And remember, God is completely in charge, for He is the sovereign Ruler. “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 2:20

P.S. Clearly, Christians will go through some very difficult trials in the end-times, and therefore, it is essential that we understand what God’s word tells us about them. A very comprehensive summary of God’s purposes for our trials is given in the article, A Biblical Perspective on the Trials of Life.  I’ll mention one more article that is very encouraging: Keep Yourself in the Love of God.

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