Category: Articles (Page 4 of 5)

Article 20 

By Steven J. Hogan

There’s hidden treasure in the Old Testament that if discovered will help you learn more about Jesus Christ and His coming kingdom. Now there are some who are uninformed and unaware of this valuable treasure. Others disregard it, and say that the Old Testament contains little if anything about Christ and our future. But I’d strongly disagree with that assessment, for we are talking about a large portion of God’s Word which is rich with promises and prophecies, and contains vital information about the future of the Jews and the church. Now I’ve already done some of the digging for you, and have uncovered hundreds of spiritual nuggets, rock solid truths, that when understood, give a wonderful description of Jesus Christ, and of His first coming and His second coming. I must also admit that there is a lot I don’t know on this subject, and so I am only sharing with you what I do know.

CONCERNING THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST:
Genesis 3:15
Psalm 16:10, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 22:14, Psalm 22:16, Psalm 22:17, Psalm 22:18, Psalm 34:20, Psalm 35:11, Psalm 41:9, Psalm 69:4, Psalm 69:21, Psalm 78:2, Psalm 110:4, Psalm 118:22
Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:1, Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 35:5, Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:5, Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah 53:9, Isaiah 53:12, Isaiah 61:1-2
Jeremiah 31:15
Hosea 11:1
Amos 8:9
Micah 5:2
Zechariah 9:9, Zechariah 11:12-13, Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 13:7
(ALL THESE VERSES HAVE LITERALLY BEEN FULFILLED IN THE PAST.)

CONCERNING THE END TIMES, THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM AGE:
1) THE LAW:
Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 13:14-16, Genesis 15:17-18, Genesis 17:2-8, Genesis 22:15-18, Genesis 26:2-5, Genesis 28:13-15, Genesis 32:12, Genesis 49:9-12
Exodus 2:24
Leviticus 26:42-45
Numbers 24:17-19, Numbers 25:12-13
Deuteronomy 4:31-40, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Deuteronomy 33:26-29
Joshua 1:6-7

2) THE PSALMS:
Psalm 2:6-9, Psalm 22, Psalm 33:10-12, Psalm 37, Psalm 46, Psalm 47, Psalm 48, Psalm 67, Psalm 68:15-18, Psalm 68:28-35, Psalm 72, Psalm 89:20-36, Psalm 89:34-37, Psalm 96, Psalm 98, Psalm 99:1-3, Psalm 102:12-28, Psalm 105:8-11, Psalm 106:44-48, Psalm 110, Psalm 111, Psalm 115:9-18, Psalm 117, Psalm 122, Psalm 125, Psalm 130, Psalm 132:13-16, Psalm 136:21-22, Psalm 148:14, Psalm 149

3) THE PROPHETS:
2 Samuel 7:11-16, 2 Samuel 23:3-5
Isaiah 1:26-27, Isaiah 2:1-5, Isaiah 4:2-6, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 11:1-12, Isaiah 12:1-6, Isaiah 25:1-9, Isaiah 32:15-20, Isaiah 33:5-6, Isaiah 33:17-22, Isaiah 35:1-10, Isaiah 40:1-11, Isaiah 42:5-13, Isaiah 43:1-3, Isaiah 44:1-8, Isaiah 45:17-25, Isaiah 46:8-11, Isaiah 49:1-26, Isaiah 51:1-6, Isaiah 52:1-12, Isaiah 54:1-17, Isaiah 55:1-3, Isaiah 59:15-21, Isaiah 60:1-22, Isaiah 61:2-11, Isaiah 62:1-12, Isaiah 65:1-25, Isaiah 66:7-24
Jeremiah 3:16-17, Jeremiah 7:7, Jeremiah 16:14-15, Jeremiah 23:3-8, Jeremiah 30:1-24, Jeremiah 31:1-14, Jeremiah 31:31-38, Jeremiah 32:6-44, Jeremiah 33:6-25, Jeremiah 50:4-5
Ezekiel 11:17-20, Ezekiel 16:60-63, Ezekiel 17:22-24; Ezekiel 20:40-41, Ezekiel 34:23-31, Ezekiel 36:1-38, Ezekiel 37:1-28, Ezekiel 38:1-23, Ezekiel 39:1-29, Ezekiel 40-48
Daniel 2:40-45, Daniel 7:17-27, Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel 11:36-45, Daniel 12:1-13
Hosea 1:10-11, Hosea 2:16-23, Hosea 3:5, Hosea 14:4-7
Joel 2:27-32, Joel 3:12-21
Amos 9:13-15
Obadiah 15-21
Micah 2:12-13, Micah 4:1-8, Micah 5:1-5, Micah 7:14-22
Habakkuk 2:13-14
Zephaniah 1:14-18, Zephaniah 3:14-20
Haggai 2:4-9, Haggai 2:20-23
Zechariah 1:14-17, Zechariah 2:1-12, Zechariah 3:8-10, Zechariah 4:11-14, Zechariah 6:12-13, Zechariah 8:1-23, Zechariah 9:9-17, Zechariah 10:1-12, Zechariah 12:1-14, Zechariah 13:1-9, Zechariah 14:1-21
Malachi 1:11, Malachi 3:16-18, Malachi 4:1-6
(ALL THESE VERSES WILL LITERALLY BE FULFILLED IN THE FUTURE.)

Here is some more information and more clues that you will help you to find and understand the great and hidden treasure that God has for us in the Old Testament.

1. The truth that is discovered in these verses is to be taken literally. This is God’s Word and it needs to be taken at face value. You are not to try to find some deeper meaning. God’s Old Testament Word is not to be taken figuratively, it is not to be spiritualized, and it is not to be allegorized. Yes, there are figures of speech, similes and metaphors, but these are common writing tools that are used to illustrate the truth, making it easier to understand.

2. The Old Testament gives us a mother lode of information about the future. It is no small subject, for there are literally over 1000 verses covering the end times, the 2^nd coming of Christ, and the 1000 year kingdom. This great amount of information alone should motivate every Christian to take the time to read and study it, and then see how it relates to the future of the church. Indeed, this will be a golden age, a most glorious time, for the King of kings will be reigning over this earth, and as Christians, we will be reigning with Him.

3. This Old Testament treasure relates directly to the promises given by God to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), David (2 Samuel 7:11-16), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-38). These promises speak about Jesus Christ, the salvation of a remnant of Jews, the Jews inheriting land, and the Jews having a great number of descendants. The focus of all these verses is on the Jews, and that in the future, Christ the King will reign over them and over the entire world.

4. The information found in these Old Testament verses is first and foremost about Jesus Christ. But it is also about four future time periods that Christ is personally involved with – the end times, the 2^nd coming of Christ, the day of the Lord, and the 1000 year kingdom age on earth. It is important to remember this as you are putting the puzzle pieces of truth together, for then you will be able to see the entire treasure, and begin to grasp the great and rich blessing that will be for the Jews, for all believers, and for the entire world. Most importantly though, it is for the glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

5. A motivation for being involved in this Old Testament treasure hunt is knowing that you are an integral part of all that God is doing during these end time church days, as well as during the entire kingdom age. In this age to come, all Christians will be glorified and will be serving Jesus Christ. We will be going from here to there, flying from place to place, using our gifts and abilities to serve the Lord and people on this earth, with the result that God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son, will be glorified like never before. Revelation 5:12-13

6. The prophets were extremely interested in these prophecies about Jesus Christ, but they didn’t fully understand it. They knew that what they had written was precious, but they couldn’t grasp how it all fit together. Peter talks about this – “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, in these things which have now been announced to you… things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:10-12.

It is quite obvious that the prophets were very excited about what they had written with regards to the Messiah’s future, both His suffering and His glories. But do you realize that Peter was talking about those living in this church age when he said, “they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you…” That means us! Church age believers like us have the distinct advantage of being able to look back and see clearly that there are two comings of Christ. We know now that His suffering is over, but that He is coming again, and then His glories will be seen over the entire earth, and for all eternity. And since we are alive at the end of this church age, since we are living in the end times, then we should be super excited to be learning about Christ and the future God has for us. What a great time to be alive, and to know that Christ is returning soon, and that it won’t be long before Old Testament prophecies and promises will be coming true.

7. Finally, we need to read Jesus’ instructive and motivating words to these two men on the road to Emmaus. Jesus could’ve said a lot of things to these men, but what did He say? “ ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer all these things and to enter into His glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:25-27. Now what did Jesus say? First, He chastises these men for not knowing what the Law and the Prophets said about Himself. He says they are “foolish men and slow of heart to believe” all that the prophets had spoken. Then He reminded them that He had to suffer. Then He used the Old Testament, and in particular the Law and the Prophets, to explain to them what it said about Himself. What’s interesting is that Jesus uses all the prophets and all the Scriptures to instruct these men about Himself. This must have been an extensive, enlightening and most encouraging Bible study – I sure would’ve loved to have been there.

But there’s more. Shortly after Jesus appears to these two men He appears to His eleven disciples. Notice what He says to them: “ ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:44-45. Jesus’ instruction to His disciples is similar to what He had just said to these previous two men. He tells them that the truth about Himself is to be discovered in the Law and the Prophets, but here He adds the Psalms. And again He gives them a Bible study. We learn that the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets are essential if we are to learn about Jesus Christ. We learn that God has to open our minds, that we can’t by ourselves understand God’s Word. We also see that all that is written in the Old Testament about Christ must be fulfilled. I want you to notice too that the apostle Paul used the Law and the Prophets to teach the people about Jesus Christ. In Acts 28:23 we read, “He (Paul) was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning to evening.”

It is imperative that Christians love and live by the truths of the entire Bible. And in this short article, I want you to know that I am not at all trying to minimize the importance of the New Testament. My goal is to always maximize the truth of both the New Testament AND the Old Testament. But my focus here is the Old Testament. My encouragement to you is to read the Old Testament, and specifically the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets, for there you will learn a great deal of valuable information about Jesus Christ and the future God has for you. And if you want a place to start, then go back to the verses that I already listed out for you. There is no doubt that the truths, promises and prophesies of the Old Testament ought to be like silver and gold to you. “Look for it as silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:4-6

We have a spiritual treasure in the Bible. Do you see it for what it really is? Do you see what it means? Do you see how it talks about Jesus Christ, and the future of this world, the age to come, and the great glory that will then be given to Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King? This valuable truth that is found in the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets, will undoubtedly enrich your lives.

Article 19 

By Steven J. Hogan

The Bible talks about the rapture of the Christians living on earth at the return of Christ. Since we live in the end-times, we know it won’t be long before this great event takes place. But not all saints now presently living on earth will be raptured – there will be many who die, who will leave this earth and take that glorious and rapid ride to heaven before Christ’s 2^nd coming. It is important then to have a Biblical understanding of a Christian’s death, and in particular we need to answer this question: why does a believer die?

The Bible gives us many good answers to this question. These answers, I’m convinced, will ease some of the pain you may feel at the loss of a loved one, a close friend or a family member. Yes, it is good to grieve, but you don’t want to be too sad. Your grieving should not be dominated by sadness – there needs to be some Biblical gladness mixed in, a gladness that will sweeten some of your tears, that will give you hope, and even help you to be thankful for the departure of your loved one or friend. There are many Christians who do not properly understand God’s perspective on the death of a believer. It is imperative to know what the Bible says on this subject, because death for every believer is an absolute certainty, except for that remnant that will still be alive at the coming of Christ.

The following Biblical reasons for why believers die are ones that I’ve often shared at memorial or funeral services through the years, and I believe have comforted and encouraged many people, and I believe will comfort and encourage you as well.

The believer’s time on earth was finished. Psalm 139:17 – “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Job 14:5 – “Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with you. And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.” God had already determined the exact days, months, and years that the believer was to live on this earth. They had been specifically ordained by God, and had come to an end. Therefore, this believer’s time on earth was up, and God, in accordance with His eternal plan, needed to bring the believer home to heaven, and not one day sooner, or one day later. And as believers, we need to always submit to the will of God, even in the loss of a loved one or friend.

The purpose and work of the believer on earth was finished. Acts 13:36 – “David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.” All the work that God wanted the believer to do on earth was done, and there was nothing more for him to accomplish. God knew exactly what this believer was to do, and if the person passed away, then obviously, his work on earth had been completed. Death was the door this believer had to take to get to heaven, and the means by which his eternal life and eternal work for God could continue in a much greater and more glorious way.

God wanted the believer home in heaven with Him. Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” God the Father wanted His child to come home, for He had determined that it was better for the believer to be with Him in heaven than to be with us on earth. We need to see a believer’s death from God’s perspective, for while we may have wanted the believer to stay, God wanted him home – and who are we to argue with God? For God’s purposes and for God’s glory, and for the good of the believer, it was necessary for the believer to leave us and go home to heaven.

God wanted the believer to be with other believers in heaven. Numbers 20:24 – “Aaron will be gathered to his people.” A believer usually has Christian friends on earth, but this verse means that he was gathered to be with believing friends, family members and others who had gone on before him. Yes, it is good to be with friends on earth, but you have to think about this believer being with his friends in heaven, friends who love him, friends he loves, friends he has missed, and friends who are now perfect. Think about the encouraging reunion, the great celebration, the God-glorifying time this believer is now having in heaven with other Christians.

God wanted the believer to be taken away from evil. Isaiah 57:1-2 – “The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; and devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil. He enters into peace.” This world is a very wicked place, a place controlled by the devil. To physically die and finally be freed from the devil and his evil world system, and from every sin and temptation, is a most positive blessing for the believer. There is no more anger, worry, fear, pride, selfishness, covetousness, laziness, impurity, lying, anger, bitterness or jealousy. There is no sin, and not even a hint of sin, for this believer is now perfect, and is in a perfect place with perfect people, and most importantly, with the Lord Jesus Christ. Jonathan Edwards said, “When a godly man dies, he rises from all remains of spiritual death, and comes into a state of perfect life. This body is like a prison to the soul, it exceedingly clogs, and hinders, and cramps it in its spiritual exercisers and comfort. But when a saint dies, the soul is released from this prison, this grave and comes into a state of glorious freedom and happiness.”

God wanted the believer to experience much more love, joy and pleasure. Psalm 16:11 – “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever.” When this believer was on earth he experienced some of God’s grace, but not nearly to the degree he now experiences it in heaven. When he was on earth he tasted only a small portion of God’s mercy and love, for he was still living in his fleshly body, and still falling prey to sin. But now that the believer is in heaven, he is experiencing immense pleasure, perfect peace, great joy, amazing love, and incredible happiness. Why would we not want the believer to be with Jesus, and to be enjoying the pleasures of heaven?

Jesus Christ wanted the believer to be with Him so that he could see His glory. John 17:24 – “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which you have given Me.” On earth, this believer had a small taste, a little glimpse, a vague comprehension of the glory of Christ. But now that the believer is in heaven, Christ’s glory is on full display, and his eyes are fully opened to see His glory, to see Christ’s love, joy, holiness, power, kindness, greatness, wisdom and majesty. He is experiencing eternal life like never before, in his relationship with Jesus, in his love for Jesus, in his serving Jesus, in his fellowship with others, in his complete freedom from sin, and in the total absence of sickness, pain and sorrow. The believer is not asleep in heaven, but he is fully awake and alert, and is seeing, feeling and experiencing the great glories of Jesus Christ, and living like he has never lived before. He is experiencing life to the full, and that’s because he is with Jesus Christ.

God wanted the believer to be free from all physical pain. Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain.” This is a comforting truth, that the believer who has just passed away, is totally free from any physical ailments, aches, pain, sickness, tiredness or weakness. Our lives on earth can be so influenced and even controlled at times by physical struggles, by how we physically feel, and it is so encouraging to think that our friend in heaven is no longer affected and afflicted by any discomfort or pain at all.

God wanted the believer to rest from his labors on earth. Revelation 14:13 – “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” The believer has finished all his earthly work for the Lord. His work on earth was not usually easy – it was tiring work, and hard work that sapped his strength and wore him out. It was labor, it was toil, it was work, day after day, week after week, and year after year. Now the believer is still working for the Lord, but he is working for the Lord in heaven, and it’s no sweat, no stress, and no tiredness. It is energizing work, encouraging work, work that is always fulfilling, productive and God-glorifying.

God wanted the believer to be able to perfectly worship Him. Psalm 84:4 – “How blessed are those who dwell in your house! They are ever praising you.” The believer is finally able to fully and continually obey the great commandment, to love God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. You see, the Holy Spirit is enabling him to abide in the Lord at all times, and for the Lord to abide in him. Therefore, the believer in heaven is now worshiping and loving God at all times. He is able to perfectly and joyfully sing to the Lord. His relationship with God is perfect, with no sin whatsoever interfering with his worshiping the Lord. It is the most encouraging and glorious experience in heaven, being perfectly loved by God and being able to perfectly love God.

God knew that it would be gain for the believer. Philippians1:21-23 – “To live is Christ, and to die is gain… having the desire to be with Christ is very much better.” It is much better for the believer to be in heaven than to be on earth. The believer in heaven has no pain, no sin, no sickness, no sadness, no tiredness, no weakness, no worries, no fears, no conflicts, no disabilities, no difficulties or trials whatsoever. The believer in heaven has perfect joy and peace, and is fully satisfied. He is able to perfectly love and worship God. He has perfect relationships with believers in heaven, and he is with friends he knew on earth. Having gone from earth to heaven, he has gone on to the next stage of his salvation, and has taken the next step in his eternal life. The believer is with his best friend, with Jesus Christ in heaven, and there is great joy, intimacy, kindness, fellowship and communion in their relationship. Just think, the believer you know, the believer you may have seen or talked to just a few hours ago or a few days ago, is now standing in the presence of God, blameless, with great joy – “to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 25

God wants to use the believer’s death to instruct other believers still living on earth. Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 – “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart… The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.” A believer’s death is to instruct us that life is short, and that life on this earth can suddenly be over. We are to be reminded that while we are on this earth we are to live for the Lord, and not for ourselves. The death of a person is to sober us, to wake us up, and alert us to the fact that our day to die is coming (unless we are raptured). And then we will give an account to God of how we lived our life on earth. “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12

God wants to use the death of a believer to instruct unbelievers still living on earth. Luke 13:2-3 – “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” The unbeliever needs to know that this believer he knew or had heard about is now in heaven, that he is in a place of great joy, peace and comfort, and all because of the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The unbeliever needs to understand the gospel, that Jesus Christ paid for, was punished by God the Father for the sins of unbelievers, so that all people who repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ will be forgiven, receive eternal life, and someday be in heaven. The unbeliever needs to know that he needs to repent of his sins before it’s too late. He needs to know that if he doesn’t repent, he will die and perish, that he will forever be in hell, a place of great torment and punishment. John 11:25-26 – “Jesus said, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me will live even if He dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.’” Romans 5:8 – “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring you to God.” John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish but will have eternal life.”

God wanted the believer to be in the house of the Lord. Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The believer is now in the best place possible, the house of the Lord. And he is not just visiting there, not just passing through, but he is dwelling there, is living there. This is his new home, his new place of residence, and it is very much unlike his earthly home, and is infinitely better than his earthly home. But most importantly, it is the house of the Lord. It is the house where the Lord is living, a glorious place, a beautiful place, a clean place, a neat place, a peaceful and comfortable place. And in that place he is being treated wonderfully, kindly, for he is not a guest, and is not just a servant, but he is a child of God, living in his Father’s house, and living with Jesus Christ Himself. It can be no better, for it is the best place, the perfect place, a most wonderful place, and your believing friend is there right now.

I encourage you to consider these truths that convey God’s perspective on the death of a believer. Yes, you may be grieving and have strong feelings about the death of your loved ones, and understandably so, for this person has been an important part of your life, and maybe for a long, long time. But don’t live by your feelings. Think about the truth of God’s word with respect to a believer’s death, and when you do, you will still grieve, but not in a fleshly or worldly way, but in a godly way. God will then increase your hope in Him, and your hope of what He has in store for you.

Finally, and don’t ever forget this – you will see your loved one or friend again, and be with him again, and to be honest, it won’t be that long from now – and then when you do, it will be forever and ever. Let the truth of this future and eternal reunion gladden your heart, encourage your soul, and stir you to praise our most gracious Lord. “For who is our joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Article 18 

By Steven J. Hogan

 

The story of the Jews for the past 4000+ years is an amazing display of God’s purpose, grace, love, holiness, justice, faithfulness, sovereignty, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy and glory. Think back to how it started – a country coming from one single man and his wife, a little country being born right in the middle of a big country. Then we see this little country growing and growing until they are close to 2 million strong. And then they have to leave, they have to get out of this country, this Egypt, and they do – and it is called the Exodus.

The Jews are now on their own, but God is with them, and for the next 40 years they are living in a hot, dry and barren desert region, a place with no food, little water, and lots of snakes. But God keeps them going, and they finally get to the land that God has promised them. Since that time, by God’s grace, they have miraculously continued on. There have been many battles, tremendous trials, all kinds of leaders, many ups and downs, many victories, many failures, lots of persecution, lots of idol worship, and yes, they were even banished from their land a few times. But they have also worshiped the one true God, their Creator, Lord, Protector and Redeemer, but not by any means perfectly so.

Here we are in 2017, and we are 4000 years into the journey of these Jewish people, and they are still standing, still going, still being persecuted, and still with a bright future ahead of them. And the reason they are still going is because God has been faithful to His promises and faithful to them.

But now we are right in the middle of this story about the Jews, and there is a lot yet to take place. Our vantage point at this time is the end of the church age, and this is a great place from which to see God’s accelerating work with both the Jews and the church. And it’s important that you now see the working of God with the Jews in conjunction with, coinciding with, and in connection with His working with the church. God’s purposes for the Jews and for the church are all coming together at this time. You need to know this, and you need to see it.

These are exciting days, and the next major geo-political-prophetical event to take place is the signing of the Antichrist led peace initiative between the Jews and various other countries. Not long from now this treaty will be ratified, and it will set in motion Daniel’s 70^th week, which will lead to a super-charged series of global activities resulting in four major God planned events in just 7 years. We will see the revelation of the Antichrist, the rapture of the church, the wrath of God poured out on the world, and the redemption of a remnant of Jews. Buckle up with the belt of truth, put on the full armor of God, read God’s Word, pray for God’s Kingdom, and fight the good fight of faith. And remember, you are on the winning team. You are an overcomer!  “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in faith.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

The following is a series of prophecy charts about the Jew with short summaries under each one. They are designed to help you know what has happened, and what will be happening in the days ahead with reference to God’s miraculous working with His chosen people.

Biblical Prophetic Overview:
This gives us the big picture of the history of the Jews, from the time of Abraham to the salvation of the Jews at the end of the 70^th week to Christ’s 1000 year kingdom. It’s very important that we see where things have been and where things are going, and that right now, we are the very end of this present evil age, close to the return of Christ, the salvation of the Jews, and His reign over the world during the millennial kingdom.

 

Things Hoped For:
When we look back 2500-4000 years, we see that Abraham and other men and women of faith were looking forward the fulfillment of the promises God had given to them. The hope that God had given them, for land and for a King, truly energized and motivated them to love the Lord, to serve the Lord, and to live and die for Him.

 

God’s Promises to the Jews:
This chart spells out the three major covenants for the Jews. There is the Abrahamic Covenant, the promise of land, given to Abraham. There is the Davidic Covenant, the promise of a King, given to David. There is the New Covenant, the promise of salvation, given to Jeremiah. Some believe that these promises have been reneged or nullified or changed, and that is just not true – there is no Biblical justification to say that. God is faithful, and these promises will be fulfilled in the near future when Jesus Christ returns. Be looking forward to what God will be doing.

 

70 Weeks of Daniel:
God gave Daniel a 70 weeks (490 year) chronology relating to both the 1^st and 2^nd comings of Christ. (Daniel 9:24-27). From the issuing of the decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, there would be exactly 69 weeks (483 years) to Christ’s crucifixion (mathematically, this has been proven to be true). Then there is the gap between the 69^th and 70^th weeks, which is where we are at now, and is what we call the church age. Finally, there is the 70^th week, an explosive and exciting seven year time frame containing many end time events, the coming of the Antichrist, the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church and the salvation of many Jews.

 

The Jews and the Promised Land:
Over 4000 years ago God made a promise to Abraham that he and his descendants would inherit a very special piece of land. It was over 600 years before the Jews, Abraham’s descendants finally entered this land. They were there for over 800 years, but were then exiled because of their great sin against a great and holy God. They returned 70 years later, and this time they stayed in their land for close to 600 years, but they were exiled again because of their terrible sin. Finally, after 1800 years, they have come back to their land, and they are still there today, never again to be expelled. God has been faithful to His people and it won’t be long before the Jews will be occupying the entire promised land, not just a narrow strip of property off the coast of the Mediterranean, but land that borders Egypt on the south, and that is bordered by the Euphrates on the east. Then they will have received their inheritance in full, and will finally be safe, secure and satisfied with their Savior, worshiping and serving Him forever.

 

Promises for the Jewish Remnant:
God has continually and faithfully communicated His promises to His people about their future. Listed above are just some of the verses in God’s Word about His future plans for the Jewish people. Time and time again, over a 2000 year period, God has told His people and us too, what He specifically plans to do in the end times. God knew that He needed to keep repeating Himself, and so from His Word He has made it abundantly clear that nothing was going to stop Him from doing what He set out to do for His chosen people. And there is nothing in God’s Word that counters or contradicts the truth of His Word that all His promises and plans will be fulfilled for the Jews. And if you’re watching, you’ll see it happen – you won’t be able to miss God’s wonderful working with His people.

 

That Because of the Mercy Shown To You Gentiles:
We now live in the church age, that time period for the unbelievers to call on the name of the Lord for mercy, for forgiveness of sins. The focus of this church age period is on the Gentiles, and great numbers of them have been getting saved. But the Jews, for the most part, have hardened their hearts, have been unbelieving and, during this church age, not many have turned from their sin and turned to the Lord for mercy. But this time of the Gentiles will be ending soon, and then there will be the rapture of the Christians and the Day of the Lord, and then a great remnant of Jews will get saved.

 

Regathering the Jews:
It was in 70 AD that the Jews were taken captive to the nations, were scattered over the entire world. Would they ever come back? Would they ever return to Israel? Would they keep their language? Would they keep their religion? Most people never even thought about it, let along believed these things would come true. But here we read of many promises made to the prophets, that yes, this would happen, that God’s word would come true, that the Jews would be regathered back to their land. And now we see it, now we know it – the Jews have been back in their land for over 140 years now – and it won’t be long before the 70^th week begins, and then seven years later, the 70^th week will end, and a great remnant of Jews will be saved.

 

 

The Regathering of the Jews to Israel:
In this day and age there are many statistics. You can google specific information about the number of Jews returning to Israel in the past 140 years. And it is clearly obvious that the Jews have consistently been coming back to their homeland, from 25,000 to 6,377,000. WOW! THIS IS TRULY A MIRACLE OF GOD. The promises from the Old Testament prophets that the Jews would regather to their land have come true right before our eyes. Now then we are in the end times, and God’s promises and plans for His chosen people will soon be fulfilled. You wait and see.

 

God’s Plan for the Jews:
God knows exactly what He is doing with His people in the end times. He has His plans all laid out, and He has told us some of them, like the Jews regathering to their land, Daniel’s 70^th week, the peace treaty, the revealing of the Antichrist, and the salvation of a Jewish remnant. God wants us to know what He is doing, to be looking forward to these end time events, to be excited about the return of Christ, to be praying about His coming Kingdom, and to be doing our part in serving Him in these days.

 

The Salvation of the Jews:
We are so focused on the church age, and this is good, for we need to now do the work that God has called us to do. But we must not forget the promise of God to the Jews that a great remnant of them will get saved right at the very end of Daniel’s 70^th week. As you see, verse after verse in God’s Word tells us this, and His Word is undeniably and undoubtedly true, and will be fulfilled. As Christians we will be gone from earth at that time, but we will have front row seats in heaven, from where we will see the great salvation of our Jewish brothers and sisters on earth. Hallelujah!

 

Psalms and the Millennial Kingdom:
Shortly after the salvation of the Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70^th week there will be the start of the Millennial Kingdom. There is a whole lot said about this in the Old Testament, particularly in the prophets and the Psalms, but many believers are unaware of what God has said in His Word about this future 1000 year kingdom when His Son will be reigning over the world. Listed on this chart are just some of the things that Psalms tells us that we will be witnessing, and that we will be doing, during our reign with Jesus Christ for those 1000 years.

 

An Important Part of our Hope:
Romans 15:4-12 is a power packed passage of promises that makes it very clear that God’s work with the Jews and God’s work with the church is all coming together at the second coming of Christ. The Jews had their time on earth before the  first coming of Christ. Now the church is having their time on earth before Christ’s second coming. But shortly after Christ’s second coming, we will see God’s promises for the Jews come true, and then we will join with the Jews during the Millennial Kingdom, worshiping and serving our Lord together.

 

God’s Eternal Love for Israel:
God’s Word tells us about God’s love for Israel, and this love is an eternal love, a love from everlasting to everlasting. It is this love that motivates God to do all that He has done and all that He will do with regards to the Jews. You just cannot grasp how deep and how great and how infinite is His love for His people. This love that began in eternity past was first seen in this world about 2050 BC, and today, about 4000 years later, this love continues. But now we live in the end times, and it won’t be long before major earth shaking events predicted by God will be taking place, events that will lead to the rapture of the church and God judging this world. Then His love will be shown in the salvation of a great number of Jews. Then His love for His people will be seen during the millennial kingdom. And then His love for His chosen people, the Jews, will be seen in the eternal kingdom, continuing forever and ever and ever.

Article 17

By Steven J. Hogan

 All of us need to learn the lesson of stewardship, of being good managers of the things God has given us, whether that is abilities, gifts, talents, time, money and our body. As we become good stewards, then we are more useful to God, and are able to serve Him in a way that pleases Him, and gives Him great glory. Might we all look forward to that day when Jesus will say, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things – I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:21. Listed below are a number of principles and truths about time, this wonderful and most important gift that God has given to each one of us. Might we be good and faithful slaves. To God be the glory!

* “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2

* “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

* “Make the most of your time because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:17

* “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

* Live life today. Don’t live in the past or in the future. Live one day at a time. Matthew 6:34

* You can’t speed up time and you can’t slow it down. You can’t make your life go faster or slower – it always moves at a constant rate. One hour is always one hour, and one day is always one day.

* The time you have is what God Himself gives you. Time is a very precious gift from God.

* You can never gain or get more time. (Exception – Joshua 10:12-13)

* You can’t buy time, earn time or trade for more time. You can’t get time from anyone else.

* You can’t get a day back, and therefore you can’t get time back – once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

* Time is very valuable because it is a decreasing commodity. Your life gets shorter every day.

* Time is more valuable than money for you can make more money but you can’t make more time.

* The time that God gives you relates to the things He wants you to do. Purpose ~ Time

* If you are alive today, then you know you have a reason, a purpose for living this day.

* You won’t die, you won’t finish your days on earth until you finish your work on earth. Acts 13:36

* The value of your time relates directly to using the abilities and talents that God has given you. Maximize your time by focusing on the things that God has gifted and enabled you to do.

* Use your time to be godly. Use your time to trust God. Use your time to obey God. Use your time to be fruitful. Use your time to live for God. Use your time to walk with God. Hebrews 11

* Your time is a personal thing – it’s your time, and no one else’s time. It is the time God personally gives you so you can do the things He wants you to do, and that no one else is to do.

* You are to be a good steward and manager of the time God gives you – use it wisely. Luke 16:1-9

* It is wise to think and plan ahead as to how you are going to use your (God’s) time. Proverbs 21:5

* Your life is eternal, is infinite – it goes on forever, but the days of your life on this earth are finite.

* The days of your life on earth are next to nothing compared to all of eternity. Your life on earth is very short. “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14

* Your finite time on earth has eternal value if you use it for God’s purposes. Luke 16:9

* Yesterday is over, but if you used it for God, then yesterday has eternal value. The time is gone, but the results of how you used your time are not gone, but last forever. Hebrews 11:4

* Your time is for others. Don’t be selfish, but use your time to serve others. 2 Corinthians 12:15

* You have a set time to live, a specific time that’s already been determined by God. Psalm 139:16

* Be aware of how much time you have. For example, I am 66, and on a 80 year life span, that means 83% of my life is over. This is sobering, but it encourages me to serve the Lord all the more.

* God instructs you to count your life in days, months and years. Count your days, see them as precious, and consider them as having been given to you by God. Psalm 90:12, Job 14:5

* The time you have to live is uncertain, for you do not know how long you will live. James 4:14

* This day could be the last day of your life. Only God knows. “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” James 4:14

* If you are physically older, then you don’t have much time left on earth compared to others who are younger than you; and so use your time very wisely.

* Do not waste your time doing things that are sinful, and that have no real and spiritual value.

* If you waste your time then you are wasting the time God gave you, and you are wasting your life.

* Learn to forget the past. Don’t live in the past or try to relive the past. The past is gone, but press on to what lies ahead, for God has new things, special things for you today. Philippians 3:13

* God gives you strength today for today’s work. He does not give you strength today for tomorrow’s work.

* Live for the Lord by making the most of each day. Capitalize on opportunities that come up, on ones you may never have again. Each day is valuable, and you need to take advantage of each day.  Ephesians 5:17

* Every person has the exact same amount of time in a day, 24 hours. It’s how you use your time that really counts, that really makes a difference.

* God designed your body to operate in a 24 hour day, not in a 10 hour day or a 40 hour day. You need to see the 24 hour day as the daily time frame God has given you, and so work within it, with the proper amount of work, fellowship and rest.

* God gives you 24 hours / day, and this is all the time you need to do all He wants you to do on any given day. Don’t go too fast, and don’t go too slow. Don’t be too busy, and don’t be lazy. Do all that God leads you to do on a particular day.

* Make the most of a day by learning to make the most of your minutes and hours. Set little goals.

* God wants to give you His joy each day. He doesn’t want your days to be drudgery. Psalm 90:14

* No day is exactly like another day. Each day is unique because God has designed each day just for you – He has unique and special plans for you on each day.

* Each day brings you one day closer to leaving this earth, and being in either heaven or hell.

* The days of your life are not increasing, and are not staying the same. They are decreasing. Be sober and wise.

* The days of your life may be shorter than average because of Christ’s return. The coming of Christ will suddenly and divinely shorten the life of every person who is living on earth at that time.

* God may shorten a person’s life because of their sin. Acts 5:1-11, Acts 12:20-23

* God may shorten a believer’s life because He wants them to come home early. Genesis 5:24

* The day of one’s death (if he’s a believer) is better than the day of one’s birth. Ecclesiastes 7:1

* Pray and ask God to help you live the days of your life in the way that He wants you to live them.

* Ask God to bless your time, to protect your time, to help you maximize your time. Yes, we are to be faithfully using our time but we need to trust God to supernaturally bless each minute, each hour, and each day.

* It is good to pray for each day and plan out each day, but always remember that God is sovereign, supernaturally overseeing your life and intervening in your life in a way that you can’t always see. This is for your good, and is for God’s purposes and glory. Romans 8:28, Proverbs 20:24

* Be flexible with your time, being sensitive to the Spirit as to how He wants you to use your time. “Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

* Give thanks to God for all the days, months and years He has already given you. Psalm 136

* Faith, hope and love are some of the key ingredients for each day of your life. 1 Corinthians 13:13

* Remember that every day is to be a holy day, a day set apart for God. 1 Peter 1:14-16

* Loving God is the single most important thing that you are to do each day. Mark 12:30

* Loving one another is the second most important thing that you are to do each day. Mark 12:31

* Remember that God is with you all day long, all night long, all the time. He never leaves you.

* “By day the Lord directs His love, and His song will be with me in the night.” Psalm 42:8

* “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

Article 16

By Steven J. Hogan

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of Him as my Lord, Savior and King, as One who loves me so, so much, who thinks about me all the time, who really cares for me, and who always wants my best! “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Abide in My love.” John 15:9

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of Him as my friend, lover and husband, the One whom I love more than anyone else in this world! “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” Psalm 73:25

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He has loved me and thought of me and had me on His heart since eternity past, of how He and the Father made wonderful plans for my life! “In love He predestined me to adoption as His son through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:4-5

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He is the creator and sustainer of the world, of how He is supreme, holy and all powerful, of how He is God, and yet “He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave… He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:6-8

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He came into this world as a baby, and how He grew up and became a man. I think of how He lived a perfect life. I think of Him all alone, shamefully hanging on that cross, with that beaten and bloodied face, suffering for me, dying for me, poured out like water, paying for all my sins, bearing the wrath of God! “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood – sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujah, what a Savior.”

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of His body in the tomb those three days, but then His Father powerfully raised Him from the dead on the third day, and glorified Him! This was for the Father, but also for me, that I may someday be with Him in glory! “Christ has been raised from the dead… by a Man also came the resurrection from the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-21

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think back to that day, how by His Word, by His grace, and by the Holy Spirit, I repented of my sins, and believed that He died and rose again for me. On that day, I gained eternal life, and first came to know Him! “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:3

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how because of Him, I am redeemed from slavery, forgiven of my sins, reconciled to God, adopted into His family, made an heir of God, sealed by the Spirit, placed into Christ, made a citizen of heaven, and am forever holy in His sight and in the sight of God the Father! Ephesians 1:4-7

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how I am God’s workmanship, and was “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that I would walk in them!” I am glad that I can work for Him. Ephesians 2:10

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the Father, looking down at me, loving me, praying for me, protecting me, carrying out His plans for me, and looking forward to being with me! “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:34-35

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how I will be like Him, how I will be given a powerful, immortal, glorified and spiritual body! How blessed I will be, and all because of Him. “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of my humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Philippians 3:20-21

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He is the Word of God, the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Good Shepherd. Indeed, He is all I need! “I shall not want.” “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will praise You… my soul is satisfied…” Psalm 63:1-5

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He will be coming back on the clouds, and how I will physically see Him for the first time. How amazing, how glorious that day will be! “Yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. O, how my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:26-27

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how He desires that I be taken to heaven so that He can be with me, and so that I can be with Him, and so that I may know the fullness of His love, and that I may see and be satisfied by His perfect and infinite glory! John 17:24

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of the millennial kingdom, and how I will see Him on His throne in Jerusalem, ruling and reigning over this earth, how I will be with Him in glory, and will rule and reign with Him! “They will be priests of God and Christ and will reign with Him for one thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how in His presence there will be no sin, sadness or sorrow, but only gladness of heart, fullness of joy, and pleasures forever. O, the wonders and delights of heaven, of being with Him, and enjoying Him forever! “The Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17, Psalm 16:11

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of how in the Kingdom ages, He will give me work to do, work suited for me, work which is meaningful, beneficial for others, tireless, eternally rewarding, and God exalting! “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things – I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:21

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of being with all the other saints and angels in the heavenly choir, and how we will all sing to Him, worship Him and exalt Him; and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! “O, sing to the Lord a new song.” Psalm 98:1, Philippians 2:10-11

When I think of Jesus Christ, I think of being with Him in the eternal kingdom, in the new heavens and the new earth, in the heavenly city, in my heavenly home, and loving Him, worshiping Him, and reigning with Him and serving Him forever and ever! “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads… And they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:4-5

When I think of Jesus Christ, I know I am still on this earth, but I remember His last words from Revelation 22:20 – “Behold, I am coming soon,” and that it won’t be long before I will see Him and be with Him – it won’t be long at all! “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Article 15

By Steven J. Hogan

Jesus Christ has good reason to come back to earth, and in fact, many good reasons. But you need to first understand that He is not just going to drop in and see how things are going. He’s not making some casual visit to this planet, making stops in a few cities, seeing some Christians, giving some speeches, and then leaving. He is coming to stay. Jesus Christ is the Lord of this earth, and He is a holy judge, a sovereign King, and a loving Savior. This is His planet. He made it. He owns it. He’s going to do what He wants to do, what He has a right to do, and what He has already planned to do.

Way back in eternity past, God foreknew and predestined the life of Jesus Christ. We are all aware of Christ’s 1^st coming, being born, living, and dying on this earth to pay for our sins, and then being raised from the dead. Both God’s Word and history tell us about Christ’s brief stay on earth. But God’s Word also tells us what will be taking place at His 2^nd coming. It is no mystery to God, and He has not left it a mystery to us. God has told us ahead of time what will be taking place because He wants us to know why Christ is returning to earth, and to be looking forward to seeing Him and being with Him when He comes back.

Why is Jesus Christ coming? Let me say it simply: Christ is coming back to take up the saints, to take out the enemy, and to take over the world. It’s the rapture of the saints, the wrath of God, and the reign of Christ. But there is so much more than this. Let me list some general reasons why our Lord and Savior is returning to this world (the Biblical reasons in the following lists are by no means comprehensive in God’s future plans – there is much more).

* Jesus Christ is coming back to carry out His Father’s eternal will and purpose for planet earth. Matthew 6:9-10, Psalm 33:8-12
* Jesus Christ is coming back so that all things and all people in heaven and earth will be summed up in Him, and will be under His authority and control. Ephesians 1:9-11
* Jesus Christ is coming back because He’s going to keep His promise. Hebrews 10:37; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20
* Jesus Christ is coming back to fulfill God’s Word, to carry out all His plans for this world, and the people living in it. Matthew 5:17-18, 24:35; Revelation 22:18-19
* Jesus Christ is coming back to bring this present evil age to an end, to start the new age, and to establish His kingdom on earth. Ephesians 1:11-21; Psalms 47, 67, 72, 96
* Jesus Christ is coming back for His bride, for He loves her, and He can’t wait to take her home to heaven, to celebrate the wedding feast, to show her His glory, and then to reign over the world with her. John 14:1-3, John 17:24, Revelation 19:7-9
* Jesus Christ is coming back to clean up a world that has been polluted and messed up by sin and Satan. It must be a holy place before He can begin His reign over the earth. Revelation 4-9, 16
* Jesus Christ is coming back to fulfill the promises God made to Abraham and his descendants. Genesis 12:1-3, Isaiah 41-66, Acts 3:17-26, Romans 11:25-27
* Jesus Christ is coming back to be worshiped, for every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that He is Lord of heaven and earth. Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 5:13
* Jesus Christ is coming back so that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Habakkuk 2:14
* Jesus Christ is coming back because God’s character demands it. He will be holy and judge sinners on the earth. He will be loving and rapture believers from the earth. He will be faithful and carry out God’s will on earth. Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 24:3-40; Revelation 4:8

There are many good reasons why Jesus Christ is coming back, and no one is going to stop Him. His great and glorious plans for us and this earth need to be fulfilled. Therefore, Christ must come back; He wants to come back; and He cannot not come back. And no one – no man, no woman, no angel, no devil, no demon – will deny Him, stop Him, or thwart any of His purposes and plans. “O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for you have worked wonders, plans formed long ago with perfect faithfulness.” Isaiah 25:1

Do you see where we are at in the whole big scheme of things? We are living in the last part of this present age, what is often called the church age. God’s plans for this church age are now being carried out, and Jesus Christ, His Son, is executing these plans, is fulfilling His Father’s will, is building the church. And this is our time to live, to be faithful to God, to use our talents for His purposes, to do our job in building His Kingdom, and to make disciples of all the nations until the end of the age. But we are now living in the end-times (Daniel 12:4), and therefore we know that this present age is coming to a close, that our stay on this sin-filled earth is about over, and that specific, God ordained plans for the church will soon begin to be fulfilled.

At this time Jesus Christ is in heaven, and He is waiting for the signal from His Father to return to earth to bring this present age to a close, and then begin His millennial kingdom. Here are some reasons why Christ is coming back at the end of this age:

* Jesus Christ is coming back to give Christians relief from the great persecution that they will be experiencing on this earth. Matthew 24:21-22, 2 Thessalonians 1:7
* Jesus Christ is coming back to rescue the Christians from God’s wrath that will be poured out upon this world. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 5:9
* Jesus Christ is coming back to give Christians rest from their labors. Revelation 14:13
* Jesus Christ is coming back to resurrect the believers already in heaven, to glorify them, and to gather them to Himself. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Philippians 3:20-21
* Jesus Christ is coming back to rapture the Christians from the earth, to glorify them, and to gather them to Himself. 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Matthew 24:31
* Jesus Christ is coming back to redeem the Christians from their sinful bodies and from this evil world. Luke 21:28, Ephesians 1:14
* Jesus Christ is coming back to reunite you with all the believing friends and loved ones you knew on earth who have gone on ahead of you. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, 4:13-14
* Jesus Christ is coming back to reward you for all your work for Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9, Revelation 22:12
* Jesus Christ is coming back to pour out His wrath on the unbelievers, during what is called the Day of the Lord. Psalm 98:9; Jude 14-15; Revelation 8-9, 16
* Jesus Christ is coming back to destroy Babylon, the sinful and Satanic religious and economic world systems. Revelation 16-18
* Jesus Christ is coming back to destroy his chief enemy on the earth, the devilish Antichrist and his evil empire. Christ will then cast him and his wicked partner, the false prophet, into the lake of fire. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9, Revelation 19:19-20

In the near future Christ will visibly return to this earth, and then reign over this earth from Jerusalem for exactly 1000 years. How wonderfully glorious this will be, and to think that we will be with Him, worshiping Him, helping Him to reign, and promoting His name, His cause, and His glory all over the earth. Let me share some reasons why Christ is coming back as it relates to the Jews on earth, the glorified believers, the millennial kingdom, and His great judgment at the end of the millennial kingdom:

* Jesus Christ is coming back to receive His inheritance from His Father. Psalm 2:6-8
* Jesus Christ is coming back to save a large remnant of Jews. Romans 11:25-27
* Jesus Christ is coming back to shepherd His flock. Micah 5:4
* Jesus Christ is coming back so He can be King over the world, reigning on this earth during what is often called the millennial kingdom. Zechariah 14:11, Revelation 11:15, Psalm 2:6-9, Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:13-14, 27, Micah 5:4
* Jesus Christ is coming back so that both the recently glorified believers and the newly saved Jewish believers can reign with Him over the world. Revelation 20:6
* Jesus Christ is coming back to give the Jews the land that was promised to Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-15, 15:18-21
* Jesus Christ is coming back to possess Judah as His portion, and to rule over the earth from the holy land, from Mount Zion. Zechariah 2:12
* Jesus Christ is coming back to save a great number of Gentiles during the millennial kingdom. Psalm 67:2, Romans 15:9-12
* Jesus Christ is coming back to teach the truth of God to the people on earth. Isaiah 54:13
* Jesus Christ is coming back to lead and guide the nations on the earth. Psalm 67:4
* Jesus Christ is coming back so that the kingdoms of the world will worship and serve Him. Psalm 22:27-31, Psalm 102:21-22
* Jesus Christ is coming back so that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. Habakkuk 2:14
* Jesus Christ is coming back to rule the world with a rod of iron. Psalms 2:9, 110:1-2
* Jesus Christ is coming back to put all His enemies under His feet, including death itself. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, Revelation 20:14
* Jesus Christ is coming back to carry out the overthrow and final defeat of the devil, and then cast him into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:7-10
* Jesus Christ is coming back to judge the unbelievers who are on this earth at the end of the Millennial Kingdom, and then cast them into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

I hope you are beginning to see that God has many great plans for your future and the future of this world. It’s important for you to see that life is not so much about what you are doing but much more about what God is doing and will be doing. On this earth, men and women go here and there, hustling and bustling, hurrying and keeping busy, making plans and doing what they want to do.

As Christians we too can be focused on our life and our own little world and the things we are doing, but we need to get our eyes off of ourselves – we need to be looking to God. We need to be reading His Word. We need to see the big picture. We need to see what He will be doing. And we need to be seeking God’s Kingdom, and praying for His Kingdom to come. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10, 33. Ultimately, all of God’s plans will be carried out. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands firm forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” Psalm 33:10-11

It won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns and everything will change! He will interrupt our little lives, and stop us and this earth, right in our tracks. None of us can fathom how different this will be, going from a devil-ruled, man-centered, sin-dominated world, to Christ suddenly taking over and doing what He has always planned on doing. The Lord and Savior will be back, the Judge is coming, and the King will be here to stay. This is good news for the believer, for he will experience the mercy and goodness of God; but this is bad news for the unbeliever, for he will experience the justice and wrath of God.

We need to wake up to the truth of Christ’s 2^nd coming and the reasons for His 2^nd coming. We need to do God’s work and hasten the coming of Christ, and the fulfillment of His plans for us and for the entire world. It won’t be long. You wait and see. In these days of the end-times, God is now carrying out His plans, and He knows exactly what He is doing. In fact, His work with everyone and everything on this planet is going precisely according to His eternal plan. Isaiah 46:9-11 – “I am God and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far distant country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Amen.

Article 14

By Steven J. Hogan

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Can you imagine being with Jesus Christ in a perfect place, with perfect people, and in a perfect body? This is our hope, and this hope will soon be a reality for each one of us. “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37). Yes, times will get tough with the coming birth pains and great tribulation, but God is sovereignly and wonderfully working in our lives and in this world to the very end of this present age. Then our Savior will come at that perfect hour, on that perfect day, the Day of Christ, and all believers, those still on earth and those already in heaven, will be glorified. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

BEING WITH JESUS – “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ, having a personal relationship with them now and forever. Yes, your eternal life began that first day you were saved on earth, but it will wonderfully continue in heaven. The shackles of sin, being fully gone, will enable your relationship and walk with God to be taken to new and heavenly heights. The grace, goodness, and glory of God will be revealed to you in amazing and profound ways. Jesus prayed, “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which you have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24

Can you imagine what it will be like the first time you are with Jesus? He will see you, and He will be overjoyed to see you. You will hear His kind and tender voice as He expresses His love for you in the warmest way. He will enthusiastically welcome you into heaven, and into His presence, and He will commend you, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:21

Can you imagine seeing Jesus? You will be so be amazed and so much in awe. You will be thrilled to see Him, His face and sweet smile for you. Filled with overwhelming joy, you will express your gratitude to Him for all that He has done for you. Your eyes will see the holes in His hands, side and feet, and immediately you will be reminded of His supreme sacrifice for you, that while you were a sinner, He suffered and died for you. You will be able to personally thank Him for the amazing miracle of taking you from earth to heaven, from an unholy place to a holy place, from a sin corrupted body to a new glorious body. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

To think that you will actually see Jesus your Savior, your Lord, your husband and your best friend. You cannot imagine how good it will be to see Him for the first time, to be with Him and to hear His voice. You cannot realize how good it will be the first time you see His face, the first time you will be with Him, the first time He will talk to you and you will talk to Him. Job 19:25-27

Think about the continual love, joy and peace you will be experiencing together. It will be so good, so encouraging, so heart-warming, and you know that it will never end. The eternal life that began on earth will continue on in heaven and on earth. Eternal life is knowing the Lord Jesus, and you have known Him, but now in heaven you will know Him in a fuller, deeper and more intimate way. This glorious revealing of Jesus Christ and His glory will continue on forever. Indeed, there is nothing better than this. “My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Psalm 84:2

BEING IN A NEW BODY – In the future you will be perfect. There will be absolutely no more sorrow, tears or sadness, no more sickness, tiredness or weakness, no more sin, no more pride, selfishness, anger or fear. Your sin-prone body is good enough for earth, but it is sure not good enough for heaven. Soon enough it will be gone, and you will forever be freed from the sinful flesh, and its effects on your mind and body. “… so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life… we prefer to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:4-8

This new body will be beyond superlatives, for all the bad and evil stuff associated with your old flesh will someday, and soon, be gone forever. Your earthly tent will be destroyed and then you will be clothed in your heavenly house. You can’t imagine how amazing, how good, how perfect this will be. Yes, you were justified, yes, you are being sanctified, but to be glorified, to be in a perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual body is way beyond human comprehension. “We have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1

Your new mind will be perfect in every way, not infinitely perfect like Christ, but still perfect, perfectly suited to learn, and to learn from the Lord, to understand His Word like you have never understood it before. You will be able to lovingly and clearly communicate to others, to have perfect conversations, to unitedly team with others in serving the Lord. With a perfect  heart and perfect memory, a mind that is super sharp, you will be able to spiritually and mentally do all that God wants you to do. You will rule and reign with the Lord, and you will completely carry out all His plans for your entire eternal existence. Indeed, with a new mind in a new body, you will be able to perfectly worship God, perfectly serve God, and perfectly experience the great glories of God, and of Jesus Christ. Psalm 145:1-2

You will have a glorified mind, a glorified soul, a glorified personality and glorified emotions. On earth your mind and soul are daily dimmed, dampened and cramped by sin, but this will not be true in the future, for all vestiges of sin will be gone, and now the new creation, the new you will be perfectly and beautifully seen for that which God had eternally planned. Your whole being, your whole mind, soul and body will be just the way God wants it to be. You will love the Lord and be loved by Him, you will love people and be loved by them, and you will live for the Lord and glorify Him forever. Just think, you will be fully and wonderfully saved. And in your glorified state, you will be different than all others, for there will no others in the universe like you – there will be no twins, no clones, no robots in heaven, just a heaven full of beautifully unique and perfect saints, all loving the Lord and living for Him.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44. You will have a powerful body, and you will be so strong, with no weaknesses, no deficiencies. People on this earth go to the fitness center, and work out and exercise, and some of this is good. And people on this earth need to sleep. But in heaven you will never work out, never be weak or tired and never need to sleep. You will always be super strong, fully energized, always feeling good, and always able to do whatever God wants you to do. You will have places to go, people to see and things to do, an eternal life to live, and you will never lack the ability, the strength or the energy to do it all.

You will have an immortal body, a body designed and made to last forever. On earth you had at best a 70, 80 or maybe 90 year old body, but in heaven, it will be an eternal body, a body with a brand new schematic, for God will have created it to live forever and ever. It will be an indestructible body, infinitely better than Superman, Iron Man or Captain America, for you will be like Jesus Christ and the angels – you will be immortal and perfectly godly in every way. 1 John 3:2, Philippians 3:20-21, Luke 20:36

You will have a glorified body, not a dishonorable body, not a body that will bring dishonor to the Lord. It is a body that will only do what is good, right and true. Your glorified body will have the perfect height, weight, color and proportions. You will have a perfect face, perfect hair, perfect eyes, perfect hands and perfect feet. This body will be absolutely beautiful, with no blemishes or imperfections. Since your new body will be like that of the glorified Christ, you can communicate with Christ, love Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. In heaven we will all be the same kind of beings, with the same kind of bodies and the same kind of minds, and we will all be perfect and glorified. Yet in heaven, you will be wonderfully special, and distinct from all other believers and all other angels.

You will have a spiritual body. Yes, it will be a physical body, but also a spiritual body in that it is not a natural body, not a body that can sin or be tempted to sin. The old body, in its all fleshly humanness, sins every day in thoughts, words and actions. Yes, by God’s grace, you are now enabled to do what is right and good, but that’s only some of the time. And that’s because you are not yet glorified, and because the world, the flesh and the devil hound and harass you every day, making it impossible for you to be perfect on earth, to be and do all that God wants.

In the future you will have this spiritual body, a body that is both spiritual and physical in nature. It will be a body that will be perfectly suited for the purposes that God has for you in worshiping and serving Him. It will be a body that will be able to think, say and do all that God wants. It will be a body always controlled by the Spirit, led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit, for then the Spirit will not be hindered in any way. You cannot imagine the blessing and glory this will be, to always be spiritually-minded and godly. You are now God’s child, but after your life on this earth, you will be a perfect child, for you will always be pleasing to your heavenly Father.

In the near future, you will have a powerful, immortal, glorified and spiritual body, a body that is perfectly made and suited to fully and forever carry out all the plans God has for you. You will be able to perfectly understand the goodness, grace and love of God, and able to perfectly learn more and more about the infinite glory of Jesus Christ. Perfect praise, love, obedience, holiness, serving, joy, peace, kindness, and communication will be your everyday life and experience.

BEING WITH BELIEVERS, WITH LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS – Imagine what the fellowship in heaven and on earth will be like. You will be with friends you knew and spent time with on earth, but then you will be with them forever in heaven. And no matter how good your relationships are on this earth, your heavenly and eternal friendships will be infinitely better. Think of worshiping the Lord with other believers, of singing to Him and praising Him. Think of being teamed up in serving the Lord, of being perfectly united in doing exactly what He wants you to do. Think of the great and perfect love you will have for one another, the pleasurable experiences, and the enjoyable things you will do together. Think of traveling around the world, visiting people and going to places you have never been before. Think of traveling to the distant expanses of the heavens, and enjoying and marveling at God’s beautiful star-lit creation.

Think of how you will visit people you have never met before, saints who are spoken of in God’s Word – Adam and Eve, or Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Mary, Peter and Paul, and we could go on and on. How encouraging this will be – meeting them, talking with them, and having fellowship with them. You will converse with them about the Lord, and I am sure you will hear many wonderful stories of His working, of His greatness, power, patience, mercy, love, faithfulness and holiness during their time on earth.

Think of having fellowship with saints who lived during the church age – Irenaeus, Augustine, Huss, Luther, Calvin, Knox, Edwards, Whitfield, Spurgeon, Ryle, Elliot, Warfield, Jones, Graham and MacArthur. Think of all the people you read and heard about – now you will see them and be able to talk to them about their lives on earth, and how God led them and worked through their lives. Think of people you have never met before, children of God from all parts of the planet, from all of history, who loved and served the Lord. Many may have seemed like nobodies, but in God’s eyes, they are all somebodies, all special, all saints, all holy to Him, all loved by Him. In all this, you will have all of eternity to be with them – there will be no rush, no deadlines, no hurry up and get to the next meeting – just plenty of time to be encouraged by the goodness, greatness and glory of God in their lives. Psalm 136 – “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 

Think of visiting believers who were spouses, parents, children, family members or fellow church members. This will no doubt be a big part of your life, for I believe that the believers you know well on earth will be ones you will know well in heaven. There will be a God planned, God ordained connection from your time on earth to your time in heaven, and your time on earth again. All this seems too good to be true, but it is true, for by God’s grace, you will be with all the other believers, continually worshiping God, continually enjoying wonderful fellowship, and continually experiencing the joy and love of the Lord. Psalm 16:11

THE BIG PICTURE – What about the timing of all this? You are now living in the end times, and it won’t be long before the return of Christ, the coming of Christ. You will soon leave this earth by death or by rapture, and then you will be with the Lord in heaven. And it is at Christ’s coming that you will be glorified, that you will receive your new and perfect body. And you will remain with the Lord Jesus in heaven for a short while, during which time there will be the great judgment of God on earth, the Day of the Lord, God’s wrath poured out upon all the unbelievers. Then there will be the salvation of a great remnant of Jews, and the kingdom of Christ will begin and the next age will start. Revelation 11:15 says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” All glorified saints will come back to earth for the millennial kingdom and will reign with Jesus Christ for 1000 years.

After that begins the eternal kingdom with the new heavens and the new earth. Heaven and earth will be joined together with no separation of God and man, but God and man will all be together at home in the heavenly city on earth. To think that God Himself will come down to be with us. Such love we cannot now imagine, we cannot now fathom. But it is true, and the time will come when God will be with us, and we will be with Him, and we will perfectly express His love to us, and we will perfectly express our love to Him, and this will go on forever and ever and ever. “I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.” Revelation 21:3. Amen.

Article 13

By Steven J. Hogan

All Christians go through trials. It is part of the life that God has given us, and it is a necessary part of our life. We have been talking a lot about prophecy, and the truth is that the Christian will face many trials and even great tribulation in the end-times, in that time just before the return of Jesus Christ. It is important then to know what God says about trials, and He has much to say in His word about trials and their purpose in our lives. May the following verses help you to learn about trials and to learn through your trials, about God and His great glory, and about His abundant grace and goodness to you.

1. “The brother of humble circumstance is to glory in his high position.” James 1:9. The trial is given to humble you, to show you that you are weak, and that you need God and His help. It is a humbling circumstance that is to result in a high position with God. It is not a high position with man that we should be concerned about, but a high position with God.

2. “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the nations – I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10. This Psalm speaks about major worldwide trials, the kind that have occurred in the past, and particularly those that will occur in the end times. These cataclysmic events are to show you that God is God, and that you are but flesh, and that He will humble you, and all of mankind. God will do what He wants to do, and in the future He will be exalted in all the earth. Psalm 57

3. “Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:3. The trial tests your faith, and it builds your faith in God, for you are to learn to trust God, and to continually trust God as you go through trials. This continued trust in God builds spiritual endurance in your life, resulting in spiritual growth.

4. “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9. The trial is given to show you your weakness, your inability, your need for God. When you encounter a trial, you are to turn to God and trust Him, then you will experience all the grace you need to get through the trial in a God-glorifying way.

5. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. The trial is given to you so that you can be comforted by God. When you go through trials, you need comfort, not so much the comfort of men, but the comfort of God. In a trial, look to God so you can experience His comfort and encouragement, and it is this comfort that will help you to endure, to get through the trial with His love in your heart. Being comforted by God is a demonstration of His love for you, and knowing this love and care is essential as you go through trials.

6. “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, for if we are comforted, it is for your comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-6. The trial is given so you can be comforted by God, but also so you can then comfort others who are going through a trial. God wants you to learn to be a channel of His comfort, to pass on the comfort you receive from God to others.

7. “Now I want you to know brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” Philippians 1:12. When you experience God’s grace in a trial, that can open up a door for the gospel. People may see when you are going through a trial but they can’t see why you are encouraged in that trial. It is up to you to tell them that God Himself is helping you and is giving you His grace. Going through a trial may give you the opportunity to share the gospel with an unbeliever who sees you at peace in the midst of your trial.

8. “The Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 13:3. God wants you to love Him at all times, when things are good or when they are bad. When you are going through a trial it is very important that you love God, and that you express that love to Him. This love for God is an expression of your faith in Him, that you believe God is doing what is right and best for you.

9. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7. Your body is an earthen vessel, and when you are in a trial, it is evident that you are weak, and that you cannot make it through this trial in your own strength. The trial is an opportunity to experience God’s power working in and through your humble and weak body. Then you can say, “Look what God has done.”

10. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” Psalm 119:67. The trial is an affliction given by God, and it is often given to show you that you have gone astray from God, that you have been disobedient to God. The trial is given to get you back on track, to get you to obey God. The trial and the need to obey God may relate to one specific area of your life. It may be an area of love or holiness or fear. When you go through a trial, read God’s Word, and ask God to show you if there is a specific area where you need to obey Him.

11. “Therefore men, fear Him; for He does not regard any who are wise of heart.” Job 37:24. Job 37 is all about the weather and, in my opinion, is the best weather chapter in the Bible. You all have experienced a storm stopping you from doing what you want to do. And so too, the trial is often given by God to stop you in your tracks, to keep you from doing what you want to do, to humble you so you look to God and see that He will do what He wants to do. The trial is given to you so that you fear God, so you see His greatness, power and glory.

12. “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-18. The trial was the enemy who had a vast army, and Jehoshaphat was thinking of this great battle he would have to fight, but a fight that he knew he couldn’t win apart from God. In this trial he looks to God, and God does all the fighting for Him. In some trials you need to stand still and see the salvation of God.

13. “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-18. Jehoshaphat saw the salvation of God, the victory of God. That is, this trial helped him to see God’s character – His holiness, His love, His power, and His wisdom. A trial is a tool that God uses in your life to teach you about Himself, about His amazing, perfect and wonderful character.

14. “Or those eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:1-5. A deadly accident or calamity or a murder can be a severe trial, for you see or hear of people who suddenly die. It may even be friends or family members, and you may wonder why. These kind of trials are designed to be a wake-up call to you, so that you recognize that God is sovereign, that God is holy, that you need to fear Him, and that you need to be humble and repent.

15. “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25. There will be great trials and great tribulation on earth before the coming of Christ. These trials are part of God’s plan to help you see that you cannot make it on your own, that you need one another. Trials are given to build God’s family, to bring us together, so that we then love one another, help one another and encourage one another.

16. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials…” James 1:2. God wants you to see that His joy is much more important than the world’s happiness. You can go through life looking for ways to be happy. God gives you trials so you stop looking for things or people to make you happy, for He wants you to look to Him so you experience His joy. Happiness is circumstantial, and goes up and down, but joy from God is to be constant, that which you are to experience at all times, not just when things are good, but even when things are bad. God wants you to have His joy all the time, and when you are in a trial, God is working in you and causing you to go to Him to receive the joy He wants to give you.

17. “Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you preserve me from trouble. You surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:6-7. Sometimes the trial is that you are in danger – there is an enemy who is after you and who is too strong for you. In the midst of being attacked by the enemy, you need to go to God, for He is your refuge, and He will protect you and deliver you from evil, and from the evil enemy. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly Kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:18

18. “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17. It is vital that you understand that trials are a means of eternal glory. This is a very encouraging truth! Might you not be shortsighted, but might you know that trusting God in the midst of an earthly trial will result in eternal blessings for you and eternal glory for God. Might you also see that your trial is not a heavy affliction but a light affliction, resulting not just in some temporary blessing but in an eternal weight of glory.

19. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2. Trials are oftentimes God’s pruning tools, designed to take away useless and dead branches in your life. What is the result of this spiritual pruning? It is holiness, it is purity, and more fruit, more earthly and eternal blessings, and more glory to God.

20. “Not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that our tribulation brings about perseverance…and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint.” Romans 5:3. Trials can be very hard, and some can last for a long time, even for your entire life. How can you make it through trials like this? You need hope, you need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You need to know that it is worth it to keep living for the Lord. You need to see that hope enables you to endure the trials you go through. You need to see beyond the trial, and past the trial. You need to see that heaven awaits you beyond this earth.

21. “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28-29. Trials are some of those “all things.” You need to know and believe that God is sovereign over your trials, and is personally working in your life, causing all your trials to work together for good, and the ultimate good is that you will be glorified and that God will receive great glory.

22. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and earth has nothing I desire besides you.” “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Psalm 73:25-26, Colossians 3:1-4. When you go through trials God is not just teaching you to have hope for the future, but to put your hope in the Lord, to know that He is all that you have got, all that you need, and all that you might want, now and forever. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

23. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:12. When you go through a trial, people oftentimes see how you respond when you are going through that trial. God wants people to see Jesus Christ in you as you are standing in that fiery furnace or lion’s den. Your faith in God during the trial encourages other believers around you to trust in Him.

24. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.” Isaiah 41:10. The trial is given to you so that you learn that God is with you, and that God never leaves you no matter how hard or difficult the trial. No matter what you go through in life, know that God will never forsake you. God is always with you, which means that He will lead you, protect you, encourage you, help you, and then bring you to glory.

25. “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:17-18. Trials can result in fears, but God does not want you to succumb to these fears, but by God’s grace to conquer them, to get victory over them. Always remember that God is with you. Always remember that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Do not be afraid! You never need to be afraid of anyone or anything!

26. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9. You may be timid, but God is training you not to be timid, but to be strong and courageous, and trials are part of His training plan. God puts you in a tough situation, and you are not to be weak, wimpy or fearful. You are God’s soldier, and you are to know that He is with you, and that you are to boldly and courageously fight for God, for others, and for His glorious and eternal cause.

27.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 24:19. You may not like this verse, but it is true. As Christians, we will face many trials in life. That’s the way it is, and it is God’s way for you. But the promise is that God will deliver you from all of life’s trials and difficulties, from every single one of them. Remember, there will be a time when there is no more mourning or crying or pain, or death. To God be all the glory!

Might God use these truths about trials to teach and train you to be the godly man or woman He wants you to be. Remember, trials are for your good, for the good of others, and for the glory of God.

Article 12

By Steven J. Hogan

“In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” – 1 Peter 1:3-5. “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given us” – Romans 5:5.

A Christian needs specific spiritual ingredients to be able to live a fruitful, purposeful, rewarding and God-glorifying life. He needs God’s Word, grace, holiness, love, joy, faith, wisdom, fellowship, and he needs hope. When you buy a car or some appliance, there are often optional features that you can purchase, but when it comes to being a Christian, hope is not optional, it is not just some nice accessory. Hope is absolutely essential for your Christian life on earth. “But now abide faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Life can be very difficult, and sometimes it even seems impossible. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 tells us how Paul felt with regard to his trials, “We were burdened excessively beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed we had the sentence of death in our own life.” Paul was certainly going through it. But isn’t it true that you have experienced trials, conflicts, sickness, persecution, weakness and spiritual weariness? And have there not been times when you didn’t sense any progress or victory in your life or in your church? You felt like you were stuck and going nowhere. You may have even felt like God had abandoned you. “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1

For the Christian there has to be a reason to keep going; there has to be light at the end of the tunnel. He has to know that it is worth it to live for the Lord, that it won’t be long before he is with the Lord, when all the things on earth will pale in comparison to the great joy of being with Him, of being in heaven, of being perfect, of being with friends, and of being rewarded. Hope is a precious grace from God to help you live for Him, to help you run hard for Him, to help you get up when you are knocked down, to help you keep going when you are persecuted. “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us… we ourselves groan inwardly… as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:18-25

All of you have had experience with earthly hopes. You were a child, and you looked forward to Christmas and getting toys. You were a student and you studied hard, and you looked forward to when school was finally out. You are working at a job, and you are tired, and you are looking forward to the weekend. You are a family and it’s been a long year, and you are looking forward to going on vacation. You understand the idea of looking ahead to something positive after going through the daily grind of work or school, of being sick, or just going through a rough stretch in life. You need something to look forward to – you need hope.

Life is not easy for the Christian – it’s a fight against the flesh, it’s living in this evil word, it’s warring against the devil, it’s being tempted to sin. And how does God help us? Yes, He gives us the Holy Spirit and grace and the church. But He also knows we need hope, true Biblical hope, godly and heavenly hope. This is where worldly hopes won’t do. We are not to be like unbelievers who put their hope in the things of the world, the things that change, break, spoil, fade, rust, wear out, get lost or get stolen. We are not to put our hope in money, clothes, jewelry, homes or possessions. We are not to put our hope in having a boyfriend or girlfriend or getting married. We are not to put our hope in men or women, in parents or children, in teachers or employers, or in preachers or politicians. “Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation… How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord His God.” Psalm 146:3-5

We are not to be like unbelievers who try to get through tough times by “medicating themselves,” by eating comfort food or watching TV, by drinking alcohol or taking drugs, by watching movies or sports, by listening to music or playing video games, or by texting or talking to friends. But rather, we are children of God, and we are to get hope from God and we are to put our hope in God. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” Romans 15:13

In the Bible there are many examples of people who had godly hope, and here are a few:
* Simeon and Anna had hope, for they were looking forward to seeing the Messiah. Luke 2
* Paul had hope, for he was looking forward to being with Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 4:15-17
* Abraham had hope, for he was looking forward to the city with foundations. Hebrews 11:10
* Abraham had hope, for he knew there was a resurrection from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19
* Moses had hope, for he was looking ahead to the reward. Hebrews 11:26
* Jesus Christ had hope, for He was thinking about the joy that was set before him. Hebrews 12:2

Hope is what kept these saints going. They were all looking ahead to something much, much better. These men and women of God could keep going, could keep living for God, and could suffer because they had hope, because they had a glorious future awaiting them. Romans 15:4-5 tells us that we are to learn about hope from these Old Testament saints – “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we can have hope.”

In fact Hebrews 11, which is about these Old Testament saints, is all about hope. Yes, it is called the “hall of faith”, but it could also be called the “hall of hope”, for we note verse 1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The godly men and women “did not receive what was promised” (verse 40) during their life on earth, and so they were hoping for things not visible, for the “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God,” (verse 10). We have to see that hope is based on faith, on faith in God and in the promises of God. Faith then is essential for hope, for if there is no faith, there is no hope. Hope and faith go together – they are inseparable. Again, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” (verse 1)

What is hope? How can we define it? It is believing what God tells you in His Word about your future. It is the confident expectation of the future goodness of God upon your life. It is a present certainty about a future reality. Hope is a conviction, a confidence of what God will give you, particularly after your life on earth. It is believing in the future grace that God your Father wants to bestow on you, His child. This hope is not some fake mind game, some mental trick, some pumped up emotion to get you feeling good about the future. This hope is real – it is the truth of God in your heart about the great future God has for you. Hope is knowing and believing that you will receive wonderful gifts, eternal blessings, and great rewards after your life on earth.

But hope is surely not just about you. Hope is first and foremost about God, and in particular that God will be glorified like never before, that you will see this glory, experience this glory, and share in this glory. Hope means that you love God’s glory, and you will sing of His glory and speak of His glory. Hope means you are believing that you will see the glory of God, and that you will wholeheartedly and perfectly glorify God. Hope is about what you will receive, but much more so about the glory God will receive. “We exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:3. “Blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” Psalm 72:19. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.

Hope is also knowing there is a prize, a reward, a most positive outcome for living for the Lord. How many runners run a race with no reason to run? None. How many runners run and don’t have a finish line in mind? None. Runners run for a reason, with a purpose and goal in mind. They run and keep running because they are looking forward to the results, the prize, the benefits of running, and the personal satisfaction of finishing the race. But for Christians, this hope is so much more than a prize, a medal, a ribbon, and finishing a race – it is a wonderful, incredible, and most enjoyable future that God has promised us. “You made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

Let’s now talk specifically about this hope?

1. Your hope is that you will be with Jesus Christ forever and ever. This is the single most important aspect of your hope, to be with the One who loves you and can’t wait to be with you. Think about forever being with Jesus Christ, looking at Christ, hearing His voice, talking to Him, enjoying His company, and seeing the love on His face for you. Think about being with God Himself, Jesus Christ in the flesh. Think of being with the One who is the Lord, Creator, Savior, Judge and King. I think of my wife Marsha – I love to be with her. And a husband and wife should love to be with one another. But how much more so should this be true with respect to Jesus, the One who saved us, our heavenly husband, our eternal lover, and our closest friend? He wants to be with us and we should want to be with Him, and our hope is that we will be with Him in the not too distant future. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me.” John 17:24. “And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18

2. Your hope is that you will be with believers, with Christians, particularly with those you knew on earth, with family, friends and church members. But you will also be with those you didn’t know, those from times past – Noah, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, David, Isaiah, Esther, Mary, Peter, Paul, Luther, Calvin, Owens, Edwards, Whitfield, Spurgeon, Taylor, Elliot, etc. Can you imagine this? Can you imagine enjoying fellowship with all kinds of believers, from all of history, from all walks of life, from all over the world, with all kinds of God-glorifying stories? Now on earth you love being with the believers, and in heaven you will love being with the believers, but much more so, for your fellowship will them will be sweet, unbroken communion all the time. In heaven you will have perfect relationships, and you will always be loving and encouraging one another. You will be perfectly worshiping and serving the Lord with other believers. You will be in your heavenly home with believers. You may even fly off to the stars with believers. In all this there will be perfect joy, unity and peace. There will be no malice, anger, jealousy, covetousness, and there will not be a single conflict or single wrong word. There will be perfect love and perfect communication all the time. Even though now you may miss those friends and family members who have passed away and gone on ahead of you, be greatly assured that you will see them and be with them again, and be with them forever. I personally believe there will be a continuity of relationships from earth to heaven, from our life now to our life forever. I believe that the ones you know on earth are ones you will spend a lot of time with in the future. I believe you will serve the Lord in heaven with believers you knew on earth. It was said of Aaron at his death, “Aaron was gathered to his people” (Numbers 20:24), and so it will be said of us, that we will be gathered to our people. “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming. For you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, 4:13-14; 2 Corinthians 4:13-14

3. Your hope is that you will be in heaven, and on earth, that you will in fact be in the new heavens and the new earth – a perfect place, a perfect environment, a perfect universe, a place where there is absolute beauty, wonderful comforts, continuous joy, and incredible pleasures forever and ever. I assume you like to be in your own home – for you are safe and secure, you relax, you have good food, and you enjoy being with family members. Just think how much better your heavenly home will be than your earthly home? Revelation 21 talks about your new home, the new city, the heavenly Jerusalem, and it is a perfect cube, about 1470 miles per side. Your new home will be absolutely beautiful, a lot bigger than your earthly home, but much more homey. It will definitely and infinitely be better than your earthly home, for Jesus is there with you. “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6. You are going to a place that Jesus Himself has prepared for you, a place, a home where Jesus Himself will be. “My Father’s house has many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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 also be.” John 14:1-3, Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21:1-7

4. Your hope is that you will receive a brand new body. Now you get tired, you get hurt, you ache, you get sick, you get sad, you cry, you still sin, you still do what is wrong, you get afraid, you worry, you get selfish, and you get angry. And yes, as a Christian on earth you are not a sinner but a saint, and you learn to be holy, you learn to do what is righteous, but you are still in a body that is weak and wearing out. The time will come, at Christ’s return, when every believer will be given a brand new body, a powerful body, an immortal body, a glorified body, and a spiritual body. “There will no longer be any mourning or crying or pain.” Revelation 21:4. This perfect body will be perfectly and wonderfully suited to love and serve God and Jesus Christ, to love and serve people, to enjoy the pleasures of heaven and earth, and to be able to live forever and ever. “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble state into the conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

5. Your hope is a great inheritance that God has stored up for you. God has a perfect and wonderful inheritance for His Son, and as God’s children, we will share in that inheritance. “…if children, heirs also, heirs of God, and fellow heirs of Christ.” To think that we are co-heirs with Christ is mind boggling, beyond imagination, for we will share in the beauties, the pleasures, the treasures, the wealth of both heaven and earth. “The Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance.” Ephesians 1:14. There is much said in the Old Testament about this hope, for it describes in some detail the coming 1000 year kingdom of Christ on earth, what we call the millennial kingdom, and after that will be the eternal kingdom. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” Psalm 67, Psalm 72, Isaiah 60-61, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

6. Your hope is that you will reign with Jesus Christ over the world. We live in a world that is very wicked, a world that is run by the devil and by sinful men, and here on this earth we do not see much holiness, righteousness, justice, love and mercy. We live in a very evil age but it will be a very good age when Jesus Christ comes and reigns on earth. During this millennial kingdom age, we will be with Christ in our perfect bodies, and we will together reign over an imperfect world. After that, during the eternal kingdom, we will reign with God the Father and Jesus Christ over a perfect world. “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” – Revelation 20:6. “He has made us to be a Kingdom, priests to His God, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever” – Revelation 1:6, 2:26, 3:21, 5:10, 20:6; Colossians 3:4; Psalm 47

This is our hope – being with Jesus Christ, being with believers, being in heaven, being in a new body, reigning with Christ and receiving an eternal inheritance! This is very good news! This is the full measure of the gospel, for the gospel is not just about this life, but about our eternal life, about being with Jesus Christ, with others, in heaven, and on earth, forever and ever. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:17

As Christians we need perspective, we need to see the big picture, we need to see that life on earth is very short, but life in a perfect and glorious state and in a perfect and glorious place with perfect and glorious people and with Christ Himself, will be forever. And we need to see that it won’t be long before our hope becomes reality. We need to see that it is now worth it to live for the Lord and to work for the Lord, that it is the only wise and reasonable thing to do. We need to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our work in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:28. Our work in the Lord is eternally worth it. To live for Christ means that we will be blessed now and then be blessed forever.

Saints, we are just beginning our eternal life. We live only 70, 80 or 90 years on this earth. Then we will be with Jesus Christ, and reign with Christ for one thousand years. Then we will reign with Christ and our heavenly Father forever and ever. Do you get it? Do you see it? Do you want this? Do you desire this? We are often so short sighted, and we don’t spiritually see the incredible and wonderful future we have of forever being with the Lord Jesus Christ, of experiencing and enjoying the amazing and wonderful plans God has for us. “I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Why is hope important? What is the earthly value of heavenly hopes? You need this hope of your future if you are to live rightly for the Lord on earth. This hope purifies you, strengthens you, and it helps you persevere, for you know there is an end in sight. It gives you stability, for it is an anchor for your soul. Finally, it helps you see that it is smart to live for the Lord, for you will be greatly rewarded in heaven for your work on earth. Having this hope has a profound and positive affect on your life, your attitude, your desires and on your earthly work. You won’t be negative in a fleshly way, worried about the future, but you will be positive in a godly way, and excited about  the future. “Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies Himself as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3. “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” Colossians 1:5

Hope is needed for every saint who has ever lived during the Old Testament times or during this present church age. Every saint must have hope. But now we live in the end-times, and there are only two possibilities – either we will die and go to heaven or we will be raptured and go to heaven. Either way, the realization of our hope is not far away. For those of us remaining on earth, life will be getting tougher and tougher the closer we get to the return of Christ. Let me tell you what will be happening. We will be hearing of and / or experiencing wars and famines and plagues; we will be sharing the gospel; the world will increasingly hate us; there will be great persecution, and believers will be suffering and dying; we ourselves may suffer and die, or we may be ones who endure to the end of the age, and then we are raptured into heaven.

Do you see that we will need hope? Do you see that hope will be essential? Do you see that we won’t be able to live without hope? We will need to encourage one another to have hope. We will need to tell other Christians that Christ is coming back soon to give us relief from tribulation, to rescue us from wrath, to redeem us from this earth, to rapture us into heaven, and then to receive us to Himself. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13, Titus 2:11-13 tells us that we are to be “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of your great God and Savior.”

How do you get hope? Where does it come from? It’s not from yourself, from anything you can do, or from anyone else. Hope comes only from God and is through the work of the Spirit in your heart. To get hope, you need to look to God’s Word which describes this hope. To get hope, think about being with Jesus Christ, have faith in God, remember the promises, and ask God to give you this hope. And you need to look to the example of saints in the Bible and the example of saints you know on earth.

The best example I have ever had of a person who had real hope was a friend named Mike, in fact, one of the best friends I have ever had. For most of his adult life he had an intestinal disorder, with the result that he was in pain every day, and many days he was in severe pain. But he was a man who loved God and the word of God, and therefore he was a godly man, a joyful man, a hope filled man. It wasn’t long after he became a Christian that God taught him about hope, and gave him hope. For close to 40 years as a Christian, he lived with this hope in his heart, of being with Christ, of being in heaven, of being with Christians, of being pain free, and of possessing a perfect body. I will never forget the time way back in the mid 1980s, and Mike and I were talking on the phone, and that was when he first taught me about hope, and the importance of hope. From God’s Word and from Mike’s life I learned about hope. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of the inheritance of the saints.” Ephesians 1:18

Might God give you hope – might you be filled up and super charged with hope, and then you will not grow weary, you will persevere, you will be encouraged, you will be more holy, you will be filled with more joy, and then you will be giving glory to God. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Spirit.” But remember the number one thing about hope – “We shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Revelation 22:20

Article 11

By Steven J. Hogan

The following is an article which I expanded from a sermon I preached on Matthew 24 to my congregation last year.

I personally believe that Matthew 24 is the single most important chapter in the Bible for Christians on end-times’ prophecy. If you don’t know anything else, first go to this chapter, and get to know it inside and out, especially in these days, in these years leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. The following is a study of Matthew 24:3-41.

JESUS, WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK?

Matthew 24:3. The disciples had been with Jesus for close to 2½ years and they are getting the idea that He is leaving them, that He is taking off for heaven, and they want to know when He is coming back. They want a little advance notice before Jesus returns, and so they ask Him for two signs, a sign of His coming, and a sign of the end of the age.

Let me define two important words from verse 3: First, there’s the word “coming” which is used in Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39. The word coming means arrival and continued presence. The disciples wanted a sign to let them know when Jesus Christ would arrive and be present and begin His reign over the world. Second, this word “age” is referring to the present age we live in, an evil age that began with the sin of Adam and Eve. The next age, the age to come, is the 1000-year millennial kingdom, during which time Christ will be reigning on earth (Ephesians 1:21). The truth that this present age will end is a major point in Matthew 24, and is mentioned in verses 3, 6, 13 and 14. Later on in this chapter, in verses 27 and 29, Jesus answers these two questions about the sign of His coming and the sign of the end of the age. Before He does that, He has a lot more to tell them, and us too, about what will be taking place before these signs occur, and therefore before Christ’s 2^nd coming.

THE BIRTH PAINS – THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Matthew 24:4-8. These verses describe the “birth pains.” They take place during the end-times, that time period starting with the regathering of the Jews to Israel and ending with the coming of Christ (Daniel 12:4, 9). There has been much discussion as to when these signs started, or will start, but personally, I believe they have already begun, corresponding to the return of the Jews to their homeland which began in the late 1800’s. Let me mention some key points about these birth pains:

1. These verses describe four major events taking place all over the world during the end times. We read about false christs, wars, famines and earthquakes. Mark 13:6-8, Luke 21:8-11a, and Revelation 6:1-8 are all parallel passages to Matthew 24:4-8, confirming and emphasizing the importance of these birth pains. Luke 21 includes plagues and Revelation 6 includes economic distress, meaning that these things will also be occurring in the world during the time of these birth pains.

2. These events are global events, but they are not occurring in every sector, in every place, in every city in the world. We read that people “will be hearing of wars…” and “in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.” The words “hearing” and “various places” mean that many people in the world will not personally experience these events, but will hear that they are taking place. At this time in history, with the internet and smart phones, we almost immediately know when some catastrophic event is occurring in some other location. This was not possible 2000 years ago, let alone 100 years ago. It is quite clear that this verse could not have been fulfilled in the distant past, only now in these days with our modern technology.

3. These events are like the “birth pains” of a mother. Birth pains, the labor pains a woman experiences before the birth of her baby, will increase in both intensity and frequency. As we get nearer to the return of Christ, the events described in Matthew 24:4-7 will increase in intensity, be getting stronger and stronger, and will increase in frequency, be getting closer and closer together. As these birth pains continue to happen, I believe Christians especially will be able to sense that Christ’s coming is getting closer and closer, as the writer of Hebrews has told us – “Encourage one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

4. These “birth pains” do not constitute the day of the Lord’s wrath. They are not God’s cataclysmic judgments upon the entire world in the end-times. They are severe and devastating events taking place in various parts of the world, signaling to us that Christ’s coming and God’s wrath on earth is getting closer. But they cannot compare to God’s wrath that is detailed in Revelation 8-9, 16. Here is the order of events given to us in the book of Revelation: Revelation 6 describes the seals, the birth pains; Revelation 7 describes the rapture; and Revelation 8-9, 16 describe the wrath of God. Birth pains, rapture, and then wrath – that is the divine order. This is also what Matthew 24 tells us.

5. Matthew 24:6 says, “those things (the birth pains) must take place but that is not yet the end.” This word “end” is referring to the end of the age. These terrible disasters will be occurring in different places around the world, and increasingly so, but there is still a ways to go before Christ’s return. Just because these events are happening does not mean the rapture is imminent. As these “birth pains” take place, we know Christ’s coming is drawing near, but it’s not right away. Jesus makes the same point two verses later – “all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” These birth pains are only the beginning events that will take place and need to take place before the return of Christ to rapture the church.

6. Jesus instructs us to not be frightened. Yes, there will be many events that could make us fearful, but we are to trust God and not be afraid. “Do not fear, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10). Many people react wrongly and worry when “terrifying” things happen. We are God’s children, and Jesus is telling us ahead of time what will be taking place, and therefore, we should not be surprised or scared when these things occur. “Behold, I have told you in advance” (Matthew 24:25). “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, for I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

7. There will be death associated with these events. A few verses later, in Matthew 24:28, we read, “Wherever the corpses is, there the vultures will gather.” Revelation 6:8 speaks of this pale horse who had the “name Death; and Hades was following with him.” But again, these events spoken of in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Revelation 6, are not aspects of the Day of the Lord, are not part of God’s wrath, His cataclysmic and devastating judgments on the entire earth. Psalm 46 is talking about wars and earthquakes, what I believer are some of these end-time events. In verse 10, God tells the believers living on earth at that time, “Be still and know that I am God, and that I will be exalted in the earth.” 

SIX THINGS CHRISTIANS MUST KNOW ABOUT THE END TIMES

Matthew 24:9-14. This is a very succinct and critical section of verses describing what will be taking place in the end-times, and which will particularly affect Christians. Let me state them briefly: Verse 9 – There will be great tribulation, a worldwide hatred and killing of Christians. Verse 10 – There will be a great apostasy, a falling away of so-called Christians. Verse 11 – False prophets will be trying to lead people astray. Verse 12 – The world is growing increasingly wicked and unloving. Verse 13 – Many Christians will endure to the end of the age and be saved (raptured). Verse 14 – The gospel will be preached to the entire world, and then this age will end. These six things will most definitely take place before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church, and are things you really need to know, understand and remember. Let me expand on them:

1. Matthew 24:9. There is tribulation. The word “tribulation” is from the Greek word “thlipsis”, meaning pressure, distress, or persecution. It’s a word often used in the New Testament referring to the difficulties Christians will go through in this life. The following passages tell us that all Christians go through tribulation: John 16:33, Romans 8:35, 1 Corinthians 7:28, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Acts 14:22 – “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Tribulation is very common for the Christian, but in the end-times, and particularly after the revealing of the Antichrist, there will be great tribulation.

This tribulation that takes place during the time when the Antichrist is ruling is great tribulation. But why? Because of its severity, for believers are being killed for their faith; and because of its scope, for it is happening all over the world – “You will be hated by all nations.” This tribulation spoken of in verse 9 is the same tribulation spoken of in verse 21. Matthew 24:15-16, along with Revelation 12:13-17, make it clear that this tribulation starts in Jerusalem and then spreads out, affecting Christians all over the world, that which is described in verse 9. But verse 22 tells us that this great tribulation will be cut short. That is, it will not last a full 3½ years, the last half of Daniel’s 70^th week. We do not know exactly how long this tribulation will be, for we don’t know when Christ will return to rapture the saints, for we don’t know the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). From Matthew 24:15-21 and Revelation 13, we understand that this tribulation is started by the Antichrist. This tribulation then is not the wrath of God, but the wrath of Satan. It is the persecution of believers by the Antichrist, but it is not the punishment of unbelievers by Christ.

2. Matthew 24:10. This talks about this great apostasy meaning that at this time, many people will fall away from the Christian faith. Lots of people will think they are Christians when they are not, which is evident in many so-called churches today. As this persecution is taking place, as the heat is being turned up against the Christians, these so-called Christians will leave their church, turn away from the faith, turn against true Christians, and turn them in to the godless authorities. A very sad and sobering time this will be, especially if our own family members turn against us and betray us. Luke 21:12-19

3. Matthew 24:11. Many false prophets will arise, their purpose being to lead people astray away from the one true God and one true faith. This most deceptive devil will do all he can to get people to defect and depart from Christ. There is a clear connection between the false prophets of verse 11 and the apostasy of so-called Christians in verse 10, for these false and devilish prophets will be influencing people to leave the true church, to turn away from Christ and, in fact, turn to the Antichrist.

4. Matthew 24:12. Lawlessness and sin will increase. This world will get more wicked and evil the closer we get to Christ’s return, especially after the emergence of the Antichrist. This godless, unrighteous and perverted man will lead this world into sin like never before. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, this Antichrist is actually called the “man of lawlessness.” The peace, civility and goodness we sometimes see in our country, much of it rooted in our Judeo-Christian culture, will be seen no more, except in Christians, like you and me. Our light will shine brightly in the darkness. Matthew 5:14-16, Romans 12:9-21

5. Matthew 24:13. This is a rapture verse. Jesus Christ is describing Christians who are living during the days of this great tribulation, and they are to persevere to the end of the age. Then they will be saved, which means they will be physically raptured by Christ. Life will be very difficult for Christians during this time of great persecution, but many will endure to the end, and then suddenly be taken from the earth to be with Christ. Those physically enduring to the end will also be spiritually enduring to the end, and will be victorious over the enemy. Romans 8:35-39 and Revelation 2-3 describe these believers as overcomers.

6. Matthew 24:14. The last verse of this passage that focuses on Christians really stands out, reminding us that our primary purpose in the end-times is to preach the gospel. We are not to shrink back or be fearful. We are to be strong and courageous, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost. This gospel is to be preached in the whole world, “and then the end will come.” What is this end? It is the “end of the age” spoken of in verse 3 and the “end” referred to in both verses 6 and 13. Matthew 28:19-20 essentially tells us the same thing – “Go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and lo, I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Christians are to persevere and preach the gospel to the end of this age, and then Jesus Christ will return in the clouds to rapture them and take them to Himself, and then on to heaven.

Let me sum it up: Matthew 24:4-14 speaks of events taking place during the end-times. Matthew 24:4-8 speaks of events that will affect the entire world.  Matthew 24:9-14 speaks of events that will affect just the Christians. This is a chronological passage, taking us all the way from the beginning birth pains right up to the end of this age and the gathering of the elect, the resurrection and rapture of all the believers.

WHAT ABOUT THIS ANTICHRIST? AND WHAT IS GOING HAPPEN TO THE JEWS?

Matthew 24:15-27. We have just talked about the Christians, but we need to continue, for Jesus has much more to tell us. Let me make some brief statements about these verses:
1. These verses focus on Jewish people living in Israel at the time when the Antichrist is revealed.
2. These verses are for all the elect, for the “reader” in verse 15 is most likely referring to Christians, those who are saved or will get saved.
3. Matthew 24:15-27 is a parenthetical to verses 9-14, for it takes place at the same time. The perspective and focus of verses 9-14 is the Christians, and that of verses 15-27 is the Jewish people. For example, verse 9 talks about tribulation, and verse 15 talks about the Antichrist, the one who starts the tribulation. Verses 13-14 speak about the end of the age, and verse 27 speaks about the return of Christ at the end of the age.
4. These two passages, verses 9-14 and verses 15-26, are next to one another, which means God’s work with the Jews in the end-times is in conjunction with, and coincides with, His work with the church. It is important to understand that God is bringing all things together in the end-times, culminating in the coming of Christ for both Christians and Jews. This convergence of God’s working with both Christians and Jews is also seen in Mark 13:3-23, Luke 21:12-24, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Revelation 7 and Revelation 21:12-14.
5. The activity described in these verses starts at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week (a 7-year time-frame) and stops at the 2^nd coming of Christ, which begins sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70^th week, a time unknown to us.
6. The great tribulation initiated by the Antichrist just after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week, is cut short at the end of this age, just before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church.

Matthew 24:15. This “abomination that causes desolation”, prophesied in Daniel 9:27, refers to the Antichrist’s desecration of the temple in Jerusalem at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week. Because of modern technology, people around the world will be able to “see” what is happening. Therefore, true Christians and discerning Jews will very quickly realize what is taking place over in Israel, that this is the Antichrist’s doing, and that great tribulation will soon begin, affecting both Jews and Christians. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Matthew 24:16-20. This instruction is for Jews living over in Jerusalem, for those Jews who are Christians and for those who become Christians, who together make up the elect. The instruction is clear – when the Antichrist is revealed, then the elect need to get out of Jerusalem as fast as possible, for the enemy will be chasing after them. Revelation 12:13-16 also describes this time, speaking of a remnant of Jews making a great escape (those who will get saved at the end of Daniel’s 70^th week.) The Antichrist, very angry that the Jews have gotten away, will go after the Christians. Revelation 12:17 says, “the dragon was enraged… and went off to make war with the rest of her children who keep the commands of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” It is obvious that the “rest of her children” are Christians, for they love Jesus.

Matthew 24:21-22. The Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week, and he immediately goes after the Jewish people, but a good number of them get away. This is when a great tribulation begins, and it is directed at the elect, that is, all present and future believers. These are ones who will not take the mark of the beast, and will not worship his image (Revelation 13:11-18). This great tribulation starts in Jerusalem and, that which is initially against Jewish people, spreads out all over the world, and is then directed at Christians. This great tribulation in verses 21-22 is the same as the tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24:9. Verses 21-22 tell us where it starts and that it is stopped, and verse 9 tells us about its severity and scope.

This worldwide persecution against both Jewish people and Christians is cut short. And it’s cut short for the sake of the elect, the believers on earth who are already saved, and the protected remnant of Jews who will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70^th week. This phrase “cut short” is also translated “amputated,” meaning this great tribulation does not last the entire 3½ years, but only for part of it. The rapture of the believers takes place after this tribulation period is over, and after the signs in the heavens. Matthew 24:29-31

Matthew 24:23-26. It’s clear that Christ wants us to know what will be taking place in the end-times. He tells us, “Behold, I have told you in advance.” Just think, Christ has told us ahead of time everything we need to know about the end-times. Should we not then want to know all that He wants us to know? In these verses, Jesus also gives warnings to the Jews about false Christs and false prophets. Many of them will be saying that Christ is on earth, that He is out in the desert or in some room, and that the Jews need to come and see Him. But the idea that Jesus comes back and is on land is absolutely false, for Christ is not coming on the ground but is coming in the air, which is just what we read in verse 27.

Matthew 24:27. The question given in verse 3, “what is the sign of your coming?” is now answered. The sky will turn dark and then suddenly be lit up, like a bright, brilliant lightning flash. It will be the Shekinah glory of Christ that will be seen around the world immediately before the resurrection and rapture of the believers. The 2^nd coming of Christ will not be secret like His 1^st coming, but will be known and seen by everyone on the planet. Verse 30 also talks about this, saying that the “sign of the Son of Man will appear (will shine) in the sky.”

LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL BE DYING

Matthew 24:28. This verse comes at the end of this passage about the great tribulation and just before the passage about the coming of Christ. All of us know that vultures are associated with death. Jesus shares this little saying reminding us that there will be corpses, that is, dead bodies on the earth. This illustrates that lots of people will be dying all over the world during the days of the birth pains and the great tribulation, which takes place before Christ’s 2^nd coming. I believe it is also referring to that time after the rapture of the church, that which is called the “Day of the Lord,” when God pours out His wrath on the earth, and great multitudes of people die. (Revelation 6:8, 8-9). Millions and millions of people will die, both Christians and non-Christians in that time before and after the rapture of the church.

FINALLY, THE END OF THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE

Matthew 24:29-31. The climax and central message of this entire chapter is found in these three verses. Immediately after this great tribulation is cut short, the skies around the earth will grow dark, for the lights in the sky will be turned off. This answers the question “What is the sign of the end of the age?” Can you imagine how eerie, how scary, how frightening this will be for the unbelievers, but not for the believers, for we know what it means? And so all over the earth, it will be completely dark, and then suddenly everything will be lit up by Christ’s Shekinah glory, the beautiful and brilliant light of Christ’s glorious coming. The tribes of the earth will mourn and wail, but these are not Christians – these are referring to the very sad Jewish people, for they had rejected Christ as the true Messiah, but it may also refer to unrepentant unbelievers because they know what’s next, the dreadful and horrific wrath of God. Both Luke 21:25-26 and Revelation 6:12-17 speak about the unbeliever’s great and unspeakable fear at this time.

FINALLY, THE RESURRECTION AND RAPTURE OF ALL THE BELIEVERS

Matthew 24:31. This wonderful and climactic truth is stated that, at the end of this age, all believers from all time will be being gathered together to be with Jesus Christ. There are two aspects to this gathering. First, there’s the rapture, the gathering of believers “who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Second, there is the resurrection, the gathering of believers who have already died and are in heaven. You see, verse 31 tells us that some of the elect are gathered “from one end of the sky to the other.” These coming from the skies must be referring to the resurrection of believers who had already died and gone on to heaven. But some are gathered from the “four winds,” which refers to the four directions on earth – north, south, east and west, and is therefore speaking of the rapture of the Christians from all parts of the earth. Revelation 7:9 tells us that it will be a “great multitude… from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.” It is at this time that both resurrected and raptured believers are gathered and are glorified, and join together to meet Jesus Christ in the air above this earth, and then go from there straight to heaven. Mark 13:27, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Revelation 7:9-14

LET’S TALK ABOUT TIMING

Matthew 24:32-34. These verses make it clear that God wants us to know the general timing of Christ’s return. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near.” Christ gives us all this information in Matthew 24 so we can know what will be taking place before His coming. Isn’t this encouraging and exciting? Just think, in the end-times there is a generation of Christians who will read Christ’s words in Matthew 24, and see these things actually taking place on earth, and then know that Christ’s coming is getting closer and closer. This could be you and me. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us, “Encourage one another and all the more as you see the day drawing nearer.”

Matthew 24:36. This states that no Christian can know the day or hour of Christ’s coming, that is, no one can know the exact time of Christ’s return. Jesus Christ has given us these verses in Matthew 24:32-35 so we can know the general time of His coming and the rapture. Therefore, don’t ever believe date setters, those people who wrongly set a date for Christ’s return. And don’t believe people who preach imminence, who say there are no signs or events that need to take place before the coming of Christ, and that Christ can come today, that He can come at any moment. This idea of imminence is just not true – it is error. These verses in Matthew 24 tell us there are signs Christ wants us to see so we can know that His coming is getting near. God wants His children to know the general time of His Son’s return.

THE UNBELIEVERS HAVE NO CLUE AS TO WHAT IS COMING

Matthew 24:37-39. We have talked about the Christians, the Jews, and now we read about the unbelievers. The analogy is given about the days of Noah, and the unbelievers living at that time did not believe a flood was coming. They were not expecting it and therefore they were not ready for it. And so too, the unbelievers living in the days before Christ’s return will be eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building. They will be doing normal everyday things with no thought, no clue, no idea as to the coming of Christ. They will be unbelieving and ignorant, and will be caught off guard for suddenly there will be coming of Christ and then the Day of the Lord. Hebrews 12:31 warns us, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Luke 17:28-29, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9

SEPARATING THE GOOD FROM THE BAD

Matthew 24:40-41 tells us about the nature of the rapture. Some believers who are alive on this earth in the end times will be living with and / or close to unbelievers. But at Christ’s coming, the believers will suddenly be taken away from the unbelievers, taken from this earth, and taken to be with Christ and all the other believers who have gone to heaven before them. In my opinion, the most dramatic event, apart from Christ’s death and resurrection, and apart from a person’s salvation in Christ, is the rapture and resurrection of the believers at the coming of Christ! All Christians on earth will be quickly taken, suddenly and safely snatched from this earth to be with Jesus Christ! Then they will be fully saved, for they will be glorified, be given a brand new, immortal, powerful and spiritual body! 1 Corinthians 15:40-42

GOD’S WORD IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST’S 2^ND COMING!

Matthew 24:35. Right in the middle of Matthew 24, the most important prophecy passage in the Bible, Jesus gives us this powerful verse, this super-strong statement regarding the absolute truth of God’s prophetic word.  Planted in the middle of all this instruction for believers about the end-times is this emphatic exclamation point from Jesus Christ, telling us that what is written in Matthew 24 about His coming and the events leading up to it is the absolute, God-given truth. Without question, it will be fulfilled!

WHAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH?

In Matthew 24, this most important prophecy chapter, we have talked about many things that need to occur before the coming of Christ and the resurrection and rapture of the believers. Let me list them: 1 – False christs. 2 – Wars. 3 – Rumors of wars. 4 – Famines. 5 – Earthquakes. 6 – Great tribulation. 7 – Great apostasy. 8 – Betrayal of believers. 9 – False prophets. 10 – Increasing lawlessness. 11 – An unloving world. 12 – Christians persevering. 13 – The preaching of the gospel. 14 – The Antichrist desolating the Jewish temple. 15 – The Antichrist in pursuit of the Jews. 16 – The Jews fleeing and escaping. 17 – Death. 18 – Great tribulation being cut short. 19 – The sign of the end of the age. 20 – The sign of Christ’s coming. This great prophecy chapter makes it crystal clear that all these things will take place before the coming of Christ and the rapture and resurrection of the believers. Can you see how Matthew 24 is the most instructive chapter in the whole Bible on end times’ prophecy for the Christian?

TAKE HEED TO WHAT IS WRITTEN IN MATTHEW 24

Dear Christian, do not ignore this chapter. Do not take it lightly. This is most serious and most sobering and most important, especially at this time in history. We are talking about the most difficult and challenging days ever for Christians who are living on this earth. This is critically needed information from Christ to you about the end times, for this will help you to be the overcomer God wants you to be. I encourage you to read it, reread it, and read it again. Study it, think about it, and pray over it, being convinced that it will all take place. Jesus Christ is not lying. He is telling you the truth, the truth about the end-times that you need to know and believe.

As the time gets closer, you may be part of that last generation of Christians on this earth that sees every one of these verses come true just like Jesus said. If you are not part of that last generation, then it may be your children, or your grandchildren, or friends or fellow church members. It is your duty and responsibility to tell them what this chapter is all about. Then one day not long from now, Jesus Christ will come back, and will lovingly, powerfully, quickly, and gloriously take all the believers who are on this earth to be with Him, and to be with Him forever and ever and ever. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20