Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: Big Picture (Page 1 of 8)

Blog posts about the Big Picture.

Great Distress and Deception Before Christ’s Coming

April 11, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #360 ~

Daniel’s 70 weeks, a key prophetic time clock, was stopped at the end of the 69th week, at the point of Jesus’ death. It’s about 2,000 years later, and it will start up again, and soon. This 70th week, a prophecy-packed seven years is, in my opinion, the most significant seven years in all of history. In Matt. 24, the most crucial prophecy chapter in the New Testament, Jesus draws our attention to this critical last week, the 70th week. Dan. 9:24-27

At the beginning of the 70th week, the coming Antichrist confirms a treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27). During the first 3½ years of this week, “birth pains” are occurring in various parts of the world – deception, wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and hyperinflation (Matt. 24:4-8). These “birth pains” are God’s way of waking us up, of alerting us to the fact that Christ is coming soon to rescue believers, punish unbelievers, and set up His earthly kingdom. It’s also during this first half of the 70th week that practicing Jews will be offering sacrifices in their newly built temple.

Jesus then tells you about great tribulation, this persecution that Christians will experience after these birth pains. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matt. 24:9). And Jesus instructs us to persevere, and to preach the gospel to all the nations until the end of this age. (Matt. 24:9-14). Then He warns us, “Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation that was spoken of through the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)…” (Matt. 24:15). Jesus uses the word “therefore” to connect what He says in vss. 15-20 with regard to the Jews to what He says in vss. 9-14 with regard to the Christians.

This “Desolation”, occurring at the midpoint of Dan. 70th week (Dan. 9:27), is when that devilish Antichrist desecrates the temple of God by turning it into a temple of Satan. Jesus concludes vs. 15 with “Let the reader understand.” He says this because it’s extremely relevant for Christians, for this is when they and discerning Jews know for certain that this brazen idolater is the Antichrist, the evilest man to ever live on earth, and that He will be coming after them to kill them.

“Then those who are in Judea must flee for their lives” (Matt. 24:16-20). When this “Desolation” happens, Jesus tells the Jews to run for their lives, and to not go back home, for that would mean certain death at the hands of the devil. This God-ordained persecution is described in Rev. 12:12-13 – “Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time… he persecuted the woman (the Jews).”

Matt. 24:21-22, some very sobering verses, sum up what will be happening to Jews and Christians. “Then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved, but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” Christians must know that these verses are for them! The great persecution that begins in Jerusalem for the Jews intensifies and spreads to Christians all over the world. We read about this in Matt. 24:9, but here it is repeated and amplified, and then validated by Rev. 12:17 – “The dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children (Christians),who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”  

Sad to say, there’s confusion among Christians as to whether this tribulation affects them or not. So I must share several points to help you understand this devilishly dark and troubling time:
* Tribulation is from the Greek word “thlipsis”, and is translated as distress, pressure, tribulation, affliction, and persecution. And wrath is from the Greek word “orge”. So wrath and tribulation are different in the Greek and do not have the same meaning.
* The Bible never says that tribulation or great tribulation is God’s wrath, but that it’s Satan’s wrath. “The devil has come down to you, having great wrath.” Rev. 12:12
* Great persecution (Rev. 6:9-11) occurs before God’s wrath (Rev. 6:16). Rev. 7:14 agrees with this, for it too speaks of great tribulation happening before God’s wrath (Rev. 8-9).

* The Bible never says the entire 7 years of Dan. 70th week is tribulation or great tribulation.
* Christians on earth at the midpoint of Dan. 70th will experience great tribulation brought on by Satan, but will be rescued from God’s wrath, the day of the Lord, when Christ returns to rapture the church. 1 Th. 1:10, 5:9, 4:17; Rev. 6:9-17, 7:9-14
* This great tribulation is not to be confused with birth pains. That’s because birth pains affect both believers and unbelievers, but tribulation affects only the elect. Also, Matt. 24:9 tells us that tribulation begins after the birth pains, and this is substantiated by Rev. 6:1-11.

* Great tribulation begins at the midpoint of Dan. 70th week (Dan. 9:27), but it’s cut short (Matt. 24:22). It’s not that the 70th week is cut short, but that great tribulation is cut short.
* The Bible never says the rapture occurs at the beginning of Dan. 70th week, before this so-called seven years of tribulation / great tribulation, but at some God-only-knows time during the 2nd half of it.
* The rapture occurs after this tribulation is cut short and this age comes to an end, but before God pours out His wrath on earth. Matt. 24:29-31; 1 Th. 1:10, 5:9; Rev. 6:9-17, 7:9-14

* Great tribulation is the greatest persecution of Christians in all of history. Matt. 24:21
* Great tribulation affects the elect, those who are saved and those who will be saved, both Jew and Gentile. Matt 24:22, 24
* This end-times’ tribulation is also described in 2 Th. 1:5-6 and Rev. 6:9-11, 7:14, 13:7 – “It was also given to him (the beast, the Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”

* In the New Testament, tribulation speaks primarily of how it impacts Christians: “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).“Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).“Who will separate us from the love of God? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom. 8:35). “Momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). “We sent Timothy… so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions, for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this” (1 Th. 3:3). “We ourselves speak proudly of you… for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions” (2 Th. 1:4).“Do not fear what you are about to suffer… you will be tested and have tribulation for ten days” (Rev. 2:10).“These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:14

Matt 24:23-24 – “… False Christs and false prophets will rise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Many God-fearing Jews, ones who are most likely expecting the Messiah to come and reign as King, are trying to escape from that evil, devil-possessed man, for he is chasing after them and trying to kill them. “When the dragon (Satan) saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman (the Jews) who gave birth to the male child (Jesus).” Rev. 12:13

But God has good plans for these Jews, these elect, for He wants to physically save them from Satan so He can spiritually save them from sin, which won’t happen until the end of the 70th week. In the meantime, God protects them from their #1 enemy, that wicked devil of a man. “The two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman (the Jews), so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time” (Rev. 12:14). A large remnant of Jews miraculously escapes, and it maybe by airplanes. The phrase that speaks of time, times, and half a time, refers to 3½ years, the last half of Dan. 70th week, that time when the Jews are pursued by the devil but protected by God. Rev. 12:6

“The dragon was enraged with the woman…” (Rev. 12:17a). Satan is really mad, is furious that these Jews have escaped, but he doesn’t give up. He knows they are hiding but he doesn’t know where. Satan and the Antichrist have the same mindset for they greatly hate both Jews and Christians, and are going after them so as to kill them. And they use deception, employing false Christs and false prophets to lure the elect from their hiding places. They “will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Matt. 24:24, 2 Thess. 2:8-12

The devil’s goal is to make people believe that Jesus is on earth, out in the wilderness or in some house, and doing miracles. “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven in the presence of men and he deceives those who dwell on earth” (Rev. 13:13-14). Billions of people will be misled, be deceived, be worshiping the Antichrist and taking his mark (Rev. 13:15-17), but not the saved or those who will be saved. As for that protected and special group of Jews, they will be safe and secure until the day of salvation at the end of the 70th week. Then they will say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matt. 23:39

“Behold, I have told you in advance” (Matt. 24:25). God did not tell us everything He knows about the end-times, but everything we need to know. Yes, there is a lot of information to learn, for there’s the Old Testament (Is., Dan., Zech., the Psalms, etc.), and the New Testament (Matt., Luke, Rom., Eph. 1, 1-2 Thess., 1 Pet. 1, Rev., etc.). In these end-times, in this calm before the storm, we should be excited to learn all this important information about Christ’s coming and kingdom. Matt. 24:25, 35, 45, and 2 Tim. 4:1-2, more than any other verses, motivate me to study and teach God’s prophetic word. “Who is the faithful and wise slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?” Matt. 24:45

Matt. 24:27,“just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be”, is the climactic conclusion to this prophetic passage, Matt. 24:15-26. Deceivers are saying that Jesus is on earth, but this verse makes it clear that He is coming in the air. To illustrate His coming, Jesus talks about it as if it looks like a magnificent bolt of lightning. As we know, lightning is sudden, directional, brilliant, bright, powerful, visible, and breath-taking. So too it will be with Christ’s coming. And verse 27, the sign of His coming, complements verse 30. “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Rev. 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

P.S. Here is a link to the most read post or article on this blog site, “Matthew 24 – The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.” I encourage you to read it so you can understand more clearly what God has planned out for His people in the last years of the end-times.

Israel, Iran, the United States, and the End-Times

March 7, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #355 ~

Sadly, sovereignly, and purposely, there’s another war going on, this one with three internationally significant countries – Israel, Iran, and the United States. But how does this war relate to the end-times, to the future God has planned for us? Politicians, academians, the news media, and other so-called experts all have opinions as to the nature of this war and what will happen next. But as Christians, we shouldn’t focus on what man says, but on what God tells us in His word.

First, let’s look at some general truths:
1. God’s eschatological word is true (Ps. 119:143), is what we must believe, and what instructs us about what is occurring in our world now and in the future. God gives us a good outline about what will be taking place, but He doesn’t tell us everything, only what we need to know. And don’t speculate and say things about this world and its future that aren’t based on God’s word.  

2. God always works with nations (Gen. 10, Dan. 2:20-21). In these final years before Christ’s coming and earthly reign, God is realigning nations according to His end-times’ plan. That He brought Israel back to her land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times (Ez. 37:21-24). Be thrilled that God’s prophetic word is now being fulfilled in this world.

3. God’s purposes and plans will be carried out, completely and perfectly so. No ruler, nation, devil, or person can thwart what God has decreed from eternity past. (Ps. 2; 33:10-12). The war that Israel and the United States are waging is what God wants them to do, for He is sovereign, and He uses countries for His divine purposes. “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… the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly, I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.’” Is. 46:9-11

4. God’s end-times’ plan for the Jews are related to His end-times’ plan for the church. Look at these side-by-side passages that show that God is working concurrently with both the Jews and the church. (Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27; Lk. 21:12-19, 20-24; 1 Th. 2:1-9; Rev. 7:4-8, 9-17). It’s by knowing God’s word and what’s taking place in this world that you realize that it won’t be long before Christ returns for His church. That Christ is coming soon should truly stir your heart with love for Him. “I myself will see Him with my own eyes… How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27

Here are some eschatological events that will be happening in these end-times:
1. Birth pains: Matt. 24:6-8 talks of birth pangs, and one is “wars and rumors of war.” This Iran war is a birth pang, and there will be more and more wars, and famines and earthquakes too. Vs. 8 tells us that “these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” which means we are not to think that Christ’s return will happen right away. “These things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” Lk. 21:9

2. Confirming a covenant: Dan. 9:27 states that Israel will confirm a treaty with many nations at the beginning of Dan. 70th week. A key player in this confirmation is a person known as the Antichrist (1 Jn. 2:18). The primary reason Israel is fighting Iran is to gain peace and security, but it sure won’t happen because of this present war or this future treaty, but only because Christ will return and defeat His enemies at Armageddon, one of which will be Iran, aka Persia.

3. Abomination of desolation: Dan. 9:27 and 2 Th. 2:4 tell us that the Antichrist will show His hate for the Jews by desecrating and desolating their temple in Jerusalem. This happens at the midpoint of Dan. 70th week. Soon after this, the Antichrist will begin persecuting both Jews and Christians, but only for a short time. Matt. 24:9, 21-22; Rev. 12:13-17

4. Rapture of the church: Christ returns to rapture the church at the end of this age, at His coming, which is immediately after this persecution is cut short and just before God’s wrath is poured out on earth, sometime during the last half of Dan. 70th week. (1 Th. 1:10, 4:15-18). Israel and Iran, and I believe the United States too, will still exist on earth after the rapture.

5. Salvation of a remnant of Jews: At the end of Dan. 70th week, God will spiritually save a large remnant of Jews. “All Israel will be saved, just as it is written. ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’” Rom. 11:25-26, Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:31-34

6. Defeat of Antichrist’s kingdom: Rev. 16 speaks of the fast-happening bowl judgments. They describe God’s plan to justly punish unrepentant unbelievers on earth, as well as to destroy Antichrist’s kingdom – which happens at the battle of Armageddon. Iran will be part of this final battle and will be royally defeated. Rev. 16:13-21, 19:20-21

7. The millennial kingdom: Christ’s kingdom will begin (Rev. 20) after the defeat of Antichrist’s kingdom. The saved Jewish remnant will live in Israel and, along with other believers, reign with Christ over the world ((Is. 60-62, Rev. 5:10). This glorious kingdom will display the power, love, goodness, justice, and rule of Christ on earth. “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet… When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” 1 Cor. 15:25

Let me now tell you how the United States, Iran, and Israel each relate to end-times’ prophecy:
1. United States: Since its beginning days, close to 250 years ago, the United States has been extremely blessed – economically, technologically, militarily, and spiritually. Since WW 2, they have been the most powerful, prosperous, and influential country in the world. Without question, God raised up the United States and is now using her for His purposes in these end-times. And this war is an important part of God’s perfect plan to bring about the return of His Son – and only God knows exactly how this war will affect this country.

Know also that the United States, especially since the ‘60’s, has been in severe spiritual decline. And it’s because of her sin, her widespread evil, her rebellion against God. Rom. 1:18-32 sums up this decline and depravity that we are now witnessing. Yes, there is a spiritual remnant in this country, but God cannot ignore this spiritual, stage-4 cancer. He has to judge her! Read more about the United States in these recent posts – 343, 344, 345, 346, and 347.

The United States, because of her grave sin, will grow sicker and weaker, and will soon lose her status as the world’s most significant and powerful nation. And we don’t know what country will replace her, will become the #1 global power. But sooner or later, the Antichrist, along with his 10-nation kingdom, will be #1 and will rule this earth, and be worshiped all over the world. Rev. 13:3-5

2. Iran: Iran is one of the longest, continually existing countries and civilizations. Biblically, we go back to Cyrus the Great, who conquered Media and created the Medo-Persian empire in 550BC, which went on to defeat the Babylonian Empire in 539BC (Dan. 5). Daniel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah all lived in Medo-Persia, as did King Xerxes and King Artaxerxes.

Dan. 2:39, 7:5, and 8:20 all speak of Medo-Persia as existing in the end-times. Dan. 10:20 talks of “the prince of Persia”, an evil angel, fighting against Michael, a good angel, “one of the chief princes” (Dan. 10:13, Rev. 12:7-8). This is in the context of “what will happen to your (Daniel’s) people in the latter days” (Dan. 10:14). Revelation, the last book in the Bible, talks of “a great, fiery red dragon” (12:3) and this is “the devil and Satan” (12:9). The devil has already inspired seven different kingdoms to defeat Israel, a chief enemy – and these include Medo-Persia (vs. 3). But the devil has always failed, for God is holy, wiser, and infinitely stronger. Dan. 4:34-35

Spiritual battles are continuing in 2026 in countries all over the world. This war in Iran is physical in nature, but also spiritual (Eph. 6:10-12). Ez. 38, like Dan. 10, is about this physical / spiritual battle in“the latter years” (Ez. 38:8), the final battle on this earth. Ez. 38:5 tells us that Persia is one of the countries united with the Antichrist in opposing God and Israel – but the Antichrist and his kingdom is easily defeated by Jesus Christ. “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Dan. 2:44

It’s true that the United States and Israel are hammering, are pounding Iran with tons of bombs, and it’s deserved. “Let the nations be judged” (Ps. 9:19b). The news is that Iran is militarily being degraded, decimated, and diminished, but Daniel wants us to know that she won’t be totally destroyed, at least not at this time. None of us know how Iran will recover from what looks like certain defeat, but God’s word, the “Scripture of Truth” (Dan. 10:21), is making it clear that she will continue on until that day when Jesus Christ defeats her. Ez. 38-39

3. Israel: God planned for Israel to be a great nation and a blessing to the whole world, and he told this to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). The Old Testament focuses on God’s patient working with Israel, on her victories and sins, and on her history (Gen. 12 – Mal. 4). Through Israel, Christ was born (Rev. 12:5). But during Christ’s ministry years, the Jews, as a whole, rejected Him as their Messiah and, consequently, were scattered all over the world (Lk. 21:20-24). God began gathering them back to their land in the late 1800’s (Jer. 32-37-41), and in 1948, they once again became a nation. Since then, they have continually had enemies, and this is true today. But Israel, because of God’s word, because of His promise to her, has not been wiped out – and though the whole world fights against her (Zech. 12:3), she will keep going and be victorious.

As mentioned earlier, the next major event is Israel confirming a treaty with the Antichrist at the beginning of Dan. 70th week (Dan. 9:27). At the midpoint of those 7 years is when the Antichrist desolates Israel’s temple and begins greatly persecuting them. Miraculously, many Jews will escape (Rev. 12:13-16), be saved at the end of that 70th week, and take back all their land (from the River to the Sea), and reign with Christ over the world during the kingdom ages (2 Sam. 7:12-13, 16). Indeed, Israel will be an eternally and greatly blessed nation.“Praise the Lord, all nations, laud Him, all peoples! For His love is great toward us (Israel), and the truth of the Lord is everlasting.” Ps. 117, Ps. 72:18-19

Here are some concluding statements:
1. God is reconfiguring the geopolitical landscape of the world in these end-times so that it’s just the way He wants it to be. God has given us an idea of what this will look like, but none of us will know all the details. But it’s all coming together and leading to the return of Jesus Christ, His Son.
2.  God is now working with every nation, person, and event – all the pieces must pefectly fit together to bring about Christ’s coming, the rapture of the church, your glorification, the judgment of the world, the salvation of the Jews, the defeat of the Antichrist, and Christ’s reign over this world. Rom. 8:28-30, Eph. 1:9-12

3. Don’t ever be afraid! Know the Lord and what He says in His word, and you will be filled with faith, hope, and courage, and “see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25
4. God works with individuals, churches, and nations. So learn about the end-times, work with Christ in sharing the gospel with individuals, build the church, and make disciples of all the nations. Matt. 24:3-46, 24:14, 16:18, 28:19-20

5. Be a watchman (“keep watch” – Matt. 24:42), and tell others everything you know about about Christ’s return. Be a “faithful and wise slave.” Matt. 24:45
6. The United States may win this war, but don’t forget that she is now being judged by God because of her sin. Sooner or later, she will decline in power and no longer be very influential in this world. Iran will survive this war with Israel and the United States, and continue on until Christ defeats her and the Antichrist’s kingdom. Finally and eventually, Israel will, with Christ, defeat all her enemies, and then forever reign over the world with Him.
7. As for yourself, remember that God is victorious, and that you are an overcomer. “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  Rom. 8:35-39

P.S. I love the fact that by reading and studying God’s word, we can get a basic understanding of our future. So be reading and studying. Here are two posts that will help you understand what I am talking about today: “World History and International Studies“ and “The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ.”

Talking to a Christian About Christ’s Coming

February 7, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #353 ~

You are talking to a Christian and they are interested in prophesy. They want to know what will be happening in the future, they want to know God’s plans for them and this world. What do you tell them? As you know, this is a huge subject, and there is much God tells us in His Word, much He wants you to learn, and much you need to share with interested believers. Let me summarize a number of things you need to tell them about the future of a Christian and of this world:

You tell them that Christ is coming again, that this is the first and most important thing they need to know. You tell them that when He returns, the lives of everyone, both saved and lost, will be dramatically changed. You tell them that Christ is coming soon, and that’s because we live in the end-times, and we know this because the Jews are back in the promised land. You tell them that Christ is returning to rescue Christians from an evil world, to judge unrepentant sinners, to redeem a remnant of Jews, to reign over a restored earth, and to bring glory to God. Rev. 22:7, Rev. 7-9, Luke 21:24, Is. 57:1, 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Ps. 47, Hab. 2:14

You tell them that many difficult and trying things will occur before Christ’s coming. You tell them that this world will become a more wicked place, that lawlessness will get much worse in the years leading up to Christ’s return. You tell them that Christians will be greatly hated and persecuted, and that many will be martyred. You tell them that there will be an increase in false teaching, and only by knowing God’s word can they escape error and the lies of the devil. Matt. 24:32-34, Matt. 24:12, Matt. 24:9, Matt. 24:4-5

You tell them about “birth pains”, about earthquakes, wars, famines, plagues and economic problems afflicting people in various parts of this earth. You tell them that the United States is in decline and being judged by God because of her sin. One result is that the Antichrist, sometime in the future, will be raised up and rule over this world, and be seen as a savior. You tell them that God is actively working with the Jews, and how they need to be watching what’s happening in Israel so they can see how God is fulfilling His prophetic word in this world. You tell them that the Jews will confirm a treaty with the Antichrist in the near future, and then be able to build a temple and offer sacrifices. Matt. 24:6-8, Rev. 6:1-8, Rom. 1:20-32, Rev. 13:4-8, Matt. 24:9-26; Luke 21:20-24, Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:4

You tell them about a great, global earthquake and the sun and moon going dark, that these are signs of the end of this age, and that unbelievers will be shocked and scared to death. You tell them that immediately after this, a brilliant bright light will appear in the sky, and this is the sign of Christ’s coming. You tell them that the whole world will see Christ, but believers will be glorified and raptured, and then be with Him forever. Rev. 6:12-17; Matt. 24:27, 29-31; 1 Th. 4:17

You tell them that God will justly judge all unbelievers still on earth, and this is the day of the Lord, a dreadful but deserved punishment for those who have rejected Christ and not repented of their sins. You tell them that God will rightly judge the Jews, but that a large remnant, one-third of them, will be saved, will become believers. Rev. 8-9, 16; Zech. 13:8-9; Rom. 11:25-26

You tell them that the Christians who were raptured, along with those resurrected, will be in heaven only a short time, and then return with Christ to defeat the Antichrist and his evil kingdom. You tell them that Christ will gloriously, powerfully, and righteously rule for 1,000 years with both Jewish and Gentile believers. Then Christ will subject Himself to the Father, and God will be all in all, and we will forever be worshiping and serving Him in the eternal kingdom. Rev. 7:9-12, 19:11-21, 20:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:23-28

This is a short summary of what will be taking place, and it’s important to study these verses so you have convictions and so you can clearly and confidently tell others what God has taught you. God does not want any of His people to be surprised and fearful when there are calamities and great persecution in the end times. Instead, He wants them to be ready, watching, and waiting for Christ to return and to be working for Him while they wait. Might God use you to tell others about their future, about what God has in store for them and this world.

“Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mk. 13:23). “They themselves report… how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 1:9-10

P.S. I have many posts detailing the future. Here are some of them: “What the Bible Says About the Future”, “Filling in the End-Times’ Outline”, and “Matthew 24 – A Road Map of the End-Times.”

P.P.S. For more encouragement for everyone, including some of our new friends we met at the airport in Charlotte (Wendall, Carolyn, and Andrew!) – here are the two links to a number of excellent, God-glorifying Scripture Songs (Scripture Songs – Our Legacy – Volume 1 and Volume 2) that our church music team recorded when I was in Tampa. 

Thinking – Thanking – Praising – Proclaiming

January 3, 2026 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #349 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 24, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #348 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The State of the “United” States – Part 4

November 29, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #346 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The State of the “United” States – Part 3

November 15, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #345 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The State of the “United” States – Part 2

November 1, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post # 344 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seeing the Entirety of Your Salvation

August 16, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #338 ~

It was a discovery, it was a special find of an invaluable truth, a spiritual treasure I had never seen before. It was something I had missed in my 50+ years as a Christian. But I was clearly seeing it on the pages of God’s word, it was in plain sight, it was God-revealed and obvious.

What am I talking about? What is this discovery? It’s that the New Testament writers, in just a handful of verses, and not a few times, repeatedly spoke about the whole, the totality of our salvation, that we were justified, are being sanctified, and will be glorified. These truths were not new to me – I learned them when I was first saved, but that they were collectively and continually talked about in just a few verses or less was an amazing spiritual treasure.

It became clear to me that God wants Christians to keep thinking about the big picture of our 3-part salvation, and of our eternal life, that we see our Christian life from being born again to eternity future. God also wants us to share the whole gospel message with the lost like Jesus, who was “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23), and Paul who “went about preaching the kingdom’’ (Acts 20:25). This truth about understanding the entirety of our life is especially important for pastors, for they need to teach it in their churches.

There are numerous examples of this whole of salvation message in the New Testament, and we looked at a many of them last week: Rom. 5:1-3, 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:7-9, 11:26, 15:20-23; Eph. 1:7-12, 1:13-14; Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:4-5, 3:3-4; 1 Thess. 1:9-10. Today we will look at several more:  

* Philippians 3:8-11 – “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection… in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Here is salvation in its entirety: 1) knowing Christ, being righteous; 2) knowing Christ and pressing on (Ph. 3:12-14); and 3) attaining to the resurrection from the dead, being physically transformed (Ph. 3:20-21)! It’s clear that knowing Christ, having a relationship with Him or, as it’s also stated, experiencing eternal life, is the central theme of our salvation. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” Jn. 17:3

* 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 – “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Him… we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep… the Lord Himself will descend from heaven… then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The believers were living a godly life and being persecuted, and were worried they had missed Christ’s coming. Paul assures them that this was not so by reminding them of His resurrection – that since we are in Christ, we too will be raised from the dead, we too will be glorified, and this happens at His coming! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the key to being spiritually saved in the past, to living for Him in the present, and to being physically saved in the future. “… in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:20-23

* Titus 2:11-14 – “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Our salvation is again summed up in three parts. Those who repent of their sins and believe that Christ appeared to die and rise again to pay for their sins will: 1) be saved, be justified; 2) be living a holy life, be sanctified, and 3) see Christ when He appears in glory, and be glorified!

* Hebrews 9:27 – “Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” The reason we can be justified, sanctified, and glorified is because of what Christ does for us at His 1st and 2nd comings. 1) He appeared to die and pay for our sins, to spiritually save us, and 2) He will appear again to physically save us, to give us a spiritual body! Might we be excitedly waiting for Him!

* 1 Peter 1:3-4 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who… has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” This too speaks of our 3-part salvation: 1) we were born again, born of the Spirit; 2) we have a living hope – as we serve God on earth, we should be expecting Christ to return to take us to heaven; and 3) at the revelation of Christ, we will receive a heavenly, imperishable, undefiled, eternal inheritance! 1 Pet. 1:13, Col. 3:23-24, Rev. 22:12

* 1 John 2:20, 27-28 – “… the anointing which you received from Him abides in you… His anointing teaches you about all things… abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” Again, we read about our salvation in three ways: 1) we were anointed by the Spirit, we were spiritually saved; 2) now we are to abide in Christ, to have a close relationship with Him; and 3) we should be confident of our relationship with Christ and at His appearance, be thrilled to see Him! 1 Thess. 4:15-18

* 1 John 3:1-3 – “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God and such we are… Beloved now we are children of God… When He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him.” Again, you are told three things about your salvation: 1) you were first called a child of God when you became a child of God, when you were saved; 2) spiritually speaking you are a child of God, and thus, you are to live like a child of God; and 3) physically speaking you will look like a child of God when Christ appears, for then you will literally see Christ in His glory and be given a body like His. 1 Cor. 15:42-44

* Rev. 1:5-7 – “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead… To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood – and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God… Behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him.” Jesus Christ, motivated by love, died on a cross, paid for our sins, and was raised from the dead. His 3-fold purpose was: 1) to release us from our sins, to forgive us, to make us a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9), to bring us into a spiritual kingdom, the church (Col. 1:13-14); 2) for us to serve Him as priests; and 3) to bring us into His physical kingdoms, the millennial and eternal kingdoms.

There are three parts of our salvation, our past justification which happened at a point in time, our present sanctification occurring during our life on earth, and our future glorification happening at a point in time, at the outset of Christ’s coming. Justification results in being delivered from the deadly penalty of sin, sanctification from the spiritual power of sin, and glorification from the very presence of sin. 

Once we are glorified, our salvation is complete, which is what the New Testament writers kept telling us. They wanted us to know what God was, and is, and will be doing in us. Once you are completely saved, which occurs at Christ’s coming, then you will be fit and ready to wholly worship and serve Christ in the next age, the millennial kingdom age. Eph. 1:20-21, 2:10, 18-20; Rev. 5:10

All that we’ve talked about is an incredible, supernatural, eternal work of God – and it’s for your good, the good of others, and the glory of God. “From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11:36). Next week, we will look at a number of verses that talk about the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23). You will learn that the gospel is not just good news about salvation, but is also about your eternal future, the kingdom ages.

P.S. The NT writers were teaching the entirety of our salvation so that you too would see it, be encouraged by it, and be motivated to tell others, both saved and lost. I suggest you read these posts which are similar to this one: “An Overview of Your Christian Life” and “Your Entire Christian Life.”

Prophecy Tells Us God’s Plans for the Future

July 5, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #334 ~

Most believers don’t know, understand, or are in error with regards to prophecy, and that’s sad. The flesh is lazy and worldly, and the devil lies and deceives, wanting people to think prophecy isn’t true or important. But we must believe and be excited about prophetic truth, and it’s for our good and God’s glory. (I am talking about prophecy as it relates to what God says in His word about the future of this world and His people.) So let’s talk about the importance of prophecy.

* Prophecy is God’s word, not man’s, and every word of God is wholly and eternally true. God gave His word to His people, and we are to know and teach it, and that means every word, verse, subject, and passage, including prophecy. 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 2:19-21
* The sum of God’s word is truth. If we leave out part of God’s word, like prophecy, then we miss out on what God wants us to know. If we don’t believe and teach all His word, we won’t learn all His truth and will succumb to false teaching. Knowing God’s word is the key to discerning His will and living in the way He planned for us. Ps. 119:160, Mk. 13:23, 2 Tim. 4:1-2

* Prophecy gives light. “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place…” (2 Pet. 1:19). We live in a dark, devilish, evil world, and prophecy gives us light, helping us to see and love God, helping us to know where we are at and where we are going, helping us to be a good witness, and to persevere.
* Prophecy gives hope. Having hope means we believe and are looking forward to a great, God-given future. We must have hope to live in a sin-prone body in a sinful world – we must believe that we will be with Jesus, be in heaven, be with believers, be perfect, receive an inheritance, have a glorious body, a wonderful purpose, and be loved by God like never before.

* Prophecy takes away fear. Seeing sin and evil, and hearing about earthquakes, wars, and famines could be unsettling and fear producing. But knowing that God is our loving, powerful, wise, and sovereign Father, and knowing His general plan for these end-times and the coming age should calm our souls and give us peace and confidence. Is. 46:9-10, Jer. 29:11-12
* Prophecy warns us about the future. Dangerous and difficult times are coming upon this world. God’s prophetic word tells us these things, and that it’s part of His overall plans for the end-times. When there’s birth pains, lawlessness, great persecution, and Antichrist is ruling, don’t be surprised or fearful. God is in complete control, and these things must happen before God brings about the return of His Son. Matt. 24:3-31, Mark 13:5-23, 2 Thess. 2:1-4

* Prophecy is no small subject in the end-times. In these end times, prophecy is becoming an increasingly, important subject, and God wants us to understand it and teach it. A church’s work must be framed by prophecy, and be done in light of Christ’s return and the coming kingdom. “By His appearing and kingdom, preach the word.” 2 Tim. 4:1-2, Matt. 24:10
* Many Christians are ignorant, naïve, or in error about prophecy. The work of the church, the pastors, and the parents is to passionately, completely, and clearly teach prophetic truth. Just think – your Savior, Lord, Lover, and King will soon come back to earth, and it could be in your lifetime. 2 Thess. 2:1-3, Heb. 10:37

* Prophecy is to wake us up, to excite us about Christ’s coming, and alert us to the dangers we will be facing. Many Christians are sleeping, fleshly, and worldly, and must awake from their slumber, and must “behave properly,” “put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and “put on the breastplate of faith and love.” Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Thess. 5:4-11
* Prophecy helps you understand God’s plans for the Jews. The Old Testament describes God’s work with the Jews, and the New Testament focuses on His work with the church and His renewed work with the Jews. Many passages about God’s future for the Jews sit next to passages about His future for the church. Knowing these side-by-side passages helps you see how God works with both Jews and Christians in these last days. Matt. 24:9-14 – 24:15-26; Luke 21:12-19 – 20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-2 – 2:3-9; Rev. 7:4-9 – 7:9-15; Rev. 12:1-16 – 12:17, 13:1-18

* Prophecy helps you learn God’s character, that He is holy in His ways, sovereign in His work, wise in His dealings, just in His actions, powerful in His deeds, faithful to His word, merciful to His people, compassionate to His children. Is. 6:3, Is. 46:9-11, Jer. 9:23-24, Rom. 8:28, Rev. 15:3
* Prophecy helps you know God’s purposes. God is actively carrying out His purposes. Reading His prophetic word enables you to see the big picture, His plans from beginning to end, His purposes for all the people on this planet. There are many prophecies about Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, and about His plans for the Jews and the church. Isaiah 60, John 14:1-3, Rev. 7

* Prophecy tells us that this evil age is coming to an end, followed by a righteous age that lasts for 1000 years. It’s imperative that you understand God’s overall plans about the past, present, and future. Not long from now, Christ will return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His reign on earth. Matt. 28:19-20, Gal. 1:4, Eph. 1:21, Rev. 21:1-7
* Prophecy helps you be ready for the future. God’s prophetic word has much to say about what you are to do in the end-times, that you are to use your gifts, work for God, witness to the lost, and disciple the saved. And in the context of prophecy, much is said about the character God wants you to have, that you are to have faith (Lk. 18:8), be sober (1 Th. 5:8), be loving (1 Pet. 4:8), be holy (2 Pet. 3:11), be fearless (Rev. 2:10), and be persevering (Rev. 13:10).

* Prophecy motivates you to serve the Lord. God has special work for you, a part for you to play in the end-times. What a privilege it is to live for Him at this time in history. “It is like a man away (Christ) on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves (believers) in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper (the watchman) to stay on the alert” (Mk. 13:34). “He (Christ) called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten talents and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’” Lk. 19:13, 1 Th. 1:9-10
* Prophecy speaks about the hope of Christ’s return, and this is to help you grow in holiness. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… be holy…” (1 Pet. 1:13-15). “When He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3

* Prophecy is a present and relevant truth, and should change and charge your life. “Do this, knowing the time… salvation is nearer to us than we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).It won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and set up His kingdom on earth. Now is the time to be spiritually awake and alert; now is the time to use your money, time, and talents to do God’s work; now is the time to preach the gospel and make disciples; now is the time, like never before in history, to be looking for Christ, to be expecting His return. Heb. 10:37

* Prophecy gives us a timeline of the future. At the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year period described in Dan. 9:27, there’s an agreement between the Antichrist and the Jews. At this week’s midpoint the Antichrist is revealed; at its end a remnant of Jews are saved; and sometime during the last 3½ years of this week Christians are raptured, are suddenly taken to join all believers from all time and meet Jesus Christ in the air. 1 Thess. 4:16-17
* Prophecy gives much information about the millennial kingdom. You need to study prophecy for it tells you about your future and that of all believers. Some key books describing this glorious, soon-coming, 1000-year age are Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Matt., 1 Thess., 2 Thess., and Revelation. “The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before the nations” (Is. 61:11). “The Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth… Sing praises to our King.” Ps. 47:2, 6

* Prophecy truly understood corrects errors with regards to the end times and Christ’s return. This is the truth: Christ is coming again; His coming is not imminent; tribulation is not wrath; Christians are on earth during the Antichrist’s rule; Christians go through great tribulation but not God’s wrath; Christ’s coming is pre-millennial; Christ is not coming at the start of Daniel’s 70th week but sometime during its 2nd half; the rapture occurs at the beginning of Christ’s coming; we will know the general time of the rapture but not the specific time (Matt. 24:32-36); Iran (Persia), though recently defeated, will again be strong and attack Israel (Ez. 38); God’s promises for the Jews have not been reneged or canceled but will be fulfilled in the future. Ps. 105:8-11

* Prophecy tells us the need for watchmen, people who see God’s prophetic word being fulfilled in the world and then alert others. Christians are to be like the sons of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what they should do. 1 Chr. 12:32, Ez. 3:1-11, Mark 13:33-35
* Prophecy is forward looking. God wants you to thank Him for the past but not focus on it. Prophecy helps you to look ahead to the future, to press ahead, to be excited about your God-given future, and do the work He wants you to do. God’s work is to result in fruitful labor, and the fruit He gives you will be an eternal blessing to Him, others, and yourself. “I press on toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14

* Prophecy describes your brand new body. It says that your new body will be like Jesus Christ’s (1 Jn. 3:2) and the angels (Luke 20:36). It will be perfect, powerful, glorious, immortal, and spiritual (1 Cor. 15:42-44). “We eagerly wait the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of His power.” Phil. 3:21
* Prophecy focuses on Jesus Christ, that He will visibly, lovingly, and powerfully be your Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King, that you will be with Him forever, and experience eternal life like never before. Eternal life is an eternal, everlasting relationship with Christ. (Jn. 17:3). “To live is Christ and to die is gain”(Ph. 1:21). When you die or when Christ returns, your relationship with Him will take on a new dimension, a glorious, wonderful, unbelievable change from what it is now. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27

Isn’t it encouraging to know that God tells us the future. Here are two other posts that will help you understand prophecy: “Prophecy Is Predicting the Future” and “What You Need to Know About Prophecy.”

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