Category: Big Picture (Page 2 of 7)

Blog posts about the Big Picture.

The Coming Kingdom Age – 1000 Years of Glory

March 25, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #272 ~

Here’s how I think about the future: we’re in the end-times and we’re running the last lap of this church-age race, which means it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and we’re glorified and in heaven. A few years after that, the kingdom age will begin, a 1000-year period during which Christ is perfectly reigning over this earth – and we’re all reigning with Him! God has much to say about this millennial kingdom, and that’s because He wants you to know what it will be like, and to be excited and looking forward to this unprecedented and most amazing time of justice, peace, love, and God getting glory like never before. Here are several things God wants you to know about this glorious kingdom age.

1. The millennial-kingdom age lasts exactly 1000 years. Revelation 20:2-7
2. The kingdom of God is in two parts, the millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom. 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:21, 2:7; Rev. 20-21
3. The kingdom age is a good age, for Christ is reigning, compared to this present evil age when the devil is ruling. And the eternal kingdom will be a perfect age. Ps. 72, Gal. 1:4, 1 John 5:19
4. This cursed earth is restored and renewed in the kingdom age. Ps. 102:26, Acts 3:21, Rom. 8:19-22
5. Jesus Christ, the greatest King the world has ever seen, rules over all the earth and all the nations during His 1000-year reign. Psalm 2:6, 22:28, 47:2, 72:8; Zech. 14:9; Rev. 11:15
6. Satan, bound and thrown into the abyss for the entire millennial kingdom, is not influencing or affecting anyone or anything on the earth during this time. Revelation 20:2-3

7. Jesus Christ lives in Jerusalem, the capital of the world. Psalm 48:1-3, Zechariah 14:4-9
8. Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord, Shepherd, Judge, and King, is continually and wonderfully fulfilling all His duties, and believers are assisting Him. Is. 33:22, 43:3; Jer. 10:10; Ez. 34; Rev. 5:10
9. Jesus Christ, during His reign on earth, destroys all enemy authority, rule, and power, and He abolishes death. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 54-57
10. Jesus Christ rules with a rod of iron resulting in justice and peace. Psalm 2:9, 72:9; Isaiah 2:4
11. Jesus Christ is perfectly guiding the nations of the earth. His purpose, character, and work are known all over the world, and therefore He is praised by the people. Psalm 46:10, 67:3
12. Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher ever, is teaching people His word and His ways. Isaiah 2:3
13. Jesus Christ has mercy and compassion on the poor and needy, unlike anything we have ever seen before, except when He was here the first time. Psalm 72:4, 12-14
14. Jesus Christ, working for the cause of truth, humility, and justice, is always victorious. People and nations are being subdued and ruled by Him. Psalm 45:3-7, 47:3

15. Believers are co-heirs with Christ. He inherits the earth, and believers share that inheritance with Him, and together, they possess it forever. Ps. 2:8, 37:11; Dan. 7:18; Matt. 5:5; Rom. 8:17
16. At Christ’s coming, all believers are given brand-new, immortal, glorious, powerful, and spiritual bodies. They are perfect, and are helping Christ rule and reign over the whole world. Luke 19:17, 19; 1 Cor. 15:40-42; Rev. 5:10, 20:6
17. All believers, both Jew and Gentile, those from both Old and New Testament times and those born during this kingdom age, are unitedly worshiping and serving Jesus Christ. Ps. 37:9 – Matt. 5:5, Rom. 15:8-13, Heb. 11:39-40
18. During the church age, Christians are relatively unknown, but they are revealed with Jesus Christ during the kingdom age and, therefore, are seen and widely known. Colossians 3:3-4
19. The work that Christians do for Christ during the kingdom age is to a large degree based on the work they did for Christ during the church age. Matt. 25:19-21, Luke 19:15-19, Rev. 2:26-27

20. There are unbelievers, that is, sinners, living on earth during the kingdom age. Rev. 20:7-10
21. Every single person bows to Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom. This includes unbelievers, but for them, it’s worship that is feigned and half-hearted. Psalm 22:27-29, Phil. 2:9-11
22. During the kingdom age, the gospel is being preached all over the world, and many people are turning to Christ and being saved. Psalm 96:1-3, 98:1-3
23. The mighty and wonderful deeds of God are proclaimed to all the earth, and therefore, God and Christ are known and glorified like never before. Psalms 46:10, 98:1-3, 145:1-7; Hab. 2:14
24. Many peoples and nations come to Jerusalem, for they are hearing amazing things about Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords and King of kings. And they see Him, bless Him, bow to Him, learn from Him, and bring gifts to Him. Psalm 68:9, 72:15; Isaiah 49:11-13, 60:5-6; Micah 4:2-4

25. During the kingdom age, God’s will is carried out on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
26. The earth is increasingly seeing and experiencing the glory of God during Christ’s 1000-year reign. Psalm 72:19, Isaiah 6:3, Habakkuk 2:14
27. There is no war during the millennial kingdom – there is peace on earth and good will toward men. Psalm 46:9-10, Isaiah 2:4, Luke 2:14
28. Even the wild animals are living together in peace. Isaiah 11:7, 65:24-25
29. God is greatly blessing the world agriculturally during this 1000-year period. There is an abundance of food for the people living on earth. Psalms 65:9-13,
7:6, 72:16, 85:12
30. Some people die during this kingdom age, but at a much older age than now. Isaiah 65:20

31. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, are shouting for joy, for Jesus Christ, the One who loves them and has blessed them more than anyone else, is in their midst. Ps. 100, Is. 12:6, Zeph. 3:17
32. The boundary lines for Israel are different than today, for they are those God promised to Abraham close to 4,000 years ago, from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. Genesis 15:18, Exodus 23:31
33. The twelve apostles, working in Jerusalem with Christ, are judging and ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:28-30
34. The Jewish people are the most respected, well-known, blessed people on the face of the earth. Isaiah 54, Isaiah 61:6-9
35. The Jewish people are most noticeably seen in Israel, for God planted them in their land, not to be uprooted again. They rebuild the cities, make gardens and eat its fruit, have sweet fellowship, and help Jesus rule over the promised land. Ezek. 37:15-28, Amos 9:13-15, Joel 3:18
36. The Lord of hosts has a lavish banquet for His people. Isaiah 25:6
37. Jewish priests offer gifts and carry out sacrifices in the temple. Ezekiel 45:13-25, 46:1-20
38. Those living in Jerusalem and those visiting there will see the love, splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty of the Lord Jesus. Psalm 48:9, 96:6-8
39. Jerusalem, the city of the great King, is the greatest, most important, most holy, most blessed city in the world, the joy of the whole earth. Ps. 48:2, Is. 2:2-3, Zech. 14:9-11
40. What happens during the kingdom age is based on promises God made to His people a long time ago (Gen. 12:2-3, 15:18-21, 17:3-8). And God keeps all His promises.

This world is in a mess, for we live in an evil age, and it’s getting worse. And yes, this is our time to live for the Lord and be a light to the people around us, but the struggles with sin, the flesh, our enemies, and the devil make life very difficult. This is why we need to keep looking to Christ, and why we need hope, why we need to look forward to the end of this evil age and the rapture and reigning with Him during the millennial kingdom age, where there will be justice, joy, peace, and more love than you have ever experienced, and God and Christ getting glory like never before. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

P.S. The naysayers are numerous – they say there’s no 1000-year kingdom age, that the church in many respects has replaced the Jewish people, but they are wrong. We must be convinced and excited about what God has planned for us, what will be taking place sooner than we think. That’s why I have written a number of articles about the truth of the millennial kingdom age. I would encourage you to read them all: “Replacement Theology: It’s Not True – Part 1”, “… Part 2″, “… Part 3″, “… Part 4″, “… Part 5″. In the near future, I will be writing an article, the purpose being to include many of the verses that I listed in this post. I want you to read them for yourself.

There’s Hope for the World

March 4, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #270 ~

I was encouraged by a recent study in the Psalms that showed God working in the lives of Jewish believers. We learn that they had hope, they believed the Messiah was coming to rule and reign on this earth – and having this hope helped them live a godly life. God is now working in the lives of Christians, and we too are to have hope, to be looking forward to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, coming back to rapture the church and establish His kingdom on earth.

Let me look at these Psalms as it relates to hope:
Psalms 1-2 – There’s the juxtaposition of God working with individuals (Ps. 1) and God working with nations (Ps. 2). He blesses the righteous and punishes the unrighteous, both individuals and the entire world. And God gives us hope – “As for Me, I have installed My King on Zion, My holy mountain” (Ps. 2:6-8). In the near future, we will see the realization of our hope, for Jesus Christ will return to judge the wicked, and then reign over this world for 1,000 glorious years.

Psalm 9 – This is all about a rejoicing Psalmist and wicked nations. The Psalmist is thankful that God justly dealt with his own enemies, but he is also hopeful, for he knows that God will judge the nations, and then punish them by casting them into Sheol. “You have sat on the throne judging righteously… You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked… You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Psalm 9:1-6

Psalm 11 – David is being chased by the wicked, and so he takes refuge in the Lord, knowing he will be delivered by Him. But he also has hope and it’s our hope too, that our holy God will rain fire, brimstone, and burning wind upon a world of sinners, and that He will forever bless us. “The Lord is righteous, and He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:7

Psalm 22 – Jesus Christ endured humiliation, great affliction, terrible pain, and then died on a cross. He knew that was the only way He could save millions and millions of sinners, and take back the world from Satan. So Jesus had hope. “All the families of the nations will worship before You. The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:27-28

Psalm 33 – The Psalmist sings praises and gives thanks to God because His word is right and His work is being done. It was God’s work of creation, His work of watching over the world, His hope of God’s work with Israel (Ps. 33:11-12), and His work in his life and the lives of other believers. “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for your lovingkindness… our heart rejoices in Him because we trust in His holy name.” Psalm 33:18-22

Psalm 37 – David knew that believers were not to be afraid of the enemy but were to trust in God and do good, for He would rescue them. They also needed to know that God will judge the wicked (Ps. 37:12-15) and bless the righteous, which is in the future – “The humble will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity” (Ps 37:11). This is true for Christians too.

Psalm 46 – Whenever we have problems, whether big or small, we are not to be afraid but are to trust God and take refuge in Him. We can do this because God is loving, powerful, sovereign, and He is always with us. Soon enough, He will put an end to wars and earthquakes, and Christ will return to rapture the church, judge His enemies, and reign over the world – and this is our hope! “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations.” Psalm 46:10

Psalm 67 – “Let the peoples praise You, O God… God blesses us that all the ends of the earth may fear Him” (Ps. 67:5-7). This promise is for both the Jewish people and the church. God blessed the Jews in the past and is blessing the church in the present, and our hope is that Christ will be ruling the world in the future, during the millennial kingdom. Then all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, will be supremely blessed, resulting in all the ends of the earth fearing and praising God.

Psalm 86 – David, a godly man, is being persecuted and he cries out to God, and experiences His grace, goodness, love, and comfort, for which he is very thankful. But David, seeing the future, has hope, knows better days are ahead. He says, “All nations… shall come and worship before You, O Lord,” which we now know takes place during the millennial kingdom. Psalm 86:9, Isaiah 2:1-4

Psalm 102 – A sad and severely afflicted Psalmist is praying to God. The answer is hope, for God enables the Psalmist to get his eyes off himself and on His plans for the future, when He has mercy on Israel, when the Lord appears and builds up Zion. This occurs during the kingdom age, when “the peoples and kingdoms are gathered together to serve the Lord.” Psalm 102:18-22

Psalm 105 – The characters in this chapter are involved in God’s plan to fulfill His promise to Israel – “He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘to you I will give the land of Canaan.’” (Ps. 105:10-11). Like the Israelites of old, God has given you your own part and place in history, and He has given you hope. In the ages to come, you will share in God’s promise to Israel. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:3

Psalm 121 – The Psalmist is thinking about how God is keeping and protecting him. He’s also thinking about God’s greater purposes, His plans for Israel, and that God will keep and bless them in the future, which he knows includes himself. “The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever” (Ps. 121:8). This hope is for all believers. John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:3-5

Psalm 125 – God’s goodness and protection is upon individual believers, those who trust in the Lord, but it’s also upon Jerusalem, upon Mount Zion, “which cannot be moved but abides forever” (Ps. 125:1). The promises in this Psalm pertain to the city of God and the people of God and will be fulfilled in the kingdom age to come. “The Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” Psalm 125:1-2

Psalm 131 – God was working in the life of a believer and in the nation of Israel. Just as a believer is to be humble and trust in the Lord, so too, the nation of Israel is to trust, is to hope in the Lord. “O Israel, hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forever” (Ps. 121:3). Hebrews 11:39-40 makes it clear that this hope for the future is for both Jewish believers and the church.

Psalm 138 – King David is thankful for God’s love, truth, and strength. But he knows life is not just about him, for the time will come when “all the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord (Psalm 138:4). God works in the lives of the lowly and the kings, and His purpose, and our hope is for all people to glorify Him forever. “Your lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 138:8

Psalm 145 – David is committed to praising his gracious and loving Lord forever, but he also knows that all believers will be blessing His name forever. This is the kingdom work of God and is our hope and our future. “I will praise Your name forever and ever” (Ps. 145:2). “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Ps. 145:13). “All flesh will bless His name forever.” Psalm 145:21

Here are some take-aways from these Psalms:
* These Psalms talk about God’s work in individual lives, ones who were afflicted, persecuted, struggling, and fearful. But they cried out to God, trusted God, rejoiced, and were thankful. And we can all relate, for God is now at work in our lives, helping us to live wholeheartedly for Him.

* The people in these Psalms lived for God and had hope, and their hope helped them to live for Him. We too need hope if we are to live rightly and strongly for God – we need to look forward to Christ’s return to rapture the church, judge His enemies, and set up His kingdom on earth.

* God’s work in these believers was related to His work in the world at large. The same is true for you – like a puzzle piece, you are an important part of the big picture. God’s present-day work in you is part of His comprehensive plan to bring about Christ’s return. Be glad that you are part of God’s plan to send Christ to rapture the church and then reign over the world.

* We looked at all these Psalms that talked about hope, but you need to realize that there are many more passages, hundreds of verses in the Old and New Testaments that describe our hope, that clearly tell us our future.

* While the believers in these Psalms lived over 2500 years ago and had hope, we live in the end-times and we also have hope, knowing that it won’t be that long – 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 years??!! – before our hopes are realized, before we see Jesus Christ coming back to take us to Himself and to heaven.

So how should you live? Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). Have faith in God (Luke 18:8). Pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom (Matt. 6:10). Seek first the kingdom of God. (Matt. 6:33). Be involved in a church that is making disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). Be filled with hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Spirit.” Romans 15:13

P.S. This past Sunday our church was greatly blessed and sobered to hear Bob Hunt from Zion’s Hope speak about “The Collapse of a Nation.” Bob’s text was Isaiah 9-10, and these passages along with many examples from the United States of America, make it very clear that this country is in severe moral decline, is in grave danger. I strongly encourage you to listen to this message.

God’s Plans for 2023

January 1, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #265 ~

What will God do in 2023? He will carry out His plans for you and every person, family, church, and country in the world. He knows exactly what He’s going to do, and it relates directly to His word, and to His will, what He decreed in eternity past. “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure” (Is. 46:10). That God will do what He has planned to do is so important and extremely encouraging. We can’t trust people, but we can trust God. More than you realize, God will fulfill His plans for you, the church, Israel, and the entire world. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations… the counsel of the Lord stands forever.” Psalm 33:10-11

What God does this year must be seen in view of the fact that we live in the end-times. The two-minute warning has already been given. All that God does, every single thing that happens, somehow relates to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. God is continually and carefully putting each piece of His global end-times’ puzzle into place, and soon enough we “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27

I am going to tell you what God will be doing in 2023, and I’m not saying I had a special vision from God, I’m not sharing something “new” that no one else knows. I’m only passing on to you what God has specifically told us in His word, or that which is a necessary prerequisite to the fulfillment of His prophetic word. Here are some of God’s plans with regards to four areas, the unsaved, the saved, the church, and the world.

The unsaved, the sinners, the unbelievers
* In eternity past, God chose who would get saved, who would become His children. This year many unbelievers, because of their repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, will be born again and become members of God’s family. John 3:1-21, Eph. 1:4-7
* Most unbelievers will continue in sin and continue to harden their hearts against God. But God is sovereign, allowing them to sin only in the way that He wants, only in a way that is part of His end-times’ plan for planet earth, and only that which results in Him being glorified. Romans 9:17
* Sinners will be used by God to help fulfill His work on this earth. For example, they will play a key role in God’s spiritual training of the saved, for the saved will learn to love and trust God, to share His truth, and to be forgiving, patient, persevering, and hoping. Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:28
* Some of the unsaved who remain unsaved will physically die this year and be immediately taken from this earth. They will go straight to hell, a place of indescribable pain and the blackest darkness. Matt. 25:30,41,46; Luke 16:24

The saved, the believers, the Christians
* God will be raising up worshipers and workers. Psalm 145, Matt 9:36-38
* Believers are God’s workmanship. He will daily and faithfully work in their lives, teaching and enabling them to love Him, be fruitful, and be God-glorifying. Psalm 115:1, Eph. 2:10
* God will help believers grow in faith, love, hope, holiness, and wisdom. 1 Thess. 5:8-22
* God will teach Christians to walk with the Spirit, be filled with the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, and have fellowship with the Spirit. Gal. 5:16, Eph. 5:18, Rom. 8:17, 2 Cor. 13:14
* God will be teaching individual Christians truths from His word. John 8:32, 16:13, 17:17
* God will train Christians to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and He will open many doors for the gospel. Matt. 5:13-16, Col. 4:3
* God will ordain specific trials for believers, to discipline them, teach them His word, and provide opportunities for the gospel. Deut. 8, Ps. 119:71, Phil. 1:12-14
* God will sovereignly allow millions of believers around the world to be persecuted, and it’s all according to His plan and for His purposes and glory. 1 Peter 2:20-22, 3:14, 4:12-19, 5:10
* God will take many of His children home to heaven. Psalm 116:15, Phil. 1:21

The church, the body of Jesus Christ
* Jesus Christ will build His church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18
* Christ will raise up leaders for His churches, ones who shepherd the believers and teach them His word. Eph. 4:12-13, 2 Tim. 4:1-4, 1 Peter 5:2
* Christ will be working in His churches, teaching them to be holy, united, and loving. Eph. 4:1-24
* Christ will give His churches grace and peace, and enable them to go on in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Spirit. Acts 9:31, Ephesians 1:2
* Christ has ordained that some of His churches be greatly persecuted. 1 Peter 4:12-19
* Christ will enable churches around the world to be preaching the gospel and making disciples, resulting in the growth of the church. Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19-20
* The entire church, the spiritual dwelling of God, will continue to be fitted and built together by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
* Christ will be protecting individual believers and His churches from the enemy. 2 Timothy 4:18
* By Dec. 31, 2023, we will be one year closer to the end of the age and to that time when the church is raptured from this earth and taken to Christ. Matt. 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:17

The world
* We will continue to hear about birth pains in various parts of the world – and some will experience them, these wars, earthquakes, plagues, famines, and economic distress. And many will die because of them. Matt. 24:4-8, 28; Luke 21:9-11; Rev. 6:1-8
* Lawlessness will continue to increase in countries all over the world. Matt. 24:12, 2 Tim. 3:13
* There will continue to be a reshaping, realigning, and repositioning of nations. The United States, because of all her sin, is now being judged by God and therefore, will keep declining in power. This will eventually lead to an Antichrist-led empire that will rule the entire world. Dan. 7:23-27, Rev. 13:1-8, Rev. 17:11-13
* There will be continued and increasing persecution against both Jews and Christians. But God will enable the Christians to endure, to persevere. Matt. 24:9-28, Mark 13:9-13
* God, “with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth”, will continue to work “all things after the counsel of His will to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Eph. 1:9-11, Romans 8:28-30. Notice that it says, “all things”, which means God is sovereignly working through all events, people, animals, things, leaders, and countries to the end that Christ will be glorified in the entire world. Isaiah 46:9-11

God, because He is holy, faithful, loving, powerful, and sovereign, will be fulfilling His word and His will this coming year. He will be carrying out His above stated plans in the lives of believers, unbelievers, the church, and the world around us, all leading to Christ’s return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His glorious reign on earth. I pray that you are excited about seeing God’s work in 2023, and that you keep working for Him, keep watching what’s He’s doing in the world, and keep waiting “for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thess. 1:10, Mark 13:34

P.S. As we start a brand new year, here are a few other posts to read that talk about the future: “Prophecy is Predicting the Future”, “Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future”, and “Forecasting the Future of the World.” Have a most blessed and God-glorifying year.

Filling in the End-Times’ Outline

December 10, 2022 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #263 ~

I’m so glad to be alive at this time in history, in these end-times, for we know that Jesus Christ is coming soon! Some say His coming is imminent, that He can return at any moment, but that’s not true, for God has told us many things that must occur before the end of this age and before the return of His Son (Mark 13:23). I’ve told you these things in the past, but I will share them again, for God’s plans for the future need to be firmly planted in your mind and heart.

Here is God’s end-times’ outline, what needs to happen before Christ comes back:
* There will be more false Christs, false teachers, and false prophets. Matt. 24:5, 11, 24
* Birth pains (earthquakes, famines, plagues, and wars) will be occurring. Matt. 24:4-8
* There will be a great apostasy resulting in believers being betrayed. Matt. 24:10, 2 Thess. 2:3
* Lawlessness will be increasing all over the world. Matt. 24:12, 2 Thess. 2:11-12
* A Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem. Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 11:1-2
* This temple will be desecrated – there will be “the abomination of desolation.” Matt. 24:15
* The Antichrist (beast) will be revealed, worshiped, and begin ruling the world. Rev. 13:3-8
* The Antichrist will cause people to worship his image and take his mark. Rev. 13:11-17
* The gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached to all the nations. Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20
* Both Jews and Christians will be greatly persecuted. Matt. 24:9, 16-22; Rev. 12:14-17
* Millions will be dying because of “birth pains” and “great tribulation”. Matt. 24:28, Rev. 6:1-9
* The end of this age will be marked by a massive earthquake, and by great signs in the heavens which will result in the world going dark. Matt. 24:3, 29; Rev. 6:12-14
* The coming of Christ and the rapture of the church will happen immediately after the end of the age. Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17

God wants you to know these prophecies that must occur before Christ’s coming. As I’ve been watching the world around us, some of these things have already been happening. And I’ve been seeing other things that relate to, connect, or must precede the above signs, events, and conditions, things that are filling in this end-time’s outline. And I’m saying, “Wow!!!” More than ever before, God’s prophetic word is being fulfilled, giving us confidence that it won’t be long before Christ appears. (Heb. 10:25, 37). Here are some things I’ve been seeing and hearing:

* “Nation will rise against nation… There will be great earthquakes and in various places plagues and famines” (Luke 21:10-11). Fuel, fertilizer, and labor shortages, along with supply chain issues are leading to food shortages and famines in various parts of the world. Wars will continue to exist and there will be more earthquakes and plagues, just like God said in His word. Matt. 24:25

* “Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). Our country has become terribly and increasingly sinful and lawless in the past 20 years. Vicious assaults occur in broad daylight. Blatant smash and grab robberies are happening. The unborn are still being killed. There are more murders. There’s a tremendous lack of respect for people. Human trafficking is increasing. Massive government corruption is occurring. Women are becoming men and men are becoming women??!! There’s hate and greed. Truth is lacking, and there are all kinds of lies. Most people don’t love God, but instead love themselves, money, food, sports, pleasure, and all kinds of idols. And it will only get worse. Is. 59:14-15, Amos 6:4-7, 1 Cor. 10:7, 2 Tim. 3:1-4

* “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power…’” (Job 1:6-12, 1 John 5:19). Seeing the escalating evil makes me think that God has given Satan more freedom to promote sin and carry out wickedness. And it’s God’s judgment upon our country, and part of His end-times’ strategy. The other day I read a flyer promoting an elementary school club in Chesapeake, Virginia. It said, “Hey kids, let’s have fun at (an) after school Satan club.” But remember, God is sovereignly and purposefully allowing Satan to do what He wants him to do. Romans 9:17

* “God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity… to degrading passions… to a depraved mind” (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). Sexual perversion of the worst sort is occurring in our country, the sodomization of our society, and our children too. This gross and grave sexual sin is accepted and applauded by many, promoted by a few, and legalized by our lawmakers. It’s clear evidence of the depravity in our country, and that we will soon be removed from our position as the world’s #1 superpower. As most of you know, the moral decline and downfall of the United States must take place before the Antichrist can come to power and begin ruling the world.

* “He causes all… to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark” (Rev. 13:16-17). Nations are becoming more authoritative and totalitarian. And their plan is to use recent technological advances to control people, advances that have to do with artificial intelligence, smart phones, digital ID’s, vaccine passports, surveillance systems, chip implants, social credit scores, and digital currencies. (The United States recently began working on an experimental currency, the Central Bank Digital Currency). Don’t you think this technology will sooner or later lead to the development and implementation of the mark of the beast, the means by which the Antichrist will control people? Isn’t it also true that people will get use to these advances in technology, for they will seem like they are necessary, and are making life easier? As one person recently said, “The time will come when we can’t live without the mark of the beast.”

* “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). In the past few years, we’ve been witnessing the arrests and jailing of political enemies, of “domestic terrorists”. It won’t be long before Christians, labeled as “Christian nationalists” or “Christian terrorists”, will be looked upon as one of the main reasons for our country’s problems. It’s obvious that the stage is being set for an open war on Christianity, for the predicted and unjust persecution of Christians. Matt. 24:9, Rev. 6:9-11

* “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another (the Antichrist) will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones” (Dan. 7:24, Rev. 13:1). In the end, there will be a kingdom of ten nations controlled by the Antichrist, the power base by which he will rule the world during Daniel’s 70^th week. Bill Wilson, Koenig International Senior News Analyst, said this about our present global situation – “The G20 is a group of 19 nations plus the European Union committed to coordinating global economic, health, and travel policy… Among the G20 initiatives is the World Health Organization which at the last G20 meeting gained approval of its global authority to act as a ‘health’ control mechanism for international travel, pandemic management, food growth and distribution, and climate control. The G20 nations appear to have empowered themselves to build the vehicle that can be driven by an oligarchy of unelected leaders or a single leader to control the world and enslave its inhabitants.”

Then you read about the United Nations, the Global Reset, the World Economic Forum, and that political, financial, and tech leaders have this goal of globalization, of a one world order. I believe this kind of international coordination and control will eventually lead to the coming of the Antichrist and his dictatorial rule of the earth. No one knows exactly how and when this comes about but it will, and sometime after the United States has been dethroned from her position of power. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast (the Antichrist) for one hour.” Revelation 17:12

Never forget that God “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11) with “a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ” (Eph. 1:10). God is directing the affairs and activities of the world, He is causing signs and events to happen, and He’s moving the pieces, the nations, rulers, and people into place. Be awake and alert. Be working and waiting. Be like the “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chron. 12:32). And soon enough, we “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27

In a recent Zion’s Fire article, David Rosenthal said it this way, “The Author of the Universe has already written the last chapter. The epic conclusion will take place at His appointed time, and in harmony with His Sovereign purposes. When everything is aligned in accordance with His will, He will initiate the events of the Last Days and bring all things to a just and righteous consummation. I believe we are seeing the shadows of the coming alignment taking shape in the world today. Our responsibility as followers of Christ is to remain faithful, keep watching, be discerning, and be prepared.” Amen!

P.S. I get excited knowing what needs to happen before Christ returns, but saddened knowing that many don’t have a clue as to what will be taking place. That’s why I write this blog post, to help you understand God’s plan for the future. I strongly encourage you to read “Matthew 24 – the Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.” One more thing – as you know, we live in a world of sadness, sorrow, and depression. Here is last Sunday’s message, and it’s all about rejoicing in the Lord, and receiving His heart-lifting joy.

My Top Thirty Charts Help You See The Future

July 14, 2022 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #252 ~

We are living in the end-times, and it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church! It’s amazing how much information is in God’s word about the end-times, yet most Christians are confused, in error, and even ignorant about what’s going to happen. The purpose of this blog site is to help you understand and be encouraged by the future God has for you and for all His people.

I’ve tried to do this through blog posts and prophecy charts. In the charts, I’ve drawn out and displayed key prophetic truths on a Biblical timeline. I want to make it easy for you to see and understand the chronology of key prophetic events, and most importantly, Christ’s coming, the rapture, and the ages to come. You need perspective, you need to see your life in view of the end-times, or otherwise, you can get discouraged and stuck in your own little world. God wants to encourage you, to keep you looking ahead, to give you hope, and these charts are a way to do that. In these end-times, you need to be educated and excited about the future God has for you, the church, and the Jewish people.

It’s imperative that you see the big picture, where we’ve been, where we’re at now (the man in the charts), and where we’re going. And everything is going according to God’s plan, His promises and prophecies (Isaiah 46:8-11). I strongly encourage you to study these charts, for I’m convinced they will help you understand the big picture, and how you are an integral part of what God is presently doing in this world.

There are 280 charts on this blog site, and each one is instructive and forward looking. But that 280 number can be overwhelming – that’s why I have listed out 30 key charts, and I suggest that you examine each of them. I’m convinced they will help build and cement the truth of God’s prophetic word in your heart and mind. And remember to download them, print them, and pass them on to friends.

* “The Kingdom of God” (#4) – God’s word tells us that we are living in the second of four ages, and it won’t be long before the start of the third age, when Christ reigns over the whole world.
* “A Biblical Prophetic Overview” (#6) – When we think about prophecy, it’s important to go back to the past, and see how that leads up to the present and future plans God has for us.
* “Daniel’s 70^th Week” (#11) – End-times’ prophecy can only be properly understood when you learn about Daniel’s 70^th week, a 7-year time frame that will begin in the near future.
* “Luke 21” (#20) – See how God is concurrently working with both Jews and Christians in these end-times.
* “Matthew 24” (#21) – This detailed chart helps to illustrate the most important end-time’s prophecy passage in the Bible.
* “The Antichrist is Coming” (#23) – Christ is coming to rapture the church, but the Antichrist must come first. God’s plan and timing for the Antichrist is seen in this chart.

* “God’s Plan for the Jews in the End-Times” (#25) – God wants you to have a clear picture of how He will be working with the Jewish people in the coming years.
* “1 Thessalonians” (#29) – This chart focuses on the rapture and the day of the Lord.
* “2 Thessalonians” (#30) – This chart describes the coming of Christ and the Antichrist.
* “The Conflict of the Ages” (#54) – This chart pictures the past, present, and future spiritual battle between Satan and God – and God always, always wins.
* “Decline of the United States” (#62) – The United States is going down because of her sin. And this is all part of God’s plan, and soon enough, Antichrist’s kingdom will take over the world.
* “Harmonizing God’s word concerning end-time events” (#63) – God keeps telling us about the same coming events on earth – He wants you to be convinced about what will be taking place.

* “How Then Shall We Live?” (#64) – You need to know, not just what will be happening in these end-times, but how God wants you to live your life during this time.
* “The Rapture is…” (#65) – It’s amazing how many things must occur before the church is raptured. You must know them or otherwise, you will be caught off guard when Christ returns.
* “Tribulation for the Believer, Wrath for the Unbeliever” (#66) – It’s true that Christians will suffer in the end-times, but nothing compared to the deserved, hell-fire experience of unrepentant unbelievers.
* “Our Christian Hope” (#69) – This picture of your hope, of how God will greatly bless you in the future, is very encouraging! It’s eternally worth it to live this very short life on earth for the Lord!
* “Woe! Woe! Woe!” (#79) – This is a sobering view of the eternal pain and punishment for those non-Christians who reject God’s mercy, and don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ.
* “Why is Jesus Christ Coming Back?” (#91) – There are many good reasons why Christ must come back to earth, and knowing them helps you understand God’s purposes.

* “What Will Take Place at the Coming of Christ?” (94) – It’s unbelievable all that God is going to do when Christ returns – and He predicted it and planned it all out.
* “Living the Christian Life in the End-Times” (#108) – If you really want to know how to live for Christ in these end-time years, then look at all these second-coming verses.
* “Error or Truth” (#113) – There’s a lot of error when it comes to end-time’s prophecy, and you don’t want to be fooled, confused, or led astray. And so find out the truth.
* “God’s Promises to the Jews” (#115) – God makes three wonderful, world-changing promises to the Jews, all relating to you as a Christian, and they will surely come to pass in the near future.
* “The King of kings” (#131) – The prophesies in Daniel 2 and 7 regarding prominent kingdoms in our world all point to the return and reign of Jesus Christ.
* “The Regathering of the Jews to Israel” (#148) – Over the past 140+ years, God has been bringing the Jewish people back to their land, the clearest, strongest proof that we are in the end-times.

* “The Past, Present, and Future – Acts 3” (#177) – Just a few verses in Acts 3 give you the big picture of God’s past, present, and future working with the church.
* “The Remarkable Results of the Rapture of the Church” (#198) – You will truly be encouraged when you see all the immediate, life-changing results of being raptured.
* “Our Father Who is in Heaven…” (#215) – Visualize what the Lord’s prayer says about prophecy, for it helps you understand what you are praying, and it enables you to see the future.
* “What Needs to Take Place?” (#226) – This one chart spells out 15 different things that must happen before Christ returns to rapture the church.
* “World Peace is Coming” (#249) – Find out when world peace is coming, and it’s sure not happening in this evil age. Only Christ can bring world peace, and He will, in the next age, the kingdom age.
* “Jesus Christ, the Lord, is Coming” (#258) – Jesus Christ is coming very soon, and then you will see Him as a most glorious Savior, Judge, Redeemer, and King. Hallelujah!

Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, God is leading, moving, working, and His goal is to bring about the return of His Son to earth. He has told us this sequence of prophesied events that need to come about, specific plans that will be precisely and perfectly carried out. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). God told us ahead of time everything we need to know about these end-times, these last years leading up to the coming of Christ. Might these charts help you to know what’s coming, so that you will be excited and encouraged, “and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

God Tells Us The Future – Matthew 24-25

May 14, 2022 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #246 ~

We live in a sinful crazy world, and we often wonder where things are going! But as Christians, we are not to worry or be afraid. God wants us to know that He’s in charge, and everything that’s been happening on this planet is part of His sovereign plan, and it’s all leading to Christ’s return to earth. What’s amazing and so encouraging is that God has told us all you need to know about His Son’s coming and the end-times. He has not given us all the details of a future leading up to the rapture of the church, but a very good outline. “Behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23

The most important prophecy passage in the Bible is Matthew 24:3 – 25:31. It starts in vs. 3 with the disciples asking Jesus, “What is the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”, and He answers them by giving the big picture of the end-times, and how then we should live. He tells them, and us (Matt. 24:15b), God’s plans for the Christians, Jews, and unbelievers. Here is a short summary:

The birth pains – Matt. 24:4-8. There will be “birth pains”, different events and conditions signaling that Christ’s coming is getting closer. God is telling the world to wake up! These “birth pains” are false Christs, wars, earthquakes, famines, and plagues, and for some people, financial problems. All these things are now taking place and will continue, evidence that we are living in the end-times. Now they won’t be happening all over the world but only in various places – some people will experience them, and others will just hear about them. Matt. 24:4-8, Rev. 6:1-8

God’s work with the Christians – Matt. 24:9-14. Whereas the “birth pains” affect both Christians and non-Christians, vss. 9-14 is particularly relevant to Christians. These verses describe a most difficult and dangerous time for believers living on this earth in the coming years. What do we learn? First, Christians all over the world will undergo great tribulation – they will be hated for their faith, for loving Jesus, and many will be martyred. Second, there will be a great apostasy. Many so-called Christians will fall away, will defect, and will turn against Christians and turn them in to the authorities. Third, there will be false prophets, deceivers trying to trick true believers. Fourth, the world will be an exceedingly sinful place – lawlessness will cover the earth. Fifth, many Christians will persevere to the end, and be saved, that is, be raptured. Sixth, Christians are to keep preaching the gospel to all the nations, and then this age will come to an end. Jesus promised us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20

God’s work with the Jews – Matt. 24:15-27. These verses are about the Jews, and what happens to them directly impacts the Christians. Luke 21:20-24 gives a historical overview of the Jews, from being scattered (70 AD), persecuted, and then regathered (1880’s – present). That the Jews have been returning to Israel is the #1 reason we know we live in the end-times. From Matt. 24:15-26, we learn four major things that will affect the Jews. First, there will be the “abomination of desolation”, which is the Antichrist desecrating the temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 9:27). Second, the Antichrist will chase after the Jews but many will miraculously escape (Rev. 12:13-16). Third, there will be great tribulation, a great persecution of Jews starting in Israel and spreading to the world, with that evil Antichrist also making war with the Christians (Rev. 12:17, Matt. 24:9). Fourth, false Christs and prophets will try to deceive the Jews, saying the true Christ is on earth – but we learn that He will come from heaven. “Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matt. 24:27

Death – Matt. 24:28. “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Because of the birth pains and great tribulation, both Christians and non-Christians will be dying in the years leading up to Christ’s coming. “Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the beasts of the earth… I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of God’s word.” Rev. 6:8-9

The end of the age – Matt. 24:29. This age is coming to an end. In the near future, during Daniel’s 70^th week, and after the coming of the Antichrist, the skies will grow dark – “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” This, along with a great earthquake, are God’s signs that this age has come to an end, and that the day of the Lord is at hand. Rev. 6:12-17

Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church – Matt. 24:30-31. Immediately after the end of this age, Jesus Christ will return to earth. His coming will be visible and obvious to all who are still alive, for the whole world will be lit up by His glory. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” The skies will suddenly go from dark to light, and Christ will be seen coming in the clouds. A split second later, Christians on earth will be raptured and together with believers who previously had died and gone to heaven, be glorified and gathered to Christ. 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 2 Thess. 2:1

The timing of end-time’s events – Matt. 24:32-34, 36. Two timing truths are given in these verses. First, we are to know the general time of Christ’s coming. The events prophesied in Matt. 24:4-29 will occur in the years leading up to the end of the age, making it clear that we are getting closer to Christ’s return to rapture the church. Heb. 10:25 says we will “see the day drawing near.” Second, we do not know the specific time of Christ’s return, for “of that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son, but the Father alone.”

Daniel’s 70^th week relates to Matt. 24-25, helping us understand the timing of end-time events – Daniel 9:24-27. These verses talk about 70 weeks, each week consisting of 7 years. The 1^st week began with the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem (444 BC), and the 69^th week ended with Jesus being cut off, that is, crucified (30 AD). The 70^th week, a most important prophetic period, has not yet started. At the beginning of the 70^th week, a covenant (treaty) will be confirmed, allowing the Jews to build their temple in Jerusalem. At the midpoint of this week, this temple is desolated by the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27), at which time He is revealed as the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3-4). At the end of this 7-year period, a large remnant of Jews will be saved. It’s during the 2^nd half of Daniel’s 70^th week, at a time unknown to us, that Christ returns to rapture the church. Matt. 24:30-31

Unbelievers do not believe that Christ is coming back – Matt. 24:37-41. The unbelievers, the unsaved living in the end-times, are unaware of what will soon take place. The days of Noah and Lot illustrate how they are living in the years leading up to Christ’s return – “They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (Matt. 24:38); “They were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building” (Luke 17:28). In fact, many unbelievers will mock Christians with regards to Christ’s return – “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Pet. 3:4). But when the earth begins to shake and the skies grow dark, these evil unrepentant unbelievers will be scared to death, for they know that God’s wrath has come (Rev. 6:12-17). And suddenly the Christians will disappear, flying up into the skies. “One will be taken, and one will be left.”

How Christians should live during the end-times – Matt. 24:42 – 25:1-13. Christians must be ready, be expecting, be looking for Christ’s return (Matt. 24:44). We must be sensible and faithful (Matt. 24:45), doing God’s work by serving the saints and witnessing to the lost. We must be prudent and wise (Matt. 25:2). We must be alert, spiritually sensitive to the Spirit, and physically aware of what is happening around them. “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do.” (1 Chron. 12:32). We must be living lives filled with faith, hope, and love. “Let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:8-9

The certainty of Christ’s coming – Matt. 24:35. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” This verse, conspicuously placed in the middle of this prophecy passage, is an exclamation point to all that Jesus said. What He told us is the absolute truth, truth you need to know inside and out, for what He said will dramatically affect all those living on this earth, both saved and lost. And you will literally see Christ’s words come to pass. What an exciting time to be alive! “Behold, I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:20

P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of understanding Matthew 24-25. Please read it, study it, and learn what it says, for your sake, your family, and your church. I strongly encourage you to read “Matthew 24 – the Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible“, and “What is the Main Message of Matthew 24?”

Russia At War Against Ukraine – Matthew 24:6

February 25, 2022 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #239 ~

Another war is taking place! This time it’s Russia invading Ukraine! None of us know what this is leading to, but humanly speaking, it doesn’t look good. How will this affect Asia, Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world? Only God knows – and I say that sincerely, for it’s the truth. And it’s not just that God knows what will happen, but that what will happen is part of His overall purpose and plan for the world at this time in history.

We live in the end-times, the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church and take over the world. And Christ told us there would be wars during this time. He said, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matt. 24:6-7

But there’s a lot more than just wars taking place before the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:7 goes on to tell you that there will be famines and earthquakes. And further on in Matt. 24, and in other Bible passages, we discover that much more needs to happen. In fact, Christ said, “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). What then does Christ want us to know? The following, from God’s word, is a detailed list of signs and events that need to take place, and conditions that need to be met.

1. Jews are once again living in Israel – Ezekiel 36-37
2. False christs and false prophets are deceiving people – Matt. 24:5, 11, 23-24
3. Wars – Matt. 24:6
4. Famines – Matt. 24:7
5. Earthquakes – Matt. 24:7
6. Plagues (like Covid 19) – Luke 21:11
7. Financial problems (includes inflation) – Rev. 6:6
8. A desire for globalism, a one world order (God’s global reset) – Dan. 7, Rev. 13
9. Nations reformed and realigned (God’s new world order) – Dan. 2, 7
10. Increasing Anti-Semitism – Matt. 24:15-26, Luke 21:24, Rev. 12:6-16
11. Increasing sin and lawlessness – Matt 24:12, 2 Thess. 2:3, 2 Tim. 3:1-5
12. A very unloving and hostile world – Matt. 24:12
13. Confirmation of a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist – Dan. 9:27
14. Offering sacrifices in a newly built temple in Jerusalem – Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4
15. Great apostasy, a falling away of so-called believers – Matt. 24:10, 2 Thess. 2:3
16. The decline of global powers before the Antichrist rules (e.g., the United States) – Rev. 13
17. The rise, revealing, and rule of the Antichrist – Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-9, Rev. 13:3-7
18. The desolation of the temple by the Antichrist – Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4
19. The use of modern technology by the Antichrist to help him rule the world – Rev. 13:15-17
20. Powerful signs and false wonders performed by the 2^nd beast – 2 Thess. 2:9-10, Rev. 13:13-14
21. Two godly and powerful witnesses in Jerusalem – Rev. 11:3-12
22. Great persecution of Christians and Jews – Matt. 24:9-10, 21-25; Luke 21:12-19; Rev. 13:7
23. The gospel being preached to all the nations – Matt. 24:14, Matt. 28:19-20
24. The sign of the end of the age, the signs in the heavens – Matt. 24:3, 29; Rev. 6:12-14
25. The sign of the Son of Man – Matt. 24:3, 30
!!THE COMING OF CHRIST AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH – Matt. 24:31, 2 Thess. 2:1!!

Let me share some thoughts about this:
1. Much needs to happen before Jesus Christ returns to rapture of the church. Wars are only one of 25 different things. God wants you to see the big picture, to know all that needs to take place before He sends His Son back to this earth.
2. Conditions in this world are going to get much worse before they get better, that is, before Christ comes back to rapture us, and begin His reign over this world. Psalms 2, 46, 67
3. Don’t be afraid. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… Cease striving and know that I am God… I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46). Have promises, trust in the Lord, walk in the Spirit, depend on God’s grace, be in a good church, and have good fellowship.

4. God is sovereign, is completely in charge. The world and all that needs to occur before Christ’s coming is like a giant trillion-piece puzzle being put together, and every piece is an integral part of God’s end-time’s plan. He is divinely and wisely directing every thing, every person, and every event in just the right way at just the right time, and it’s all leading to Christ’s return. This war Russia is having with Ukraine, and all that results from it and how it affects the world is part of this puzzle, part of His perfect end-time’s plan. It may now look confusing, but when the church is raptured, the Jews are saved, the world is judged, and Christ begins to reign, it will be beautiful and glorious. “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. “ Rom. 8:28, Eph. 1:9-11, Isaiah 46:9-11

5. It’s imperative that you have a clear understanding of Biblical end-times prophecy. Don’t be naïve, mistaken, or in error. And be careful that you don’t watch too much news, for it can lead to fear and wrong priorities. What’s most important is not what people say, but what God has declared in His word, for what He says is altogether true and will come to pass. (Matt. 24:25). I encourage you to read the posts I have written, and look at the charts, for they will help you understand what is to happen and how then you are to live. But take the time to study this out yourself, especially Matt. 24, Luke 21, 1 Thess. 4-5, 2 Thess. 1-2, and Revelation. Then tell your family, friends, fellow church members, and others. “I have appointed you a watchman.” Ezekiel 3:17, 1 Chronicles 12:32

6. God predetermined and predestined you to be alive at this time in history, in the last years of this church age, just before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. God wanted you to be alive “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14), in this place, with certain people, and to do your part. Love God, love people, be faithful, be diligent, and do all the work God wants you to do. “Do business until I come back.” Luke 18:13
7. Be filled with hope. As you work for God, keep looking forward to the future, to the return of Jesus Christ, to seeing Him face to face, and being forever with Him and all the believers. “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27

8. Keep praying for the Christians in Ukraine as they go through what is most likely the toughest, most challenging time of their life. Pray that God would give them an extra measure of grace, peace, wisdom, and protection, and use them for His special purposes. Pray too for the lost, that many would turn to the Lord, and be saved.

P.S. Our church had a special guest this past Sunday who spoke on 2 Thessalonians 2. It was an excellent message on the timing of end-time events, and I really encourage you to listen to it.

I Am Looking Forward To…….

January 1, 2022 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #234 ~

As Christians, we must look ahead and look forward to what God will do for us, what we are to do for Him, and what He will be doing in the future. It is this faith and hope in God and obedience to Him that energizes and directs our lives – otherwise, we will get stuck and stagnate, unable to spiritually move ahead in the way He desires. So what does God have in store for your life on this earth? What has He planned out for the world, the church, the Jews, and the unbelievers in the last years of this age and in the ages to come? In the following two sections, I will share with you what I and all Christians should be looking forward to.

In 2022 and in the years ahead, I am looking forward to …
* … experiencing and being satisfied by God’s love! Psalm 90:14
* … loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! Mark 12:30
* … keeping God’s commands and fulfilling His will day after day! Psalm 119:1-8
* … seeing God fulfill His promises and plans for me and others I know! 2 Cor. 1:20
* … God teaching me from His word! Psalm 119:33-34
* … God causing all things to work together for good! Rom. 8:28-30
* … seeing progress and joy in my life and the lives of others! Phil. 1:25
* … growing in the true knowledge of God! 2 Peter 3:18
* … having good, quality times with God on a daily basis! Psalm 63:1-5

* … walking and being led by the Spirit, and bearing fruit for God! Gal. 5:16-18, 22-23
* … using the gifts I’ve been given for the good of others and the glory of God! 1 Pet. 4:10-11
* … open doors and opportunities for the gospel and godly service! Col. 4:3-6
* … being fitted and built together with believers into a dwelling of God! Eph. 2:21-22
* … hearing that Christ is building His church all over the world! Matt. 16:18
* … seeing God supernaturally save people from sin, death, and the devil! Col. 3:13-14
* … being strengthened by the power of God when I’m weak, sick, or worn out! 2 Cor. 12:9-10
* … having warm and refreshing fellowship with Christians! Romans 12:10

* … God giving me all the grace and peace that I need! Eph. 1:2
* … saying no to sin and becoming more holy and Christ-like! 1 Peter 1:14-16
* … resisting and standing firm against the schemes of the devil! Eph. 6:10-11
* … God delivering me out of trials and trouble! Psalm 18:1-3
* … God protecting me from the enemy, and rescuing me from every evil deed! 2 Tim. 4:18
* … seeing God do amazing, marvelous, and brand-new things! Isaiah 43:19
* … needing the Lord and trusting Him as I go through life and hard times! 1 Peter 1:6-9
* … carrying out and completing the work God wants me to do! John 17:4

In the last years of this age and / or in the ages to come, I am looking forward to …
* … the gospel being preached all over the world! Matt. 24:14
* … the 70^th week of Daniel, and all that God will be doing during that time! Daniel 9:27
* … prophesied events being fulfilled for Christians, Jews, and unbelievers! Matt. 24:3-33
* … cosmic disturbances and the great earthquake, the end of the age! Rev. 6:12-14
* … Christ’s coming and the gathering of believers to Himself! Matt. 24:30-31
* … physically dying or being raptured, and forever being with Christ! 1 Thess. 4:13-17
* … receiving a brand-new, immortal, powerful, and glorified body! 1 Cor. 15:40-42
* … that time when we will fully, always, and perfectly love the Lord! Mark 12:30
* … being with believing friends in heaven and in our heavenly homes! Heb. 12:22-24

* … when God will justly punish wicked sinners and evildoers! Psalm 37:12-15
* … seeing the salvation of a large remnant of Jews! Rom. 11:25-27
* … watching Jesus Christ rule and reign as King over the whole earth! Psalm 47:6-8
* … reigning with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom! Rev. 5:10
* … seeing God spiritually and physically bless Israel during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 67
* … the rivers clapping their hands and the mountains singing together for joy! Psalm 98:8
* … seeing Christ enact perfect justice during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 72:8-14
* … all the nations worshiping and glorifying the Lord! Psalm 86:9

* … the whole world being full of God’s glory! Isaiah 6:3
* … the entire earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! Hab. 2:14
* … every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Phil. 2:11
* … the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and on the earth! Eph. 1:9-11
* … the devil being cast into the lake of fire and being punished forever and ever! Rev. 20:10
* … when there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain! Rev. 21:4
* … being with Jesus and fulfilling our glorious and eternal purpose! Eph. 2:10
* … being with all the angels and saints and praising God forever and ever! Psalm 145:1-2

As Christians we should never say we don’t know what is going to happen. We don’t know all the details, but we know in general what will be taking place. Indeed, the purposes, plans, and prophecies of God will most certainly be carried out. This should encourage you and fill you with hope, for it means a future filled with blessings, and the satisfaction of knowing that God will be greatly glorified. “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.” Romans 15:13

Be looking ahead, and be looking forward to 2022, to all the years of your life, and to the ages to come. And be like Paul who said, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

P.S. As we start this new year, here is an article that should motivate you to use the time God has given you – “The Time of My Life.” Here is another post that tells us that God has predicted the future, and told us what needs to happen before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church – “Bible Prophecy Enables Us To See the Future.”

This Evil Age is Coming to an End, And Soon!

November 22, 2021 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

A Saturday Morning Post #231 ~

Some people think life on this planet will keep going for 100’s if not 1000’s of years. Others believe there are acts of man or forces of nature that will either gradually or suddenly destroy this earth. They talk about how a super virus, meteorites, a solar flare, climate change, or a nuclear war may devastate the entire world, or at least a major part of it. But what does God say? He has made it clear that this present age, as we know it, will come to an end, and He has told us exactly how that will happen – and it’s not what people are telling you.

God goes into great detail about this age, especially the last years of this age. That’s because He doesn’t want you to be surprised by what will be happening or be led astray by the lies and errors of non-Christians. “Where is the wise man?… Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor. 1:20). These sinners don’t know what they are talking about, but God does, and His word spells out the truth about the future. Here’s what He wants you to know about this present age, and how it will end.

* This age we live in is an evil age, a very sinful age. “… the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might rescue us from this present evil age…” Galatians 1:4
* This age started with the sin of Adam and Eve. Their sin resulted in this entire earth and all of mankind being cursed and corrupted. Genesis 3, Romans 8:20-22
* Satan rules the world during this evil age. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Yet God is sovereign over everything and everyone, including Satan. Daniel 4:34-35
* Most people living during this age are sinners, are unbelievers. “The gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” Matt. 7:13-14

* That there’s another age after this age means this one must come to an end. In Eph. 1:21, God says, “… not only in this age, but in the one to come.” Eph. 2:7 speaks of “the ages to come.”
* That the Jews are back in their land is the reason we know we live in the last years of this evil age, what is often called the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37, Daniel 12:4, Luke 20:24
* That we live in the end-times means it won’t be long before this age comes to an end. Matt. 24:3-42, more than any other prophecy passage, describes what the end-times will look like.
* God will announce when this age comes to an end with two earth-waking signs – cosmic events and a great earthquake. “… a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood… The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Rev. 6:12-14; Matt. 24:3, 29

*This present age will end when we feel this great earthquake and see these cosmic events. Thus, we must conclude that this age will not end because of a global flood, a nuclear war, a solar flare, or anything else. “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end (of the age) … all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” Matt. 24:6-8
* Many prophesied events will be taking place before this age comes to an end. There will be birth pains, an Israeli treaty, increasing lawlessness, temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, great tribulation, apostasy, the preaching of the gospel, and the Antichrist ruling the earth. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” Matthew 24:33
* Discerning Christians will physically see and spiritually sense that this age is coming to an end. By reading God’s word and observing what’s happening in the world, we will “understand the times” (1 Chron. 12:32) and “see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
* God wants Christians to be holy and obedient. We are “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:12

* As Christians, our primary purpose is to preach the gospel right up until the end of this age. “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end (of this age) will come.” Matthew 24:14
* Christians are to “make disciples of all the nations”, always remembering Jesus’ encouraging promise – “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
* Christians are to persevere to the end of the age. “The one who endures to the end (of the age), he will be saved (raptured and glorified).” Matthew 24:13 “* The present age ends during the last half of Daniel’s 70^th week, after the Antichrist has been revealed and has been ruling for a short while, and just before Christ returns to rapture the church and defeat that devilish man. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9

* Most unbelievers don’t believe what God says about the end of this age. They say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” They think everything is going to stay the same, and that they won’t be judged, but they are badly mistaken. “The present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:3-7
* After this age is over, God will judge the unbelievers still living on earth. “The tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age.” Matthew 13:38-39
* When this age is over, Jesus Christ will rapture the church, pour out His wrath, and redeem a remnant of Jews. Then the next age will begin, and Christ will reign as King upon a renovated and restored earth. Psalm 98, Matthew 19:27-29, Acts 3:19-21

As Christians, don’t be fooled or scared by what sinners are saying, for they are sadly and terribly ignorant of what God is planning to do. We need to wake up to the fact that we live in the last years of this age, and that it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world. Then the next age, Christ’s 1000-year reign, will begin. You can’t imagine how dramatically and wonderfully different everything will be during the millennial kingdom age. “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the ages.” (Rev. 15:3). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations of the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:4-5

“God will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

P.S. Here are two other posts about how this age, and that it is going to end: “This Age Is Coming to an End, and Then the New Age Will Begin” and “The Big Picture: the Present Age and the Ages to Come.” Here is an article about the importance of thanksgiving – “Being Thankful – the Character of a Christian.”

How to Keep Going for God

October 9, 2021 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #228 ~

As you know, life can be difficult and, at times, extremely difficult. There are internal struggles, the fight against sin, and relational conflicts. There are problems at home and at work. There is sickness, chronic ailments, and old age. There is government oppression. There is slander, persecution, and attacks from the devil. There are the daily challenges of living in an evil and fallen world. Add to this the normal trials of life. And the Antichrist isn’t even here yet, and with him, the great tribulation Christians will go through. How do we keep going? How are we to keep loving God and living for Him? How are we to persevere?

God will keep you going to the end. “I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand… You will take me into glory” (Ps. 73:23-26). “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8). “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:8). God promises you that He will keep you going. He is your spiritual Father, and He won’t let you slip and fall by the wayside and fail to make it to your heavenly home. But what part do you play in persevering for the Lord? What are the divine means by which you can victoriously keep going through all the years of your life? Here are some keys, some God-given truths that will enable you to endure to the end.

1. The word of God. Knowing, believing, and holding on to God’s word is essential if you are to persevere and be a successful, God-glorifying Christian. “His delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night… Whatever he does prospers” (Ps. 1:2-3). As for me, I love Psalm 119, for it explains in great detail the benefits of loving and living by God’s word. “I have hidden Your word in my heart” (Ps. 119:11). Matt. 4:4, John 8:32, 2 Tim. 3:16-17

2. Your relationship with God is all important. You need to know that God is your Father, and you are His child, His chosen and holy one. Walk with God and, as you do, you will love Him, listen to Him, pray to Him, enjoy Him, and obey Him. “Let him who boasts, boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth” (Jer. 9:23-24). “This is eternal life, that they may know You.” John 17:3

3. Knowing Jesus Christ is vital. First and foundational you need to believe that Jesus Christ died to pay for all your sins. That’s just the beginning, for then you are to love Him, trust Him, and grow in your relationship with Him. He is to be your best friend. “I know My own, and My own know Me” (John 10:14). “I want to know Christ” (Phil. 3:10). “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3

4. Having a close relationship with the Holy Spirit is critical for perseverance. It is truly miraculous that the Spirit is in you, and that He is with you forever. (John 14:16). And He wants to lead you (Rom. 8:14), comfort you (John 14:16), teach you (John 14:26), strengthen you (Eph. 5:18), keep you holy (Gal. 5:16), and have fellowship with you (2 Cor. 13:14). He is a perfect and precious gift from God, a daily companion and helper, One you can always count on.

5. God’s grace is indispensable. Grace is a general word that speaks of God’s generous gift to you, the divine power and enablement you need every day in every area of your life. Only by God’s grace can you live and keep going for Him. Paul wrote extensively about this – “Grace to you” (Eph. 1:2). “God is able to make all grace abound to you” (2 Cor. 9:8). “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). “I became a servant… by the gift of God’s grace.” Eph. 3:7

6. Knowing God’s great love is necessary for perseverance. This love is personal, from God to you, for it’s what you need and when you need it. His love is powerful and energizing. His love is specific, for it’s forgiving, patient, good, compassionate, and gentle. Because the Christian is strengthened by God’s love, he can continue on to the very end. “Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). “Keep yourself in God’s love.” (Jude 21). “His love is everlasting.” Psalm 136

7. God’s purpose enables you to stay on the highway to heaven. Believing you have a purpose motivates you, keeps you forward-looking, and results in God being glorified and people being blessed. It’s by knowing and obeying God’s commands that you have purpose, direction, and a reason to live. Paul was passionate about fulfilling his purpose (Acts 26:14-18) – might we be like him. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

8. God’s promises are a means to persevere. God’s commands tell you what to do for God, but His promises tell you what He will do for you. Knowing God’s promises is a daily source of His love, life, and grace, and are needed for progress, joy, and endurance. Here are three: “He will lead you in the way you should go” (Ps. 32:8). “I will never leave you” (Heb. 13:5); “Those who wait for the Lord… will run and not get tired… will walk and not get weary.” Isaiah 40:30-31

9. Be in a godly church, a church where there’s good teaching, agape love, true holiness, real devotion, where there’s faith, fellowship, friendships, and encouragement, and where you can use your gift to serve others. Be an active part of the body of Christ. “Christ Jesus… in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Eph. 2:20-22, 3:14-21, 4:11-16

10. Walk by faith. Faith is needed for every facet of your life. It’s believing God and relying on His word. It’s central to your relationship with God, experiencing His grace, knowing His love, and fulfilling your purpose. Faith isn’t based on feelings (2 Cor. 5:7) but comes from God and His word (Rom. 10:17). Learn from others who, by faith, pleased God and gained approval from Him (Heb. 11). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Prov. 3:5). “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22

11. Hope is essential for perseverance. Hope is knowing that the future is infinitely better than the present, that living for God on earth results in eternal blessings in heaven. Hope is being excited about being with Jesus, being in heaven, being with friends, and being glorified. Hope is looking forward to the future, to receiving your inheritance and all these rewards. “We have this hope as an anchor of the soul.” (Heb. 6:19) “… You will abound in hope by the power of the Spirit.” Romans 15:13

12. Remember the past. “I will remember the deeds of the Lord… I will meditate on all Your works” (Ps. 77:10-12). You are not to focus on the past, but you are to think about it and thank God for what He has done for you. This is encouraging, for you will more clearly understand how God has wisely, lovingly, faithfully, and sovereignly worked in your life. Then you will see the continuity of your life, that what God has done in the past connects to the present, and this helps you to persevere, to keep moving ahead into the future. “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12). “Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles.” (Ps. 77:13-14). Psalm 18:30-32

All these truths are keys to persevering, to going strong and successfully to the end. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13). It is by God’s grace that you do your part and work out your salvation, which means it is God who keeps you persevering, who enables you to endure all the way to heaven. “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me… I press on to toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.” (Phil. 3:12-14). “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jude 24-25

P.S. The Christian life is truly a marathon. You need to learn to persevere for God, to keep going day after day and year after year. Look to God, pray to Him, and He will help you to endure to the end. Then finally, you will see the Lord Jesus face to face. Another similar and helpful post is “What Keeps Me Going to the End?”

Category: Big Picture (Page 2 of 7)

The Coming Kingdom Age – 1000 Years of Glory

There’s Hope for the World

God’s Plans for 2023

Filling in the End-Times’ Outline

My Top Thirty Charts Help You See The Future

God Tells Us The Future – Matthew 24-25

Russia At War Against Ukraine – Matthew 24:6

I Am Looking Forward To…….

This Evil Age is Coming to an End, And Soon!

How to Keep Going for God

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