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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: Christ’s Coming (Page 10 of 10)

Blog posts about Christ’s coming.

What in the Wor(l)d is going to Happen?

March 3, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #7 ~

 

Why should we read Bible prophecy? And why do I read and study it, and come up with all these charts, and then take the time to write to you about it? Because Bible prophecy is God’s Word, and therefore it’s true, and therefore it’s most important, especially at this time in history. What I am  writing you are not my ideas or other men’s thoughts, but is based on God’s Word,

The Bible is the word of God, and not the word of man. Millions of books have been written by man – some are fiction, some are non-fiction, some are intelligent and some are silly or profane. But the Bible is the only book written by God – and it’s the supreme and absolute truth, and therefore, it has authority over our lives. It tells us about God, and how to get right with God; it tells us how to live; and it tells us about our future. We are foolish if we think it does not need to be read and applied to our lives, and that we can just do whatever we want. Who are we to think we can ignore God’s Word, and in these end times, God’s prophetic Word?

You listen to a person who talks to you, right? Well, God is talking to you and He is telling you the truth, and you’d better listen, or else there will be consequences. When you were a student, did you ever not listen to your teacher or not read your textbook? And if you didn’t listen, if you didn’t read, then you’d fail the test, you’d flunk out. How much more important is it to listen to God’s Word, for God is your Teacher, and you need to read and take heed to His Word, the only textbook He has given you.

The Bible is a book of truth and a large portion of it speaks about your future. Your loving Father wants you to know and believe what will be taking place, and He has told you ahead of time everything you need to know about the end times and the return of Christ. Personally, I really want to know what He wants me to know, and I really want you to know too. Mark 13:23

I get very excited when I think about this large unfulfilled portion of the Bible that is now more relevant than ever before, that is beginning to come true right before our eyes. There is prophetic truth in Genesis, in the Psalms, in Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah. In the New Testament, there is Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, 1 Peter 1, 2 Peter 3 and Revelation. There are other verses here and there, but these are the main portions about prophecy. In these passages God predicts, He promises, He instructs, He explains, He warns, He comforts, and He gives hope.

Old Testament prophets predicted Christ’s 1st coming, and it all came true; and all Christians believe in Jesus Christ, and then celebrate Christmas and Easter. Old and New Testament prophets and writers predicted Christ’s 2nd coming, and should we not believe them? Will not all there predictions come true too? Yes they will, every single one of them.  “(The prophets were) seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you… things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:10-12. Wow! I love these verses! The prophets predicted the coming of Christ, and they did it for us, and specifically for us in these days. Let’s be excited about prophecy, and find out all these things they have said about the end times and the coming of Christ.

About 2,550 years ago, God told Daniel, “Conceal these words and seal them up until the end of time.” Daniel 12:4. Since the Jews are back in their land, then we know we are living in the end times. This means Biblical prophecy is no longer concealed, no longer sealed up. These are the days for you and I to be reading and learning about prophecy. For the Christian, it is not an elective, it is required reading, it is a required course of study. Might you love God’s prophetic Word and read and study it so you can learn more about the future God has for you.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35. Right in the middle of one of the most important prophecy passages in the Bible, Jesus gives you this powerful statement regarding the absolute truth of God’s prophetic word, and it will surely come to pass, and maybe in your own lifetime. This is God’s promise to you – “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

P.S.  Please check out my new article!  Article 10 – Charting the Future With Prophecy Charts

The Rapture, A Love Story

February 24, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #6 ~

Jesus Christ is now in heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father. And do you know what He’s thinking about? He’s thinking about you and me, His bride on earth, and no doubt longing for that time when He will return to rapture and redeem the believers who are still on earth. But He is not just “thinking” about coming back, He’s “excited” about it, He’s “looking forward” to it. He “can’t wait” to come back and take you home to heaven. Jesus’ heart is aflame with love for you – He loves you so much more than you know – “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love towards those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11

But here’s a question? Do you love Jesus? I mean do you intensely and passionately love Jesus? Is your heart aflame with love for Him? Are you loving Jesus by living for Him while you are on this earth? And are you excited that He’s coming back to take you home to heaven? Is this your desire and prayer, and what you spend time thinking about? My concern and fear in this day and age is that many Christians are sleeping, are apathetic, and aren’t interested in Christ’s return and the rapture. But why? Are they lovers of self? Are they worldly? Are they “choked with worries, riches and pleasures of life?” Luke 8:14. Or are they ignorant, and just don’t know about Christ’s return?

In over 100 verses, God specifically tells you that Jesus is coming back; and 100’s of more verses give all kinds of details about His return. Why does God say so much? Why does He keep repeating Himself? Because He loves you, and because Jesus loves you. These verses are Jesus’ love letter to you, letting you know, convincing you and reminding you about His coming for you. More than you realize, Jesus longs to see you and be with you, and He wants you to long to see Him and be with Him – and to be ready and waiting for Him.

Think of a serviceman overseas, writing emails and texts to his wife, and he keeps telling her, “I miss you so much. I can’t wait to see you. I’ll be home soon. All my love.” Then the day comes and he returns home, and he is in the airport, and he sees his wife, and they are jumping up and down, shouting, crying, hugging and kissing. And their love for one another is quite obvious. For a long time they’ve been thinking about this, and looking forward to this one moment. And now it’s true!

But we are talking about seeing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and being in love with Him. Now there are many ways to get stirred in your love for Jesus. One way is by taking communion, for this is to remind you of Jesus’ love for you so that you then love Him. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” This church age verse instructs you to stay in love with Jesus “until He comes.” Jesus’ heart is fired up for you, and He wants your heart to be fired up for Him, to be charged up by His love for you. It’s that simple. Jesus loves you and He wants you to love Him, and to be longing for that time when you will see Him. Jesus is your Savior, Friend and Husband, and three times at the end of His Revelation love letter, He says to you, “Behold, I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:7,12, 20

Your relationship with Jesus is a love story, and undoubtedly the best of all love stories. Jesus has loved you for a long, long time. God chose to save you, and since eternity past Jesus has had you on His heart, has had His eye on you, and then He died for you (Romans 5:8), and then you were physically born, and then He called you, and then you were saved, at which time you first began to love Him. And now you continue to love Him. But sad to say, your heart can get cold. Revelation 2:4 says, “you have left your first love.” Revelation 3:16 says, “you are lukewarm.” Today, if your heart is not fervent in your love towards Jesus, then repent, tell Him you are sorry, and “dine with Him” and “do the deeds you did at first”. And keep loving Him “until He comes”. I still remember and love Pat Terry’s song from the 1970’s – “I can’t wait to see Jesus in His glory as He bursts from the sky…”

P.S. I just finished an article, “An Introduction to the Book of Revelation.” I believe you will find it very helpful, very instructive, and very encouraging.

The Rapture of the Christians at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

February 17, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #5 ~


At the end of this age, Jesus Christ will come down from heaven. With all authority, He will lovingly, powerfully, suddenly, quickly, and safely take up all the believers who are remaining on this earth. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,” we will be taken out of this evil age, and be taken up from this earth. Immediately we will see Jesus, and then be with Him forever. This is the rapture of the Christians! 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

At this time, we will be caught up together with all the believers from all time. “We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds…” 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Those in heaven and those on earth will be gathered together to be with Jesus Christ. Then we will see all the believers, which includes loved ones, family members and friends who went to heaven before us. What a great reunion, what a glorious celebration this will be! This is our hope, our future – this is the truth, what surely will take place, and what we should all be looking forward to. Matthew 24:31

“…to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17. We will not just see one another, but we will see Jesus. Then we will hear His loving voice and His truth-filled words. Finally, it hits us, we are actually with Jesus, our Lord, Savior, Friend and Husband. Filled with awe and overflowing with joy, with great emotion we will praise and thank our Lord, and tell Him, as Revelation 7:9 says, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”

“We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2. Not only will we see Jesus, but we will also be like Him. That is, we will be glorified, we will receive our brand new body. Do you realize that no believer in heaven or on earth at this time is glorified, is fully saved? This takes place at the rapture. And for believers now on earth, we are justified, we are being sanctified, and we will be glorified at the rapture, when all believers from all time will receive their perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual bodies. Our salvation will finally be complete! How wonderful this will be! Glory be to God! Romans 8:28-30, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

When will this take place? No one but God knows the exact time. But God does want us to know the general time of Christ’s coming and the rapture; and it won’t be long because we are now living in the end times. It is Matthew 24 that helps us see the general time of His coming, and gives us the best chronology of end time events. It tells us that the rapture (vs 31) will be after the birth pains (vss 4-8), after the Antichrist is revealed (vs 15), after great tribulation (vss 9, 21, 29), after the gospel has been preached to the world (vs 14), and after the end of the age, the signs in the heavens (vs 29). The rapture will take place sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, but we do not know the day or the hour.

The rapture of the church, the first event at Christ’s coming, is a most pivotal, critical and climactic point in human history. Why? 1) All believers are happily with Christ, our salvation is complete and we are glorified. 2) This present evil age is over, and the day of the Lord, God’s righteous wrath, will then take place on earth. 3) Then the good age will begin, when Christ will reign on this earth, and we will reign with Him. The rapture – what a glorious moment this will be, and O what it means for all eternity! Think about it. Believe it. Be excited about it! Look forward to it! “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

JESUS LOVES ME – Anna B. Warner / William Bradbury

“Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”

“Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way; He’s prepared a home for me, and some day His face I’ll see. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”

P.S. – Our church will be hosting a Bible Prophecy Conference on April 1-2. The speakers will be Marv Rosenthal, Alan Kurschner and myself. Check it out on the front page of www.HopeBibleChurch.US – it’s going to be a great conference, and I want to invite you to attend.

Jesus Christ, the Savior, Judge, Redeemer, and King

February 11, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #4 ~

Imagine a good friend, a close relative or your dear child coming to visit you. Wouldn’t you be happy, excited, and looking forward to seeing him? Wouldn’t you be getting ready – cleaning your house, fixing up their bedroom, and figuring out what meals to have? And wouldn’t there be this joyful anticipation, where every single day you’d be thinking about his coming, until finally he arrives?

Now imagine God Himself coming to visit you. Wouldn’t you be happy, excited, and looking forward to seeing Him? Wouldn’t you be getting ready for His arrival? I hope you’d say yes. And the truth is, God is coming!!!

Jesus Christ is coming back to earth! Jesus Christ is God and man, and He’s coming back, and He’s not just paying a visit, He’s coming to stay. Over 20 times in the New Testament we read about the coming of Christ; and this word “coming” means “arrival and continued presence.” You see, Jesus Christ came the first time about 2000 years ago and He stayed for only 33 years, and then went back home to heaven. But this time He will arrive and stay for good. Let me explain why Christ’s coming is so, so important.

Jesus Christ is the Savior! Christ died for our sins and rose again, enabling us to be forgiven and receive eternal life. If you have repented of your sins, and trusted in Christ to forgive you, to save you, then He’s your Savior. And over time you learn how much He loves you, and so much more than anyone else. Then you learn that He’s coming back to rapture you and take you home to heaven. I can’t tell you how important it is for you to realize how passionately Christ loves you, and that He can’t wait to see you. Might your soul be charged up by His great love for you, so that you love Him, and are looking forward to His return, His coming for you.

Jesus Christ is the Judge! Yes, here comes the Judge, and there is nothing more serious than this, for after Christ raptures the Christians, then He will judge the unbelievers who remain on earth, and this will be one holy devastation. This is the wrath of God, the Day of the Lord, a judgment of fire, a time when Christ will perfectly judge this earth and the people on it. It is the Trumpet and Bowl judgments spoken of in Revelation 8-9, 16, that describe how dreadful and deadly this will be for the all unbelievers left behind.

Jesus Christ is the Redeemer! God repeatedly promised that He would redeem a remnant of Jewish people, and it is at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week that this will be fulfilled. Then the Jews, along with all the believers, which includes all Christians, will begin to reign with Christ over this world. And by the way, we know we are in the end times because the Jews have been regathering to their land since the 1880’s, all this leading to that climactic moment, the redemption of a remnant of Jews. Romans 11:25-27

Jesus Christ is the King! As you well know, we do not have peace in this world. Throughout the years, many rulers have tried to bring peace, but they have all failed. Only Jesus Christ can and will do this. After the rapture, and after the wrath, is when Christ’s 1000-year reign will begin. I must say, I am really looking forward to this millennial kingdom, and finally seeing true justice, peace and joy all over this world. Psalm 67

Jesus Christ, the Savior, Judge, Redeemer and King, is literally coming back to this earth! This is the truth. This is not folly, fiction or fake news – this is what God has told us again and again in His Word. And this is God’s Word, not man’s word, and you need to believe it and be convinced of it. I personally believe Christ’s coming may take place in your lifetime, and if not in your lifetime, then in your children’s or grandchildren’s. Do you understand how amazing, how wonderful, how dramatic, how climactic, how exciting, how earth-shaking, earth-changing, life-changing, devil-defeating, and God-glorifying this will be??

One more thing – In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). He repeats Himself three times. Why? Because He’s trying to wake you up, and alert you to the fact that He is soon returning to earth. He wants you to know that He is super-excited about coming back to take you to be with Himself, and He wants you to be super-excited about being with Him – and with great joy and great feeling say, “COME, LORD JESUS!”

Where Are We Headed? Here’s a Prophecy Preview!

January 28, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #2 ~

Right in the middle of a prophecy passage, Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything ahead of time.” Mark 13:23. This verse really motivates me to want to know what God wants me to know about these days leading up to Christ’s return. Today, I want to give you a “table of contents”, a preview and an overview of our future. Might God excite your heart with the truth about His plans for you and the church, and for this earth.

1. Prophecy is not man’s word, it is God’s Word; and it is going to take place just like He promised. Matthew 24:35, Revelation 1:1-3
2. JESUS CHRIST, the CREATOR of the world, the LORD of lords, the SAVIOR of souls, the JUDGE of the earth, and the KING of kings, is actually returning to this earth, and nothing will stop HIM. Luke 21:27, Psalm 98:9
3. The church age started after Christ’s 1st coming and will end before His 2nd coming. We are now living at the end of this age, and the next age will soon begin. Romans 13:10-11, Acts 2:17-21
4. We know we are living at the end of this age, in the end times, because according to God’s promise, the Jews have been regathering to their land. Ezekiel 36-37; Daniel 12:4, 9
5. God’s work with the Jews in the end times is in conjunction with God’s work with the church in the end times. Since this is true, then we know that Christ is coming soon, first to rapture the church, and then to save a remnant of Jews. Matthew 24:4-27; Revelation 7, 14:1-3
6. Calamitous events (“birth pains”) will take place around the world, but don’t be surprised, for God told us this would happen. Trust Him, and He will give you peace. Psalm 46, Matthew 24:4-8
7. Daniel’s 70th week is a future 7 year time frame during which many prophesied events, affecting both Jews and Christians, will be taking place. Daniel 9:24-27, Revelation 6-14
8. The next major prophesied event to take place is the signing / confirming of a peace treaty between the Jews and the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
9. The Antichrist is revealed to the world at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15
10. Christians will go through great tribulation brought on by the Antichrist but they will not go through the wrath of God. Acts 14:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Revelation 7:14
11. Christians are to be preaching the gospel and making disciples until the end of this age, and then Jesus Christ will return to rapture the believers from this earth. Matthew 24:13-14, 28:19-20
12. No one knows the exact time of the rapture except God, but we can know the general time, for prophesied events are and will be taking place, signaling that Christ’s return is getting closer. Matthew 24:32-36, Hebrews 10:25
13. Major prophetic events that will take place at Christ’s return: rapture of the church, wrath of God on earth, redemption of the Jews, and reign of Christ on earth. Revelation 7-20
14. God will fulfill His promises to the Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week – the Abrahamic (land), Davidic (King) and New (salvation) Covenants. Psalms 110-111, Ezekiel 37:21-23, Daniel 9:24
15. Everything always has, and always will ultimately be about the Kingdom of God. In this church age, the Kingdom of God is in us, but the next age will soon begin and Christ will set up His Kingdom on this earth. Psalms 47, 67, 72, 145; Ephesians 1:20-21
16. As a Christian you need hope, and hope means looking forward to being with Christ! being in heaven! being with believers! being in a new body! and being rewarded! Romans 5:1-5!

I know there is a lot here, but again this is just a preview of upcoming posts. Stick with it, and in the weeks and months ahead we will be going over these things in much greater depth and detail, and so keep reading and learning. Please check out the charts linked to these points, for they are designed to give you greater understanding, and to help you see the big picture. For all of us, by God’s grace and for God’s glory, let’s keep making disciples “to the very end of the age.”

PS – I want to let you know that I’ll be regularly adding more charts and articles. Feel free to use or copy them for yourself, your family or your church. Contact me at stevehogan@ChristsKingdom.org if you have any thoughts or questions. May God bless you, and use you for His purposes and glory.

Christ is Coming Again and He’s Coming Soon

January 21, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #1 ~

“They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). Jesus Christ is coming again! We know this is true because God has told us in the Bible, and He has told us over and over again. And God doesn’t lie. I am telling you, this is the truth, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of the world, the Lord of all, the Savior of souls, the Judge of sinners, and the King of the world, will soon be returning to this planet.

About 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to this earth for the first time. He lived a perfect life and died a perfect death, to pay for all the sins of all the people who would ever repent of their sins and believe in Him. Not believing in Christ for salvation means you will forever be apart from God and His glory, and be rightly punished for your sins. But by believing in Christ, you are immediately forgiven of all your sins and immediately receive eternal life – this is very good news and, without a doubt, the best news in all of life, and in all the world. John 5:24, Revelation 20:11-15

At this time in history, we are nearing the end of this present church age, which means Jesus Christ will be returning soon. When He comes back, He will first take the Christians who are on earth up to heaven. Second, He will judge the unbelieving world. Third, He will save a great number of Jewish people. Fourth, He will begin His reign on earth. This is, without question, definitely going to happen. And everything, and I mean everything, is going to change – in your life, in your family, in your church, in this country, and in this world. Jesus Christ will be completely in charge and, ruling perfectly, He will finally bring true justice and peace to this world. Psalm 67, Habakkuk 2:14

You might wonder how we know Christ is coming back soon? Because we live in what the Bible calls the end-times (Daniel 12:4, 9). The Jews have been gathering back to Palestine, to Israel, since the late 1800’s, and this is God’s sign to us that we are in the end-times. God’s plans for the end of this age are now being carried out, and He Himself is directing the people and events of the world, leading up to that time when His Son will return to this earth to fulfill His glorious purposes. Ephesians 1:9-11

But I need to tell you something else – life on earth is going to get extremely difficult before Christ returns, for we will be experiencing “birth pains” – wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes (Matthew 24:3-8). These things are taking place now, but like the labor pains of an expectant mother, they will get harder and harder. God wants you to know ahead of time what will be taking place so you can be ready, so you can know how to live during the last years of this age, and so you can tell others. “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” Mark 13:23

For close to 27 years now I have been studying the subject of Christ’s return. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that God has been teaching me these important and timely truths, and I pray that He will touch your heart and teach you these things. The Lord has a lot to say on this subject and, Lord willing, week by week, I will be sharing His prophetic truth, connecting the truth of His Word with events taking place in the world. My prayer is that you will be learning from the Lord, loving the Lord, living for Him, and be looking for His soon return. Never forget Jesus’ last words to us: “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:7, 12, 22

P.S. Check out the tabs – the glossary with all its terms, the articles that expand on this subject, and the many charts that will help you see the big picture, how it all fits together, and where it’s all going.

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