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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: Christ’s Coming (Page 6 of 10)

Blog posts about Christ’s coming.

Why Don’t Churches Teach on Prophecy?

November 8, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #143 ~

When I talk to Christians, I often ask them whether the subject of the end-times and Christ’s 2nd coming is taught in their church, and most of the time they say it’s not. And when they say it’s not, it’s either that they don’t teach it all, or they don’t teach it accurately. But why is that? Why don’t churches teach on prophecy, or if they do, not in the way God would want them to? Let me list some of the reasons:

1. They say, “Christ’s 2nd coming is not going to happen for a long time, and therefore, we don’t need to teach it.” They look out at the world, and it seems everything is going along as it always has been. Their thinking is similar to the mockers of 2 Peter 3:4 who say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” They fail to see that the Jews are back in their land, the number one sign that we are in the end-times. But Jesus and the apostles taught about prophecy way back in the 1st century, and here we are, about 2,000 years later, and “the night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:12). It’s time to teach on prophecy because it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church.

2. They say, “Prophecy is confusing, hard to understand.” It is true that there is some complexity when it comes to comparing prophecy passages, seeing how the Jews fit in, learning what will be happening, and understanding the sequence of end-time events. That’s why Christians need to ask God for wisdom, and take the time to study this relevant subject. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells pastors, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” When you diligently study the word, God will show you vital truths regarding His Son’s return. In fact, Daniel 12:9 says that God’s prophetic word will be unsealed in the end-times, meaning God will supernaturally be opening our minds and revealing His truth about Christ’s return. I am convinced God will give us insight and clarity when it comes to learning what will be taking place in the years leading up to Christ’s coming.

3. They say, “In the church there are many views on prophecy, and to teach on one position will cause problems and it’s not worth it.” A pastor may fear that if he teaches one particular position, then some who have a differing opinion will be critical, unhappy, and may even leave the church. Some Christian leaders have told me, “It’s not a hill worth dying on.” But teaching the truth before God and before man is the right thing, the only thing to do. My experience over the years is that when you prayerfully and humbly study God’s word, you will discover the singular and primary prophetic truths you need to know. The truth must be taught, and as we carefully study the subject of prophecy, we will gain convictions, and be able to properly teach our families and churches.

4. They say, “Prophecy is not that important of a subject. The truths about the gospel, salvation, the church and spiritual growth are much more important.” Many suggest that truths about Christ’s return are not essential or relevant, but are electives, just 2nd tier topics. Yes, I agree that the gospel is the primary subject, but now that we live in the end-times, prophecy is also a primary subject, for Christ’s coming, which is right around the corner, will affect every Christian in the world. The many truths about Christ’s return must be required learning for every Christian. What are you going do to do when you are experiencing birth pains, and are going through great tribulation? We are living in the calm before the storm, and now is the time to study God’s word so we can be ready for the rough road ahead. For you pastors, it is your duty to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Do you remember that Paul taught young Thessalonian church about Christ’s 2nd coming, and even wrote two follow-up letters to them? Bible prophecy is an incredibly important subject, and God wants to teach it to you, and you don’t want to fail, for you are to teach it to others.

5. They say, “Christ already came the 2nd time, around 70 AD, and that most prophetic truth has already been fulfilled, and therefore, it doesn’t need to be taught.” People and pastors who think this way are not properly interpreting God’s prophetic word, but instead are allegorizing, spiritualizing, and saying words mean something when they don’t. I won’t take time here to refute their false claims (read my Replacement Theology articles). Take God at His word, and study Matthew 24, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4, Revelation 6-22, and then you will know that Christ has not yet come. There are 100’s of verses about Christ’s 2nd coming that will be literally fulfilled, some stating how He will actually appear in the skies above us, and then take us home to heaven. Jesus Christ has not yet come, but He will, and very soon.

It greatly concerns me that this important subject of end-times prophecy is rarely taught in our churches. This should not be, for more than any other time in history, this is when we need to understand it. A world of Christians need to know what God says about it, and be looking forward to seeing Him and being with Him forever. I am praying for pastors all over the world to wake up, and be motivated to study and teach the subject of Christ’s coming (Ezra 7:10). Here are some instructive verses, and notice how they directly relate to our future, to prophecy: “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2

P.S. This post is about the present-day importance of learning about prophecy. Two men who have greatly helped me understand God’s word as it speaks about prophecy are Marv Rosenthal and Alan Kurschner. I encourage you to check out their websites.

“I Have Told You Everything in Advance”

September 27, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #137 ~

In Mark 13:23, right in the middle of Jesus’ message about the future, He tells us, “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (NAS). This is one of the most motivating prophecy verses I know, a verse to stir us to study the subject of prophecy, and find out what Jesus wants us to know. To help you understand this verse, here are some other translations: “Be on your guard; I have told you all things beforehand” (ESV). “Take ye heed; behold I have foretold you all things” (KJV). “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (NIV). “See! I have told you about these things before they happen” (NLV). “But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand” (RSV). And here’s the parallel verse from Matthew 24:25, “Behold, I have told you in advance” (NAS).

Let me walk you through Mark 13:23, using the NAS version as our text:
* “But take heed…” Jesus wants us to sit up and take notice of what He’s going to say, to see the importance of His next statement. Jesus is telling us to listen up, to pay attention, and realize that He has told us all the things we need to know about the years leading up to His return and the rapture of the church.

* “behold, I…” Jesus is speaking to His disciples, and to us too. And if it’s Jesus talking, then it’s God talking, which means it’s God’s word, what God Himself has to say to us. Might we listen to Him, knowing that what He has to say is far more important and necessary than anything man can say to us. Lots of people share their thoughts on prophecy, and what they believe to be true, but what Jesus says, what God says, is eternally true and vitally relevant for each one of our lives.

* “have told…” Jesus said this, not just a few decades or a few centuries ago, but close to 2000 years ago. The fact that it was spoken before the church age even began means it’s for Christians living during this entire church age. Since the Jews are now back in their land, we know we are living in the end-times, which means that what Jesus told us is now more critical for Christians to understand than at any other time in history.

* “you…” Yes, Jesus is talking to His disciples, but we are His disciples too, and so He is talking to us. The “you” in this verse is plural, which means this is for the entire church, not just for pastors, and not just for some Christians. All believers need to know and believe what Jesus is telling us about the future. Because it is for all Christians, then it is for you individually. Therefore, you need to personally take heed to what Jesus said, especially in these years leading up to the end of this age and the coming of Christ.  

* “everything…” Has God really told you everything about the future, and everything there is to know about prophecy? Of course not. Otherwise, you would be God, for only God knows everything. When Jesus says He has told you everything, it means He has told you all things He wants you to know about the future. It’s this part of the verse that fires me up, that inspires me to study prophecy like nothing else in the world. If Jesus has told me everything He wants me to know about the future, then I want to know everything He wants me to know. Let me say that again: if Jesus has told me everything He wants me to know about the future, then I want to know everything He wants me to know. How about you? Don’t you want to know? Doesn’t this verse motivate you to study God’s prophetic word, and learn everything Jesus wants you to know about the end-times and His return to earth?

* “in advance.” When you look at the original Greek, you see that the verb in this verse is most accurately translated as “have foretold,” which means Jesus told us what was going to happen in advance, beforehand, before it happens. Jesus wants us to know ahead of time what will be happening in the future. Now He didn’t have to tell us anything, He could have left us completely in the dark, or He could have told us just a few things. But He told us quite a bit about the future, all things we need to know, and He told us way in advance. God loves us so much, and wants us, His children, and Jesus’ bride, to not be afraid of or be surprised by the future, but to know from Him what will surely be taking place.  

Now when Jesus says “everything”, what specifically does He mean? Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 1-2 Thessalonians and Revelation, describe in detail what will be taking place before Christ’s coming. In Mark 13 alone, we read about false Christs, false prophets, wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, the Jews, abomination of desolation, tribulation, betrayal, preaching the gospel, signs in the heavens, Christ’s coming, and the gathering of the saints. Then in Mark 13:30, a companion verse to Mark 13:23, Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place”, confirming that “everything” Jesus predicted will come to pass.

How loving and wise of Jesus to tell us ahead of time what will be occurring in the future. He really wants you to know what will be taking place on this earth before His return. Might you be thankful to Him, and love Him all the more. While you serve Him on earth, be looking and longing for that time when He will take you from here to heaven so you can be with Him forever. Might we all say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

P.S. I hope and pray you are excited about studying prophecy passages so you can have strong convictions on this subject, and so you can clearly tell others God’s plans for the future. Relating to this post, here is another good post – “Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future” and this important article, “Matthew 24 – The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.”

Earthquakes and the End Times

July 10, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #126 ~

“O my God! O my God! O my God! O my God! O my God! O my God! This is bad!” That was the initial and terrified reaction of a person who had just experienced that recent 7.1 earthquake in southern California. She was scared to death, and understandably so. When I first heard about this earthquake, I immediately thought about the end-times and Matthew 24. In verse 3, we see that the disciples asked Jesus for a sign about His coming and the end of the age. He then gives them the perfect answer, telling them about many signs and events that will take place before His coming, including earthquakes. 

Matthew 24:6-8 are the verses that speak about these earthquakes, wars and famines. For those of us living in the end-times, it’s imperative that we understand these verses, or we’ll be in error. What then do we learn about earthquakes and the end-times?
* Jesus says earthquakes will be taking place in the years leading up to His 2nd coming. Earthquakes, along with wars and famines, are events that are part of His alarm system to awaken and alert us to the fact that His return is getting closer. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

* These earthquakes will be great earthquakes (Luke 21:11). As Christ’s return draws near, there won’t be just baby earthquakes, these little quakes and tremors – there will be the big ones, the 7’s, 8’s, and 9’s on the Richter scale.

* These earthquakes, wars and famines are called birth pains. Those of you familiar with babies being born know that a mother has birth pains which increase in intensity and frequency the closer she gets to her child’s birth. As these birth pains continue, the mother knows she will soon see her baby. As these earthquakes get stronger and closer together, you will be able to sense in your spirit that Jesus Christ is coming soon.

* The earthquakes and famines occur in “various places” (verse 7). The vast majority of people in the world won’t be affected by these earthquakes, for they aren’t occurring in every city and country, but only in some places, in “various places.” We also read, “you will be hearing of wars,” which means most people won’t be experiencing the wars (verse 6).

* These earthquakes, wars and famines are the beginning of birth pains (verse 8). Mothers know that beginning birth pains are just the beginning. “Those things must take place, but that is not yet the end” (verse 6). That is, there are later, ending birth pains which are much more painful. And so too, Christians will experience increasingly difficult birth pains as Christ’s return gets closer. The next verse (verse 9) tells you about this: “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated…”

* Both Christians and non-Christians will experience these birth pains, as shown by the context and order of end-time events. Christians are referred to in verses 9-14, and therefore, must be on the earth for these beginning birth pains spoken of in verse 8.

* These earthquakes, wars and famines are not part of the “day of the Lord”, that part of God’s wrath that begins after the rapture of the church. That’s because we know God’s wrath is not poured out upon the Christians. We also know this because earthquakes, famines and wars are spoken of in verses 6-8, and God’s wrath does not begin until after the heavenly signs, which are described in verse 29. The same order of events is described in Revelation 6. Seals 1-4 describe these birth pains, and they occur before seal 6, the heavenly signs that signal God’s wrath is imminent (Revelation 6:1-8, 12-17). The rapture is described in Revelation 7:9-14, which makes it evident that it takes place between the seals (birth pains) of Revelation 6, and the trumpets (wrath) of Revelation 8-9.  

* These birth pains start before the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, that 7-year time-frame. Some people believe these birth pains start at the beginning of this 70th week, but that means you would have to cram these wars and famines, all these elongated events, along with these quick-strike earthquakes, into one 3½ year time period. I don’t believe it’s possible for all these beginning birth pains to fit into those few years. I also think these earthquakes, wars and famines, have already started, and will continue to increase in intensity and frequency the closer we get to the coming of Christ.

* We live in that stage of the end-times called the beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:8). Matthew 24:9-14 goes on to describe the role and experience of Christians before the end of the age and the rapture of the church. Matthew 24:15-27 tells us about the experience of the Jews before the coming of the Lord. Matthew 24:28 talks about corpses, which means many people will die during this time. Then Matthew 24:29-31 gives us more information about the end of the age, Christ’s return, and the rapture.

* I believe there are still many years to go before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church, which takes place sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. There will be many more wars, famines, earthquakes, along with plagues (Luke 21:11), and financial problems (Revelation 6:5-6). And yes, there will be one last great earthquake before the end of the age (Revelation 6:12). It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better, before Christ comes back. But God is sovereign and good, and you can trust Him.

On this subject of earthquakes and the end-times, it’s very instructive and encouraging to read Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea…though the mountains quake at its swelling pride… Come, behold the works of the Lord… He makes wars cease to the end of the earth… Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us…” Don’t ever be afraid. Just remember that God is with you and will take care of you, and that ultimately, it’s about His purposes and glory.

P.S. Here are two instructive posts related to this subject about the end-times and Christ’s return: When Is Christ Coming Back? and When Does the Rapture Take Place?

The Order of End-Time Events

July 5, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #125 ~

Bible prophecy tells us what will happen in the future, not every single detail, but what God wants us to know. This foretelling of coming events is an amazing and encouraging part of His word. You should be extremely excited by the fact that you can know what will be taking place in the years leading up to Christ’s return to earth. But God doesn’t just tell you what events will be taking place, He also tells you when they will take place. By saying “when”, I don’t mean the exact date when they will take place, but rather, the chronology of these upcoming events. To really understand Christ’s coming, and to fully live for Him in these end-times, you need to know the order of these future events.

But how can you know the order, the sequence of future events? How will you be able to see that Christ’s return is getting closer and closer? By understanding this timing tool, this time-frame called Daniel’s 70th week. Here’s what you need to know about this 70th week. It’s still future. It’s exactly seven years long. It bridges this present age with the next age. It’s a time period during which many major prophesied events will occur:
* At the beginning of this 70th week, this man, who will be known as the Antichrist, will make or confirm a covenant, a treaty, between Israel and other nations. Daniel 9:27
* At the 3½ year mark of this 7-year week, the Antichrist will be revealed and seen by Christians and Jews for who he really is, the most devilish man to ever live. Daniel 9:27
* Sometime during the second half of this 7-year period, Christ will come and rapture the church, and gather all believers to Himself. Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
* During the last part of Daniel’s 70th week, just after the rapture of the church, God’s righteous wrath will be poured out upon this most sinful earth. Revelation 8-9, 16
* At the end of this 70th week, Jesus Christ will return, save a large remnant of Jews, establish Himself as King, and shortly thereafter, begin His 1000-year reign over the earth. Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 11:15

It’s 2019, and Daniel’s 70th week is still future. This coming “week” will be one very long “week,” a destructive and deadly seven years, a time when there will be spiritual warfare between God and Satan like never before. For many of you, this will be your time to live for the Lord, to serve, fight and suffer for your King. God wants you to be ready for this prophecy-packed 70th week, to know what events will be taking place and when they will be taking place. Now this 70th week, this 7-year divine calendar, doesn’t give you all the details, but it will help you know what and when future events will be happening.

There’s something else that will enable you to understand the order, the chronology of coming events, and that’s timing words and phrases. Here’s a list of them from Matthew 24:4-40: “beginning, then, at that time, end, when, then, then, then, immediately after, then, then, when, when, before, until, then.” The word “then” is a timing word which means, “soon after that, next in order of time” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). “When” means, “at or during which time” (M.W.D).  “Until” means, “up to the time that” (M.W.D.) You have to see and understand these timing words if you are going to know when prophetic events take place, that is, the order they will occur in the time leading up to the return of Christ.

Most prophecy passages contain timing words and phrases. In 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, there’s “in his own order, after that, then, when, when, until, last, when, when, then.” In Luke 21:7-33, we find “when, when, when, take place first, follow immediately, before, when, then, then, in those days, until, then, when, drawing near, is now near, when, is near.” When you study prophecy, you need to be looking for these words and phrases. Recognizing these timing words, and knowing the timing tool, Daniel’s 70th week, are two important keys to understanding the order, the sequence of end-time events.

In these end-times, God wants you to be a watchman (Psalm 130:6, Ezekiel 3:17). This means knowing what His word says about prophetic events, and then waiting and looking for them to happen. To be a good watchman, you must know the chronology of end-time events. Then when you see these events taking place:
* you will have more faith in God because you can see that He is keeping His word;
* you will have more peace because you see that all is going according to God’s word;
* you will be all the more convinced and excited that Jesus Christ is coming back;
* you will have greater joy and hope, for you know you will soon see your Savior;
* you will be more motivated to share the gospel with the lost; and
* you will want to tell other Christians what God is doing, how He’s carrying out His plans for the return of His Son, and that it won’t be long.

I encourage you to study all the New Testament prophecy passages. Grow in your convictions about the end-times, the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, and all of God’s plans for the ages to come. And be a watchman. Then you will be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25

P.S. Here are two more posts that will add to your understanding about the timing of future end-time events: Daniel’s 70th week, One of the Keys to Understanding the End Times and The Timing of the Rapture.

Relief or Retribution – 2 Thessalonians 1

May 31, 2019 /

By Steven J.Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #120 ~

Ever since the start of the church, Christians have been persecuted. But this should not be a surprise to us, for the Bible told us this would happen. Jesus said to His disciples, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). In his epistle, Peter wrote, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow” (1 Peter 2:21). The apostle Paul said to fellow Christians, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

Paul, who suffered greatly himself, was involved with many churches who were being persecuted, one of which was at Thessalonica. He was there for only a few weeks, but after leaving and hearing this church was enduring much tribulation, he writes a letter to encourage them. “Grace to you and peace from God the Father… we ought always to give thanks to God for you… we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:2-4). Now God had this chapter written with the big picture in mind, taking us from the time of the Thessalonian church clear up to Christ’s return, which means these verses are for all believers living during this church age, but are particularly relevant to those living in the end-times.

What Paul says to the Thessalonian believers is instructive to 21st century saints who live in the midst of persecution. We are to keep trusting the Lord. We are to love one another. We are to persevere, to bear up under unjust suffering. We are to know that suffering is proof that we are true Christians, and are worthy of God’s kingdom. And we are to also have hope – we are to know there will be permanent “relief” from this suffering. Close to 2000 years have gone by since the church began, which means relief and rest has already come to millions of believers who have died, and are now in heaven with Jesus. But since we live in the end-times, there is a good possibility many of us won’t die, but will continue to live on, and suffer for Jesus, and then be raptured and given relief.

There is something else God wants us to know. As Christians we sometimes complain when we suffer. We may even look at unbelievers with an envious eye, wishing to have the comfort and ease which they seem to have. Yes, they may be eating, drinking and being merry, but don’t forget, if they don’t turn to Jesus, then God “will cast them down to destruction” (Psalm 73:18, Luke 12:4-21). God wants us to know that unrepentant unbelievers may afflict us for a short while on earth, but they will be eternally afflicted in hell. It is imperative that we have this perspective, and realize that “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17), and that the unrepentant unbeliever will receive eternal retribution, God’s holy vengeance.

God goes on to explain the who, what and when of His vengeance, His righteous wrath:

* Who receives this wrath? All people who don’t know God, who have rejected the gospel, God’s offer of mercy, will be judged and suffer His eternal wrath.
* What is this wrath? It is eternal destruction. This does not mean God annihilates sinners, that He wipes them out of existence. It means they will be “away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.” It means they will never experience any bit of love, joy, peace, mercy or pleasure. But it’s not just the absence of that which is good, it’s the presence of eternal pain. Jesus says, “these will go away into eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46). But always remember, when God brings retribution, He is completely righteous, for His wrath is based on His perfect and holy justice.

* When does this wrath, this eternal destruction begin? First, know that all unrepentant unbelievers who die before the return of Christ are cast into Hades (Luke 12:5, 16:19-23). Second, know that 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 has particular reference to the end-time unbelievers who are on earth at Christ’s return. Their judgment starts when Christ is revealed from heaven, on that very day when He comes to be glorified in His saints, which is at Christ’s coming. The first event to occur at His coming is the rapture of the church, and right after that begins this eternal destruction, which has three stages to it. First, these unbelievers suffer during the day of the Lord (Revelation 8-9, 16). Second, they are cast into Hades, where they will remain for one thousand years. Third, they are thrown into the lake of fire, where they will be eternally punished. Revelation 20:11-15

This last section about the unbelievers is true, and very sad, and most sobering. How then does Paul conclude this chapter? With a prayer, “that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.” Jude 21-25 tells you what to do: “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire… to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority.”

P.S. 2 Thessalonians 1 tells us that Christians go through tribulation from the beginning of the church age to the end of the church age. We also know that Christians all over the world will go through great tribulation in the time leading up to Christ’s return. Two posts that speak about this are: Christians Go Through Tribulation and Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation.

The Resurrection and the Rapture – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

May 17, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #118 ~

An essential and critical passage to understand with regards to Christ’s coming, the resurrection and the rapture of believers is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Here is what it says:
Verse 13: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” Paul wrote this passage because of confusion in the Thessalonian church as to what would happen to fellow believers who had physically died, or as was said, had fallen asleep. He didn’t want anyone to be uninformed or in error with regard to the truth of the resurrection, and how it related to their own lives, and the lives of loved ones who had already died.

Verse 14: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” To clear up their confusion, Paul begins by declaring the foundational truth of Christ’s death and resurrection, which is the basis for the resurrection of all believers. Paul links the resurrection of Christ with the future resurrection of those who had already died, which would include both Old Testament and church-age saints. God’s plan is for all these believers to be resurrected, and return with Christ when He comes back to heaven, which is further explained in verses 15-16.

Verse 15a: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord…” Before Paul continues, he emphasizes the truthfulness and extreme importance of this passage by saying that what he was sharing was not his or any man’s idea, but rather “the word of the Lord,” the actual word of God.

Verse 15b: “that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord…” Paul is stating that the resurrection of believers occurs at the coming of the Lord, which he also says in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep… after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.” This word “coming,” from the Greek “parousia,” is the most common word used in the New Testament when speaking about Christ’s return, appearing over 20 times. It is a noun which means presence, and therefore speaks of the presence of the Lord.

By saying, “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord,” it’s obvious that Paul thought he might be alive on earth at Christ’s coming. But it’s about 2000 years later, and we are now living in the end-times, which means the truth of His coming is more relevant and applicable to our generation. I am both amazed and excited to think Christ’s coming could take place in our lifetime. I believe many Christians now living on earth will remain, that is, be ones who survive great tribulation, and are here when Christ returns. And that Paul says these believers will “remain until” means the resurrection of the believers is the very first event to occur at “the coming of the Lord.”

Verse 15c. “will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” The believers who have already died, and are now in heaven, will be resurrected before the resurrection of those still living on earth. I believe there will be only a split second or two between their resurrections, but nevertheless, all believers who have died will have the honor of being glorified, of getting their new bodies, before those on earth.

Verse 16: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” God tells us what will be taking place just before the resurrection of all the believers:
1) The Lord Jesus Himself descends from heaven. Luke 21:27
2) As Jesus descends, He gives out a loud shout, a loud command heard round the earth. Jesus is not just announcing His coming, but is commanding believers to come to Him.
3) The archangel’s voice is clearly heard, joyfully proclaiming the coming of Christ.  
4) The trumpet of God is also signaling the coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:52
5) The dead in Christ, as stated in verse 14, will arise, that is, be resurrected, and as stated in verse 15, will arise first, before the Christians who are still living on earth.

Verse 17: “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Paul goes on to tell us God’s plan for the resurrection of the believers living on earth:
6) The believers who are alive and remain on earth at Christ’s coming will be caught up. This phrase, “caught up”, from the Greek “harpazo”, means to be forcibly taken, to be seized, and is also translated as raptured. At Christ’s coming, all believers who are on earth will suddenly be lifted off the earth, be raptured, and immediately be resurrected.
7) All the Christians being taken from the earth will be gathered together with the believers who had just been resurrected. Mark 13:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
8) All the resurrected believers, those who were in heaven, and those who were on earth, will meet the Lord in the air. How wonderful this will be, for all believers from all time will now be with the Lord, and be with Him forever! The coming of Christ, the glorification of all believers, and that they are finally with Christ, is the great climax and conclusion of this age, and the beginning of God’s glorious plans for the rest of eternity.

Verse 18: “Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” Now that we know these things, what should we do? We are to comfort and encourage other Christians by telling them that they will be resurrected, glorified, and fully saved, at Christ’s coming. We are to tell them that they will be reunited with all believers who have ever lived, but most importantly, will be with the Lord forever. Should we not be excited about this, and looking forward to this, and “encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near?” Hebrews 10:25

Simply stated, all believers from Old Testament times and from the church age, will be resurrected, will be glorified, at the coming of Jesus Christ, and will be with Him forever. This is great news, wonderful news, magnificent news! Amen!

P.S. The Resurrection and the Rapture are two very important and related subjects. Here are two posts and an article which will give you further understanding: The Rapture of the Christians at the Second Coming of Christ, The Resurrection and Rapture of the Believers, and The Rapture of the Church.

The 21st Century: Your Time to Live

March 22, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #110 ~

You weren’t alive during the life of Noah, the life of Moses, the life of David, the life of Daniel, the life of Jesus, the life of Luther, the life of Edwards, or the life of Spurgeon. You weren’t born 5,000 years ago, 3,000 years ago, 2,000 years ago, 1,000 years ago, or even 100 years ago. What I’m saying is relevant to you, for realizing when you weren’t alive magnifies the fact that this is the time God wants you to be alive. I say this to point out the plain and simple truth that now, in the 21st century, is your time to live on this earth.

It’s not by chance that you are alive at this time in history, for God Himself planned out your life way ahead of time. Psalm 139:13-17 says, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me.” Not only did God create you exactly the way He wanted, but He also planned out when you would live, and how long you would live (Acts 17:26). Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” That God planned out your life long before this world was ever made should raise this question in your mind: “Why does God want me to be living on this earth at this time?” That God determined the details of your life way back in eternity past should not just intrigue you, but motivate you to want to know why you are alive at this time in history. As for myself, I can’t tell you how excited I am, for I know this is my time to be living on this earth so I can do what God wants me to do.

The era we live in is called the “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4), an age that began with the sin of Adam and Eve, and will end with the signs in the heavens and Christ’s 2nd coming. But now we’re living during the last part of this “present evil age,” what is called the church age, the time between Christ’s 1st and 2nd comings. More than that, we are now living during the end-times, the last part of this church age, the last years leading up to Christ’s return. It’s like the final minute of a basketball game or soccer match.

I hope you realize this present age is almost over, and that Christ is coming soon! But how do we know that we are living during the last years of this present age, and that Christ is coming soon? The main reason is because the Jewish people are back in their land. In 1880, there were about 25,000 Jews in Palestine, but since then, year after year, both sporadically and in waves, they have been gathering back to their homeland, returning by the power and will of God. At present, there are 6.6 million Jews living in what’s once again called Israel. God promised over 2,500 years ago that the Jewish people would return to their land, and now it is true, an amazing miracle, the strongest evidence that we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37, Daniel 12:9, Luke 21:24

Now that we are living in the end-times, God wants us to know what will be taking place. Remember what Jesus said about these years, “Behold, I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:23). What a blessing that Bible prophecy is no longer sealed and concealed (Daniel 12:4), and that we can understand it. Not only can we understand it, but more and more, we’ll be seeing it come to pass in the years ahead. I must say, I’m really driven to find out what God wants us to know about our future. And it’s all in His word: Matthew 24, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, Revelation

Where are we now? We know that Daniel’s 70th week, that prophecy-packed, 7-year time frame, hasn’t started yet (Daniel 9:24-27). Before it does, there will be a further aligning of nations, an increasing desire for globalism, growing antisemitism, a continued push for peace in the Mideast, birth pains (wars, famines, and earthquakes occurring around the world), and the development of super-sophisticated technology enabling the Antichrist to control the world. All these events are part of God’s plans, propelling us to the end of the age, the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, the salvation of a remnant of Jews, and the establishment of His kingdom over this world.

At this time, March of 2019, you need to step back and see the big picture, that God has chosen you to be alive at this time in history, in the last years of this church age, an age that is soon coming to an end. Knowing this should motivate you to live all out for God, be informed about world events, use your gifts and talents to be working for Christ, and be joined with the church in carrying out God’s plans for planet earth. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come… Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20

P.S. Here are two other past posts I would encourage you to read that will help you have the right perspective for your one life on this earth – God’s Time Frame For Your Life and Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?

A Few Thoughts For You

February 8, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

I am taking a break from writing a prophecy post this week and next week, but I did want to share a few thoughts:

1. You can now download the English posts. I would suggest that you put them in a file so you can easily retrieve them, and print them out.

2. If you have only been recently reading the blog post, I would recommend going to the Archives, and read them from the very beginning. There are many foundational truths and a lot of good information you need to understand about the end-times, the second coming of Christ, and the ages to come.

3. I have been putting up weekly Facebook ads, with the result that thousands of people from all over the world have been viewing the blog posts, for which I am very thankful. These people, from over 50 different countries, are primarily from Africa and Latin America. Pray that God would use these posts in the lives of all these viewers, particularly, that they would be learning about the coming of Christ and the hope He has given us.

4. I often talk about Christ coming back soon. I say that because the Jewish people are back in their land, and therefore we live in the end-times, in the last years leading up to Christ’s return. But many things still need to take place before His return. Consequently, I believe that Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are still many years away; but in view of all of human history, we can say that it is soon, in fact, very soon. And whether it occurs 10, 20 or 50 years from now, or even longer, no one but God knows.

5. This past Sunday, our church was blessed to have a guest speaker, Mike Ufferman, from Zion’s Hope. He gave a very encouraging message about what it was like in the Days of Noah, and how that relates to how we should view the coming of Christ. You can listen to it at Sermon Audio.

May God continue to bless you in these last days leading up to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church, and be using you for His eternal purposes and glory. “He 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

My Journey Learning About Christ’s Second Coming

January 11, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #102 ~


When I became a Christian back in 1972, Christ’s second coming was a hot subject, and on the hearts of many in the church. Hal Lindsey’s popular book on Bible prophecy, “The Late Great Planet Earth”, was being read by many believers. Larry Norman, referring to the rapture of the church, was singing, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” Since the Jewish people were back in their land, the thinking was that the rapture would take place very soon, sometime in the next 10 to 20 years. But we were mistaken.

Fast forward to 1993. At that time, someone gave me Marv Rosenthal’s book, the “Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church.” Reading it with great interest, I quickly realized that Marv’s position on the timing of the rapture was different than what I had been taught. His arguments made sense, and most importantly, were Biblical. My wife and I then attended two of his prophecy conferences, in 1994 and again in 1995. We were both very excited about learning as much as we could about end-times prophecy, and I remember going up to Marv and asking him lots of questions. Not long after that, I read “The Sign,” by Robert Van Kampen, another very instructive book on prophecy.

It was good to learn from others, but I knew I needed to go to God’s word and get my own convictions. I can’t tell you how motivated I was, and still am, to study Bible prophecy, and that’s because God has put that desire in my heart. At first, I wanted to find out when, in general, the rapture was going to take place. Was it really at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week? Was it before the great tribulation, or after it? After many hours of poring over prophecy passages, I became convinced that Christians will go through great tribulation, then be raptured and rescued before God’s wrath, the Day of the Lord. I concluded that the rapture of the church was a pre-wrath rapture.

My interest in Bible prophecy kept growing, and I continued to read and re-read, and study and re-study passages that spoke about Christ’s return, examining them carefully to find out what God wanted me to learn about His Son’s second coming. There was Daniel, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, and the book of Revelation. I talked to a few church friends about what I was learning, and then began to teach it. There was a lot of interest, many questions, and some opposition.

About ten years later, I began to see how Israel fit into the prophecy picture. In my experience, there had always been a focus on the future of the church, but not much was said about the future of the Jewish people. But God kept showing me all these Old Testament verses describing His purposes and plans for His chosen people. What I also discovered was that God’s work with the Jewish people was in conjunction and coinciding with His work with the church. My heart was so excited, for God kept revealing to me more truth about His future plans, resulting in a greater understanding of end-times prophecy.

Then I started a monthly, Wednesday night Bible study on the end-times, Christ’s second coming, and the future kingdom ages. Continually teaching about a Christian’s future and hope has proven to be a tremendous blessing for me and my church. The preparation needed for these prophecy studies helped me to put all the pieces together, enabling me to see the big picture. First, there was the perfect age with Adam and Eve (Genesis 1-2). This was followed by the present evil age, starting with Adam’s sin, continuing through God’s work with Israel and the church, and ending with the rapture, the wrath of God, and the redemption of a Jewish remnant (Genesis 3 – Revelation 19). Then comes the millennial kingdom, a time when Jesus Christ, with believing Jews and Christians, will reign over the world for 1000 years (Revelation 20). At the end of that time, sin will be gone, death will be defeated, and Satan and all unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire. Finally, there will be the eternal kingdom, with the new heavens and new earth, and everything will be, absolutely and forever, perfect and glorious. Revelation 21-22

But what strikes me, what wakes me up at night, what really motivates me, is that this is our time to live. We are now living in the last years of this present evil age, and are so very close to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be alive, and to be able to live for God at this time in history! What a great honor, privilege and opportunity He has given each one of us!

For over 25 years, I’ve been pastoring a local church, first in Maryland and now in Florida. My primary purpose is to feed and care for the church, which I love to do. But since we live in the end-times, I also see it as my responsibility to prepare my church for the return of Christ, and to help them see the incredible hope we have from God. I want them, and you too (which is why I started this blog), to know Him, but to also know all about the future, to be excited about seeing Him, and to be telling others what will surely and soon take place, the coming of Jesus Christ. My strong desire is that we all do business until He comes, be praying, “Thy kingdom come,” be preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and be looking for our Savior to return to earth and take us home to heaven. Luke 19:13; Matthew 6:9, 24:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17     

P.S. Another short history of my journey in learning about end-times Bible prophecy is at our About tab.  I would also encourage you to check out Zion’s Hope’s website – there’s lots and lots of excellent teaching and information found on that site.

Loving the Lord and Longing to See Him

December 28, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #100 ~

When we talk about the rapture, we need to think of it as a love story. You see, the truth about the end-times and Christ’s return is not some cold truth devoid of feeling, but a truth filled with warmth, love and affection. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is the gospel. The heart of the gospel is the fact that Jesus loved us and wanted to die for us so we could be His eternal bride. And the heart of the rapture is the fact that Jesus wants to complete our salvation by taking us off this earth, glorifying us, and bringing us to heaven so we can forever be with Him. Then He will love us like never before (John 17:24). Now this is the perspective of Christ, that He dearly, deeply and eternally, loves us.

What is our perspective? It too, is about love. We see our sin and our need for Jesus to save us. By God’s grace, we respond to His love and believe the gospel, by which we are miraculously saved. With this salvation comes eternal life, this most wondrous relationship with God, our Father, and Jesus, our Savior. Christianity is this relationship, this eternal life, that has at its center, at its core, this love for God and Jesus. And our service for God is founded and grounded in our love for Him. If not, there is no relationship, just heartless rituals and useless routines that are empty and worthless. Our Christian life is defined by love, by knowing the love of God, and by loving Him. And this divine love relationship, showing forth God’s love for us, and our love for Him, is both present and future.

It is the prophetic portion of Scripture that explains God’s plans for the future of this present evil age, that which started with the sin of Adam and ends with the coming of Christ. It says that Christ will return at the end of this age, rapture the church and then reign over the world. But now that we are in the end-times, it won’t be long before all these things take place. It’s vital that we understand the facts of Christ’s return, and the rapture, that time when Christians are suddenly, gently and quickly taken up from this earth, brought to Jesus, and taken to heaven.

This is where you need to see that you are the bride, and that Jesus, your bridegroom, is coming to rescue you, as well as all believers still alive on this world at the end of the age. This is where you need to see that Jesus is coming back because He greatly loves you, and wants to show you His love by saving you from this evil earth, by glorifying you, and by bringing you to heaven to be with Himself. Aren’t you glad Jesus loves you, and wants to show you His love like this? Might this truth of Jesus’ coming thrill your heart, and fill you with a deep and genuine love for Him.

Should you not be so in love with Jesus that you can’t wait to see Him, that you can’t wait to be with Him, that you can’t wait to personally tell Him that you love Him? Should you not be overflowing with love for Jesus, and with heart-throbbing anticipation, be eagerly looking forward to that first time when you will see His face and His smile, and hear His words of love for you? Jesus is your wonderful Savior and glorious King, the One who loves you more than anyone else in the world. Because of His love for you, you ought to be filled up with love for Him. Because of your love for Him, you ought to be looking forward to that time when He will leave His Father’s side, speed down to earth, and snatch you up to heaven.

Our Savior, Lord, Shepherd, King, Friend and Bridegroom is coming to get you so you can be with Him, so you can experience His love and see His glory like never before. If you are not excited and longing for that time when you will first see Jesus, then what’s wrong? What is going on in your heart if you are not wanting to see Jesus, if you are not watching and waiting for Him? Have you lost your first love? Are you loving the world or some person more than you love Jesus? That would be terrible. That would be sad. I fear that many Christians have forgotten their first love for Jesus. If there’s a sin that keeps you from loving Jesus, and from longing to see Him, then it must be confessed. You must repent, and show Jesus that you love Him, and tell Him that you love Him and can’t wait to see Him, whether that be by death or by rapture. “To live is Christ, and to die (or be raptured) is gain.” Philippians 1:21

We are most blessed to be alive at this time in history, in the last years of this present age. I cannot help but think that many of you reading this will not physically die and go to heaven, but will be raptured and go to heaven. In either case, might you, with great passion and excitement, be loving Jesus and looking forward to seeing Him, and being with Him. “Behold, I am coming soon…. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

P.S. The Rapture, A Love Story is another encouraging post that conveys a similar message as does this one. Also, as we look forward to the new year, I would suggest that you read this article, The Time of My Life.

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