Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: End-times (Page 1 of 9)

Blog posts about the end times.

Your Location in the Last Years of this Age

June 7, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #332 ~

My wife and I recently moved to a new home in another city. This got me thinking about my location in life, and I’m not just talking about my physical location, but my spiritual location and my relational location. Phil. 1 talks about all these: it says the believers are spiritually located “in Christ” (vs. 1), physically located “in Philippi” (vs. 1), and relationally located with Paul (vss. 3-11). What does this mean, and how does it relate to your relationship with Christ and for Christ in the end-times, the last years of this church age?

First, let’s talk about our spiritual location, that we are “in Christ.” We are spiritually blessed because we are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3); we were chosen to be “in Him” (Eph. 1:4); we have redemption because we are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:7); we are sealed “in Him” (Eph. 1:13); and we are seated with God in the heavenly places “in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:6

Rom. 6:3, 6:11, 23 and Col. 2:10-11 also speak of spiritually being “in Christ”. At the moment we were saved, the Spirit caused us to be placed in Jesus Christ. Because we are in Christ, we have protection, a relationship with Christ, a purpose, and a glorious future. And being “in Christ” is constant, unchanging, eternal, and glorious. Each of these truths is extremely important for our Christian life.

Second, let’s talk about our physical location. People are physical beings living on a physical earth and in a physical place (Ph. 1:20, 22). “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’” (Gen. 1:1, 28). God wants us to worship and serve Him while we are living on this earth – and in the coming kingdom age, we will join Christ in ruling over it. Rev. 20:6

Here are several thoughts about our physical location:
* Each of us have our own Philippi, our own physical place where we live, and this may change during our stay on this earth.
* We are to love God in our physical location. One way we do this is by worshiping God with other believers, whether that’s in a home, a church building, or outside. Acts 13:1-2a, Acts 16:13, 1 Cor. 14:26
* We are to love and serve others in our physical location. God places us with others so we can hug and shake hands, so we can see their face and hear their voice, and so we can listen and talk to them. Evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship usually occur when we are with people in a physical place.

* The Bible gives examples of worshiping and serving God in physical places. The Jews worshiped God in the temple. Daniel prayed when he was in his home in Babylon. Jesus ministered in Israel. Paul preached about Christ when was in a city, synagogue, jail, and his rental place. Paul established churches in Philippi, Ephesus, Corinth, etc. A church was meeting in the home of Aquila and Priscilla.
* God’s word is the same in every place. Our physical location can change, but God’s word never changes.  “Your statutes are the theme of my song wherever I live” (Ps. 119:54). Having relocated to a new city and new home, this truth about God’s unchanging word is reassuring, stabilizing, comforting, and very encouraging.

* God is sovereign over our physical location – He determines where and when we live. “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Ps. 16:6
* Believers will be raptured from a specific place. “He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth…” (Mk. 13:27). “There will be two men in the field, one will be taken…” Matt. 24:40

* God gave the Jewish people a place to live, the land of Israel, and this was their home, their country. Now we are in the end-times and we are seeing God’s continued work with the Jews and again, Israel is their home. From Jerusalem, Christ will reign with them over the world in the age to come. Ps. 48, Ez. 36-37, Matt. 24:15-26, Rev. 11
* Believers will reign over a place, over this earth. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Rev. 5:10). We will reign with Christ for 1,000 glorious years (Rev. 20:6). And God has planned out the exact place of our ministry. For example, “You are to be in charge of ten cities.” Luke 19:17

* Jesus Christ has prepared a home, a place for His people to live – “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places… I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-3
* In the kingdom ages, we will spend time with believers in eternal dwellings. “Make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9
* Our home in the eternal kingdom will be a physical place, an earthly and heavenly city, the holy city, the new Jerusalem. Rev. 21:1-2

* God is sovereign over the end-times’ location of all people. This world is a massive “chess board”, and God is putting every person in the perfect place and at the perfect time so He can fulfill all His purposes. He knows exactly what He wants to do, the person He wants to do it, and the place it is to happen. Is. 46:9-11, Eph. 1:9-11, Jms. 4:13-15

As I said, my wife and I recently moved – and our new physical location directly and strategically impacts our lives. Most affected are our relationships, not with God, but with people. Our new home is our headquarters, our base of operations, a place of peace, safety, and rest, a place from which we can spend time with God, serve, evangelize, make disciples, and pray. Our new church is a place of worship, Bible study, fellowship, and new friends. And we are meeting people in our neighborhood, in stores, at restaurants, and in the town square, specifically, the preaching place.

Third, let’s talk about our relational location. This refers to our relationships with Christians, and though these relationships usually happen in our physical location, they can be with anyone anyplace on earth. It can be with your spouse, family, church members, someone half way down the street or half way around the world.

Phil. 1-2 speaks in great detail about Paul’s relational location. Paul was in jail in Rome but he had relationships with believers in Philippi. He was spiritually connected and close to these believers – he loved them and they loved him, and they were united for the purposes and glory of God. Much more needs to be said about our relational location with believers, but we will save that for the next post.

This subject of our spiritual location, physical location, and relational location is of utmost importance, and must be understood if we are to faithfully and fruitfully live for the Lord in the last years of this age. We need to know where we are at in our relationship with Christ and with Christians. As life gets more difficult, as we encounter tribulation and great tribulation, we must know what it means to be spiritually located, to be in Christ, and to be physically located “until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10), and to be relationally located, to be spiritually and emotionally connected and close to other believers.

“The saints in Christ Jesus (spiritual)… God is my witness, how I long for you all (relational)… my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment (physical) for the cause of Christ…” Phil. 1:1, 8, 12-13

Life Lessons, What Keeps Me Going for God – Part 2

May 8, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #330 ~

The most important thing in the world is knowing God and His love and then loving Him and living for Him. But what does this look like? Why is this so important? How does this happen? This post is Part 2 of “Life Lessons”, the lessons and principles God has been teaching me over the past 52 years about how I can know Him and keep living for Him. Last time we looked at these lessons: 1. God is first and foremost, 2. Getting with God, 3. Knowing God, 4. The church, 5. My wife, 6. Close friends, 7. Learning from others, 8. Humility, 9. God’s sovereignty, 10. Knowing God’s love. Let’s continue —

11. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). God’s word has been foundational – I wouldn’t have successfully made it in the Christian life without it. Every day, I look forward to getting time with God and learning from His word (Ps. 42:1-2, 119:92-94). God’s word has told me who I am in Christ. It has told me how to love God and love people. It has given me direction. It has encouraged me when I am discouraged. It has helped me stay away from bad people. It has given me hope – it tells me what will happen in these end-times and in the kingdom age to come. Matt. 4:4

Three words sum up the nature, the essence of God’s word. There are truths I’ve believed, like “God is holy”, “God is good”, and the “Gospel, that Jesus alone takes away my sins”. There are commands that must be obeyed, that tell me what God wants me to do, commands like “love God”, “trust in the Lord”, and “pray for one another”. God’s commands have been absolutely essential, for they have helped me do what’s right, and to stay on track for God (Ps. 119:47-48a). There are promises based on God’s truths, and they must be believed. Here are some of my favorites: Ps. 23:6, Ps. 32:8, Ps. 85:12, Matt. 6:33, Heb. 10:37

12. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mk. 12:30). This is the great commandment, the most important commandment. God is my Creator, Lord, Savior, and King, and He alone deserves to be worshiped, to be greatly and wholeheartedly loved. Loving God is what I should do, and what I have done, but not by any means perfectly. And it’s by God’s grace that I have learned to love Him more and more.

How have I loved God? By praising Him, thanking Him, singing to Him, and rejoicing in Him (Ps. 18:1). I have loved God by not loving idols, by not loving worldly things (1 Jn. 2:15). I have loved God by loving people (Jn. 15:12). I have loved God by obeying Him – and if I’m not obeying God, then I’m not loving Him (Jn. 14:21). And His perfect and continual love has motivated me to love Him. 1 John 4:19

13. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). I’ve loved God by loving people. And I’ve learned that I can have a “good time with God” in the morning, but if I don’t love people, I’m a noisy gong or a clanging symbol (1 Cor. 13:1-3). I’m not talking about phileo love, which can be a component of our love, but agape love, a giving and sacrificial love (Eph. 5:1-2). To love people has meant being humble, thinking of others as more important than myself, thinking about what others are going through, of listening to them as they talk about their concerns, relationships, trials, work, etc. Phil. 2:3-4

Loving people has meant loving them with humility, compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and devotion (1 Cor. 13:4-8, Col. 3:13-14). It has meant loving those who don’t love me and those who are hard to love. It has meant having fellowship with believers and encouraging them. It has meant sharing God’s word with people and praying for them, two important ways to love them (Eph. 4:14). It has meant initiating with the saved and the lost – I don’t wait for them to call me, I reach out to them.

14. “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess. 5:25). One of the best things a person can do for others is to pray for them, and I’ve learned to ask people to pray for me. Ex. 17:8-13 talks of Joshua defeating the Amalekites, and it’s because Moses was asking God for the victory, and because Aaron and Hur lifted up Moses’ tiring arms. Marsha and my children have faithfully prayed for me, and a few others have also consistently been praying for me, specifically at key times and in teaching God’s word. Eph. 6:19-20

15. “Trust in Him at all times.” Ps. 62:8. Before God saved me, I was fearful and anxious. But God has helped me to trust Him, to depend on Him, to have faith in Him – and it’s knowing His character that has helped me to trust Him and then experience His peace. “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You” (Ps. 9:10). Eph. 2:8-9 says it was by faith that I was saved. Heb. 11:6 says by faith I have believed God wants to bless me and therefore seek Him. John 11:40 says that by faith I have seen God’s glory. Mark 11:22-24

Having faith means I’m not living the Christian life by how I feel, by my emotions. “Walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). There are times when I don’t feel like doing what God wants me to do, but I’ve learned to obey Him whether I feel like it or not. Jesus didn’t feel like dying for our sins, but He trusted His Father and did what He wanted Him to do. Luke 22:42

“For a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:6-7). Like all of us, I’ve had trials – family, relational, church, health, financial, etc. They have been difficult, and some extremely so. But they are necessary for God’s purposes, and for my faith, which is more “precious than gold.” And faith is necessary to have hope, to believe that trials are worth it, to know that I’ll be glorified at the “revelation of Christ,” that I’ll see and be with Christ, and praise Him like never before. Rev. 7:9-12

16. “Like the holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” (1 Pet. 1:15). God is perfectly holy, and He wants me to be holy. I’ve learned to recognize specific sins in my thoughts, words, and actions, sins like fear, anger, jealousy, pride, and selfishness. I’ve had to resist the devil, to say no to temptation and sin. I’ve learned that to be holy, I need God’s word and prayer. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word” (Ps. 119:9). And if I sin, and I’ve sinned a lot through the years, I’ve learned to confess my sins and freshly receive God’s forgiveness, and quickly get up from my sin and keep on living for God. Ps. 51:10-19, Pr. 24:16

I’ve learned that I must be holy to obey God and do His work. 2 Tim. 2:21 talks of being a “vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” And actively working for God helps me stay holy, for it’s when I’m lazy and just sitting around that I more easily succumb to temptation and sin. Most importantly, I know that I need to be holy to have a close walk, an intimate relationship with God. Heb. 12:14

17. “Life and death is in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:21). I’ve learned about righteous, fruitful speech. I’ve learned to have good speech, to speak for God, to talk rightly, and to teach His word. A carpenter builds with his hands, and I’ve learned to build people with my speech. By God’s grace I can speak in a godly way and make a real difference in a person’s life. Prov. 10:13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 31, 32

I’ve learned that my speech is not neutral, that I affect people by what I say, and that negative words can really hurt a person. I’ve learned the importance of having positive, kind, patient, and encouraging speech (Eph, 4:15), and of having precise and timely speech – saying the right words at the right time and in the right way (Pr. 25:11). I’ve learned the importance of not saying everything that’s on my mind, of holding my tongue. Pr. 21:23

I’ve learned that I need to listen to people, and then I know what to say (Jms. 1:19). I’ve learned the importance of not talking too much, of not dominating a conversation. Eph. 4:29 has been a challenging and necessary verse – “Let no unwholesome speech come from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

I am so thankful that God saved me, and has loved me, blessed me, protected me, and been teaching me valuable life lessons. We need them for the entirety of our lives, and especially now that we are in the end-times and can see that Christ is coming soon. “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end” (Ps. 119:33). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). “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

P.S. I am continuing to stress the importance of knowing how we should live for God in these end-times. That is, we must know what God is going to do, but also know what we are to do. Here’s a key article about your conduct and role in these days leading up to Christ’s coming – “The Excellent End-Times’ Worker.”

See What GOD Has Done!!!

April 12, 2025 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #328 ~

I couldn’t believe it when I saw the stats for this blogsite! Over 1.2 million people from 214 nations and territories have viewed this post over the past 8 years! I am extremely encouraged to see God working in this way, and I am thankful to Him for it’s been by His grace. Indeed, He gets the credit and the glory. So you can know specifically how God has worked, here are the nations and territories, and the views for each one.

United States (199,668), Mexico (106,322), Columbia (83,558), Venezuela (71,061), Nicaragua (40,020), Argentina (47,172), Peru (44,110), Philippines (42,946), Nigeria (39,130), El Salvador (35,475), Chile (34,455), Kenya (30,588), South Africa (30,311), Paraguay (27,775), Dominican Republic (25,910), Guatemala (24,463), Ecuador (21,999), Honduras (21,527), Trinidad and Tobago (19,376), Brazil (18,331),

Bolivia (18,280), Indonesia (17,977), Malaysia (15,025), Vietnam (13,522), Spain (12,147), Cameroon (10,411), United Kingdom (9,840), Costa Rica (9,513), Guyana (9,369), Belize (8,769), Canada (7,908), Zambia (7,846), Tanzania (6,563), Italy (6,204), Puerto Rico (5,450), Panama (5,397), Ethiopia (4,590), Ghana (4,446), Liberia (4,219), Australia (3,589),

Sierra Leone (3532), Congo – Kinshasha (3,346), Poland (3,261), Uganda (3,167), Lesotho (2,859), Ukraine (2,842), Taiwan (2,658), India (3,652), Ireland (2,388), Botswana (1,907), Germany (1,879), Singapore (1,460), Thailand (1,392), Netherlands (1,216), Uruguay (1,181), European Union (1,159), South Sudan (1,087), Malawi (1,058), Cuba (1,046), France (997),

Romania (846), South Korea (722), China (650), New Zealand (596), Hong Kong SAR China (560), Switzerland (414), Jamaica (391), United Arab Emirates (368), Japan (363), Sri Lanka (314), Isle of Man (292), Finland (289), Sweden (288), Israel (276), Austria (275), Saudi Arabia (264), Zimbabwe (239), Norway (209), Portugal (205), Turkiye (200),

Belgium (199), Papua New Guinea (186), Aruba (183), Pakistan (171), Russia (170), Bahamas (148), Bangladesh (143), Namibia (139), Greece (134), Qatar (123), Barbados (115), Eritrea (104), American Samoa (104), Nepal (98), Denmark (98), Mauritius (93), Czechia (85), Curacao (85), Egypt (83), Bahrain (80),

Equatorial Guinea (79), Fiji (73), Hungary (71), Kuwait (65), Cambodia (65), Serbia (64), Rwanda (63), Lebanon (63), Myanmar (Burma) (62), Bulgaria (59), Morocco (56), Luxembourg (56), Slovakia (54), Haiti (53), Sudan (50), St. Lucia (48), Croatia (48), Eswatini (47), U.S. Virgin Islands (46), Malta (39),

Cyprus (39), St. Vincent and Grenadines (38), Oman (38), Antigua and Barbuda (38), Cayman Islands (37), Guam (36), Suriname (35), Grenada (35), Albania (33), Central African Republic (32), Somalia (30), Caribbean Netherlands (30), Guinea (29), British Virgin Islands (27), Mozambique (27), Lithuania (27), Solomon Islands (26), Latvia (25), Dominica (24), Cote d’Ivoire (24),

Angola (24), Georgia (23), Brunei (23), Moldova (22), Benin (22), Samoa (21), Slovenia (21), St. Kitts and Nevis (20), Bermuda (20), Togo (18), Seychelles (18), Kazakhstan (18), North Macedonia (17), Iraq (17), Estonia (17), Bosnia and Herzegovina (17), Sint Maarten (16), Gambia (16), Reunion (15), Andorra (15),

Jordan (14), Iceland (14), Azerbaijan (14), Mongolia (13), Tunisia (12), Macao SAR China (12), Gabon (12), Algeria (12), Turks & Caicos Islands (11), Senegal (11), Northern Mariana Islands (11), Guinea-Bissau (11), Burundi (11), Chad (10), Martinique (10), Anguilla (10), Yemen (9), Vanuatu (9), Madagascar (9), Libya (9),

French Guiana (9), Burkina Faso (9), Micronesia (8), Afghanistan (7), Timor-Leste (6), Tonga (5), Niger (5), Montenegro (5), Laos (5), Guadeloupe (5), Gibraltar (5), Djibouti (5), Cook Islands (5), Belarus (5), Armenia (5), Syria (4), Kyrgyzstan (4), Jersey (4), Guernsey (4), Faroe Islands (4),

Cape Verde (4), Palau (3), Maldives (3), Kosovo (2), Uzbekistan (2), Palestinian Territories (2), French Polynesia (2), Norfolk Island (2), Montserrat (2), Mali (2), St. Martin (2), Congo – Brazzaville (2), Nauru (1), New Caledonia (1).

It’s amazing, a miracle of God, that people from all these countries and territories have been viewing and / or reading this blogsite, believers and unbelievers wanting to know about the end-times, Christ’s coming, and the kingdom ages. Pray for those who have been and will be reading this. May God speak to their hearts and change their lives. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Mark 11:17 

As churches, we are to make disciples of all the nations – and every person is to do his work. “It is like a Man away on a journey, who upon leaving His house and putting His slaves in charge, assigning to each one His task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert” (Mk. 13:34). God wants every Christian to do His work but also see the big picture, that he is an instrumental part of God’s plans for this world. The following verses will help you know how you can serve the Lord. 

* Pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom – “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10). This well-known, world-changing prayer instructs you to pray for Christ’s coming and the establishment of His kingdom on this earth. Rev. 11:15

* Pray for workers – “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). Workers are Christians who are carrying out God’s commands to reach people and the world for Christ. In these final years of the church age, pray for yourself and others to be active in the harvest field, to be helping bring about Christ’s return and His kingdom on earth.

* Pray for the lost – “My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1). Should we not love the lost, and pray for them, and share the good news with them, helping them see their need to repent of their sins and believe that Jesus Christ suffered and died to pay for their sins, and rose again?

* Proclaim the gospel – “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come” (Matt. 24:14:15). Testify for Christ. Share the gospel with them, knowing that your witness is part of God’s plan, and results in getting us closer to the end of the age and the coming of Christ. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” Colossians 4:2-6

* Make disciples – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Be involved in a disciple-making church. Use your spiritual gift and do what you can to influence others for Christ, whether that’s locally or going on a mission trip.

* Give financially – “At the first preaching of the gospel… no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone, for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs” (Phil. 4:15-16). Give financially to those actively involved in evangelism, and to missions, either through your church or personally. 2 Cor. 8-9

* Learn from missionaries – “Being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren… they reported all that God had done for them” (Acts 15:3-4). It’s really motivating to hear Christians share stories of how God is mightily working around the world. “Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness.” Psalm 145:5

* Encourage the workers – “Let us consider how to stimulate others to love and good deeds… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). We get spiritually weary (Gal. 6:9) and at times are discouraged, and some are suffering for their faith. Be thanking and encouraging those working in the harvest field, whether that’s in your own church or in other cities, states, or countries. 1 Thess. 1:2-8

What a wonderful opportunity to be able to serve the Lord in these days, to do our part in helping finish His work on earth. Jesus told us, “Do you not say, ‘there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest… I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:35-38

What a privilege to be living for God and working for Him in these end-times. Here are two posts about working for God; “Working for God While Waiting for Christ”, “Laboring for the Lord, Now and Forever.”

Keep Yourself in the Love of God

February 1, 2025 /

By Steve Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #324 ~

What’s absolutely essential for every Christian is God’s love, which is explained in God’s word. As much as anything, it’s God’s love that has kept me going through all the years – and it’s the Psalms that talk most about His love. This book gives many examples of believers who help us know God’s love, and how it relates to our relationship with God, our purpose, and our spiritual growth. Let’s go over a number of these verses. (A full list of these verses is found in Article 57- The Eternal Love of God).

* “I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation” (Ps. 13:5}. To truly live, we must trust and depend on God’s love. And God shows His love to us by saving and rescuing us from sin, enemies, and our problems.
* “Show the wonder of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand” (Ps. 17:7). It’s good, it’s necessary that you pray and ask God to show you His love, and He will. 

* “The king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High, he will not be shaken” (Ps. 21:17). God’s perfect love drives out any fears. If you are afraid or worried, it’s because you don’t know the love that God has for you. 1 John 4:18
* “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). God’s love is following us, and this means that God is chasing after us, is pursuing us with love. There is no way we can escape, no way we can get away from the love that God has for us.

 * “Your love is ever before me, and I will walk continually in Your truth” (Ps. 26:3). God’s love is always before you, and this means it’s right in front of you, it’s present. That His love is always with you, and never leaves you, is most comforting and encouraging.
* “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him” (Ps. 32:10). God’s love is inescapable, it’s all around us, it affects every aspect of our life. 

* “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You” (Ps 33:22). We are to put our hope in God, we are to expect Him and look to Him to cause His love to rest on us and affect every part of every day of our lives. 
* “How priceless is Your unfailing love” (Ps. 36:7). The love of God is precious, costly, extremely valuable, and it’s free, it doesn’t cost a thing. Just believe, just look to God.

* “Continue Your love to those who know you” (Ps 36:10). Only those who are saved, who know God, can really, truly, and personally know His continual love.
* “I do not conceal Your love and Your truth from the great assembly” (Ps. 40:10). The most valuable thing in the world is God’s love, and we must, we must tell others about it, and how it’s only through Jesus Christ that they too can experience it.

* “May Your love and Your truth always protect me” (Ps 40:11). Knowing God’s love and God’s truth is essential to being spiritually protected from sin, the devil, and deception. 
* “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love” (Ps. 48:9). It’s vital to regularly get time with God so you can think about, so you can consider His love. Only as God’s love is in your innermost being can you be a strong and loving Christian. 

* “I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever” (Ps. 52:8). Trusting and depending on God’s love is central, is key to a Christian’s eternal life, in this age and the ages to come.
* “He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends His love and His faithfulness” (Ps 57:3). God’s love is evident when He delivers us from enemies and troubles. Unbeknownst to us is that God often uses angels. Psalm 34:7

* “Great is Your love, reaching to the heavens” (Ps 57:10). This metaphor about the heavens illustrates the greatness, the vastness, the enormity of God’s love for us.
* “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You” (Ps. 63:3). God’s love is better, more needed, more nourishing, more satisfying than anything else in the world, and it results in us loving and worshiping God.

* “Great is Your love towards me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave” (Ps 86:13). The greatest example of love is that Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay for our sins, deliver us from death, and rescue us from hell. Romans 5:8 
* “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You” (Ps. 86:5). Knowing God and calling out to Him results in receiving an abundant, rich, and plentiful amount of love. 

* “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever” (Ps. 89:1). Experiencing God’s great love will cause us to joyfully and eternally sing praises to Him.
* “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14). This important prayer tells us that God’s love fully satisfies us, makes us spiritually content.

* “He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel, all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Ps. 98:3). This speaks of God’s love for Israel in that God will save a remnant of Jewish people at Christ’s coming.
* “I will sing of Your love and justice, to You, O Lord, I will sing praise” (Ps. 101:1). We sing of God’s love, but we must also sing of His justice, and realize that the reason He can love us is because His justice was satisfied thought Christ. 1 Peter 3:18

* “The Lord is good and His love endures forever” (Ps. 100:5). God loves us during our life on earth, but we must remember that we will only fully know the depth and magnitude of His love when we are in heaven.
* “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:11). Looking at the heavens, at the stars in the night, helps us to understand the greatness, the enormity of God’s love for us. But this is only for those who fear Him, who are humble, who are in awe of God.

* “From everlasting to everlasting, the Lords’ love is with those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:17). It’s hard to imagine the intimate, infinite, and eternal love that God has for those who fear and trust Him, but it’s definitely true.
* “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness” (Ps 115:1). One of the main reasons we should glorify and exalt God is because He greatly, wonderfully, and continually loves us.

* “May your unfailing love come to me, Your salvation according to Your promise” (Ps. 119:41). God’s love is seen when He promises and gives us victories, when He delivers us from our problems.
* “The earth is filled with your love, O Lord” (Ps. 119:64). God’s love is seen in the world around us, in a beautiful sunset, in a pretty flower, in the food we have, in the diversity and wonder of animal life, in being able to sing joyful songs, etc.

* “Preserve my life according to Your love, and I will obey the statutes of Your mouth” (Ps. 119:88). Only as we are revived and kept going by God’s love will we be able to obey God’s word, to keep His commands and fulfill His purposes. 
* “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of Your hands” (Ps. 138:8). A vital connection exists between knowing God’s love, God doing His work in you, and God enabling you to fulfill His purposes.
* “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made” (Ps. 145:17). God is just and loving towards every single person in the world. 

Many writers of end-times’ prophecy focus on the what, who, when, and where, on what will be happening, who it will be affecting, when it occurs, and where it takes place. As you know, I have written many posts and articles on these four areas. But it’s not just what, who, when, and where, it’s how you should live.

Every day, you need to know and experience God’s love. I strongly encourage you to look at these and other verses that talk about the great love of God. And ask God to help you to depend on His love. When times are tough, you must know this love, and especially when the Antichrist comes and greatly persecutes the church.

“Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 20-21

P.S. I can’t say it enough – you need to feed on and be encouraged by the love that God has for you. Here is a post on God’s love – “The Great and Wonderful Love of God”, and a article – “The Love of God.”

Troubling Times Are Leading to Christ’s Coming and Great Glory

October 19, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #315 ~

Many conflicts, tragedies, and calamities are presently afflicting this earth. In times like these many people become unsettled and afraid, wondering what’s happening, or even if the world is coming to an end. I understand why non-Christians may think like this, but confusion, fear, error, and hopelessness should never be true of Christians. That’s because God has told you all you need to know about the future. Jesus said, “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mk. 13:23). “He made know to us the mystery of His will” (Eph. 1:9). God has told you exactly what He wants you to know – He has told you what you need to know – He has told you the key players and parts of His end-times’ plan for you, the church, Israel, and the world.

God also wants you to know that He is in complete control of all that is and will be happening on this earth. In churches, in the lives of both saved and lost, in states and countries, in governors and presidents, in Israel and Iran, and in you and your family, God is sovereignly, powerfully, righteously, and lovingly working. And He’s not just overseeing the affairs of this world, He is intimately involved in everything that happens. Every single second, God is precisely and wisely carrying out His plans for planet earth and for every person on this earth.

God is continually leading, moving, and bringing you and this entire world closer to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. From God’s perspective, what’s occurring from now to Christ’s coming is like a trillion-piece puzzle, and God is putting all the pieces together. He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” (Eph. 1:11). And this global puzzle, God’s plan for this world, for this present age, will be completed at Christ’s coming.

At this time in history, Rom. 8:28 and Rom. 8:29 is truer than ever before. Rom. 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all thing to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” And what is God’s purpose for you? Rom. 8:29 tells us, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son?” His purpose for you is to be like Jesus, to be perfect, to be powerful, to be immortal, to be glorious. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2

We often look at Rom. 8:28 microscopically, thinking about the small events of our daily life. But you must see the big picture, you must know where your life is headed, that you will see Jesus, and be like Jesus, that you will be glorified. You must understand Rom. 8:28 in its context, you must connect it to Rom. 8:29 and Rom. 8:30 – “These whom He predestined, He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Do you realize the everlasting , life-changing truth of this last verse? It’s one of the best, big-picture verses in the Bible. In eternity past, God planned out the entirety of your life, your eternal life, from justification to glorification to eternity future. Rom. 11:33-36

Next to knowing and growing in Christ, next to understanding the truth and eternal value of His first coming, you need to understand the truth and eternal value of His 2nd coming, and what’s leading up to Christ’s return to earth. No Christian should be naïve, ignorant, speculating, or worrying about the end-times and the truth of Christ’s 2nd coming. God has told you everything He wants you to know about the future, for He’s convinced it will increase your hope, and your faith, love, and peace (Col. 1:3-5). I pray that you want to know these truths, and then tell others, encouraging the saved and warning the lost. 2 Tim. 4:1-8 

So read, pray, study, and learn what God has planned out for you, the church, Israel, and the world. “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” (Rev. 1:3). I encourage you to take all the time you need to read and understand the book of Revelation, as well as Matt. 24, and Mark 13, and Luke 17:22-37, and Luke 21:5-36, and Rom. 8:18-25, and Rom. 11, and Rom. 13:11-14, and Rom. 15:8-13, and 1 Cor. 15:20-28, and 1 Cor. 15:50-58, and 1 Thess. 4:13-18, and 1 Thess. 5:1-11, and 2 Thess 1:3-12, and 2 Thess. 2:1-12, and Heb. 10:25-31, and Heb. 12:22-29, and James 5:3-11, and 1 Peter 1:3-16, and 2 Peter 3:3-13, and 1 John 2:28-3:3.

In the next post, I will talk about eschatological prophecy, I will describe the key players and parts of God’s plan from now until the millennial kingdom. I will briefly talk about the Jewish people, the nations, the end-times, the birth pains, increasing evil, technology, the peace treaty, the Jewish temple, the Antichrist, great tribulation, the rapture, the day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and the millennial kingdom. Each of these are key parts of God’s perfect plan as it relates to Christ’s coming and to you, the church, Israel, and the world.

“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:11-12). “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

P.S. It’s vitally important that you know what will be taking place before Christ’s coming – and I have talked about it at great length on this blog site. Here are a few other posts on this subject: “Matthew 24 – A Road Map of the End-Times”, “When Is Christ Coming Back?”, and “What Needs to Happen Before Christ’s Return?”

The Enemies of God in the End-Times

September 18, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #313 ~

The subject of God’s enemies, of people who hate God and therefore hate you must be understood (John 15:18-21). It’s imperative that you know what God says about sinners who are against Christians. You don’t want to be naïve with regards to this subject. In the end-times, the enemies’ opposition to Christians will increase, culminating in the great tribulation, the last years of this age when the Antichrist is ruling the world and persecuting Christians. Thankfully, those days of suffering will not last very long, and then Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, will gloriously return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:9, 21-22, 29-31

For this study of our enemies, I’m looking at the Psalms because it is so extensive in what it says about them. Over 80 Psalms speak of these evil sinners, of who they are, what they are doing, and how we are to get the victory over them. “O give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries” (Ps. 60:11-12). In today’s post I am looking at several Psalms that describe our enemies and God’s judgment of them.

Psalm 2:1-3 – “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed One, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their deeds from us!’” Evil rulers are opposed to and are working together against God the Father and His Son – they do not want to be under His control. These truths from Ps. 2 are present day realities – devilish nations are now uniting as a globalist force, which will soon lead to the arrival and rule of the Antichrist. At the right time, Christ will come back and crush the Antichrist, and then begin His glorious 1000-year reign on earth. Speaking of this most certain future, God said, “I have installed my King on Zion.” Ps. 2:6

Psalm 10 – “The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord. The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God’” (3-4) … “His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and wickedness” (7) … “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.” (11). Many of the wicked do not believe there is a God, and thus, have no knowledge of Him. Others believe there is a God but that He doesn’t see the evil they are doing. They are proud, greedy, cruel, hateful, and deceitful people. But “The Lord is King forever and ever; nations have perished from His land.” (16). In the end, “man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.” (18)

Psalm 14:1-2 – “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” Many sinners do not believe there is a God. So they believe they can do whatever they want and get away with it. But they are dead wrong, for God sees all evildoers and all their evil, and He will justly judge them, and then eternally punish them.

Psalm 36:1-4 – “Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes, for it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. He plans wickedness upon his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not despise evil.” The sinner is a fool for he does not fear God and he has no love for God. The sinner is known by his proud thoughts, wicked words, and evil paths, a life of sin. But he does not even know his sin, and thus he does not despise or hate his sin. Here is the true and sobering future of sinners – “The doers of iniquity have fallen; they have been thrust down and cannot rise.” Ps. 36:12

Psalm 52:1-5 – “Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? … Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.” The evil man is deceitful, he speaks lies – you cannot trust what he says. He is destructive and devouring, not wanting to help people but instead wanting to hurt them. So what happens to the proud person who trusts, not in God but in his money, who things he has all this power, who is determined to do evil (7)? “God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living.” (5)

Psalm 59:12-13 – “On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, and on account of the curses and lies which they utter. Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more, that men may know God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth.” A sinner, a proud, cursing, lying person, is usually judged in two ways: 1st, he is caught in his sin and suffers while he is on this earth; and 2nd, he will suffer eternally in hell, where he will be rightfully and severely punished.

Psalm 73:6-9 – “Pride is their necklace; the garment of violence covers them. Their eye bulges from fatness; the imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak from on high. They have set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue parades throughout earth.” The wicked are proud, violent, and oppressive. Their thoughts run wild – they think they can do whatever they want. They speak against God and mock man. So what happens? “You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors” (18-19). The wicked person will be utterly shocked when his earthly life suddenly ends, and he appears before his Maker and Judge. Without warning, he will go “into eternal punishment”, “into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil.” Matt. 25:46, 41

God has chosen you to be on this earth for such a time as this. Be a good soldier for God, one who is strong and courageous! (Josh. 1:7-9). If you have enemies, God wants you to love them, pray for them (Matt. 5:44), and tell them the good news about Christ. Now it may happen that “they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you to synagogues and prisons, and bring you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13). God wants you to tell your enemies that Christ is the only way they can be forgiven of their sins and have eternal life. May God have mercy on some of them, and save their souls from suffering His eternal wrath.

We learn so much about the enemy from the Psalms. Now that we’re in the end-times and are seeing the increasing activity of the enemy, we must know these things. I will say it again – we must know these things. Know also that God is sovereign, that the enemy can only do what God lets him do. (Daniel 4:34-35). And if he doesn’t repent while he’s on earth, then God will punish him forever in hell. Rev. 20:15

In a related article, I list out most all the Psalms that speak of God’s enemies, and ours too. Finally, here is God’s promise to you – “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 6:11

P.S. We live in extremely dangerous times, spiritually difficult times. As Christians, we must not just be in “work” mode but in “war” mode (Nehemiah 4). The enemy is raging, but our Lord and Savior, our great and glorious God, is winning the war. My sermon this past Sunday was, “The United States and the Need for the Gospel.” In this message, I am very open and direct about the terribly sad condition of our country, and the need to vote, pray, and share the gospel. May God have mercy on our country. I would also encourage you to read my more extensive article on this same subject, our enemies.

Loving the Lost – Evangelizing in the End-Times

May 4, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #303 ~

The most important message in the whole world is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can be forgiven of our sins, children of God, and forever in heaven with Christ and fellow believers. To receive this new life, this eternal life, we need to repent, and believe that Christ died to pay for our sins. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). “God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8

“Therefore, in anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18-21). So what does God want us to do while we live on this earth? He made us ministers of reconciliation, and wants us to tell unbelievers how they can be forgiven of their sins, how they can be children of God, how they can be eternally right with God. Eph. 1:4-7

But we are now living in the end-times which means we are fast approaching the end of this age. This church age will soon be over. It won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world. Should we not be even more motivated to tell the good news of Christ to the lost? Should we not be even more energized in the work of evangelism? YES! YES! YES! Many verses emphasize this very point. Let’s look at them:

Matthew 24:14. In this important prophecy chapter, there’s a key verse on evangelism: “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.” After the gospel is preached to all the nations this evil age will come to an end, and Christ will come back to earth. Christians are to make the most of the time and be testifying for Christ.

Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… baptizing… teaching… I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” In the very last two verses of Matthew’s gospel, we are told by Jesus to focus on making disciples, which includes evangelizing to the lost. Then this age will be over, and Christ will return to rapture the church, and begin His reign on earth. Rev. 11:15

Mark 13:9-13. This prophecy portion of Mark’s gospel tells us to preach the good news until the end of the age. “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations… you will be hated by all… the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” This passage also warns us about end-times’ persecution, that governments, churches, and even family members will oppose us and the gospel. By the power of the Spirit, we must keep loving the lost by witnessing to them, and persevere to the end.

Luke 3:4-18. This passage talks about John the Baptist preparing the way of Christ before His 1st coming, and passionately so. It is also instructing church-age believers to prepare the way of Christ. How does it say we are to do this? By preaching the gospel – “he preached the gospel to the people” (vs. 18), by exhorting people to repent of their sins (vss. 3, 8), by warning people of the coming wrath (vs. 9), and by telling people about the coming kingdom – “all flesh will see the salvation of God” (vss. 5-6). Since this passage also refers to Christ’s 2nd coming, it’s particulaly relevant for those living in the end-times.

Luke 21:12-19. “They will lay their hands on you… it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.” Mark 13:9-13 is similar to this prophecy passage, but here we learn that opposition from our enemies will lead to open doors for the good news, to opportunities to share our testimony with the unsaved. Phil. 1:12-14

Acts 2:17-21. This summarizes the last days, which is the church age. It starts with the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost and stops with the end-of-the-age signs that appear in the skies just before the day of the Lord. During this church age people are being saved from their sins. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Timothy 4:1-2. “In view of His appearing and His kingdom…Preach the word.” Our purpose is clear: Christians are to preach God’s word in light of Christ’s coming, and in view of Christ’s kingdom, His reign on earth. Since we are in the end-times, we know His coming and kingdom will be happening soon. Now more than ever, we should excitedly be proclaiming the good news, the life and love of Jesus Christ, and especially as we see and hear so much bad news, so much sin, sadness, hate, heartache, disease, and death.

James 5:7-11. The end-times is the last time in this age to harvest souls for God. And what do we learn from James? That we are to “be patient… until the coming of the Lord.” And why? Because souls need to be readied, the crop needs to get ripe, and only then can we reap a harvest. So might we be praying for the lost and preaching the gospel – and patiently waiting.

Revelation 12:10-12. The Antichrist will soon be on earth and, along with multitudes of demons, be fiercely fighting against us. We will need to be in battle mode as we struggle against this devilish enemy – and how? “They overcame him… because of the word of their testimony.” Christians can only be victorious by speaking forth the gospel, God’s word, and by sharing their testimony, God’s work in their life.

Be thankful that you are alive at this time in history, in these end-times! But don’t be polluted by the flesh, be led astray by the devil, or live according to the world. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2-3). What people need and what this world needs is Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and King! Remember God’s marching orders: be “the salt of the earth… the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14); “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4); be an “ambassador for Christ” (5:20); “conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders making the most of the opportunity” (Col. 4:5), and “seek first the kingdom of God”. Matthew 6:33

P.S. Are you being a witness to the lost by your words and deeds? Are you sharing the gospel with the unsaved? Might God help you do His kingdom work in these last years of the end-times. Here are two other posts about evangelizing the lost – “The Gospel Will be Preached to All the Nations – Then Christ Will Return”, “Make Ready the Way of the Lord.”

God has Good Plans for Israel and Her Land

April 6, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #301 ~

“O Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of Your people and covered all their sins” (Ps. 85:1-2). Israel – what a people, what a nation, what a land, what a history, and what a future! Around 2,050 BC God promised to Abram that he and his descendants would be a special people. They would inherit a choice piece of land (Gen. 12:1, Ez. 37:21), be ruled by the King of kings (2 Sam. 7:16, Ez. 37:22), be saved from their sins (Jer. 31:31-34, Ez. 37:23), and be greatly blessed. Gen. 12:2, Ez. 37:24-28

The Jewish people first entered their land about 1400 BC (Josh. 3-19). Close to 800 years later, God made them leave because of their sins. Exactly 70 years later, in 538 BC, God mercifully began bringing them back (Jer. 29:10-14). It was about 4 BC when Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world, came to Israel (Lk. 2:1-20). Most of the Jews rejected Jesus, and their leaders had Him crucified. But being killed and then resurrected was God’s sovereign plans for Jesus, the only means by which He could save His people from sin and death. Forty days after Jesus was raised from the dead, He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of His heavenly Father.

Before He left for heaven, Jesus told us some things we need to know about the future:
1. He said He would build the church, people who were called and saved by God to be members of His spiritual body. And from the day of Pentecost to the end of this age, Jesus has been building His church. Acts 2:1-21; Matt. 16:18, 28:19-20
2. He predicted that He would come back on the clouds just after the end of this age to gather all believers from heaven and earth so they would be with Him. Matt. 24:29-31
3. He told us that the Israelites would be punished and scattered all over the world which happened just like He said. Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-24
4. Jesus made it clear that the Israelites would return to their land (Lk. 13:34-35, 21:24). This has been miraculously occurring since the 1880’s – and it had to happen for God to fulfill all His promises to the Jewish people. Ezekiel 37:21-28

That the Jews are back in their land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times (Dan. 12:4). During these end-times, the final years of this age, God is renewing His work with the Jews and finishing building the church. Evidence for God’s simultaneous working with Jews and Christians is seen in many New Testament prophecy passages. Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27; Luke 21:12-19, 20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3-9; Rev. 7:2-8, 9-14; and Rev. 12:1-16, 12:17. (Christians, Jews). Knowing how God is working with the Jews helps us to see the general time frame for Christ’s return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:15-36

I must talk to you about what the New Testament says about God’s end-times’ work with the Jews. Before I do, I need to help you understand an important prophecy passage from the Old Testament – Daniel 9:24-27. Here are some key points from these verses:
* There are 70 weeks decreed for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The context tells us that each week is 7 years long – therefore, this 70 weeks is referring to a 490-year period. During this time, the Jewish people are living in their land. 
* The purpose of these 490 years is stated in Dan. 9:24: the sin of the Jews will come to an end; there will be atonement for their sins; a Jewish remnant will be saved; the Holy Place (millennial temple) will be anointed; and everlasting righteousness will begin.
* The first 69 weeks, lasting 483 years, began with a decision to rebuild Jerusalem (445 BC), and ended when the Messiah (the Christ), was cut off, was killed in 30 AD.

* There’s a long gap of time between the end of the 69th week and the start of the 70th week. As things look now, I believe it will last at least 2,000 years. During this time, Jesus Christ is focused on building the church.
* Daniel’s 70th week gives us a time frame, a divine time schedule that will help you see and understand the sequence of end-time events.
* The 70th week has not yet begun. We know that because events prophesied in Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:15-26, 2 Thess. 2:3-8, and Rev. 13 haven’t yet happened. And because we are in the end-times, we know it won’t be long before the start of this 70th week.

* Here are some key events occurring during this 70th week: at the beginning of the week, the Jews make a 7-year covenant with the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27); during the first half of the week a Jewish temple is built (2 Thess. 2:3-5); at the 3½ year mark the Antichrist breaks his treaty with the Jews and desecrates the temple (Matt. 24:15); sometime during the 2nd half of the week the church is raptured (Matt. 24:30-36); at the end of the 70th week a Jewish remnant is saved. Rom. 11:25-27
* Jesus Himself speaks of Daniel’s 70th week in Matt. 24:15. Note that the verse says, “Let the reader understand.” God is impressing upon us the importance of this 70th week – and He wants us to know that it is relevant not just to Jews, but also to Christians.

Many non-Christians, along with some Christians, do not believe that the land we know as Israel is for the Jews. Debates and disputes about this are happening in our country at the present time. And many do not believe that God has a future for the Jewish people, one that was extensively prophesied about in the Old Testament. Many believe that God rejected the Jews because of their sin and their past rejection of Christ, and that many of the promises He gave to the Jews are now for the church. But this is just not true!

God keeps His Word! In the next blog post we will examine several passages in the New Testament that are specifically about the Jews and how God is working with them and fulfilling His promises. It’s imperative that you understand and are encouraged by God’s working with the Jewish people. “Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land… The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.” Psalm 85:9, 12

P.S. God raised up the nation of Israel and gave her some land, and He won’t take it away frim her. The post today talks about this, with a focus on Daniel’s 70th week, a key 7-year prophetic period. I encourage you to read the two other posts I have written on this most critical week – “The Divine Timetable, Daniel’s 70 Weeks”, and “Daniel’s 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End Times.”

It’s True! Christ is Coming Again!

March 23, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #300 ~

There’s an enormous volume of verses about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Obviously, God wants you to be convinced of this most important truth. It’s imperative that you realize its relevance, especially now that we are living in the end-times. Christ’s coming is not a minor, secondary truth, but a major, primary truth. Just think, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could come back in your lifetime. You may actually see Him return on the clouds to rapture you and the church.

That God gives us so many verses about Christ’s coming means that it must be a subject He really wants you to know and understand. My purpose in this post is not to address all the details in these 2nd coming verses, but to impress you with this singular message, that Jesus Christ is coming again!

The verses I have written out are those containing the word coming, appearing, and revealing. The word coming is in both a noun form, speaking of Christ’s arrival and presence, and a verb form, referring only to the fact that Christ will arrive. Appearing means to shine forth, telling us that Christ will be visibly evident to the whole world – no one will miss Him. Revealing speaks of the uncovering, the unveiling of our coming Lord and King. Jesus Christ is very much alive, and for Christians, He is spiritually in our hearts, but now He is physically in heaven and hidden from view. Soon enough, Christ will physically come, physically appear, and physically be revealed, and the entire world will see Him in all His glory. What a day that will be!!!

Here are 54 verses about the coming of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 23:39 – “I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 24:3 – “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:27 – “Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:30-31 – “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.”
Matthew 24:37-38 – “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away. So will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:42 – “Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 26:64 – “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Mark 8:38 – “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 12:37-38 – “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when He comes; truly I say to you, that He will gird himself to serve and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them…”
Luke 12:40 – “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Luke 17:29-30 – “On the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”
Luke 18:8 – “However when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
John 14:3 – “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
Acts 1:11 – “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
1 Corinthians 1:8 – “You are not lacking any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will keep you strong to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 – “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

Colossians 3:4 – “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
1 Thessalonians 2:19 – “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”
1 Thessalonians 3:13 – “… so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 – “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not proceed those who fall asleep. 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. 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.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “… may your spirit and soul and body be persevered complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 – “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – “We request you brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…”
2 Thessalonians 2:8 – “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.”

1 Timothy 6:13-14 – “… keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will being about at the proper time.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort…”
Titus 2:12-13 – “… live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 9:28 – “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation, without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
Hebrews 10:37 – “In a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
James 5:7 – “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it.”
James 5:8 – “Be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
1 Peter 1:7 – “… so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 5:4 – “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

2 Peter 3:3-4a – “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’”
1 John 2:28 – “Now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
1 John 3:2 – “We are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be… when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.”
Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is He who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what He has done.”
Revelation 22:20 – “Behold, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Here are 49 more verses about Christ’s coming, ones that are either duplicates, Old Testament verses, or do not have the words coming, appearing, or revealing in them. Job 19:25-27; Ps. 2:6, 98:9; Is. 40:10; Joel 2:30-32; Zech. 14:4:9; Mal. 4:5; Matt. 16:28; Mark 13:26-27, 13:33-35; Luke 12:42-46, 17:24, 21:27-28, 34-36; Acts 3:20-21; Rom. 8:22-25; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 1:6, 1:10, 2:16, 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 2 Thess. 1:6-7; Jude 21.

I encourage you to read and reread all the above verses. Study them, and study them in their context. And share them with others. May they encourage your soul and give you hope. Now more than ever before, be looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, your Savior, Lord, and King.

P.S. In my opinion, the truth that Christ is coming back is the single most important subject about the future. Here are four other posts about Christ’s coming: “The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ”, “When is Christ Coming Back?”, “What Will Happen When Christ Comes Back?”, “Why is Jesus Christ Coming Back?”

The Continuing Journey of the Jewish People

March 9, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #299 ~

Peaceful orange sunset over the Sea of Galilee, with flower-covered hill slope in the foreground, and the city of Tiberias and surrounding hills, including the Arbel cliff in the background; Israel

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came from heaven to the land of Israel to do the work of His Father. He lived a perfect life, loved everyone, taught the truth, did all kinds of miracles, and trained disciples. Yet, He was crucified, He was killed by His enemies – and it was His Father’s will (Acts 2:23). “Christ died once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18), so that God might forgive us of our sins and give us eternal life. Three days later, Christ rose from the dead, and 40 days after that, He left Israel and ascended into heaven to be with His Father. Heb. 1:1-3

Many Jewish people wanted Christ to remain in Israel to be their King and defeat their enemies. But He had other plans (Matt. 16:18). From heaven, Christ would be building the church, a spiritual body of believers, ones who would be saved from their sins, and then serve Him while they lived on earth. But what about God’s promises to the Jewish people? Would He still fulfill His plans for them? Yes, He would! Let me explain what needed to happen first.

Jesus was in Jerusalem that last week before He died, and He had a strong and sobering message for the Jews. He told them, “… your enemies… will level you to the ground and your children with you… because you did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Lk. 19:41-44). Jesus also warned His disciples about this impending disaster. “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then recognize that her desolation is near… these are days of vengeance… there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-24, Luke 23:27-31

Jesus, the Messiah, had come to Israel, but most Jews rejected His offer of mercy. God had no choice but to condemn them as a nation and cast them out of their land. Jesus’ own people, ones He loved and wept over, had to be punished. It was around 70 AD that Roman soldiers savagely and mercilessly attacked the people of Israel. The result was that an enormous number of Jews were killed, and a great many others were taken as prisoners to nations all over the world. But would God’s chosen people ever return to the land of Israel? Yes, they would!

Many Old Testament passages predicted that the Jews would return to their land. Here are a few of them: “I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. They shall be My people and I will be their God” (Jer. 32:36-44). “I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… and one king will be king for all of them” (Ez. 37:21-22). “I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.” Zech. 8:7-8  

Jesus Himself predicted that the Jews would return to Israel – “Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:23). “Until” means “up to the time of the event mentioned.” That is, Jewish people will be in their land and have total control over it only when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, only when the Gentiles no longer have any power or influence over them.

History tells us that the Jewish people were forced out of their land around 70 AD. But in the 1880’s, according to God’s promise, they started returning to their land. And they kept coming and coming and are still coming, and now there are close to 7.2 million Jews living in Israel. To have a people group dispersed from their land for over 1800 years and then return to that same land with the same religion, same language, and same culture is unbelievable, amazing, unheard of, and truly miraculous!

4,000 years have now passed since God first set in motion His plans for the Jewish people. Let me summarize their long and difficult journey: it began with God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). About 600 years later, around 1400 BC, Joshua led the Jewish people into the promised land (Josh. 3-19). Close to 800 years later, they were exiled out of the land of Israel. And exactly 70 years later, in 538 BC, Jewish people began returning to their land. Jer. 29:10-14, Ezra

Finally, in 4 BC, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Israel (Lk. 2:1-20), and He left 33 years later, but promised that He would return (Matt. 24:3-31). Around 70 AD, the Jewish people were, once again, exiled from Israel – and this time they were scattered all over the world (Lk. 21:24). And they were gone from their land a lot longer, for close to 1800 years, until the 1880’s. And now its 2024 AD and nearly half the world’s Jewish population has returned to their homeland.

The fact that the Jews are back in their land means we are living in the end-times (Dan. 12:4, 9), and this is relevant not just for Jews, but also for Christians. The following end-times’ passages testify to this – Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27, Luke 21:12-19, 20-24, 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3-9, Rev. 7:2-8, 9-14, and Rev. 10-12:1-16, 12:17 – 13 (italics are the church, and bold are the Jews). Note that these eschatological verses about Jews and Christians are sitting side by side, are adjacent to each other. Do you see what God is saying, and is doing? In the last years of this church age, He is renewing His work with the Jews and is finishing building the church.

God is setting the stage, is getting everything and everyone in place for the return of His Son to earth. In a little while, Christ will come back to rapture the church, judge the world, and save a remnant of Jews. Then He will be in Israel and, from there, reign over the world – and we will reign with Him, and be praising Him. “Sing praises to our King… For God is the King of all the earth” (Ps. 47:6-7). “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:1-2

P.S. It’s imperative that you understand the history of the Jewish people in their land, from around 2000 BC up to the present day. I have written a series of posts on this subject and encourage you to read them all. They are #’s 290, 291, 292, 295, 296, and this present one, #299. In my next post, #300, I will write out a number of verses on this blogsite’s primary subject – “Christ is Coming Again.”

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