Category: End-times (Page 1 of 9)

Blog posts about the end times.

Loving the Lost – Evangelizing in the End-Times

May 4, 2024 / stevenj777

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 1^st 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 2^nd 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 / stevenj777

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 69^th week and the start of the 70^th 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 70^th week gives us a time frame, a divine time schedule that will help you see and understand the sequence of end-time events.
* The 70^th 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 70^th week.

* Here are some key events occurring during this 70^th 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 2^nd 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 70^th week in Matt. 24:15. Note that the verse says, “Let the reader understand.” God is impressing upon us the importance of this 70^th 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 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #300 ~

There’s an enormous volume of verses about the 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 / stevenj777

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.”

A Jewish Remnant Returns to the Land of Israel

February 3, 2024 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #296 ~

You can’t fully understand God’s plans for the Jewish people unless you learn about the land God gave to them. It was around 2,050 BC that God first promised this land to Abram, and He kept reminding him and his descendants that it was their land. (Gen. 12:1, 13:14-15, 15:18-21, 17:7-8; Ps. 105:8-11). Finally, around 1,400 BC, under Joshua’s leadership, the Jewish people entered this promised land. During their extended stay in this land, God did many great and glorious things for them. But because of all their terrible sin, they only lived there for about 800 years, and then God made them leave – but only for a short time.

God tells us exactly when the Jewish people would come back. Through Jeremiah, God predicts, “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:10-11). Then there’s Daniel pleading with God, reminding Him of His promise to Jeremiah to bring His people back to their land. (Dan. 9:1-19). Finally, Cyrus, “in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah”, issues a decree that the Jews can go back to their land to “rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel.” Ezra 1:2-4

After being exiled out of their land for exactly 70 years, Jewish people began returning – and it happened in three stages, in 538 BC, 458 BC, and 445 BC. Here are several important things to note about the Jews’ return to their land and the years that followed:

* Nearly 2,000,000 Israelites entered their land close to 870 years earlier, but in this first stage there’s a remnant of only about 50,000. Yet, God’s purposes were destined to be fulfilled.
* Life in the land of Israel was difficult, was very different from what it was like when they were deported 70 years earlier. The city of Jerusalem and its walls were in ruins, and there was no temple, no sacrifices, and no security for the people.

* The Israelites were in their land, but it was controlled by the Persians – thus Israel had no king for she was not a sovereign nation. Nehemiah said, “We are slaves today, and as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and bounty, behold, we are slaves in it. Its abundant produce is for the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins… We are in great tribulation” (Neh. 9:36-37). The Jewish people were poor, were not in charge, and had forfeited God’s blessings because of their ancestors’ sins.

* For the Jews it was the time of the Gentiles. No divinely appointed king was ruling over them, and this would continue until the 2^nd coming of Christ, the return of the King. Luke 21:24, Zech. 14:4,9
* The ethnic and national identity of the Jewish people was truly preserved. They were back in their land, they had their religion and culture, and the priestly lines were still intact. Temple worship and sacrifices could take place with hopes that God’s presence and glory would return.

* Haggai the prophet was part of the 1^st wave of Jews who came back to their land in 538 BC. He exhorted the people to live godly lives and rebuild the temple, which was then completed in 516 BC. He prophesied of a future temple, future glory, and a future king, whom we know is Christ the King, One who will “fill this house with glory” and “destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations.” Haggai 2:7, 22

* Ezra, a scribe and a priest, led a 2^nd wave of Jews to their land in 458 BC. Devoted to teaching God’s word, Ezra helped lead a great revival among the Jewish people (Neh. 8-10). By instructing them about God’s past dealings with their ancestors (1-2 Chron.), he encouraged the people and gave them hope about the future. “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever… the covenant which He made with Abraham… He confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan.’” 1 Chronicles 16:14-18

* Nehemiah, a strong and godly leader, was instrumental in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem – and he also served as her governor. An excellent summary of God’s merciful and patient working with His people is given in Neh. 9. We are again reminded of God’s promise to His people about the land – “You are the Lord God who chose Abram… You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites… to give it to his descendants” (Neh. 9:7-8). There’s no doubt that God wanted His people to remember His everlasting faithfulness and His promise of land.

* Zechariah was a priest and a contemporary of Haggai. “Zechariah” actually means “God remembers”, and God always remembers His promises to His people. They had just returned from captivity, and the situation in Israel was bleak. To encourage the people, God commissioned Zechariah to tell the people about their hope, specifically about the coming kingdom age. He gives many references about their glorious future: Zech. 1:16-17; Zech. 2:1-13; Zech. 3:6-10; Zech. 6:1-8; Zech. 8:1-8, 12-13, 20-22; Zech. 9:8-17; Zech. 10:1-12; Zech. 12:7-14; Zech. 13:1-9; Zech. 14:1-21. These verses speak of Israel living in their land during the time when Christ is King over them and the entire world. “In that day His (the Lord’s) feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… the Lord shall be King over all the earth.” Zech. 14:4, 9

* Satan strongly opposes the Jewish people from their return to the land up to Christ’s 1st coming. Satan’s plan is to prevent the Messiah from coming to earth, and so he employs four devilish empires to go after the Jewish people – but Satan is thwarted every time. Dan. 7:1-8 and Rev. 12:1-5 describe these as beast empires, as vicious, animal-like, God-hating kingdoms. These beasts represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, with the fourth beast becoming a future 10-horned kingdom, one ruled by the Antichrist. The book of Esther speaks of the Medo-Persian empire and her attempt, through Haman, to wipe out the Jewish people – but they failed. Yes, the Jews were in a weakened state during these 530+ years, but God was so loving and strong, and He always protected and preserved His people. His promises to them never failed.

The prophet Malachi had much to say to the Jewish people. Yes, they had a fresh start when they returned to their land, but they had sunk to a depth of sin that was as bad as it had ever been. So Malachi clearly points out the sins of the priests and the people. There was corruption, complacency, divorce, defiled sacrifices, hard-hearts, intermarriage, bad teaching, legalism, withholding of tithes, etc. So God warned them of coming judgment, of “the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). Despite this judgment, God has a faithful remnant of Jews, saying to them, “to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2

The book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, the last time God speaks to His people until Christ’s 1^st coming. It’s around 430 BC, and the land of Israel was under foreign rule; the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants had not been fulfilled; the Jewish people were still being oppressed; the future still looked bleak; and the Messiah had not yet come to Israel. But God never forgot His people and His promises to them – He knew exactly what He was doing and would be doing.

Scholars call these 430 years before the coming of the Messiah, before the birth of Jesus, the intertestamental period. God knew that certain things had to be in place “before the fullness of the time came,” before He would send Christ to earth (Gal. 4:4). During this peiod Jewish synagogues were built; rabbis, Pharisees, and Sadducees came to be; the Greek and Latin languages were established; the Greek Septuagint was written; there were the Roman roads; and there was Pax Romana. God was doing detail work, getting everyone and everything in place before sending His Son to earth.

It wouldn’t be long before Christ would come, not to Persia or Edom or Italy or Greece or Assyria or Egypt or Ethiopia, but to the land of Israel and the Jewish people. Once in Israel, Christ would live a perfect life, die for our sins, be raised from the dead, and then ascend into heaven. Then at His 2^nd coming, it will be said, “The Lord be magnified beyond the border of Israel… My name will be great among the nations” (Mal. 1:5, 11), and “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land.” Malachi 3:12

P.S. I am strongly convinced that we need to understand the long and amazing history of the Jewish people and their land, the land of Israel. I have written four different posts about the Jews and their land, and I encourage you to read them all – #290, #291, #292, and 295. And I am planning on writing two to three more, from the time of Christ up to the present and into the future.

God’s Plans for 2024 and Beyond

January 6, 2024 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #294 ~

What’s going to happen in 2024? It’s similar to what happened in 2023 and 2022 and 2021 and 2020 and 2019 and 2018 and 2017 and so on. You see, in His word, God predicted the general condition of the world during this time, what is called the end-times (Dan. 12:4), a period related to the reoccupying of the land of Israel by the Jews. God wants us to know that the same kind of events will be taking place in these last years before Christ’s coming. What occurred in 2023 is similar to what will happen in 2024 which is similar to what will happen in 2025 and so on. And all these God-predicted events that have been and will be taking place are progressive, purposeful, and part of His plan leading to His Son’s return to rapture the church and rule over this world – “with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, the summing up of all things in Christ.” Eph. 1:10

What does God tell us about the end-time events, about 2024 and the years beyond?
Birth pains – “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines” (Luke 21:10-11). “… These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Matt. 24:6-8). There have been and will continue to be birth pains occurring in various places around the world. They are designed by God to wake people up to the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back, and soon. These birth pains are wars (Ukraine, Israel, etc.), earthquakes (Japan, Turkey, etc.), plagues (Covid 19, etc.), and food shortages (Africa, Asia, etc.). As time goes on, these birth pains will be getting stronger and becoming more frequent. Rev. 6:1-8

Lawlessness – “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12) – “In the last days, difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self… lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God… evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse” (2 Tim. 3:1-4, 13). Have you noticed the increasing lawlessness in our country? Anyone can see that there’s more wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, slander (Rom. 1:29-30), that there’s rampant crime and theft, that there’s the horrendous trafficking of children, that there are millions of border-breakers, that sexual sin is more perverted than ever, that unborn babies are still being killed, that evil is “good” and good is “evil”, etc., etc., etc. This rebellion against God resulting in sin and lawbreaking will get much worse before Christ comes back and pours out His wrath upon this world. Rev. 8-9, 16

False Teachers – “It is the last hour; just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared” (1 John 2:18). “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matt. 24:11, 2 Peter 2). We live in a post Judeo-Christian age and are consequently witnessing a rapid decline in church attendance. It’s not just that people aren’t interested in God and don’t go to church, it’s that many hate Jesus Christ and His gospel message. But we haven’t seen anything yet – wait until the Antichrist comes, for then he and his evil minions will oppose the truth of God and spew out the lies of the devil like never before. “He opened his mouth in blasphemies against God.” Rev. 13:6

Persecution of Christians – “They will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons… for my name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13). Persecution against Christians has clearly been getting worse in the past few years. The enemy, calling us Christian Nationalists, extremists, etc., is arresting us for little to no reason at all. They want to shut us down to stop the spread of the gospel and our opposition to their sin. But that won’t happen, for the preaching of the good news of Christ’s mercy for sinners will continue to the coming of Christ. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you.” 1 Peter 4:12-19, Matt. 24:9

Antisemitism – “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 21:24). Antisemitism has been occurring since the birth of the Jewish nation close to 4,000 years ago. This devilish persecution has been directed against the Israeli nation and against Jewish people all over the world. Most recently, you’ve seen the horrific, Hamas-led attacks against Israel. Sadly, but sovereignly, some of the worst Antisemitism is still to come, when the Antichrist rules the world. This punishing persecution continues until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled and a remnant of Jews are saved. Psalm 83; Matt. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:3-4, 7-9, 13-17; Rom. 11:25-27

Nation / Kingdom Reconfiguration – “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meschech and Tubal… I will bring you out, and all your army… Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote part of the north with all its troops.” (Ezek. 38:1-6). This is one of many passages that lists out countries and / or kingdoms that are key parts of the global end-times’ landscape. Dan. 2:40-45, Dan. 7:15-27, Dan. 8:21-26, Dan. 9:26-27, Dan. 11:36-45, Zech. 12:1-9, Rev. 12:1-6, and other passages also give us clues as to what the world looks like in the end, when the Antichrist and the Christ are present. But I believe its too early to be able predict the exact configuration of nations at that time.

I believe it is evident that the United States is in steep decline and will not be a world power broker in the last years of this age. I also believe that the locus of major kingdom activity will be in European, African, and Mideastern nations, especially the latter (Dan. 8:23-25, 9:26-27). In the years ahead, God will continue to reshape and realign countries and kingdoms all over the world. In 2024, there will be a big election in this country, but there will also be over 40 foreign national elections involving nearly half the world’s population. God Himself will elect the rulers in these countries who will then continue to carry out His end-time plans leading to the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings.” Daniel 2:21

Seventy Weeks – “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity… he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate” (Dan. 9:24, 27). We’ve been talking about the general conditions of a general time period, the end-times, ones which show us that it won’t be long before Christ returns. These verses describe Daniel’s 70^th week, a 7-year period during which several specific and critical events occur, ones which will make it very clear that Christ’s coming, for both Christians and Jews, is only a few years away.

At the beginning of Daniel’s 70^th week, there’s the signing of a covenant between Israel and the coming Antichrist; at the midpoint of this week, the Antichrist is revealed; and at the end of this week, a remnant of Jewish people is saved. Other major events will take place during this 70^th week: offering sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem, the great tribulation, the mark of the beast, and most importantly for us, Christ’s return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:9, 15, 21-22, 30-31; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:16-17

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 will come” (Matt. 24:14). The gospel will be preached to all nations in the last years of this church age. This is the work of Christ, and our work too. With all the trouble that’s going on in this world, might the gospel message be on our heart, mind, and lips. What a joy to labor for and with Jesus our Lord, knowing that He’s spiritually with us to the end of the age, and will physically return to earth to glorify us and take us home to heaven to forever be with Him. Matt. 6:33, 16:18, 28:19-20; 1 Thess. 4:15-18

No one knows exactly what will be taking place in 2024 but we know, in general, that there will be more birth pains, lawlessness, false teachers, persecution, and Antisemitism. We also know that God, “who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11), has all the end-time details figured out, and that He is specifically working with every nation, ruler, and person, for each is part of His plan to send Jesus Christ back to this planet.

“So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:23). Don’t be sleeping – be awake and alert, and aware of what God is doing during these final years, knowing that He is getting everything ready to return His Son to earth to rapture the church, save the Jews, and gloriously reign over this world. “‘Behold, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20-21

P.S. Here in this country, people are so consumed with the Presidential election in November. But might we see the big picture, and that it won’t be long before God sends His own Son back to earth. Here are three other posts that talk about how the Bible predicts the future: “Prophecy Is Predicting the Future”, “Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future”, “Forecasting the Future of the World.”

Antisemitism, or the TRUTH of GOD

October 31, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #289 ~

Have you noticed the Antisemitism taking place in this country and all over the world these past few weeks? And it’s not all peaceful either – many of these protestors are rioters, and violently so. They really hate the Jewish people, and in many cases, want them dead. But you shouldn’t be surprised. This devil-inspired Antisemitism has been plaguing the Jewish people since the start of their nation in Egypt and now, close to 4,000 years later, it continues unabated in this 21st century.

What most of these Anti-Semitics are saying, and screaming, is that they want a one-state solution, a Palestinian state. This is the main reason for all the Arab / Muslim / Israeli wars in the past 75 years and why Hamas has recently been savagely and barbarically attacking Israel. These Jew-hating people want to wipe out the nation of Israel so they can have their own state. You may have heard the chant of the Palestinians and their supporters, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

In Psalm 83:3-4, Antisemitic thinking was described this way – “They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, ‘Come and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more’”. Most pro-Palestinian people, these Israel-deniers, want Israel to be destroyed. They want the land for themselves – they want a one-state solution, a Palestinian state.

The goal of others is a two-state solution, Israelis and Palestinians living side by side. This may seem like a nice idea, a good compromise, but it will not work. That’s because it is not God’s plan. He knows what He’s going to do, and there is no way man can stop God from doing what He planned in eternity past. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations… the counsel of the Lord stands forever… Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-13

About 4,000 years ago, God promised to Abraham that his descendants, the nation of Israel, would possess the land from the River to the Sea, from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean. “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory” (Josh. 1:4). That’s the way it will be, and God will not change His mind. He wants a one-state solution, and it’s not Palestine, it’s Israel. “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Is. 46:10

How can we be sure this is Israel’s land? Because God told us in His word, as we see in Joshua 1:4 and many other passages. And God’s word is absolutely and always true. The primary theme of the Old Testament, from Gen. 12 to Mal. 4, is God’s work with the Jewish people, and this includes His plans for them being forever in their land. And the New Testament never denies God’s purposes and plans for the Jewish people – it only affirms them. In fact, it gives us more information about them. Matt. 24:15-26, Luke 21:20-24, 2 Thess. 2:3-12, Rev. 12

What else do we need to know about Anti-Semitism and God’s plans for the Jewish people, especially the elect, those He chooses to save?
* “Behold, Your enemies make an uproar. And those who hate You have exalted themselves.” (Ps. 83:2). These enemies of the Jews are enemies of God. They hate God and they hate His people, and they’re not quiet about it. And it’s because of their pride.
* “In the last days difficult times will come… Evil men… will proceed from bad to worse.” (2 Tim. 3:13). This Anti-Semitism, this extreme hatred for the Jews, will get worse the closer we get to the coming of Christ.

* “Another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns…” (Rev. 12:3). The most devilish aspect of Anti-Semitism are these eight beast empires, ones controlled by Satan for the purpose of annihilating Israel. The seven heads represent the first seven empires, ones from the past. The final empire, the ten-horned kingdom of the Antichrist is still to come, and it will be the most wicked, the most Antisemitic empire in history. But Satan is 0-7, for God has always defeated the dragon, and He will defeat him again.

* Matthew 24:4, 15, 25 – “Behold, I have told you in advance.” God tells us all we need to know about the Jewish people in the end-times. Here are some important details:
– Birth pains (earthquakes, wars, famines, plagues) will continue, signs for both Jews and Christians that Christ’s coming is drawing near. Matt. 24:4-8
– At the very beginning of Daniel’s 70^th week, a 7-year period, Israel will foolishly sign a covenant with the coming Antichrist, a deal with the devil.
– The Jewish people will build a temple and offer sacrifices. Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4
– At the 3½ year mark of this week, the Antichrist will be revealed, and the Jews will realize who he is, that he’s their greatest enemy ever. “When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman (Jewish people).” Rev. 12:13

– Many Jewish people will miraculously be protected by God during the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70^th week. “The two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished.” Rev. 12:14-16
– (Sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70^th week, Christians will be raptured, taken up from the earth, united with all believers, and together, they will forever be with Jesus Christ. Matt. 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:17)
– Hallelujah!!! A great remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the very end of Daniel’s 70^th week. Ps. 98:2-3, Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:26-27, Rom. 11:26-27
– Then the 1000-year kingdom age will begin. This will be a most glorious and blessed time on earth, for Jesus Christ will be in Jerusalem, reigning perfectly over the earth with all the believers. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Is. 6:3; Ps. 47, 67; Hab. 2:14

What a time to be alive! Be thankful that you can serve our Lord and Savior, helping usher in His return to rapture the church and reign over the world! Here are some important points about how to live for our Lord at this time in history:
– Learn from God’s word and from other strong, hope-filled Christians what He wants you to know about the end times and the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:25
– Tell your friends, family members, and other believers about Christ’s coming. Matt. 5:13-19
– Serve the Lord by doing the work He gives you to do. Use your gifts. Eph. 2:10
– Don’t worry or be afraid. Be strong and courageous knowing that God has given you His Spirit, and that He will lead you in the way which you should go. Josh. 1:9, Ps. 32:8
– Remember that God is sovereign, that He is always in complete control, that He is always working all things together for your good and His glory. Rom. 8:28-30
– Be filled with hope, knowing it won’t be long before you see Christ, and then are with Him forever and ever!!! Revelation 7:9-12

P.S. I posted a comprehensive summary of Antisemitism by Marv Rosenthal, titled: “How Dark the Night.” It is an excellent and most instructive article about the great persecution the Jewish people have endured over the years. I strongly encourage you to read it. I also have links to a number of helpful charts about the Jewish people: “Salvation” (109), “Promises” (115), “Land, King, Salvation” (150)

God’s Plans for the Church and Israel are Connected

October 21, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #288 ~

What does this war in Israel have to do with Christians? How does it relate to the future God has mapped out for us? One of the keys to understanding God’s plans for the church is knowing how He is working with Israel. Today, I will give you a brief overview of Jewish history from Christ’s 1^st coming to His 2^nd coming to the kingdom ages. As you track God’s working with the Jewish people, you will more clearly see the future God has planned out for Christians, and for you.

1. 4 BC – 29 AD. The salvation of believers is definitely connected to Israel, most specifically and importantly to the most famous Jew, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. Born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, Jesus, at the age of 30, began His 3-year ministry, during which time He traveled all over Israel, teaching, doing miracles, and making disciples. He was unjustly crucified and killed, and then was buried, and then was raised from the dead. Jesus’ suffering and death is the payment for the sins of all those who repent and believe that He died for them (Mk. 1:15). Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the church began.

2. 70 AD – late 1800’s. The Jewish people, because of their rebellion against God and rejection of Christ, were greatly persecuted and then led captive into all the nations. Throughout the centuries, the Jews continued to be hated, harassed, persecuted, and killed, but they were never wiped out, for God faithfully protected them. And now we are living in the church age, and the growth of the church is related to the fact that God isn’t focusing on the Jews, but on the Gentiles. Luke 21:20-24, Rom. 11:25-27

3. Late 1800’s. By the promise and power of God, the Jewish people miraculously began coming back to their homeland – and this is what I call the beginning of the end-times. And the Jews kept coming and coming. That the Jews have been returning to their land is God’s sign to Christians that Christ will soon return to rapture the church. and that He will in the near future begin fulfilling His final plans for Israel. Gen. 12:1-3, Is. 45:17, Ez. 36-37, Dan. 12:4, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 11:15

4. Late 1800’s to the end of this age. Birth pains (wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues) are impacting various parts of this planet, affecting unbelievers, the church, and the Jews. These physical signs are spiritual alarms, designed to awaken us and the whole world to the fact that this age will soon come to an end, and Christ will return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:3-8, 29-31; Rev. 6:1-8

5. 1937-1944. One of the most barbaric atrocities on this earth was the murder of over 6 million Jews during WW2. This led to the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948, a clear signal to the church that God had not abandoned His people, and that His promises to them of land, salvation, and a King, would be fulfilled (Ez. 37:21-23). Ever since this holocaust, strong, Satanic opposition continues to plague the Jews. But God keeps them going and growing, their population in Israel now being close to 7.2 million people.

6. OCTOBER 7, 2023 – ???. THERE’S NOW A WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS. Here is what you need to know about this war, and about Israel’s future and our future: 1 – This war is against Hamas, but many other Jew-hating nations also hate and oppose Israel. 2 – This war will come to an end. 3 – This war will lead to increasing Antisemitism around the world. 4 – This war is part of God’s sovereign and detailed plan leading to the coming of the Antichrist and the coming of Christ. 5 – Israel, realizing that they can’t depend on the United States to protect them, will be looking to others for help. 6 – This war is to awaken you to the fact that the rapture of the church is getting closer and closer. “… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25). And as a church, we are to keep praying for Israel. Psalm 122:6-9

7. End-times: In the Bible, many passages about Israel are adjacent, are sitting side by side with passages about the church that are eschatoloigcal, that are speaking of the future. This is one of the strongest proofs that God’s plans for the church and Israel are connected, are intimately related. Here are some of them: Matt. 24:9-14 – 24:15-26; Luke 21:12-19 – 12:20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-3 – 2:4-6 – 2:7-9; Rev. 7:4-8 – 7:9-12; Rev. 12:13-16 – 12:17

8. The beginning of Daniel’s 70^th week. Israel will continue to see the need for peace, and in the near future will naively and foolishly sign a 7-year covenant with the coming Antichrist. This results in a temporary “peace”, and also allows the Jewish people to build a temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifices. (Dan. 9:27). The church may or may not know when this signing takes place, but they will see the consequences of this covenant, and be further reminded that the coming of Christ is very, very near.

9. The midpoint (3½ years) of Daniel’s 70^th week. At the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist is revealed. This is when Christians and Jews realize that he is the Antichrist, for he “takes his seat in the (Jewish) temple of God, displaying himself as God” (2 Thess. 2:4). It’s at this time that believers know the rapture of the church is less than a few years away. Before that happens, the church will have to endure great tribulation. This world dictator, this most devilish man, begins persecuting Jews in Israel, but many escape and are protected by God. The Antichrist then goes after Christians all over the world, persecuting and killing them. (Matt. 24:9, 15; Rev. 12:16-17). But this great tribulation is mercifully cut short by God, at which time, Christ returns to rapture all the Christians on earth. Matt. 24:29-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17

10. The end of Daniel’s 70^th week. At this 7-year point, a great number of Jews, having been physically protected from God’s wrath, are spiritually saved. (Ps. 98:1-3, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 11:25-27, Rev. 12:13-16). At this point in time, the church is in heaven, keenly watching the fulfillment of God’s glorious salvation plan for these Jews, these chosen people. And they know what is soon to come.

11. Soon after the salvation of the Jews begins the 1000-year kingdom age when Christ is ruling over this earth. Here are some things to note: 1 – The earth will be renovated (Is. 65:17-25, Acts 3:21). 2 – Jews and Christians will be reigning with Christ (Is. 61, Rev. 5:10). 3 – Jews and Christians will inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11, Matt. 5:5). 4 – God’s purposes will be fulfilled: Christ is the King of the world (Ps. 47); God’s power, holiness, justice, mercy, and glory are seen in Christ, being displayed all over the world (Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14); the gospel is proclaimed in every nation resulting in great multitudes being saved (Ps. 96); and all Christ’s enemies, including death, are defeated. 1 Cor. 15:25-26

12. In eternity future, all Jewish and Gentile believers will be living together in their eternal home. “… the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… It had a great and high wall, with 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels… names were written on them, which are the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel… and the wall of the city had 12 foundation stones, and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:10-14). It’s quite significant that our eternal home pictures and recognizes all God’s people, those of the Old Covenant and of the New Covenant.

As believers, our primary purpose is bringing glory to God. Rom. 15:8-12 is one of the best passages describing this eternal purpose that Jews and Gentiles, believers from all ages, will be worshiping God together. “Therefore, I (Jews) will give praise to You among the Gentiles… Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people (Jews)… Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him… There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.” Do you see this? It speaks of both Jews and Gentiles. And in eternity future, all believers will unitedly be worshiping the Lord. Psalm 117

Finally, why is it that we get so fixated on our immediate problems, and I’m talking about the war in Israel? We must have perspective, we must see the big picture, we must know what God says about our future. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, and it’s the only book that truly maps out our future. You need to read what God says about the Jewish people in both the Old and New Testaments. And be a watchman – find out what is presently taking place in Israel and around the world (Ez. 3:17, Luke 12:56). Doing this will help you more clearly see God’s plans for Israel, but also God’s plans for the church. “The men of Issachar understood the times, and knew what they should do” (1 Chron. 12:32). “The people who know their God will display strength, and take action.” Daniel 11:32

P.S. Too many Christians are naive, ignorant, or in error about the future God has for the Jewish people and the church. This must not be! Here are a few more posts about the plans God has for Israel and the church: “Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church”, “Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers”, “The New Testament Tells Us God’s Plans for the Jews.”

Israel – There’s Tribulation, and Then Salvation

October 9, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #287 ~

Israel – there’s tribulation, and then there’s salvation. The shocking savagery and brutality now taking place in Israel is horrific, pure evil, godless. We shouldn’t be surprised, for atrocities similar to this have been happening in Israel for 1000’s of years, and they won’t stop until Jesus Christ returns to earth to save a large number of Jewish people – which takes place at the end of Daniel’s 70^th week. Daniel 9:24

But you must first see the big picture, illustrated by three covenants. 1) God promised to Abraham that his descendants, the Jews, would be blessed by receiving their own land and becoming a great nation, the nation of Israel (Gen. 12:1-2, 13:14-16, 15:18). 2) God promised to David that One of his descendants would be the King over this nation and over the entire world, and that He would reign forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13, Ps. 89:27-29). 3) God promised to Jeremiah that a great number of Jewish people would be spiritually saved (Jer. 32:31-34, Rom. 11:25-26). These promises, that Israel would receive land, would be given a King, and would be saved, have not yet been fulfilled, but there’s no question that they will be. “Let God be found true”. Rom. 34, Ezek. 37:21-23

God also promised to David that One of his descendants would be the Messiah and the Savior, that He would save people from their sins. And it was at Christ’s first coming that He died for people’s sins and was raised from their dead, showing God’s supreme love and satisfying His perfect justice for all those who would repent of their sins and believe in Him. (Rom. 3:21-26, 5:8, 6:23). But back in the 1st century, most Jews rejected Christ as their Lord and Messiah. In 70 AD, because of their rejection of Christ and continued unbelief, God scattered them all over the world. Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-24

God promised that descendants of these Jewish people would return to their homeland, and that began to happen in the late 1800’s. Since that time, it has been anything but easy. You know about Hitler’s utter hatred for the Jews, killing over 6 million Jews during WW2. That resulted in some sympathy for the Jews, and in 1948, they once again became a nation. But devilish-inspired hatred and persecution of the Jews has not stopped – there was the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973, two intifadas (an Arabic word defined as a civil uprising of Palestinians against Jews), and now this present war in Israel. Yet, God has truly protected and wonderfully blessed them over all these years – and He has not and will not renege on His promises.

The most faithful ally of the Jews for these past 75 years has been the United States, but in recent years, their support for them has been weakening. It’s quite evident that rabid antisemitism is alive and well on most U.S. college campuses and among an increasing number of leaders. Recent government decisions clearly show that the United States has been openly accommodating and supporting the Jew’s archenemy, the Iranians. There is evidence that these Iranians are largely responsible for this most recent inhumane aggression against Israel. Here is one of Iran’s favorite slogans – “Allah is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam.”

So here we are, another terrible war in Israel, and who knows how long this one will last. What we do know is that Israel will not be wiped out as a nation. This nation will continue on, and that’s because God told us He would keep her going. He will not break the promises He made to her, but will, sooner or later, completely fulfill them.

What’s next for Israel? Sometime in the future, this present war will come to an end. But global antisemitism will not lessen but increase. We will witness the United State’s waning support for Israel, either because of her unwillingness or inability, or both (Note Gen. 12:3). And most nations in the world, evidenced by their numerous anti-Israel votes in the United Nations, will continue to oppose and oppress Israel. There may even be more wars.

Israel is not a godly country – as a nation, they are not presently trusting in God but are sadly and openly sinning against Him. With their backs against the wall, and the United States decreasing in their support for her, these Jews are looking for reliable allies – she is becoming more desperate for any kind of help.

In the near future, the coming Antichrist, the devil’s man on earth, will sign a covenant, a 7-year treaty with Israel. On the one hand, this will be a terrible mistake, but on the other hand, it will be part of God’s plan, what He planned and predicted would happen a long time ago. This treaty will result in a temporary “peace”. And the Jews will build a temple and, once again, offer sacrifices as prescribed in the Old Testament. But at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist will reveal his true colors, for he will openly betray the Jews.

Jesus tells us what happens at that time, which is the 3½ year mark of that week – “When you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place… then… flee” (Matt 24:15, Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). After that, the devil-possessed Antichrist pursues the Jewish people in Israel. This is the beginning of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21-22, Rev. 12:13-16). But by the sovereign and miraculous hand of God, a great number of Jews escaped. The frustrated but angry Antichrist then chases after the Christians – he “went off to make war with the rest of her children” (Rev. 12:16). This persecution spirals out and spreads to true believers all over the world. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9

This persecution, this great global tribulation continues until God Himself cuts it short. Matthew 24:9 tells us how we will know – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky.” This is the end of the age. Immediately after that is the rapture of the Christians. Then there is the Day of the Lord. And then, at the end of Daniel’s 70^th week, a large number of Jewish people will be saved.

Please note the true and prophetic word of God. It tells us what will happen. We see this war in Israel, we look at what’s happening in the United States, we observe the world around us, and you must know that God is sovereign over all that’s taking place, that He’s working in and through the people, the countries, and the leaders of this world – and He is leading everything to the end of this age, the rapture of the church, and the salvation of many, many Jews.

Jesus Christ will then set up His kingdom on earth, a 1000-year kingdom age when Jewish people, working with the Lord Jesus Christ, will play a most dominant and significant role in this world. As believers, we too will be reigning with Christ. (Rev. 5:10). Hallelujah!!! The best is yet to come!!! “Sing praises to God; sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful Psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on the holy throne.” Psalms 47, 67, 72, 96, 98

P.S. Here are more instructive posts about the Jewish people: “A Short Summary of God’s Working with the Jews”, “A Jewish Reading Lesson”, “The Divine Timetable – Daniel’s 70 Weeks”, “Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church.”

Working for God While Waiting for Christ

September 2, 2023 / stevenj777

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #284 ~

[A much more detailed article covering the same subject about work has just been posted. I would encourage you to read that too.]

In these end-times, we are to work for God while we wait for Christ. And God has much work that He wants to do and wants us to do before He sends His Son back to earth. What a privilege to work for God in the last years of this church age. Jesus told us, “Do business with this until I come.” Luke 19:13, Mark 13:33-34

God gives many stories about people doing His work. Noah built the ark, Moses led the Israelites, Joshua commanded an army, David was a king, Nehemiah built a wall, Jesus was our Savior, Mary was His mother, Paul was a preacher, etc. Now we are getting close to the end of this age, and we should be super motivated to do the work God wants us to do before Christ comes back to earth.

Today, we will be looking at several Bible passages that speak about work:
Luke 17:7-10. “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” (Lk. 17:19). Working for God isn’t doing whatever you want whenever you want. God is your Master and you are His slave, and you are to be doing His work all the time. And don’t expect God to thank you – you’re His slave, and when you work for Him, you’re doing what you ought to do.

Colossians 3:22-24. “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” God is your perfect and supreme Master, and you’re His slave, and He is always watching you work. Work isn’t just an 8-4 or 9-5 job – it’s working for God all the time and in “whatever you do.” It can be physical work like mowing the yard, or it can be mental work like working in an office, or it can be spiritualwork like sharing the gospel. All these are examples of working for God.

Working for God when you are on earth results in heavenly and eternal rewards. “From the Lord you will receive the reward of your inheritance” (Col. 3:24, 1 Cor. 3:8). You are to wholeheartedly work for God, for it pleases Him, blesses others, and results in you being richly rewarded. Matt. 6:6, Rev. 22:12

Luke 12:13-21. You’re to think about work from a godly, eternal perspective, and not be like unbelievers who work from a fleshly, temporal perspective.
1. An unbeliever is selfish. He works and makes money for himself.
2. An unbeliever invests money for his retirement, and he stores up possessions. But he doesn’t think about the state of his sinful soul, and if he doesn’t repent while he’s on earth, then he will be punished forever and severely in hell.

3. Believers are to work to make money for their needs, other’s needs, and for God’s purposes. “By working hard… you must help the weak… ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:33-35
4. It’s prudent to save money for the future. But never put your hope in money. Put your hope in God and use the money you have for the lives of others and for His glory. This is your best investment, and the returns are out of this world.
5. Don’t retire like unbelievers who want to “take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). You may retire from a job where you’re making money, but you are to never retire from working for God. Acts 13:36, 20:24, 28:30-31

Ephesians 2:8-10. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
1. You are not saved by your “good” works, but you are saved by God’s grace, and one reason you are saved is so that by God’s grace you can do good works.
2. You are created in Christ Jesus. Don’t be like an unbeliever working at a job for his own good and his own glory, but work for God and His glory. 1 Cor. 10:31 – “Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

3. You are God’s workmanship. God made you just the way He wants you to be, giving you abilities when you were born and spiritual gifts when you were born again. “May … God … equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ.” Heb. 13:20-21
4. The work you do for God is good work. It’s work that is needed, beneficial, and important, whether it’s for your family, the church, your country, or the world.

5. God knew and planned all these good works in eternity past.
6. Christians are to walk in these good works. As you go through life, you will discover and do the work God planned for you. Pray, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Ps. 143:10, Pr. 16:9

Here are several other important principles about work:
* Serve the Lord with gladness. Ps. 100:1
* Work by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7
* Work hard. Mark 12:30, 2 Tim 2:6, 1 Cor. 15:10, 2 Chron. 31:20-21
* Have a mind to work. Neh. 4:6

* You must be holy to do the work of God. 2 Tim. 2:20-21
* Doing God’s work is a primary reason you are living. Ps. 40:8, John 17:4
* The work God wants you to do is unique, is special. Ps. 139:13-16
* Working with others is usually better than working alone. Eccl. 4:9

* God wants you to be satisfied with the results of your work. Prov. 12:14
* You must persevere to fulfill all the work God wants you to do. Col. 1:9-12
* God wants you to rest. Mark 1:35
* Finish all the work God wants you to do. 2 Tim. 4:7, Acts 13:36
* Glorify God by doing all the work He wants you to do. John 17:4

It’s very encouraging to work for God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. Be thankful that you can do the work They want you to do, work that has eternal value, that is a blessing to you and others, and that relates directly to Christ’s coming. “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thess. 1:9-10

P.S. “I delight to do Thy will” (Ps. 48:8). I pray that work for God and love to work for God. Here are two detailed articles that tell you most everything you need to know about work: “The Excellent End-Times’ Worker” and “Wholeheartedly Working for God in the End-Times.”

Category: End-times (Page 1 of 9)

Loving the Lost – Evangelizing in the End-Times

God has Good Plans for Israel and Her Land

It’s True! Christ is Coming Again!

The Continuing Journey of the Jewish People

A Jewish Remnant Returns to the Land of Israel

God’s Plans for 2024 and Beyond

Antisemitism, or the TRUTH of GOD

God’s Plans for the Church and Israel are Connected

Israel – There’s Tribulation, and Then Salvation

Working for God While Waiting for Christ

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Email Address

Archives

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Meta