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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: End-times (Page 7 of 9)

Blog posts about the end times.

The Order of End-Time Events

July 5, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #125 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers

May 10, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #117 ~

When we look back through history, we see that Jewish believers had hope for the future. Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Job stated, “at the last He (my Redeemer) will take His stand on the earth” (Job 19:25). Hannah knew that “the Lord will judge the ends of the earth” (1 Samuel 2:10). David said confidently, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). When writing about the Son of Man, Daniel knew “His kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27). These Jewish saints all had hope, for they were looking ahead, and looking forward, to God’s purposes being fulfilled. But they had an incomplete picture, for God had not revealed to them all that He was planning to do in the future.

What about the saints in the early church? It’s obvious that they learned much more about this hope, the glorious plans God had in store for His people. Peter (1 Peter 1:3-5, 10-13), John (Revelation), Matthew (Matthew 24), Luke (Luke 21:7-36), Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9), and James (James 5:7-9), all wrote about the coming of Jesus Christ. This divine revelation, in addition to what the Old Testament saints had written, gave them a much clearer picture of Christ’s return and specific events preceding it. Like the believers before them, these 1st century Christians also had hope, for they were anticipating the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. But it wasn’t clear to them when all these prophesied events would take place. In fact, Jesus told the apostles, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). As we look back, we can see that they didn’t need to know when, for God knew it would be a long, long time until the end of the age and the coming of Christ.

Here we are in the 21st century, and close to two thousand years have come and gone since the start of the church age, and Christ still has not returned. Millions and millions of believers from the past, both Jews and Gentiles, have gone on to heaven before us. Their passing away, their departure from this earth, was a good thing, for their hope was partially fulfilled – they immediately were taken to be with Christ, met many loving saints, and were blessed to be in a sinless and perfect state. And they passed the baton on to other believers, and now it’s our turn to run the race.

But it won’t be thousands of years before Christ comes back, and it won’t be hundreds of years either. That the Jews are back in their land, that Israel has been reestablished as a nation is proof, evidence, and God’s sign to us that it won’t be long before He sends His Son back to earth. No one but God knows the exact time of Christ’s return, but we can know the general time, for God’s prophetic word is being fulfilled in the world around us, and we can see that the day of Christ is drawing near. Matthew 24:3-36

What a privilege to be living at this time in history, in these years leading up to Christ’s return. Shouldn’t we be more excited about His coming than other believers who lived in the past? Shouldn’t we see that our “salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed” (Romans 14:11)? Shouldn’t we be like the “sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, and knew what they should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32)? Shouldn’t we “give understanding to the many” (Daniel 11:33)? Shouldn’t we “make ready the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4)? Shouldn’t we be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12)? Shouldn’t we tell others all we know about what lies ahead, and Who will soon appear in the clouds above us (Mark 13:23, 26)? Yes, yes, yes!

For thousands of years, believers have been hoping, waiting, looking, longing for that time when the Messiah, the Christ, will set up His kingdom on this earth. But to think He could come in our lifetime is a thrilling thought, a most encouraging possibility. Might we then “run with endurance the race that is set before us,” the last leg of this race, this race to the end of the age, this race to see Jesus. Might we fix our eyes on Jesus, and fix our hope on the grace to be brought to us when He is revealed (Hebrews 11:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13), for it is at His coming that we will begin to see the realization of all our hopes, the fulfillment of God’s promises to all His people. Then we will be given new bodies, meet up with loved ones we knew on earth, see God’s judgment of the world, be revealed with Christ in glory, and soon after that, begin to reign over the earth with Him.

Then we will see His plans for the Jews coincide with His plans for the church (Hebrews 11:39-40). His promise to the Jews, “the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:29), will be fulfilled in conjunction with His promise to the church, “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Romans 15:10 confirms this when it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people,” His people being the Jewish believers. Then we read, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Might you see that God wants all believers, Jews and Gentiles, Old Testament saints and church-age believers, to be abounding in hope! Might you be excitedly looking forward to what God will be doing for all His people, and all for His glory. “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.” Romans 15:11

P.S. This post spoke about the future of both Jewish and Gentile believers. I have written quite a bit about the Jews in past posts. Here are three I would strongly encourage you to read: A Jewish Reading Lesson, Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church, Clear New Testament Confirmation of God’s Plans for the Jews.

A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ

March 29, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

A Saturday Morning Post #111 ~

Our real problem, our #1 problem, is sin, and it severely sickens every single person in this world. Like a spiritual cancer, it is a global plague that is spiritually and physically deadly. The only answer is Jesus Christ, for He has dealt with it, and will deal with it, “one way” or the other, and that’s the good news, the best news there is. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Romans 6:23

When I think about the spiritual condition of our world, I think of Ephesians 4:17-19, which says unbelievers are “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God… and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.” Similarly, Psalm 82:4 says, “They do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are being shaken.” Since the sin of Adam and Eve, the world has continually been hating God and trampling on His truth. At this time, in the beginning years of the 21st century, it’s obvious that the majority of the people living on this planet are sinners who don’t love God, don’t know God and don’t understand His truth. Our spiritual foundations are crumbling around us, resulting in damaged and destroyed lives, morals, families, schools, cultures, businesses, governments, and yes, churches too.

For close to 50 years now, I’ve been watching our sinful world get worse and worse. I am spiritually sickened as I see this world flooded with sin. There’s love of self, love of money, and love of pleasure. There’s an increased lack of respect for those in authority, whether it’s parents, teachers, policemen, or government leaders. There’s a growing disregard for the young, the old, and the unborn. There’s a sharp increase in sexual sin, in unmarried people living together, and in divorce. All kinds of people are liars, in big ways and little ways. Personal and public speech is more crude, filthy, obscene and hateful. All over the world, there are lawbreakers, many who have no conscience, and many who receive no consequences. Much of our music, movies and video games is unholy. People say things are good when they are evil, and say things are evil when they are good. People do what is right in their own eyes, but not in the eyes of God. There’s crime, theft, corruption, murder and all kinds of devilish deeds. There are many people whose thinking is depraved, who are out of their minds, don’t make sense, and aren’t rational. The bottom line is that people don’t fear God, don’t love God, and therefore, reject His truth. Mark 7:20-21; John 8:31-47; Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5

And it’s going to get a lot worse. That’s what Matthew 24, the end-times prophecy chapter tells us: “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” God is saying that lawlessness will increase in the years leading up to Christ’s return. Paul substantiates this sad truth when he talks about the Antichrist, this “man of lawlessness… the son of destruction… the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). The unrestrained sinful flesh of man, along with Satan and his devilish Antichrist inciting them to sin against God, will result in this world becoming more lawless and corrupt the closer we get to the end of this age. Now that we live in the end-times, it’s clear that our sinful world is on an irreversible collision course with the Day of the Lord, the dreadful wrath of God. Nothing can stop God from carrying out His predetermined plan to judge sinful people and this sinful world. Psalm 98:9

It’s sobering and somewhat depressing talking about all this sin in the world, but always remember that God is sovereign (Daniel 4:35), God is merciful, and God is holy.
* God is merciful, for Jesus Christ, at His 1st coming, died to pay for the sins of people, and then rose again. If you aren’t saved, if you don’t know Christ, then now’s the time to repent of your sins, and ask God for mercy, for forgiveness, for eternal life. Then expect to be perfected, to be glorified at Christ’s 2nd coming, during the rapture. Hebrews 9:28
* God is holy, which is seen in 3 ways. 1) Individual sinners who reject Christ’s offer of mercy, will perish, will be cast into hell and punished forever. 2) Jesus Christ will defeat the Antichrist: “that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearing of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). 3) This sinful world will be judged by Christ after the end of this age, during the Day of the Lord, but not before He raptures the church, rescuing the Christians who live on this earth from the wrath He will pour out upon this wicked world. Revelation 8-9, 16

Let’s go back to Matthew 24, which instructs us how we are to live in the end-times.
* Verse 12 warns us, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” It’s important for you to know that this world will spiritually and morally get worse and worse.
– Verse 13 says, “The one who endures to the end will get saved.” There will be increasing lawlessness, but Christians need to endure. Some will die and go to heaven, and others will persevere to the end of the age and be saved, that is, be raptured and go to heaven.
– Verse 14 tells us to preach the gospel “to all the nations, and then the end will come.” No matter how difficult it gets, remember to tell people about Christ and how they can be forgiven of their sins and escape God’s wrath. What a great privilege to be alive for Christ in these last years before His return to rapture the church. “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). “Go make disciples of all the nations… surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

P.S. The increasing sin of the world is such an important subject to understand. I encourage you to read two other posts related to this one: “It’s Going To Get Worse Before It Gets Better,” and “How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?”

The 21st Century: Your Time to Live

March 22, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #110 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christ and the Church in the End-Times

March 1, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #107 ~

She is more powerful than any country, more important than any government, and more prestigious than any person or company. I am talking about the church, the body of Christ, the assembly of saints, the called-out ones, those who have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ. In the past, my focus in these posts has been on prophecy and the individual Christian. But as you know, you are not to be a loner, off on your own – your life must be seen in light of the church. As much as anything else, what defines your role in life and your effectiveness as a Christian is your relationship with the church. From Christ’s 1st coming to His 2nd coming, the church is God’s primary focus, His chief interest on this earth. Here are some things you need to know about the church:

* Jesus Christ deeply loves the church, for she is His first love, His beautiful and eternal bride. He came down to this earth for her, and died for her, purchasing her with His own blood. More than you know, Jesus loves and cares for His church. He thinks about her all the time, continually intercedes for her, and cannot wait for that day when He will return to earth to take her home to heaven. “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 4:17

* Jesus Christ is building His church. Christ is the head, the leader of the church, and He is the One who is building her and causing her to grow. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). Through God’s word and God’s Spirit, Jesus Christ has been lovingly, faithfully, and wisely building the church. Sinners are being saved by Christ, and are being transformed from glory to glory. For the past 2000 years, He has been directing, teaching, encouraging, strengthening, and protecting the church, resulting in her growth, spiritually and numerically. But Christ’s church-building plan won’t keep going on forever, for once that last soul is saved at the end of this age, then the church will be complete, glorified, and gathered up to be with Him. Matthew 24:31

* God has chosen and predestined those who are members of the church. “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy…” (Ephesians 1:4). It’s a promise from God that those whom He has chosen will be justified and glorified. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, will finish what they started, and no devil, demon or person, will ever stop Them from fully carrying out Their plan to save the elect and bring them to heaven. Even though the church is fighting in the fiercest and most dangerous of all wars, we know that Christ will completely crush all her enemies, thereby gaining a decisive, glorious and everlasting victory for His precious and beloved bride.

* The overall purpose of the church is to “make disciples of all the nations… even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20), to be Christ’s witnesses“to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8), to preach the “gospel of the kingdom” to the whole world (Matthew 24:14), to proclaim “repentance for forgiveness of sins” to all the nations (Luke 24:47), and to be “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Might you be committed to and involved in a church that has these as her purposes.  

* As a Christian, you are a member of the church, a key part of the body of Christ.“God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (1 Corinthians 12:18). If indeed you are saved, then be very thankful that you are joined to Christ and are a part of the church. You can be a member of many different groups or organizations, but being a member of the church is what’s most important in life, for this has eternal value. As you love, trust and obey God, and are in a good local church, you will be able to use the spiritual gift(s) He has given you to do the special work He has planned out for you. Not only that, but much of the love, joy, peace, wisdom and grace God wants to give you will be experienced as you fellowship with the church.

* Do not neglect the church, but love her and be committed to her. You need to be involved in a good church, a loving, purposeful, and Christ-centered church. Be serving Christ by doing your part in the church, which is how you will be useful to God and be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of people (2 Timothy 2:21). Now that we live in the end-times, it’s essential that you learn from God’s word what will be taking place in our world, the birth pains, great tribulation, the coming of the Antichrist, the coming of Christ, etc. The church will soon enter the most difficult phase of her history, and you want to be working with Christ in helping her to be holy, healthy and victorious. “Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, she waits the consummation of peace forevermore; till with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.” The Church’s One Foundation

It’s paramount that you see the purpose of the church, the importance of the church, and your part in the church, especially as we are getting closer to Christ’s coming. In these years leading up to Christ’s return, might you be excited about what God is and will be doing in and through the church, the body of Christ, the army of God, this family of believers, this fellowship of Christians. Be joined with Him and with other believers in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 15:58

A Few Thoughts For You

February 8, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

May God continue to bless you in these last days leading up to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church, and be using you for His eternal purposes and glory. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

What the Bible Says About the Future

February 1, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #105 ~

For the past two years, I have been writing blog posts about the end-times and the second coming of Christ. On one hand, it’s a simple subject, for Christ is coming again. On the other hand, there are a great many details about God’s plans for the years leading up to Christ’s return and the years following. That’s because our heavenly Father wants us to be both informed and excited about His future plans for us. Today’s post is a summary of many of the major themes on this most important and relevant subject.

* Jesus Christ is returning to earth. Luke 21:27, Acts 1:9-11, Hebrews 10:37
* Jesus Christ is coming back as Lord, Redeemer, Judge and King. Zechariah 12:10, 14:9
* Jesus Christ is coming back soon, for we now live in the end-times. Daniel 12:4,9; Matthew 24:4-36   
* The fact that Jewish people have returned to their land and re-formed the nation of Israel is the main reason we know we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37, Luke 21:20-24
* God’s end-time work with the Jewish people coincides with, and is in conjunction with, His end-time work with the Christians. Matthew 24:9-27, Luke 21:9-24, Revelation 7
* Sin, evil, and wickedness will be plaguing the world, and increasingly so, in the years leading up to the coming of Christ. Matthew 24:12, 2 Timothy 3:1-4
* “Birth pains” will be occurring in various parts of the world with increasing intensity before Christ’s coming. These will consist of false Christs, wars, earthquakes, plagues, famines and economic distress. Matthew 24:4-8, Luke 21:9-11, Revelation 6:1-8
* There will be a great, global apostasy, for people will be abandoning their faith and their religion before Christ’s return. These defectors will turn against Christians, betraying them and turning them into the authorities. Matthew 24:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
* The breaking of the first six seals results in events that need to occur, and conditions that need to be in place, before the end of the age and the rapture of the church. Revelation 6-7
* Daniel’s 70th week, the last of Daniel’s 70 weeks, is a seven-year, divine time frame, given to us by God to help us know the sequence of key end-time events. Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12-13

* A treaty between Israel and other nations, attended by the future Antichrist, will be signed or confirmed at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
* The United States will decline from her position as a global super-power, and after that, at a time unknown to us, the Antichrist and his kingdom will rise up and begin to rule the world. Daniel 7:19-27; Revelation 13:3-8, 17:9-13
* At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, Satan will be cast down to the world, and empower an evil man, that wicked and diabolical Antichrist. Revelation 12:7-13
* The Antichrist will form a ten-nation coalition, a military power base, enabling him to rule the entire world. Daniel 7:23-27; Revelation 13:3-8, 17:9-13
* Having unbelievers receive his mark is one of the primary means by which the Antichrist (the beast) will control the economy, people, and the world. Revelation 13:16-17
* Christians living on earth during the time of the Antichrist’s rule will undergo great tribulation. This tribulation is not God’s wrath, but refers to the distress, difficulties and persecution believers will experience. Matthew 24:9, 21-22; Revelation 12:17, 13:5-7
* Once the gospel is preached to all the nations, this age will end, and Jesus Christ will return to rapture the Christians living on earth. Matthew 24:14, 31; Matthew 28:19-20
* Christians are to know the general time of Christ’s return, but only God knows the specific time, the exact day of His return. Matthew 24:32-36, Hebrews 10:24-25
* This present age will end when heavenly signs are seen in the skies above us, and a great earthquake is felt all over the earth. Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12-14
* Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, will be with each Christian to the end, whether that be the end of his life, or the end of this age. John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:20

* The coming and revealing of Christ is after the coming and revealing of the Antichrist. Matthew 24:15-31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9
* The rapture of the church is the first event to occur at Christ’s coming, and will take place sometime during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9
* Christians will be raptured after great tribulation is cut off, but before God’s wrath is poured out on the earth. Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Revelation 6-8
* All believers, those already in heaven and those still living on earth, will receive brand new bodies at the time of the rapture. These bodies will be perfect, powerful, immortal, spiritual and glorious. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Philippians 3:20-21
* A believer’s salvation is completed at the rapture, at which time, he or she is glorified, and made perfect forever. Romans 8:30; Philippians 1:6, 3:20-21
* Jesus Christ is coming back to rapture the Christians because He wants to physically be with them, take them to their heavenly home, and show them His glory. 1 Thessalonians 4:17; John 14:1-3, 17:24
* A large remnant of Jewish people physically living on earth at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, will spiritually be saved. Romans 11:25-26, Isaiah 45:17
* At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, the kingdom of the world, which had been controlled by Satan, will become the kingdom of the Lord. 1 John 5:19, Revelation 11:15
* God’s Old Testament promises to the Jews will be fulfilled, in the end-times, at Christ’s coming, and during the kingdom ages. Genesis 12:1-3; Psalms 47, 67, 72, etc.
* God is continually, purposefully, powerfully and sovereignly working in people’s lives, and working out events on the earth, bringing all things to that point when His Son will return, rapture the Christians, and begin His reign over the world. Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:9-11

* The fact that we are now living in the end-times means we are in the last years of this present age, which will be followed by the millennial kingdom age, and then the eternal kingdom age. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:21, 2:7; Revelation 19-21
* During the millennial kingdom age, believers will be reigning and ruling with Jesus Christ over the entire world. Daniel 7:27; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 2:26-27, 5:10
* A major reason for Christ’s return is to punish the world, which is described in detail by the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. Psalm 98:9; Revelation 8-9, 15-16
* The four major events taking place at Christ’s coming are the rapture of the church, the wrath of God upon the unbelievers, the redemption of a remnant of Jewish people, and the establishment of His kingdom over the world. Revelation 7-20
* That devilish Satan, along with all the unrepentant unbelievers who have ever lived, will be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the millennial kingdom. Revelation 20:10, 15
* In the years leading up to Christ’s coming, you are to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and serve Him by using your gifts, talents and money. Luke 10:27, 12:35-48, 19:11-27
* Being a faithful and fruitful Christian during the end-times requires faith, hope, love, holiness, and perseverance. Luke 18:8, 2 Peter 3:11-13, John 13:34-35, Matthew 24:13
* Your job as a Christian is to work for Christ, pray for His kingdom to come, proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, tell others about His second coming, and be waiting and looking for His return. Matthew 3:3, 6:9-10, 24:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
* Being in a good Bible-teaching church, and having fellowship with other believers, is essential if you are to be a godly, growing and God-glorifying Christian in these days, and in the years leading up to Christ’s return. Acts 2:42, Ephesians 4:11-6, 2 Timothy 4:18, Hebrews 10:25
* Bringing glory to God is the ultimate purpose of your life, now and forever. Jude 24-25

I encourage you to go over these summary statements, read the verses and look at the links. Take the time to study the primary prophecy passages, learning all that God wants you to know about the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ (Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Romans 11, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, and Revelation). Then tell your family, friends and fellow church members the truth about the end-times and the return of Christ. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

P.S. A good article that goes along with this post is Thirty Important Truths About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Like this one, it summarizes some of the major points about the future God has for us.

P.S. I will not be writing blog posts for the next two weeks, but will be sharing a few thoughts on my perspective about the end-times and the coming of Christ.

Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future

January 4, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #101 ~

At this time of the year, people make predictions about what they think will happen in 2019. But you know how it goes? Nobody gets it all right, for no man or woman can accurately forecast the future. Only God can perfectly predict what will be taking place, and that’s because He makes the future. He knows exactly what He is going to do, He has it all planned out, and then at the right time, He brings it to pass. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:9-10

What amazes me is that such a large portion of the Bible is prophetic, precisely predicting events that occur in the future. Maybe you have read some of the Old Testament verses that tell us about Christ’s first coming (Psalm 22:1-21; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9, etc.) But this blog site focuses on the many verses from both the Old and New Testaments that predict and describe Christ’s second coming.

God didn’t have to tell us about the future, and about Christ’s return, but He did, for He wants us to know His plans for planet earth, and for the Jewish people and the church. He doesn’t want us to be surprised or afraid when calamitous events take place. He wants us to be anticipating Christ’s second coming, and to be excited about being with Him. God also knows we need hope, especially in this world of evil and increasing darkness. God’s prophetic word gives us hope, for it helps us see the future that God has planned and prepared for us. “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart.” 2 Peter 1:19

At this time in history, as we are getting closer to the end of this age, might we realize our vantage point, the incredible view we have of God’s end-time’s working. I am not talking about a physical vantage point, but a geo-prophetical one, a perspective informed by God’s word that helps us to rightly understand events taking place on our earth. By looking at God’s prophetic word and the world around us, we can clearly see that Christ’s return is drawing near. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

What about this year? What is going to happen? I can’t say for sure, and no person can specifically know what will be happening, but God gives us a general idea of what will be taking place. There will be the preaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:14), the making of disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), and the growth of the church (Matthew 16:18). Wickedness will increase (Matthew 24:12). There will be a growing need for globalism and a world ruler (Revelation 13). There will be more wars, famines, economic problems and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:4-8). Countries will be reshaped and realigned, leading to that final, God-planned configuration of nations. Ezekiel 38:1-6, Daniel 2:36-45

But there are also very specific, identifiable, God-predicted prophecies that will be fulfilled in the years ahead. What are some of these?
1. A treaty between Israel and a number of other nations will be signed or confirmed. This event, whether actually observed by us or not, will occur at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, a prophetically strategic seven-year time frame. Daniel 9:27
2. The Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
3. A great, global persecution of Jewish people and Christians will take place after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, but will then be cut short. Matthew 24:9, 21-22
4. The rapture of the church will occur at the end of this age, during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, at an unknown time to us. Matthew 24:31-36, Revelation 7:9-14
5. A remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:24
6. The kingdom of the world will be transferred from the control of Satan to the control of Jesus Christ at the end of this 70th week. Revelation 11:15
7. A new and glorious kingdom, with Jesus Christ ruling and believers reigning with Him, will begin, and continue on for 1000 years. 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, Revelation 20:1-6

All these things are guaranteed to take place, because God has told us so, and because He, Himself, will make sure they are carried out. The Lord God of heaven and earth is on the move, and nothing will stop, thwart or derail His purposes, prophecies, and plans. He is continually and faithfully working out all the steps, all the details, all the events that need to take place to bring this present age to a close.  

As for this year, there won’t be a wasted second, a wasted day, or a wasted week, for every single thing that will happen is part of God’s eternal, sovereign, and perfect plan to bring about the return of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the reign of Christ over the world. Be humble and holy, pray and work, and wait and see! “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And 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 24:30-31

P.S. We must understand Bible prophecy in general before we can understand it in specific. These two previous posts, together with this present one, will enable you to have a better grasp on Bible prophecy – Prophecy is Predicting the Future, and What You Need to Know About Prophecy.

The Return of Christ and the Rapture of the Church

September 21, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #86 ~

As a Christian living on this earth, you will either physically die and go to heaven, or you will be raptured and go to heaven. Either way, it will be very, very good, the best thing to ever happen to you. Since we live in the end-times, the rapture, this climactic, dramatic, power-packed, devil-stopping, Christ-glorifying event, may occur during your lifetime. God tells you a lot about it in His Word, and that’s because it’s such an important truth for Christians to understand, especially at this time in history. Let me share with you the main things God wants you to know about the rapture.

At the end of this age, Jesus Christ will be seen coming on the clouds of the sky. Our Savior’s return to earth will be a global event, visible to the entire world. As soon as Christ arrives, Christians will be raptured, suddenly and rapidly taken from this earth to be with Him. As they are caught up in the air, that is, raptured, they will be joined by believers from all of history, all those who have already died and gone to heaven. This gathering together the believers will happen in a split-second, in the twinkling of an eye, at which time they will be given a brand-new glorified body, one that is perfect, powerful, spiritual and immortal, one that is like the body of Jesus Christ Himself. Matthew 24:29-31, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:42-57, 1 John 3:2

When will Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of kings, the Savior of sinners, and the Judge of all the earth, return to rapture the believers living on earth? It will occur after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, not at the beginning, like many Christians mistakenly believe. It will take place after the coming of the Antichrist, after great tribulation and the persecution of Jews and Christians, and after great signs in the heavens, “when the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” (Matthew 24:29-31). “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 4:16-17

In the near future, Christians will be raptured, will be rapidly taken and transported from the earth to meet the Lord in the air, to be received by Christ Himself. But why else will Christians be raptured? To be given relief from tribulation! To be rescued from God’s wrath on earth! To be redeemed from their body! To be reunited with loved ones! To rest from their labors! Can you see why this is one of the most important events in all of history? I can’t wait!!! I’m telling you, this age will soon and suddenly come to an end, and Christians will be raptured, taken to Christ, and then taken up to heaven. 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-14; Luke 21:28; Revelation 14:13

Once Christians have made this two-leg journey, from earth to the clouds, and then from the clouds to heaven, they will literally stand before Jesus Christ and God the Father, excitedly, joyously and wholeheartedly, giving Them praise. “They cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’” Jesus’ promise to us will finally and wonderfully come true: “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 also be.” John 14:3

Right after the rapture, once all the believers are in heaven, comes the Day of the Lord, God’s just punishment of unrepentant unbelievers living on earth (Revelation 8-9). I hope you see what’s coming, for the sake of the saved and the lost. As for the saved, tell them all about the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Remind them to be loving Christ, to be living for Christ, and to be looking for His return, “encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25, 37

As for the lost, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter” (Proverbs 24:11). Now is the time to tell the unsaved the good news about Christ’s 1st coming. Tell them that they need to repent of their sins before it’s too late. Tell them to believe that Jesus Christ died for them, so they can be forgiven of their sins, become children of God, and receive eternal life. Warn them that it won’t be long before Christ’s 2nd coming, and if they don’t get saved, they will miss the rapture, be left behind and severely punished on earth during the day of the Lord, and then punished forever in hell. Matthew 25:30,41,46

As for you, look forward to the end of this age, when Jesus Christ returns for His church, His bride, rapturing her, and you, into heaven. Your heart should be so happy, and deeply moved, as you think of that moment when you will first see Jesus, who loves you so much more than anyone else in the world, who can’t wait to see you, and be with you forever. “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels and gather His elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:26-27). “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth… I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27

P.S. The rapture of the church – what an important and heart-warming subject for you and me, and for all believers. Here is an encouraging post that talks about our relationship with Jesus, The Rapture, A Love Story. Also here is a very detailed and instructive article about the rapture, 50 Truths God Wants You to Know About the Rapture.

Truths You Need to Know About the End Times

June 22, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #73 ~

1. Every prophetic word regarding the return of Christ and the rapture of the church is true, and will be fulfilled. Jesus tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). He also says, “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). God has told us, ahead of time, everything He wants us to know about the end-times, and that’s because He wants us to be instructed, to be ready, to be telling others, and to be excited about seeing His Son, Jesus.

2. Prophetically speaking, we live in the end-times, the last part of this present age before the rapture of the church. The fact that the Jews are firmly established back in their land is the reason we know we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37; Daniel 12:4, 9

3. Many things need to take place before Christ’s coming. In the years before Christ’s return and the rapture, there will be birth pains (false Christs, famines, earthquakes, and wars), the decline of the United States, the realignment of countries, a rebuilt Jewish, the coming of the Antichrist, apostasy, increasing lawlessness, great tribulation, the mark of the beast, preaching the gospel to all nations, heavenly signs, etc. Matthew 24

4. Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are not imminent. That’s because the Bible makes it clear that the aforementioned prophesied events and signs need to occur first. This means the rapture is not pre-tribulational, is not before Daniel’s 70th week, and cannot happen at any moment or time. Matthew 24:33-36, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

5. We now live in an elongated stage called the “beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:4-8 tells us about these birth pains – false Christs, wars, earthquakes and famines. Luke 21:8-11 tells us about plagues occurring in various places around the world. A parallel passage, Revelation 6:1-8, also speaks about these birth pains, but includes financial problems and death. But we are only in stage one, with stage two, the latter and harder birth pains, still to come.

6. Christians are to be watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17). We are to “be alert and sober,” telling others what we know about the end-times and Christ’s coming (1 Thessalonians 5:6). We are to be “those who have insight among the people” and “give understanding to the many” (Daniel 11:33). We need to be discerning, looking for these prophesied signs, and recognizing them when they occur. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, that He is right at the door.” Matthew 24:33

7. As time goes on, it will be evident to Christians that Christ’s coming is getting closer. At this time (2018), Christ’s return and the rapture are still many years away, as many prophesied events still need to take place. Once the Antichrist is revealed (Daniel 9:27), it will be less than three years until the rapture. Hebrews 10:25 instructs you to be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

8. The rapture of the church will occur after the birth pains, after the revealing of the Antichrist, after great tribulation, after the sixth seal, after the heavenly signs, after the last trumpet, before the seventh seal, and during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, on a “day and hour no one knows.” We are to know the general time of the rapture, but we cannot know the specific time. Matthew 24:9-36, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 6-7

9. Christians alive on earth, in the years leading up to Christ’s coming, will go through great tribulation. This will be a most difficult and distressing time for Christians, for there will be increasing wickedness, worldwide apostasy, betrayal by family members, food shortages and persecution. But God will give us abundant grace, empower us to be His witnesses, and use us for His purposes and glory. Matthew 24:9-14, Luke 21:12-17

10. Christians will still be living on earth when the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. The Antichrist, possessed by the devil, will be the most evil and wicked man to ever live on the face of this earth. He will be worshiped by unbelievers, and be persecuting and killing Christians. But believers will be overcomers, victorious because of Jesus Christ and His word. Revelation 12:6-17, Revelation 13

11. Four major, life-changing, world-changing events will occur after the end of this age: the rapture of the church, God’s wrath upon the world, salvation of the Jews, and the defeat of the devil. Jesus Christ will then begin His glorious reign on earth. Revelation 6-19

12. God is sovereign over all prophesied events. Everything is going according to His perfect plans. He is working out all the details, working through Christians, rulers and countries, bringing everything and every person, to that point in time when He will send Jesus Christ back to earth. No person, no demon, and no devil, will thwart the purposes and plans of God. Isaiah 46:8-13, Psalm 33:10-12, Ephesians 1:9-11

13. Our purpose in the end-times is to be loving our Lord (Mark 12:30), loving others (John 15:17), praying (1 Peter 4:7), serving God (1 Thessalonians 1:9), encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25), preaching the gospel (Matthew 24:14), making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), and looking for Jesus’ soon return. Matthew 24:42

14. Our character in the end-times is to be holy (2 Peter 3:11), obedient (Revelation 2:26), wise (Revelation 13:18), loving (1 John 4:7), believing (Luke 18:8), persevering (Matthew 24:13), faithful (Matthew 25:23), patient (James 5:8), and waiting (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

In conclusion, be encouraged and excited by what God is doing in our time. “Do this, understanding the time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep, 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” (Romans 13:11-12). Be thankful that you can be part of God’s great and glorious work. Faithfully serve the Lord by using your gift. Tell believers what will be taking place in the years ahead. Warn unbelievers about the coming wrath, and share the gospel with them. Be hoping, praying, and looking for our Lord’s soon return. “‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

P.S. I have just written, “Spiritual Survival Food for the Coming Tough Times,” the first of a two-part article about how we can live for God, especially during Daniel’s 70th week and the time of great tribulation. It focuses on the necessity of knowing, believing and obeying the word of God, with over 100 verses written out.

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