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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: God and You (Page 1 of 3)

Blog posts about God and you.

Prophetic Psalms About the King and His Kingdom

September 7, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #312 ~

It’s obvious that we live in the end-times and, therefore, it is essential to learn what God wants us to know about the coming of Christ and the future He has in store for us. God has given us a good outline of what will be taking place along with instructions as to how we are to live – and He has given us hope.

One book that is often overlooked when it comes to studying the future is the Psalms. (Yes, the Psalms was written to the Jews, but it’s also written to you.) My purpose in this post, and in the related article, “The Psalms and Prophecy”, is to give you an extensive list of prophecy verses from the Psalms that I am convinced will be very helpful to you. I encourage you to read them, share them with others, and use them as a basis for more extensive study.

Here are the subjects that are covered: 1) The Salvation of the Jews; 2) The Judgment of the Wicked; 3) The King and His Kingdom; 4) The Land; 5) The Millennial Kingdom; 6) Your Future Relationship with God. In this post, I have listed out only some of the verses. Article 55 is much longer and more detailed for it contains my complete list of verses. 

1) The Salvation of the Jews: God promised to save a remnant of Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. This chosen race, this royal priesthood, this holy nation will be living in Israel, helping repopulate the earth, and worshiping and serving Christ the King. (Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:31-34, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 11:25-27). Ps. 98:2-3 – “The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel.” Ps. 111:9 – “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” Ps. 130:7-8 – “For with the Lord is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption, and He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

2) The Judgment of the Wicked: God is most holy, and He will not let the guilty go free. All the wicked who have ever dwelt on this earth, those who have not repented of their sins and turned to God for mercy, will perish, will be righteously and eternally punished. (Is. 24; Matt. 24:41, 46; Rev. 7-8, 16, 20:15). Psalm 1:6 – “The way of the wicked will perish” (6). Ps. 9:5 – “You have destroyed the wicked, You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Ps. 11:6 – “Upon the wicked He will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.” Ps. 81:15 – “Those who hate the Lord would pretend obedience to Him, and their time of punishment would be forever.” Ps. 83:17-18 – “Those who hate You have exalted themselves” (2). Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever.” Ps. 92:7-8 – “When the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.”

3) The King and His Kingdom: In a world filled with evil and evil rulers, we must be convinced that the King will be coming soon, and that He will establish His kingdom on this earth. The Psalms doesn’t clearly differentiate the two future kingdoms, the 1000-year kingdom and the eternal kingdom, but we do know that He will be perfectly reigning over a world filled with His glory. (2 Sam. 7:16, Is. 42:1-4, Ez. 27:21-28, Dan. 7:13-14, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 20). Psalm 2:6 – “As for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Ps. 10:16 – “The Lord is King forever and ever.” Ps. 22:28 – “The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” Ps. 45:6 – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Ps. 47:2 – “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.” Ps. 67 – “Let all the peoples praise You, O God” (3). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth” (4). Ps. 102:15-16 – “The nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory. For the Lord has built up Zion. He has appeared in His glory.”

4) The Land: God promised to Abraham and to all believing Jews the land from the River to the Sea. But more than that, it will be the entire earth. And Christians, as coheirs with Christ, as part of this chosen race, will also inherit the earth. (Gen. 12:1-3; Jer. 32:40-41; Ez. 37:21-22; Matt. 5:5). Psalm 37:29 – “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (29). Ps. 85:1 – “You showed favor to Your land, You restored the captivity of Jacob.” Ps. 105:8-11 – “He has remembered His covenant forever…the covenant… to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you will I will give the land of Caanan as the portion of your inheritance.’” Ps. 136:16, 21-22 – “To Him… who gave their land as a heritage, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, even a heritage to Israel His servant.”

5) The Millennial Kingdom: We live in a devil-ruled, sin-corrupted world. Not long from now we will live in a Christ-ruled and restored world. There will be justice, peace, love, and glory like we have not seen since the beginning days of this earth. Both the people and the land of this glorious kingdom will be blessed. And believers will be reigning with Christ the King. (Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14, Acts 3:20-21; Rom. 8:19-22, Phil. 2:9-11, 1 John 5:19, Rev 20:6). Psalm 22:27-28 – “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s.” Ps. 47:7-8 – “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations.” Ps. 65:8-9 – “They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. You visit the earth and cause it to overflow.” Ps. 72 – “May He judge Your people with righteousness” (2-3). “May He also rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth” (7-8). “He will have compassion on the poor and needy” (13). “… may the whole earth be filled with His glory” (17-19). Ps. 96 – “Sing to the Lord, all the earth” (1). “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations” (2-3). Ps. 98 – “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (3-4). “With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and all it contains” (5-8).Ps. 102 – “You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to her” (13). “The nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory” (15-16). Ps. 145:12 – “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

6) Your Future Relationship with God: Having a loving, continual, never-ending relationship with Jesus Christ is, without question, the best part of your future. Dwelling in His house, seeing His face, being perfectly satisfied, learning from Him, loving Him and being loved by Him – it can’t get any better than this. (Lk. 10:42; Jn. 17:3; Eph. 1:17, 3:18-19; 2 Pet. 1:2.) Psalm 11:7 – “The Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.” Ps. 16:11 – “In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Ps. 17:15 – “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” Ps. 23:6 – “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Ps. 63:2-3 – “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.”

What a glorious hope! And you must know this hope, what God has planned out for you in the future, if you are to live rightly for Him in the present. I say this with utmost earnestness, sobriety, and conviction. Way too many Christians are asleep – and they need to know God’s prophetic word and wake up to the times we live in. “You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky but why do you not analyze this present time?” (Lk. 12:56). “The night is almost gone, and the day is near” (Rom. 13:12). “Therefore, be on the alert” (Matt. 24:42). “… encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25

Please look at the related article. You will be amazed and excited by how many prophecy verses are found in the book of Psalms!!!

I strongly suggest that you read my three-part series on this subject in the articles section – Prophecy Psalms for You and the Jew – “Part 1“, “Part 2”, “Part 3”. You will find them very instructive and encouraging.

God’s Grace for Your Good and His Glory

August 10, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #310 ~

We live in the end-times, the final years before Christ returns to rapture the church, and as you probably know, this will be an increasingly difficult time (Matt. 24:9). I hope you realize that you are alive “for such at time as this” (Esther 4:14). And God will give you an abundance of grace for His glory and your good.

My purpose for this post is to help you understand what God says about the end-times, what will be taking place, and how you are to live for Him. We have recently focused on the latter, specifically your relationship with God, the single most important thing in your life. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Ps. 73:25). Today, I want to look at the book of Psalms and see what it says about how God blesses you – and knowing this is vital for your relationship with God and the purpose He has for you. Listed below are 40 verses that tell you what God does for you. 

Psalm 4:3 – “The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” God hears you perfectly when you pray, when you call out to Him, when you ask Him for help.” 6:8, 17:6, Ps. 54:2
Psalm 4:8 – “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” You will sleep peacefully as you know the Lord and trust in Him. Ps. 3:5
Psalm 17:15 – “In righteousness I will see Your face.” Those who walk righteously, who live a holy life, have an intimate relationship with God. Ps. 11:7; Ps. 27:4, 8
Psalm 16:8 – “Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Because the Lord is with you, you won’t be fearful, you’ll be at peace. Ps. 15:5, 55:22, 112:6-7
Psalm 18:1 – “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” God is your strength and power, and experiencing this will stir you to love Him. Ps. 28:7, Ps. 46:1, Ps. 59:16-17

Psalm 18:2 – “God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” For shelter, safety, and protection from the enemy, you must go to God. Ps. 46:1, 61:3-4, 71:1, 91:2
Psalm 20:2 – “May God send you help from the sanctuary.” You need help in every area of your life, and only God can give you the help you need. Ps. 27:7, 30:10, 33:20, 54:4, 63:7, 70:5, 121:2, 123:8
Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.” God personally cares for you. He watches over you, and meets all your needs. Ps. 28:8-9, 145:14-21
Psalm 23:1 – “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Through His Word, God feeds your soul, giving you the best spiritual food there is. Ps. 19:7-11, 119:103
Psalm 23:3 – “He restores my soul.” When you are spiritually tired or worn out, God will revive you, will encourage you. Ps. 19:7; Ps. 80:3, 18; 119:154, 156, 159

Psalm 23:6 – “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” You should be extremely excited and thankful for the hope God has given you, the incredibly great future He has planned out for you. Ps. 16:11, 37:11, 46:10, 47:7, 67:7, 71:5, 72:17, 73:24
Psalm 25:2 – “In You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.” Because God is your God, you will never be put to shame, you will always be victorious. Ps. 25:20, 31:1, 44:4-8, 60:11-12
Psalm 25:4 – “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths.” Learn from God, for He is your teacher, the best teacher there is. Ps. 27:11, 70:17, 86:11, 90:12
Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” Because you are a child of God, you have nothing and no one to fear. Ps. 3:6, 23:4, 46:2, 56:4
Psalm 31:19 – “How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You.” God is good, and shows you His goodness, now and forever. Ps. 23:6, 86:5, 100:5

Psalm 32:1 – “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven… whose sin the Lord does not count against him.” To be forgiven, to have your soul cleansed from your sins, is an amazing grace, a present, eternal, and infinite blessing. Ps. 32:2-5, 51:1-4, 79:9, 130:3-4
Psalm 32:7 – “You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble.” God is the only One who can keep you “safe and secure from all alarms.” Ps. 31:20, 64:2, 143:9
Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” God will lead you, show you His way, help you know what you are to do.” 25:5, 143:8-10
Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He answered me.” You are very special to God, and He never ignores you – He answers you when you seek Him. Ps. 86:7, 118:5
Psalm 34:19 – “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Never forget that the Lord will deliver you from all your troubles, and will rescue you from all your enemies. Ps. 18:17, 33:19, 34:7, 59:1-2

Psalm 36:7 – “How priceless is Your unfailing love.” God greatly, personally, continually, and eternally loves you!Ps. 23:6, 26:3, 33:20, 36:10, 52:8, 57:3, 59:17, 63:3, 66:20, 89:1, 90:14, 92:2, 94:18, 103:17, 107:15, 109:21, 109:26; 115:1, 118:18, 136:1-26, 145:8
Ps. 43:3 – “Send forth Your light and Your truth.” God tells you what is true, and to really live, you must know His truth, what is right and what is wrong. Ps. 26:3, 69:13, 86:11
Psalm 54:4 – “God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me.” When you are sick or weak or tired, God will help you, support you, and keep you going. Ps. 41:3, 55:22, 68:19
Psalm 68:3 – “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” You should be overjoyed, you should be rejoicing and singing, for God made you perfectly, completely, and eternally holy. Ps. 64:10, 70:4, 90:15, 92:4
Ps. 69:1 – “Save me, O God.” God saved you from hell, and also delivers you from trials, problems, difficulties, and from your enemies. Ps. 69:29, 86:2, 88:1, 116:6

Psalm 71:20-21 – “Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again… You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.”Life can be very hard, but God will revive you, console you, and honor you. Ps. 86:17
Psalm 73:23 – “I am always with you.” An important things in life is to know that God never leaves you, that He’s always with you. Ps. 16:10, 23:4, 118:6, 139:7
Psalm 80:18 – “Revive us and we will call upon Your name.” You may be sad, you may be discouraged, but God can restore you, can give you fresh life. Ps. 71:20, 85:6
Psalm 86:15 – “You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” More than you realize, God lovingly puts up with you – He is patient, forgiving, and forbearing. Ps. 103:8; 78; 106; 145:8
Psalm 89:1 – “With my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known.” God is loyal, He is steadfast and consistent, and never gives up on you. Ps. 36:5, 89:5, 92:2, 100:5

Psalm 90:14 – “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love that we may sing for joy.” God wants you to be filled with joy, His joy, every day of your life. Ps. 63:3, 65:14, 81:16, 90:14, 103:5, 107:9
Psalm 94:12 – “Blessed is the man You discipline, O Lord, the man You teach from Your law.” The Lord’s admonishing and chastening is a corrective measure, one of the ways He teaches you the truth, trains you to follow Him. Ps. 73:14; 118:8; 119:67
Psalm 94:19 – “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” When you are anxious, worried, or afraid, then God Himself wants to console you, comfort you, and fill you with His joy. Ps. 71:21
Psalm 103:2-4 – “Praise the Lord…who redeems your life from the pit.” Praise God, for He purchased you, He rescued you from hell. Ps. 49:7, 55:18, 77:15, 107:2
Psalm 112:1 – “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.” God wants to greatly bless you, to give you what is good, and it happens when you fear Him and obey Him. Ps. 40:4, 65:4, 84:12, 115:12, 119:1

Psalm 116:5 – “Our God is full of compassion.”When God sees you are hurting, then He has compassion on you – and this is a special love, a deep concern that God has for you, and it moves Him to act on your behalf.” Ps. 69:16; 86:15; 103:8, 13
Psalm 121:7 – “The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life.” God is your keeper, He continually protects, guards, and watches over you. Psalm 41:2, 91:10-12, 145:20
Psalm 126:3 – “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” That God does great and wonderful things for you should cause you to be joyful, to be exulting, to be spiritually happy. Ps. 16:10, 43:4, 51:8, 51:12, 100:1
Psalm 145:8 – “The Lord is gracious and compassionate.” In every aspect of life, God will be gracious to you, giving you all the grace you need. Ps. 67:1, 86:15, 123:3
Psalm 147:6 – “The Lord sustains the humble.” God helps you when you’re humble, when you’re hurting, when you’re looking to Him. Ps. 10:17; 22:1-11; 25:9; 34:2

These verses are the truth, an incredible and overwhelming demonstration of God’s great and eternal love for you. Why does God do so much for you?
– Because you are His child, because He really loves you, because He wants you to be filled with joy, because He wants to bless you. 
– Because He wants you to love Him, to thank Him, to glorify Him.
– Because He wants you to spiritually grow, to be a mature believer, and these truths are essential for your growth.
– Because He wants you to obey Him. Look at Psalm 119:115 – “Away from me you evildoers that I may keep the commands of God.” God delivers you from the enemy so you can obey Him. Psalm 119:88, 134, 145 say similar things.
– Because God wants you to be an overcomer, a strong, special-ops soldier for Him in these end-times, even when the Antichrist rules this earth and persecutes you. This can only happen if you have a close relationship with God Himself.

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs… For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:1, 5

P.S. I will continue to stress the importance of growing in your relationship with God. You won’t be disappointed, and God will be honored! If you have not done it yet, please read the previous two posts on this subject. Also, I finished my article on prayers to God from the book of Psalms – “Psalms and Your Relationship with God.” I encourage you to read it and use it as a way to pray to God.

The Psalms are Needed Now, and in the Future

July 13, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #308 ~

I love the Psalms! It’s by far my favorite book in the Bible. I’ve been reading it every morning for over 50 years, and that’s because it’s the best book in the world on our relationship with God. But it also speaks about other important subjects, ones relevant to the end-times and the future that God has in store for us. “All things which are written about Me in… the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44

In the coming weeks, I will be looking at six different subjects from the Psalms: your relationship with God, suffering and persecution, the judgment of the wicked, the coming King, the coming earthly Kingdom, and God’s plans for the Jewish people. Each of these topics relates to the future, and you need to understand them if you’re to truly love God and live for Him, if you’re to fulfill His plans and bring maximum glory to Him.

Today we will examine your relationship with God. I will be looking at four points that directly relate to this subject – the person of God, the character and nature of God, God’s relationship and responsibility to man, and a believer’s relationship and responsibility to God. I will do this by writing down a number of verses from Psalms that address each of these points.

First, let’s look at the person of God. Psalms tell us that He is Lord (“You are my Lord” – Ps. 16:2); He is the Redeemer (“O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” – Ps. 19:14); He is the Shepherd (“The LORD is my shepherd“ – Ps. 23:1); He is the Savior (“Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my Savior” – Ps. 38:22); He is LORD (“O LORD, be gracious to me” – Ps. 41:4); He is King (“God is the King of all the earth” – Ps. 47:7); He is Judge (“God Himself is Judge” – Ps. 50:6); He is God (“O God, You are my God” – Ps. 63:1); and He is Creator (“He commanded and they were created” – Ps. 148:5b).

Second, let’s look at the character and nature of God. We learn that God is strong (“I love You, O Lord, my strength” – Ps. 18:1), righteous (“the Lord is righteous” – Ps. 11:7), forgiving (“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven” – Ps. 32:1), great (“a great King over all the earth” – Ps. 47:2), glorious (“to see Your power and glory” – Ps. 63:2), awesome (“how awesome are Your deeds” – Ps. 66:3), gracious (“God be gracious to us” – Ps. 67:1), holy (“Your way, O God, is holy” – 77:13), incomparable (“Lord God of hosts, who is like You?” – Ps. 89:8), faithful (“Your faithfulness also surrounds You” – Ps. 89:8), sovereign (“The Lord reigns” – Ps. 99:1), eternal (“From everlasting to everlasting, You are God” – Ps. 90:2b), good (“The Lord is good” – Ps. 100:5), compassionate (“the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him” – Ps. 103:13), wise (“… in wisdom You made them all” – Ps. 104:24), truthful (“The sum of Your word is truth” – Ps. 119:160), loving (“His love is everlasting” – Ps. 136), omniscient (“You understand my thought from afar” – Ps. 139:2), omnipresent (“Where can I flee from Your presence?” – Ps. 139:7), praiseworthy (“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” – Ps. 150:6).

Third, let’s look at God’s relationship and responsibility to His people: “The Lord watches over the way of the righteous” (Ps. 1:6). “From the Lord comes deliverance” (Ps. 3:8). “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (Ps. 6:9). “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” (Ps. 8:4). “Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” (Ps. 16:5-6). “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; He is my shield” (Ps. 18:2). “He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (Ps. 18:17). “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Ps. 18:28).

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” (Ps. 23:1-3). “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way” (Ps. 25:8-9). “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped” (Ps. 28:7). “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Ps. 30:11). “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Ps. 32:8). “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18). “The Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones” (Ps. 37:28).

“God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself” (Ps. 49:15). “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me” (Ps. 54:4). “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him” (Ps. 62:1). “Praise be to the Lord, to God, our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves” (Ps. 68:19-20). “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). “The LORD will indeed give what is good” (Ps. 85:12). “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You” (Ps. 86:5). “Great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave” (Ps. 86:13).

Fourth, let’s look at a believer’s relationship and responsibility to God: “To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me” (Ps. 3:4). “Save me because of Your unfailing love” (Ps. 6:4). “I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart” (Ps. 9:1). “I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me” (Ps. 13:6). “Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge” (Ps. 16:1). “I love You, O Lord, my strength” (Ps. 18:1). “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord – and You forgave the guilt of my sins” (Ps. 32:5). “My soul will boast in the LORD” (Ps. 34:2). “I sought the Lord and He answered me; and saved me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4).

“I waited patiently for the Lord” (Ps. 40:1). “I desire to do Your will, O my God” (Ps. 40:8). “I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever” (Ps. 52:8). “When I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Ps. 56:3). “Have mercy on me, O God” (Ps. 57:1). “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me” (Ps. 57:2). “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone” (Ps. 62:5). “O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for You” (Ps. 63:1). “Zeal for Your house consumes me” (Ps. 69:9). “Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me” (Ps. 69:14). “Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy turn to me” (Ps. 69:16).

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 69:31). “Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory” (Ps. 73:23-24). “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago” (Ps. 77:11). “Show us Your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation” (Ps. 85:7). “Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You” (Ps. 86:2). “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear Your name” (Ps. 86:11). “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14).

Having a quality relationship with God is the single most needed thing in your life. Your relationship with God is what is called eternal life. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The book of Psalms is given to us by God to help us experience eternal life, to help us get close to God, to help us know His love, joy, and peace. I encourage every one of you to make the Psalms part of your daily reading and meditation.

But I am not just thinking of the present but also the future, of that time when life on earth will be extremely difficult, when Christians will be going through great tribulation. During that time, the single most important thing for you will be your relationship with God, will be walking with Him, and knowing His presence, HIs power, and His love. “The Lord is righteous, He loves justice, upright men will see His face.” Psalm 11:7

P.S. What I have shared today are specially selected snippets from Psalms, hopefully enough to whet your spiritual appetite so that you make it part of your daily diet. In forthcoming articles, I will list a much larger selection of verses about your relationship with God, specifically points three and four. In the meantime, here are some other posts about your relationship with your Lord and Savior: “The Rapture, a Love Story”. “Promises from a Loving Father to His Children”.

The Great and Wonderful Love of God

February 14, 2024 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #297 ~

If you are a child of God, if God is your heavenly Father, then you are greatly, personally, and forever loved by Him. God wants you to know and experience His love every day of the week and every year of your life. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.” Psalm 90:14

If you are not satisfied by God’s love, then you will look to people or things in the world. That will not be good for you and will not bring glory to God. So go after God, seek Him, and make it your goal for your soul to know and be satisfied by His love. Then you will love God and love others and be able to joyfully carry out His plans for your life. Then you can make it through the tough times and these end-times. And then you will greatly glorify your God and Father.

I have written up a long list of Bible verses on God’s love. They are in my most recent article on this blog site. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing these truths about love, thinking about them, and seeing them impact your life on earth. Listed below are several thoughts about love from these verses.

1. The greatest demonstration of God’s love for you is seen in Christ’s death on the cross, in that He was punished to pay the penalty for all your sins, and that God the Father was perfectly and forever satisfied by what His Son did for you.
2. The love of God is based on the truth of God.
3. God’s word gives you a great amount of information about God’s love.
4. God’s love for you began in eternity past and will continue into eternity future.

5. There is never a gap, a break in God’s love – it is constant and continual.
6. Ask God to show you His love so you can know His love.
7. Never expect or depend on a person to love you, but do expect and depend on God to love you.
8. God’s love is seen in many ways: it is good, kind, gentle, forgiving, patient, and compassionate.
9. Keep thanking God for His amazing and incredible love for you.

10. God’s love is shown in that He thinks about you, speaks to you, and works for you.
11. Knowing God’s love is one of the most important keys to loving people.
12. Singing about God’s love is good for your soul.
13. Being filled with God’s love is necessary to be fruitful and blessed.
14. You need to rely on and be satisfied by God’s love every day of your life. You may start the day with a cup of coffee but you must start the day with God’s love.

15. You see God’s love dimly during this life, but you will see it much more clearly and fully after your life on earth, when you are with Him in heaven.
16. God expresses His love to you in many ways. He loves you by giving you His Spirit, by being with you, by never leaving you, by providing for you, by leading you, by protecting you, by spiritually blessing you, by physically blessing you, by speaking to you through His word, by using you for His purposes, by giving you Christian fellowship, and by giving you hope.

17. Its vitally important to keep yourself in God’s love (Jude 21). You do this by: spending time with God, and for more than just a few minutes a day; meditating on verses about love; remembering what Christ did for you on the cross; loving God; obeying God; being filled with the Spirit; believing the truth of God’s love; having communion with Christians; confessing  your sins to God; being thankful; sharing God’s love with others; and having fellowship with Christians.

18. Remember how God loved you in the past; focus on His love for you today; and think about how He will love you in the future, especially when you are in heaven.
19. A key to perseverance, to not giving up, is thinking about the personal and never-stopping, never-ending love of God.
20. God loves you even when you do not feel like He loves you. Never gauge His love for you by how you feel, by your emotional state, or by the kind of day you are having.

21. That God made you and then made you His child is a good and powerful sign of His love for you.
22. God’s love is true, unfathomable, incomprehensible, infinite, and eternal.
23. You cannot love God and love the world – they do not mix. If you love God, you are not loving the world, and if you love the world, you are not loving God.
24. Disobeying God means you are not being led by and filled up with His love.

25. One way to know God’s love is seeing how He is sovereign over your life.
26. God’s caring and compassionate love is really needed when you are going through troublesome and trying times.
27. The more you know God loves you, the more you will work and fight for Him.
28. Great tribulation, great persecution, is coming upon this earth. But during this time, nothing will keep you from God’s encouraging and comforting love.

29. Many of the verses I have listed in Article 52 are about David. I believe he is our best human example in the Bible of one who knew the love of God. Learn about God’s love by reading the Psalms and learning from David’s life.
30. The more you know and walk in God’s love, the more you will glorify God.

P.S. This is Valentine’s Day, a day that focuses on human love. But as Christians, we must focus on God’s love. I strongly encourage you to read and print out the verses on God’s love that are in my recent article, “The Love of God”, and then take the time to think about them. And pass them on to family and friends.

To Live is Christ, Now and Forever!!!

May 13, 2023 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #276 ~

If you are a true Christian, if you have repented of your sins and have believed that Jesus Christ died to pay for your sins, and was raised from the dead, then you are a child of God, forgiven of your sins, and have eternal life. And God has planned out many great things for you in this life, and many, many, many great and glorious things for you in the future, in the ages to come.

After your life on earth, you will have a perfect body, you will be in your heavenly home, you will be with other believers, and you will be richly rewarded. What is vastly more important than any of these things is that you will be with Jesus Christ, the One who saved you from sin and death, who loves you far more than anyone else, and who can’t wait to see you. Your entire and eternal future is centered on Jesus Christ! To live is Christ! What, specifically, does this mean for you? 

* You will be with Christ. “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be” (John 14:3). You will physically, joyfully, and forever be with Jesus Christ, your Lord, Savior, Husband, and best Friend. 1 Thessalonians 4:17

* You will live together with Christ. “… obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:10). You will not be far away from Christ but will live together with Him in the holy city, the new Jerusalem, your heavenly home. Revelation 21:1-2

* You will see Jesus Christ. “I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth… from my flesh I shall see God: whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within Me” (Job 19:24-27). What will it be like when you first see Jesus Christ, when you gaze upon the face of God? You will be thrilled to see Him, you will be filled with joy, you will see His love for you, and you will love Him like never before. 1 Corinthians 13:12

* You will see Christ’s glory. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me.” (John 17:24). When we say Christ’s glory, we are talking about His character – His love, power, holiness, goodness, mercy, truth, wisdom, splendor, majesty, etc. You will be in awe and so amazed when you witness the glorious character and person of Christ. John 17:3-5

* You will be seen with Christ. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4). You will personally be with Christ, but also publicly be seen with Him. Christ wants the whole world to know that you are part of His family, that you are royalty, and that you are loved by Him. John 14:9

* You will be perfectly holy in the presence of Christ. “God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph. 1:4). You will always be holy in the presence of Christ, and it’s all because He died for you on the cross, thereby, perfectly satisfying God’s justice. To God be all the glory! Jude 24-25

* You will witness the reign of Christ. “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful Psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:7-8). We live in a world with many evil and terrible leaders, but you will soon see Christ the King righteously ruling over the world. You will observe His justice and mercy in people’s lives, and hear praise coming from their lips. Psalm 67

* You will reign with Christ. “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). As believers, we are a kingdom of priests, we are royalty, and thus, we will have the position and power to reign with Christ, to assist Him in His rule over the world, and to bring great glory to Him. Revelation 1:6, 5:10

* You will be like Christ. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). You will receive a new body, one like Christ’s, one that is powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorious. This will enable you to fully experience and enjoy eternal life, to have intimate fellowship with Him and many others, and to perfectly love and serve Him. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

* You will personally worship Christ. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You (Psalm 145:1-2). You worship Christ now, but not perfectly so. In the future you will excitedly, continually, and wholeheartedly be worshiping and praising the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 72:18-19

* You will be perfectly loved by Christ. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9). None of us experience Christ’s marvelous love like we should. But in the future, you will abide, you will remain in the fulness of His love which, unbelievably, is the same love that God the Father has for Him. Psalm 86:12-13

* You will perfectly love Christ. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). You don’t always and fully love Christ, but when you get to heaven you will, and perfectly so. You will greatly, joyfully, and excitedly love your Savior. Psalm 9:1-2

* You will always obey Christ. “I will always obey Your law forever and ever” (Psalm 119:44). Jesus Christ is your Lord and you are His servant, and you obey Him now but not all the time. In the future, you will enthusiastically, continually, and completely obey all His commands. How satisfying and God-glorifying that will be! Psalm 119:1-8

* You will be taught by Christ. “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we can walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). Think how encouraging it will be to listen to Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher of all time, for you will learn the ways of God and more clearly understand the word of God. Psalm 119:12

You will see Christ always exalted in your life. “To live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). Jesus Christ is the heart of your life, but because of sin that doesn’t always happen. But in the future, Christ will always be the center of your life. Day after day and forever and ever Christ will be seen and exalted in and through your life. Every thing you do or say, every place you go, every person you are with, will directly relate to Christ, to His life, purpose, and glory. Philippians 1:20-24

* You will be married to Christ. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). You are married to Jesus Christ. But at the beginning of the next age, not long from now, Christ will prepare for you the most magnificent marriage supper ever. All dressed up in fine linen and looking gloriously beautiful, you will have the time of your life with your most loving, caring, and devoted Husband. Ephesians 5:23-27

Your life as a Christian is completely centered on the person of Jesus Christ, now and forever. And your life as a Christian is a love story. Jesus has always loved you but now you know His love, and you love Him. But when you are in heaven, you will fully know His love, and you will fully love Him. Just think, you have eternal life – Christ knows you and you know Him, and He loves you and you love Him, now and forever. “To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 25

P.S. The most important thing in life is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Only a few things are necessary, really only one” (Luke 10:42). Here is a post and an article on this most relevant subject – “The Rapture, a Love Story” and “Thinking of Jesus Christ”.

I CAN’T WAIT TO BE WITH JESUS CHRIST

MY FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST, MY LOVER

TO LIVE IS CHRIST – NOW AND FOREVER

I Am Looking Forward To…….

January 1, 2022 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #234 ~

As Christians, we must look ahead and look forward to what God will do for us, what we are to do for Him, and what He will be doing in the future. It is this faith and hope in God and obedience to Him that energizes and directs our lives – otherwise, we will get stuck and stagnate, unable to spiritually move ahead in the way He desires. So what does God have in store for your life on this earth? What has He planned out for the world, the church, the Jews, and the unbelievers in the last years of this age and in the ages to come? In the following two sections, I will share with you what I and all Christians should be looking forward to.

In 2022 and in the years ahead, I am looking forward to …
* … experiencing and being satisfied by God’s love! Psalm 90:14
* … loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! Mark 12:30
* … keeping God’s commands and fulfilling His will day after day! Psalm 119:1-8
* … seeing God fulfill His promises and plans for me and others I know! 2 Cor. 1:20
* … God teaching me from His word! Psalm 119:33-34
* … God causing all things to work together for good! Rom. 8:28-30
* … seeing progress and joy in my life and the lives of others! Phil. 1:25
* … growing in the true knowledge of God! 2 Peter 3:18
* … having good, quality times with God on a daily basis! Psalm 63:1-5

* … walking and being led by the Spirit, and bearing fruit for God! Gal. 5:16-18, 22-23
* … using the gifts I’ve been given for the good of others and the glory of God! 1 Pet. 4:10-11
* … open doors and opportunities for the gospel and godly service! Col. 4:3-6
* … being fitted and built together with believers into a dwelling of God! Eph. 2:21-22
* … hearing that Christ is building His church all over the world! Matt. 16:18
* … seeing God supernaturally save people from sin, death, and the devil! Col. 3:13-14
* … being strengthened by the power of God when I’m weak, sick, or worn out! 2 Cor. 12:9-10
* … having warm and refreshing fellowship with Christians! Romans 12:10

* … God giving me all the grace and peace that I need! Eph. 1:2
* … saying no to sin and becoming more holy and Christ-like! 1 Peter 1:14-16 
* … resisting and standing firm against the schemes of the devil! Eph. 6:10-11
* … God delivering me out of trials and trouble! Psalm 18:1-3
* … God protecting me from the enemy, and rescuing me from every evil deed! 2 Tim. 4:18
* … seeing God do amazing, marvelous, and brand-new things! Isaiah 43:19
* … needing the Lord and trusting Him as I go through life and hard times! 1 Peter 1:6-9
* … carrying out and completing the work God wants me to do! John 17:4

In the last years of this age and / or in the ages to come, I am looking forward to …
* … the gospel being preached all over the world! Matt. 24:14
* … the 70th week of Daniel, and all that God will be doing during that time! Daniel 9:27
* … prophesied events being fulfilled for Christians, Jews, and unbelievers! Matt. 24:3-33
* … cosmic disturbances and the great earthquake, the end of the age! Rev. 6:12-14
* … Christ’s coming and the gathering of believers to Himself! Matt. 24:30-31
* … physically dying or being raptured, and forever being with Christ! 1 Thess. 4:13-17
* … receiving a brand-new, immortal, powerful, and glorified body! 1 Cor. 15:40-42
* … that time when we will fully, always, and perfectly love the Lord! Mark 12:30
* … being with believing friends in heaven and in our heavenly homes! Heb. 12:22-24

* … when God will justly punish wicked sinners and evildoers! Psalm 37:12-15
* … seeing the salvation of a large remnant of Jews! Rom. 11:25-27
* … watching Jesus Christ rule and reign as King over the whole earth! Psalm 47:6-8
* … reigning with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom! Rev. 5:10
* … seeing God spiritually and physically bless Israel during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 67
* … the rivers clapping their hands and the mountains singing together for joy! Psalm 98:8
* … seeing Christ enact perfect justice during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 72:8-14
* … all the nations worshiping and glorifying the Lord! Psalm 86:9

* … the whole world being full of God’s glory! Isaiah 6:3
* … the entire earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! Hab. 2:14
* … every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Phil. 2:11
* … the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and on the earth! Eph. 1:9-11
* … the devil being cast into the lake of fire and being punished forever and ever! Rev. 20:10
* … when there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain! Rev. 21:4
* … being with Jesus and fulfilling our glorious and eternal purpose! Eph. 2:10
* … being with all the angels and saints and praising God forever and ever! Psalm 145:1-2

As Christians we should never say we don’t know what is going to happen. We don’t know all the details, but we know in general what will be taking place. Indeed, the purposes, plans, and prophecies of God will most certainly be carried out. This should encourage you and fill you with hope, for it means a future filled with blessings, and the satisfaction of knowing that God will be greatly glorified. “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

Be looking ahead, and be looking forward to 2022, to all the years of your life, and to the ages to come. And be like Paul who said, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

P.S. As we start this new year, here is an article that should motivate you to use the time God has given you – “The Time of My Life.” Here is another post that tells us that God has predicted the future, and told us what needs to happen before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church – “Bible Prophecy Enables Us To See the Future.”

The Believer’s Brand-New Body – Amen!

February 19, 2021 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #207 ~

The hope of all believers is that they will receive a brand-new body, one that will be truly remarkable, powerful, glorious, and immortal. This is incredibly great news, and what will definitely take place in the future, when Jesus Christ returns at the end of this age.

Our human body, created in God’s image, was fearfully and wonderfully made. Though it’s the most amazing and complex of all God’s creations, it’s still very weak and frail, and that’s because of our sin. Yes, we are able to fulfill the plans God has for us in this present age. But we are also in this downward-spiraling, aging process, one that can be especially difficult. Now that I am 67, I am daily feeling the debilitating effects of being older – I get more tired, feel weaker, and have more aches and pains. What Paul said is so true, “We ourselves groan within ourselves” (Rom. 8:23). “We groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven” (2 Cor. 5:2-4). This groaning is physical, but also spiritual, for we continually struggle against our sinful flesh and unseen enemies. More than ever before, I am looking forward to that time when “there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Rev. 21:4, Phil. 1:23

This “looking forward” is what we call hope. As Rom. 8:23 goes on to say, we are to be “waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved.” I am sure you know that your salvation is not yet complete, that as a Christian living on earth, you were justified, you are being sanctified, and you will be glorified – you will be given a new body that’s absolutely amazing. It’s vitally important that you see the entirety of your salvation, for as Rom. 8:30 sums up, “These whom He justified, He also glorified.”

What does God want you to know about your glorified body?
* 1 John 3:2 tells us, “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him.” Wow! Can you imagine this, that you will be like Jesus? Of course, you will be recognizably different in appearance than Him and other believers. But you will have the same kind of body as Jesus, a human body with perfect arms, hands, legs, feet, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair. Everything about you will be glorious, and yes, stunning. And having a body like Jesus’ body is essential for eternal life, for eternal relationships, and so you can fulfill God’s eternal plans.

* Rom. 8:29 tells us the same thing, that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Again, we are told that we will be like Jesus, we will have a form, a body like His. As 1 Cor. 15:39 explains, “all flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of birds, and another of fish.” We are not beasts, birds, or fish, we are humans, and we will have the same kind of flesh as that of Jesus, our Lord, Savior and King.

* Phil. 3:20-21 further confirms this – “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” No matter what you look like or how good of shape you are in, your body is still in a humble and lowly state. But the time will come when you will be transformed, fashioned, changed, and be like Jesus, possessing the same form, and having a magnificent and awesome body. 

Luke 20:35-36 tells us more, that believers will attain to the resurrection of the dead, but “will neither marry nor are given in marriage” – none of us will be husbands, wives, or have children. It goes on to say, “they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” We are now sons of God and soon enough we will look like sons of God, which means we will also look like the angels. God’s plans for you are perfect which means you will have a perfect body so you can live in your wonderfully perfect home, so you can have all these perfectly enjoyable and encouraging relationships, and so you can carry out your perfect and God-glorifying purpose.

1 Cor. 15, the Bible chapter that best describes the believer’s new resurrection body, is most enlightening, especially vss. 40-42. We learn that our present bodies are perishable, are being corrupted, are growing worse with age, are mortal, and eventually will die. But your new body will be imperishable, eternally durable, and last forever. As vs. 54 says, “this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and then this mortal will have put on immortality.” God also wants you to know that your present body is dishonorable. Yes, you are made in His image, but being contaminated by sin often results in being shameful, disgraceful, and even ugly, both inside and out. But thankfully, you will be given a Christ-like body, one that is honorable, perfect, awesome, magnificent, altogether beautiful, one fit for the King.

Then we discover that your body will never again be weak. No longer will you be tired, feeble, sick, diseased, but rather you will be strong and powerful. We all know about the superheroes in comic books and movies, a primary feature being their strength. In the future, you will have a super-strong body, one that is always vigorous, energetic, and tireless. Finally, you won’t possess a natural body, a body suited just for this earth, but rather one that’s spiritual, suited for heaven and the restored earth (Acts 3:21), and for the new heaven and new earth too (Rev. 21:1). Yes, it will be a physical body, but it will also be spiritual, a supernatural and heavenly body. That you will have a body like Jesus’ is a God-promised and glorious truth, and why? So you can be with Jesus wherever He is – “we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17

I get excited thinking about this aspect of our hope, that we will have brand-new bodies, ones that are imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. Designed and made by God, this body will be perfectly and wonderfully suited so you can be and do all that He has planned for you:
* You will grow in your knowledge of the Lord, and your relationship with Him. “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12
* You will fully know and feel the richness and warmth of God’s great love for you. Psalm 136
* You will wholeheartedly be worshiping and loving the Lord, and with a beautiful voice, you will be singing to Him too. Psalm 47:6, 145:1-2; Mark 12:30
* You will have stimulating, loving, and Christ-centered fellowship with all believers. Heb. 3:12
* You will perfectly serve the Lord, rule righteously with Him over this earth, do exactly what He wants you to do, and go everywhere He wants you to go. Rev. 5:10
* You will always be filled with the Spirit, and therefore be filled with love, joy, peace, and goodness. You will be happy and satisfied all the time. Your new body will be able to enjoy and experience all the blessings and pleasures God has in store for you. Psalm 16:11

When will believers receive this brand-new body? It is not when a person physically dies and goes to heaven. It’s when the church on earth is raptured. 1 Cor. 15:23 tells us, “… 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.” You will be glorified, be made alive at the coming of Christ. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 says that it’s at the last trumpet – “In a moment, at the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 John 3:2 gives you more information – “When He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” It’s at Christ’s coming and when you first see Him that you will be glorified and be like Him. Job 19:25-27

Imagine what it will be like to have a Christ-like body, a perfect body? Think about being in a new body and being in heaven and being with Jesus. We live in a world that spends way too much time and money on our physical bodies, whether that relates to health care, cosmetics, clothes, or exercise (Is. 3:16-24, 1 Tim. 4:8a). Yes, you should take care of your body, stay in shape, and look nice, but don’t overdo it. Remember that you are a child of God living in a sinful world, and you need to focus on loving and serving the Lord. And since it’s the end-times, you need to be looking forward to Christ’s coming and the next major part of your life, when you will look like Christ, be with Christ, and live like Christ wants you to live. “I know that My redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin (old body) has been destroyed, yet in my flesh (new body) I will see God, 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. When you are sick or tired or feeling old, then you need to remember what God has in store for you, a brand-new body. I really encourage you to read these two articles for they also talk about this hope of receiving a new body – “You Have to Have Hope,” and “Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body.”

What Keeps Me Going To The End

September 11, 2020 /

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By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #187 ~

How do you keep going for the Lord? How do you persevere? What enables you to get through the tough times of life? If you are one of the raptured saints, how will you make it through the great tribulation? These are extremely important questions, and the answer is simple – by having a close relationship with God. I became a Christian in the early 1970’s, and I give God all the credit for keeping me going since that time, for those 48 plus years. Today I want to tell you how God has helped me to stay close to Him and keep living for Christ.

* Getting time alone with God. Every morning, after I get up and get awake, I go to a quiet place and read something from the Psalms, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, and then I pray. “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word… only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part.” Luke 10:39-42

* Being in God’s word. My main priority in life is God’s word – I couldn’t make it without Him teaching me from His word, whether it’s truths I need to know, promises I need to believe, or commands I need to obey. “O how I love Your law!” (Ps. 119:97). “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

* Crying out to God. To me this means being open with God and telling Him when I am sad, tired, anxious, confused, or discouraged. It also means asking God to meet my needs or the needs of others. I am so glad I can go to God for all the grace, wisdom, and peace that I need. “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalms 57:2, 62:8

* Walking by faith. I have learned not to live by feelings, circumstances, relationships, or how our church is doing, but to rely and depend on God, on His word and strength. “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock” (Isaiah 26:4). “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11:6

* Being satisfied by God. Only by seeking and seeing God have I been truly satisfied. Food, pleasures, games, people, and possessions have not satisfied me, but Christ has, for He is the bread of life. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth?” (Ps. 73:25). “The Lord is my portion” (Ps. 119:57). “To live is Christ.” Phil. 1:21

* Being satisfied by God’s love. I don’t look for the love of people, but the love of God. His love has been wonderful, continual, and perfect, and has satisfied me like nothing else. “Your love is better than life” (Ps. 63:3). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love” (Ps. 90:14). “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.” 1 John 4:16

* Knowing the living God. When I say knowing God, I mean knowing in my mind and believing in my heart that He is my Creator, Lord, Savior, and King, and that He is holy, wise, loving, good, patient, forgiving, powerful, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and sovereign. What a tremendous blessing to actually know God! “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God” (John 17:3). “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” 2 Peter 3:18

* Staying away from sin. By no means am I perfect, but God has helped me to say no to sin, to not listen to or give in to worldly and fleshly temptations. I know that I can’t be close to sin and close to God at the same time. “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity” (Ps. 119:37). “Like the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your behavior.” 1 Peter 1:15

* Loving, worshiping, and thanking God. I love God, and that’s because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). His Son Jesus died and paid for my sins and now I’m righteous, forgiven, a child of God, and will be forever with Christ and all the angels and saints. Loving God is heart-satisfying and soul-warming, the most important thing I do. “Praise the Lord… for it is pleasant and praise is becoming” (Ps. 147:1). “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” Psalm 103:2

* Obeying God. Obeying God’s commands is how I have carried out His plans, how I have fulfilled His purpose for my life. When I obey God, I usually feel close to Him, and know His love in a much fuller way. “I obey Your statutes for I love them greatly” (Ps. 119:167). “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to Him…” John 14:21, 23

* Going through trials. Trials are not fun, are not enjoyable. But in these times, God has revealed Himself to me in a special way, showed me His love, and comforted me with His word. Here’s my favorite trial passage – “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant… In the day of my trouble, I call to You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:3-7

* Seeking Him. By this I mean getting extra time with God, usually once a month. For many years now, I’ve been going to a camp or motel room with my Bible, a few books, and some pen and paper. Getting away from the world and from people, and having this special, alone time with God is one of the best things He has helped me to do. “I love those who love Me and those who seek Me will find Me” (Prov. 8:16). “Come with Me by yourself to a quiet place.” Mark 6:31

* Being shepherded by the Lord. The Lord is my shepherd, and He knows me perfectly, and through the years He has made me lie down in green pastures, led me besides still waters, restored my soul, guided me in paths of righteousness, has always been with me, and has loved me every single day. That my Shepherd does these things keeps me strong and keeps me going for Him. “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know me.” John 10:14, Psalm 23:1

* Drawing near to God. God wants me to be close to Him, and I want to be close to Him. As I seek Him, as I go after Him, as I spend time with Him, He draws near to me, and is close to me, and loves me all the more, and He teaches me, encourages me, and makes Himself known to me. “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8, James 4:8

* Learning from the Psalms. My favorite book in the Bible is the Psalms. It has helped me immensely in my relationship with God, and I believe will greatly help you in your relationship with God. The following verses I have memorized, personalized, and say often to the Lord, for they help me to think rightly, stay strong, and be close to Him – Psalms 9:2, 20:7, 23:1, 23:6, 26:3, 27:14, 31:19, 40:8, 46:10, 56:3, 57:5, 63:2-3, 86:11, 90:14, 105:4, 115:1, 118:14, 119:32, 119:67, 119:76, 119:92, 119:112, 139:23-24, 143:10, 145:1-2.

May God help you to stay close to Him. Without question, your relationship with God is the single most important thing in your life, for it affects you and everything you do. Being close to the Lord is the only way you can truly love the Lord and live for Him, in these days, and in times of tribulation, and let me add, in times of great tribulation. “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 

P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of your relationship with God. As you keep loving and seeking Him, you will stay close to Him, and know that He is not only your Lord, but your best friend. Here are two posts that tell you a little more about my life and my relationship with Him: “The Rapture, A Love Story”, and “God’s Time Frame For Your Life.”

Becoming Spiritually and Emotionally Strong

May 8, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #169 ~

Our subject is emotions, feelings of fear, joy, anger, peace, sadness, hope, courage, etc. It’s a vitally important subject, one that relates directly to our effectiveness for God. But the emotional part of a person is a bit mysterious. Where do emotions come from? How do they relate to our spirit, mind and soul? How are they affected by our personality, background, experiences, and relationships? I must admit, I don’t have all the answers. What I do know is that God is an emotional being and He made us in His image, and so we are emotional beings. We have this emotional component that’s part of our personhood, our humanness. But how can we be godly and have godly emotions? It’s by having a relationship with God. John 17:3

When I was 18, by God’s grace, I was born again, I became a Christian. I experienced the most amazing miracle and transformation – I became a child of God, a new person in Christ, a temple of the Spirit. Life for me was now different, dramatically, wonderfully, and eternally so. Without Christ, there was fear, guilt, loneliness, sadness, selfishness, emptiness, and emotions that went along with them, emotions that affected my mood and were heard in my words and seen in my actions. Knowing the truth about Christ and what He did for me, that I was saved, forgiven, and loved, greatly affected me. I began to know and experience the love, joy, peace, mercy, and presence of Christ. I had a personal relationship with God that influenced my relationships with people. By no means was I perfect, but I was changing and growing, with a love for God and people, new thoughts, new desires, and new emotions. John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17

The key to all this is the truth and Spirit of God. Jesus tells us, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Before being saved, I was a sad, lonely, quiet, and unfeeling kind of a person. But knowing the truth, that is, knowing Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel, set me free from sin, and changed me, spiritually and emotionally so. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks, so he is.” I began to see that the key to not being led by circumstances and emotions was to be filled up and led by God’s truth and God’s Spirit. John 14:16-17

Here are some examples. Let’s say a Christian is sad. Now I’m not saying he can’t ever be sad, but if that’s how he feels every day, if he’s continually sad, then something’s wrong, and he’s not experiencing God’s truth and power in his life. What he needs to do is think about the truth, that God is loving, kind, forgiving, sovereign, and has good plans for him – and knowing these truths will help take away his sadness. Let’s say a person is lonely and feels lonely, and severely so. He needs to think about the truth that God is with Him, the Spirit is in Him, and that he knows God and can talk to God. And so, if there’s sadness, there can be joy; if loneliness, then fellowship; if hate, then love; if anger, then forgiveness; if fear, then courage; if worries, then peace; if grief, then hope. This spiritual transformation, being godly and having these Christ-like emotions, only happens by God’s word and Spirit. Galatians 2:20

The truth in the book of Psalms is one way God wants to help you be a strong Christian. More than any other book, it talks about having a close relationship with God, and being spiritually and emotionally encouraged by Him. It’s filled with stories about godly saints, their problems and emotions, and how God helped them when life was hard. Here are some examples:

Psalm 13 – “Will you forget me forever?” David felt like God had forsaken him, had left him, had hid His face from him. David felt all alone and had sorrow in his heart. But he trusted God, remembered his salvation, and believed God would show His love to him. Not only that, but David remembered how God had blessed him, and was determined to sing to Him. Psalm 9

Psalm 37 – “Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious…” David was thinking about the enemies’ success, and how they were against him, and he was fretting, envious and angry. What he needed to do was trust in the Lord, do good, delight in the Lord, rest in the Lord, be humble, have God’s law in his heart, believe that the enemy would be defeated, and believe the promise, that he would “inherit the land,” a promise for Christians too. Psalm 67

Psalm 42 – “Why are you in despair, O my soul?” David was in despair, his soul was troubled and disturbed, and he was “mourning because of the oppression of the enemy.” David knew God was his only answer, his only hope, and so he says, “My soul pants for You.” He prayed to God, hoped in God, believing that He would once again show him His love. And he was going to praise God, for he says to himself, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him.” Psalm 43

Psalm 73 – “I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Asaph was a godly man, but he still had troubles. Then he saw the wicked and proud, those who seemed “successful” and were “at ease,” and he became envious and bitter. But Asaph came into the “sanctuary of God” and realized that God was with him, would keep Him safe, guide him, and bring him to heaven, whereas the wicked would not be blessed, but would perish forever. Psalm 1

Psalm 88 – “My soul has had enough troubles… darkness is my closest friend.” This is a very dark Psalm, for the writer has no friends, and feels forsaken, afflicted, rejected and cut off from God, like he’s “about to die.” And the only answer given is that he cried out to God. Sometimes praying and waiting on God is all we can do, knowing that only He can help us. Psalm 100

The Psalms is such an important book, one that we need now, one that is particularly helpful to Christians in the end-times. Times will get tougher, for birth pains will continue, the Antichrist will come, and there will be great tribulation. Read and study the Psalms, for in the difficult days ahead, they will bring comfort, peace, hope, and strength to your soul. Psalm 23

In all this, I am not telling you to focus on how you feel, on your emotions, but I am saying you should focus on loving and obeying God, on being filled with His Word and Spirit, for then you will be spiritually and emotionally strong, and will be what God wants you to be, with the result that great glory will be given to Him. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever… And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145

P.S. When we talk about our emotions, we need to think of God’s love for us, and here’s an article that speaks about that – “The Father’s Love for His Children.” And here’s a previous post that talks about our love for Jesus – “The Rapture, A Love Story.”

Looking Ahead

January 24, 2020 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

I am thankful that God has given me a love for His word and wants me to share it with others. What people need more than anything else is God’s word, His truth; and now that we are in the end times, it’s critical that we also learn His prophetic word, what God tells us about the end-times, the return of Christ, and the ages to come. There’s no doubt that God’s plans for the church and for this world will surely and soon come to pass. “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

Here are a few thoughts to think about:
* Jesus Christ is coming soon. We don’t know exactly when, that is, the day or hour, but we do know the general time, and that’s because God’s word tells us many events that will occur before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. (Matthew 24:32-36). In fact, the timing of the rapture is the subject of next week’s post, entitled, “When Is Christ Returning to Rapture the Church?”

* My purpose in writing these blog posts is to help people prepare for the future. Down in Florida, where I live, we have hurricanes. In recent years, meteorologists’ forecasts have become more accurate, usually giving us many days notice as to when and where a hurricane will be coming; and they do this because they want us to prepare. Most people take heed, not waiting until they hear the wind howling and the rain pouring down, for then it would be too late. And so too, in the calm before the “storm,” you need to be prepared and ready. Don’t wait, don’t procrastinate. Now’s the time to know what God says about His plans for you, this world, and the return of His Son. Learn from these posts, and from others who have studied this important and relevant subject. I personally believe Christ’s coming is quite a few years away, and whether that’s 10, 20, 30 years or more, I don’t know. I encourage you, while the “world’s weather” is not too stormy, to read and study prophecy, for you need to be ready. “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40

* When you read these posts you may think all I do is teach on prophecy, but that is far from the truth. As a pastor in a local church, my main job is caring for the church, and feeding her the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). I teach God’s word every Sunday, sometimes topically, but usually from a book. And teaching on prophecy is a part of that, what I do in two different ways. First, I teach God’s word Sunday after Sunday in the context of Christ’s coming. This is what God tells all pastors to do: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and kingdom, I solemnly charge you, preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). In fact, this Sunday I am teaching 1 Peter 1, which is all about how to live in the present in view of the future. God’s word is not to be taught void of prophetic truth but in view of it. Second, once a month on a Wednesday evening, I teach on prophecy, covering passages like Matthew 24, Luke 21, Revelation, and other related end-time’s subjects.

* When you look at Christianity today, you realize that most people rarely think about prophecy, let alone study it. But don’t be negatively affected by their neglect, lack of interest or unbelief. Do what God wants you to do, not what man is doing, for you will give an account to Him of how you handled His prophetic word at this time in history. Learn about Christ’s coming for your own life, but also for your family, friends and fellow church members. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23 

* Everything on this blog site is for you to read, give to others, and use in your church or Bible study. Remember, you can download the posts, articles and charts, and print them out, or put them on a flash drive. And don’t wait, for there may come a time when, for whatever reason, they may not be available on the internet.

* You have probably seen that the posts are also in Spanish, thanks to a good friend who has faithfully been translating them. Tell your Spanish friends, near and far, about this site. It’s interesting and encouraging to note that a recent analysis of the blog post data revealed that about 70% of all viewers are from Spanish-speaking countries. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Keep praying!

I am very thankful to be alive at this time in history, in the last years leading up to Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. It won’t be long before, one way or another, we will have all left this planet and are up in heaven with Jesus. But for now, let’s be loving Him, living for Him, and looking for His soon return. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

P.S. I mentioned learning from others. I encourage you to check out Eschatos Ministries (Alan Kurschner). Alan is a godly scholar, one who has a good understanding of the end times and the coming of Christ.

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