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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: God’s Glory (Page 3 of 3)

Blog posts about God’s glory.

The Book of Daniel: Kingdoms of Men and THE KINGDOM OF GOD

October 19, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #90 ~

Without a doubt, Daniel is one of the most important books on prophecy in the entire Bible. It talks about the kingdoms of man and the kingdom of God. Specifically, it tells us about the times of the Gentiles, starting with Israel’s defeat in Jerusalem in 586 BC, going through the church age, and finishing at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. The purpose for this book of Daniel was to encourage exiled Jews by revealing God’s long-range plans for them, from the rule of Gentile kings to the return of Jesus Christ, the Jewish king.

For centuries, the Jews had been living in Israel, and rebelling against God, and finally, in 605 BC, His punishment of them began. Many Jews were exiled to Babylon, including young, innocent Daniel and his three friends. Daniel lived for another 65 years, serving God through the reigns of four kings, and writing down a number of visions about the kingdoms of man and the future kingdom of God. Just before his death, God told Daniel, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time” (Daniel 12:9). After another and longer exile, the Jews are again back in their land, and now we are blessed to be living in the “end-time.” That means these words of Daniel are no longer sealed up. They are for Christians, for you and me in this “end-time”, to read, understand, and believe.

Many valuable and relevant truths are contained in this prophetic book of Daniel:

1. God’s sovereignty. Clearly seen in the book of Daniel is God’s sovereign control over the affairs of rulers, nations and all people. Even during the times of the Gentiles, God is still in charge, carrying out His eternal plans. “His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.” Daniel 4:35, Daniel 2:20-21
2. God’s work with people. You observe God’s work with countries, but you can also see and be encouraged by how He works with and through individual people, like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and even Arioch. Daniel 1:8-17, 2:14-25, 3:12-27, 6:1-23
3. God works through leaders. In ways we cannot see, God works through leaders and kings, even if, at times, they are proud and are unrighteously governing a country. The book of Daniel gives us confidence and hope, for we see God carrying out His plans through a number of rulers: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius (Daniel 2, 4, 5, 6).
4. God works through the Antichrist. There is more said in the book of Daniel about the Antichrist than any other book in the Bible. This means that God wants us to know some of the details about his devilish life, and his evil influence over the world in the end-times. Daniel 7:8, 11, 20-22, 24-26; 8:23-25; 9:26-27; 11:32-45
5. The kingdom chronology: God gives us a divine time frame, Daniel’s 70 weeks, which helps us to more clearly understand His prophetic schedule (Daniel 9:24-27). These 70 weeks are 490 years. The first 69 weeks, 483 years, take us from the rebuilding of the temple (445 BC) to the crucifixion of Christ. Then there’s a long gap of time between the 69th and 70th weeks, and for the most part, this is the church age. This 70th week will soon begin, for we now live in the end-times. In the middle of this week, the Antichrist is revealed, and at the end of the week, Christ is reigning, for “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.” Revelation 11:15
6. Spiritual warfare. In the book of Daniel, God pulls back the curtain, letting us know that the forces of God and of the devil are battling it out, fighting for control of countries and kingdoms. Revelation 12:7 also speaks about this spiritual warfare: “There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon (devil). And the dragon and his angels waged war.” More than we realize, spiritual battles between invisible forces have been and will be taking place. Daniel 10:13, 20; Ephesians 6:10-13
7. God’s plans for the Jews. During the times of the Gentiles, there will be no divinely appointed king reigning over Israel, but instead, she will be ruled by kings from Gentile nations: Babylon (605-539 BC), Medo-Persia (539-331 BC), Greece (331-146 BC), Rome (146 BC-476 AD) … Rome (end-times). But in the end, God prevails: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed… it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Daniel 2:44
8. The coming of Christ the King. After this evil age is over, when Daniel’s 70th week comes to a close, then Jesus Christ will return and establish His glorious kingdom on earth. This is our hope, and what we must look for and long for, seeing Jesus, our Lord and King, reigning on this earth. “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27, Philippians 2:9-11
9. Christians need insight. “Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many” (Daniel 11:33). The prophet Daniel predicted what would be taking place in the end-times. And now, over 2500 years later, we are actually beginning to see his prophecies come true. What a privilege to be alive at this time in history, and be used by God to tell others about Jesus, our blessed Savior and King.

This is only a brief summary of the book of Daniel, which are some of God’s end-time instructions for us. I encourage you to read and study this book yourself, and pass on to others the truths you learn from it. “He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed; His dominion will never end.” Daniel 6:26

P.S. I just finished a needed article about the difficulties of life during the time of great tribulation and the Antichrist. It’s something you, your family, and your friends need to know: “A Little Suffering and a Lot of Glory.” There are two other posts I want to encourage you to read that relate directly to this post on the book of Daniel: “The Divine Timetable, Daniel’s 70 Weeks”, and “Daniel’s 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End-Times.”

This Age is Coming to an End, and Then a New Age Will Begin

April 13, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #63 ~

We live in an age that will soon come to an end, and then the next age, a new age, will begin. But when will this happen? That’s what the apostles asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). These Jewish disciples were finally realizing Jesus would be leaving them, but they were convinced He would come back and set up His kingdom on earth. They believed God’s promises about the Messiah reigning as King over Israel, and over the world, and they wanted a sign to let them know when this would begin to happen. In last week’s post we looked at Matthew 24, and discovered a number of events that will occur before the end of this age. This week I want to focus on the present age, and the age to come. Ephesians 1:21 speaks of Jesus Christ “…not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.”

First, let’s get some perspective. Since that first sin of Adam thousands of years ago, we have been living in “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). The clear-thinking Christian can see Biblically, historically, and at the present time, that people living on this planet are exceedingly sinful. But it’s not just that there are sinful people, it’s that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). There’s no doubt that we live in an evil age, at a time and in a place, controlled by the devil.

But we can gladly say that God has been sovereignly ruling over the world during this entire evil age. “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Psalm 145:13). During this time, God has been working through both the Jews and the church, and His work has not been thwarted, and will not be thwarted. With respect to the Jews, “The Lord nullifies the plans of the nations… the plans of the Lord stand firm forever… blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose” (Psalm 33:10-12). With respect to the church, Jesus says, “Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). Yes, we live on an evil earth in an evil age, but we know that God has chosen His people, and He will keep them “strong to the end.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

Many people think this church age will keep going for a long, long time. But they are mistaken, for now we live in the end times, evidenced by the fact that the Jews are, once again, living in their land. Many also believe this age is going to get better and better, and then Christ will return. This also, is not true, for the Bible says this world will be getting worse and worse, and then Christ will come back. It tells us, “lawlessness is increased” (Matthew 24:12); “the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37); and “in the last days, difficult times will come.” 2 Timothy 3:1

Let’s look briefly at Matthew 24, for it has lots to tell us about the end of the age:
1. Many prophesied events have been and will be fulfilled, signifying that the end of this age, Christ’s coming, and the rapture is getting closer and closer. Matthew 24:3-44
2. “Birth pain” events are taking place, “but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6). Famines, wars, earthquakes, etc. that are occurring now do not mean the end of this age is imminent, that it can occur at any time, and that the rapture could even happen today. Many more things need to take place before this age will come to an end.
3. Christians are exhorted to persevere “to the end” (Matthew 24:13). Many Christians living on earth in the end-times will experience great tribulation, and will need to endure to the end, to Christ’s coming, and then they will be saved, that is, be raptured.
4. The gospel will be “preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). A big part of serving God is to keep telling people about their need for Christ, right up to the end of this age and the rapture.
5. The specific and obvious sign that this age has come to an end is when the “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it’s light…” (Matthew 24:29). All believers living on earth will know this evil age is over when they see this heavenly sign, and immediately they will be raptured, be rapidly taken from this earth to be with Jesus Christ.

What does God want you to know? What does He want you to be looking for? The end of this age, the coming of Christ, and the rapture of the church (Matthew 24:29-31). Then after the end of this age and the rapture, God will pour out His wrath on earth, a great remnant of Jews will be saved, and Christ will begin His glorious thousand-year reign. That’s when the next age begins, and it will be a new and good age, a time when all believers will reign with Christ, a time when we will see the holiness, power, wisdom, love and dominion of God like never before. It will be a time when “God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him” (Psalm 67), and “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14

I can’t say it strong enough – this present evil age is coming to an end, and soon!!! Now in these last years of this age, it’s our time to serve the Lord, to work hard for Him, to help bring about the return of Christ and the rapture of the church! “Make disciples of all the nations… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

P.S.  I encourage you to read The Return of the King,  an article that helps us to see the big picture and how that relates to the end of this age.

More on the Glory of God, The Most Important Thing of All!

August 11, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #30 ~

The glory of God! What a great and glorious subject! Might we desire to glorify God, to give Him all the glory! Before we were saved, we were sinners, and we weren’t giving glory to God. We “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man…” (Romans 1:23). But thanks be to God He saved us so we’d give Him glory. Then we are told that we are to “exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). One of the main reasons we are saved is so that at Christ’s coming we’ll be glorified, and then we’ll glorify God all the time, and with all our heart and soul. This is what we should truly be excited about and looking forward to!

But now we’re on earth, and the flesh oftentimes wants to be seen, recognized, applauded, famous, popular and promoted. And it’s Psalm 115:1 that again tells us our primary reason for being here: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, because of your love and because of your truth.” We’re to give God glory, and why? Because His love and His truth have wonderfully and eternally transformed us. What was David’s desire? “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. For your love toward me is great” (Psalm 86:12-13).

How do we give glory to God? Psalm 63:1-5 tells us that we are to seek God, and then we will see God, and specifically His power and His glory. Then we will be satisfied by His love, and then we will glorify Him. Again, as we seek God, we will see Him, we will know Him, we will be in love with Him – and then we will glorify Him by blessing Him, by praising Him, by singing to Him. And by the way, it’s better than a million sunsets, or anything else on this earth.

How else do we give glory to God? 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that our entire life is to give God glory. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We glorify God by eating, by our jobs, by using our gifts, by serving in church, by our relationships, our family time, our work outs, our vacations, by “whatever you do.” We also glorify God by being strong in faith (Romans 4:20), by doing the work God gives us to do (John 17:4), by being thankful (Psalm 69:30), and by being holy (Isaiah 6:3).

Then there are the “glory” verses. 1 Timothy 1:15-17 says God is glorified because He saves us. Philippians 4:19-20 says God is glorified when our needs are met. 2 Peter 3:18 says God is glorified as we grow in knowing Christ. 2 Timothy 4:18 says God is glorified because He rescues us from evil attacks. Jude 24-25 says God is glorified by taking us from earth to heaven. Hebrews 13:20-21 says God is glorified because He equips us to do His will. Romans 11:36 says God is glorified because He saves a remnant of Jews. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Do you see this? By far, our supreme goal, our greatest joy, our most satisfying endeavor, is giving glory to God, now and forever!

But back to the coming of Christ: I have to tell you, I get real excited when I think about Christ coming in His awesome glory, splendor, power and majesty (Luke 21:27). For then I’ll be glorified, I’ll be fully saved, and I’ll finally be able to do what God chose me for, created me for, and saved me for – to fully and always glorify God and Jesus Christ. And it’s not just me glorifying God, but all the saints together glorifying God. “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1).

But one of my favorite glory verses is contained in Jesus’ prayer for us: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory…” (John 17:24). Can you imagine actually being with Jesus, seeing Him and seeing His amazing, magnificent and spectacular glory, and then giving Him glory? There is nothing better than this, and this is what we will be doing forever and ever and ever!

I pray that you’ll give glory to God as you live on this earth. But I also pray that you’re excited about seeing Christ return in glory, for then you’ll be glorified, and then you’ll appear with Christ in glory, and then you’ll give Him glory like never before – and you will be most encouraged, most satisfied, and filled with joy. “All the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Numbers 14:21). “From the ends of the earth we hear singing: ‘Glory to the Righteous One’” (Isaiah 24:16). “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13).

P.S. My latest article was just published a few days ago: Replacement Theology: It’s Not True – Part 5 (Why People Have Believed This Error.) This will help you to more clearly understand the history of this error. Next week we’ll be looking at North Korea, microchips, and the solar eclipse, and how all this relates to the end times.

The Resurrection and the Rapture of the Believers

April 14, 2017 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #13 ~

This past week a friend of mine died. But that was a good thing, because God took her soul from her frail body and from this sinful world to heaven. Our biggest problem, as humans, is death. It is a problem in both a physical and spiritual sense, and it is a problem that every person must face. Jesus Christ is the only answer, for when He was on earth He lived a perfect life, then He suffered and died on a cross to pay for people’s sins, and then He was raised from the dead.

A person is saved, is delivered from his sins and from death, when he repents of his sins and believes that Jesus Christ actually died in his place, and paid the penalty for his sins. Spiritually speaking he has been crucified with Christ and raised from the dead, and therefore he is no longer spiritually dead but he is spiritually alive! He is forgiven of all his sins, given eternal life and will go to heaven after he dies! Ephesians 2:1-9

Once a person is saved he is transformed, and by the word of God and the power of the Spirit he is to live for Jesus Christ. I like how Philippians 3:10 sums up a person’s life on earth, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.” The believer is to know Jesus Christ and His resurrection power, and is to experience His love, joy and peace, and is to fulfill God’s plans while he is living on earth.

But what happens when this person dies? Because of Christ’s resurrection, his soul is immediately and supernaturally taken to heaven. By God, by Christ, by the Spirit, he has walked through that door called death, and is still alive, still experiencing the life of God. He is in heaven, freed from all sin, all pain, all sickness and all sorrow. And he is with God and Christ, millions of angels, and a great multitude of believers who have gone on before him. But his salvation is not complete. Yes, he is spiritually alive in heaven but he has not yet been physically glorified, he has not yet received his new physical body. He was justified on earth, lived as a Christian on earth, and then died, and is in heaven, but he has not yet been glorified.

When will this person be resurrected and glorified? Remember, it was about 2000 years ago that Jesus Christ, at His 1st coming, was raised from the dead and was physically glorified, was given a perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual body. But understand that it is at Christ’s 2nd coming that this person will be resurrected and glorified. Therefore, it is still in the future. At the end of this present age, Jesus Christ will return in the clouds above this earth, and it is at that time that this person and all believers who have already physically died will be resurrected and physically glorified. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

What about believers who are still living on earth when Christ returns? They will not be resurrected because they did not die, but they will be raptured, will be quickly snatched from this earth, physically glorified, and immediately taken to be with Christ. This also takes place at Christ’s 2nd coming. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. At Christ’s return, all believers already in heaven, and all believers still on earth, will be glorified, will be given a perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual body. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. “We will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, … for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. We will “attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:11.

Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died to pay for your sins and then was raised again from the dead? If you have, then you have defeated death in every way, shape or form, and you will spiritually and physically live forever with God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and all the angels and saints. The central part of God’s eternal working in human history is Christ’s death and resurrection. This is what you must believe and should be most excited about, that Jesus Christ died for you and was raised from the dead, resulting in your past justification, your present sanctification, and your future glorification.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’… Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

P.S. I just published a new article about being in heaven with Jesus…

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