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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: God’s Kingdom (Page 4 of 5)

Blog posts about God’s Kingdom.

God is in Charge of Everything

February 22, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #106 ~

Do you believe God is sovereign, that He does what He wants, when He wants, where He wants, how He wants, and that no one can thwart His plans? I pray you do. This is a critically important truth, for God is God, and He is in charge of all things. Nothing happens that God does not expressly command or permit. Not only does God know what is going to take place, but He orders it or allows it to take place. God is never surprised. There are no accidents. Nothing happens by chance. With perfect knowledge, power, love and wisdom, God directs and oversees everything, in accordance with His eternal purposes, and for His eternal glory. “He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’” Daniel 4:35

The sovereignty of God relates directly to your own life. He planned your birth and He caused it to happen. He knows the day you will die (or be raptured) and He will bring it about. “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). He planned when you would live and where you would live. “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and boundaries” (Acts 17:26). “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God’s sovereignty is a strategic, comprehensive and powerful truth, one that will humble, comfort and encourage you, and bring great glory to God.

What about the world? Yes, God is sovereign over the entire world – every country, city, nation, person, relationship, animal, event and atom. “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?” (Lamentations 3:37-38). God is sovereign over rulers (Isaiah 40:23), over Israel (Psalm 33:10-12), over the church (Matthew 16:18), over your job (James 4:13-15), and over the devil (Job 1:6-12). God is always sovereign, “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… truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.’” Isaiah 46:10-11

God’s sovereignty also has a direct bearing on Bible prophecy being fulfilled. Think of the prophecies about Christ’s first coming, and how they all were perfectly carried out: that Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), where He was born (Micah 5:2), that He rode on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), how Jesus died (Psalm 22), and so forth. The fact that all Bible prophecy comes true is one of the clearest and strongest proofs that God is sovereign.

What about Christ’s 2nd coming? Of course, God is sovereign, for He will do what He has decided to do. Every day, from now until Christ’s return, has been carefully planned out by God. We now live in the end-times, and God is directing all things and all people to that point when Christ will return and rapture the church. As the days and years go by, we will literally see His prophetic word being carried out. All of His plans related to Israel, the nations, the true church, false religion, birth pains, the Jewish temple, the Antichrist, the preaching of the gospel, great tribulation, Christ’s 2nd coming, and Satan’s defeat, will be fully carried out. Might you be assured and encouraged by the faithful, powerful, wise, and glorious working of God, resulting in Christ’s return as King.

You may wonder what will happen in your own life, and to your family and church. You may worry about whether you will live or die, whether you will be martyred or raptured. You need to trust God and be at peace, for God is sovereign, and “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” This “good” is that your salvation will be completed, that you will be glorified, that you will be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Romans 8:28-29

The fact that God is sovereign doesn’t mean you are to sit around and do nothing, that you are to just wait and see. You are to work and wait and see. You are responsible for your words and actions, all the time knowing that God is sovereign, that “man plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps” (Proverbs 16:9), that “the steps of man are ordained by the Lord” (Proverbs 20:24). “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). “Go, make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20), knowing that Christ will build His church.

Finally, it’s all about Jesus Christ. Love Jesus, live for Jesus, and look forward to seeing Him come in the clouds. Remember, “we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of times, that is, the summing up all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” Ephesians 1:9-12

P.S. If you have not looked at and read the Key Terms, listed on one of the tabs, I would encourage you to do so. Knowing the definitions of key prophecy terms, and related subjects, is essential in understanding prophecy. One area that is related to this subject of God’s sovereignty, that is found in the Key Terms, is the “Purposes of God.”

The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age

November 30, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #96 ~

This present church age and the future kingdom age are two distinct time periods in the history of mankind. Ephesians 1:21 tells us, “… not only in this age, but also in the one to come…” Now we live in the church age, but it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church, and shortly thereafter, sets up His kingdom on earth. But what will this kingdom age be like? One way to find out is to compare these two ages, and see how they are alike and how they are different. Let’s look at some areas so you can better understand the fantastic future God has for you and for all believers:

Who is the ruler? The devil is the ruler of the world during this present church age, but Jesus Christ is the ruler of the world during the kingdom age. John 12:31, 1 John 5:19, Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 11:15

How long are the ages? No one knows precisely how long this present church age will last, but we do know that the kingdom age will last for exactly 1000 years, which is why it is often called the millennial kingdom. Matthew 24:36, Revelation 20:1-7

How long will people live? People will live a lot longer during the millennial kingdom age than during this present church age. At this time, on average, people live to be about 80 years or so, but during the next age, a person who lives only to be 100 years “will be thought accursed.” Isaiah 65:20, Psalm 90:10

The kings versus the King: During this church age, Jesus Christ is in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, while kings on earth are taking their stand against Him, counseling together, and contending with Him. But during the millennial kingdom, these kings will be powerless, for Christ will be the only true King, sitting on His throne in Jerusalem, and ruling over the earth. Psalm 2, Zechariah 14:9, Matthew 26:64

The evil age and the good age: This present age is an evil age, and a big reason is because the devil is the ruler of the world. The coming millennial kingdom age will be a good age, for Jesus Christ will be perfectly ruling the world. But this 1000-year kingdom age won’t be a perfect age, and that’s because sin and death will still exist on this earth. Galatians 1:4, Psalm 72:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, Revelation 21:4

Injustice or justice: During this present age, there’s a great deal of injustice and unrighteousness on earth. Wickedness is flourishing at this time, but not so during the millennial kingdom, for then Christ will rule with a rod of iron, bringing justice, mercy, and peace to this world. Psalm 2:9, Psalm 37, Psalm 72, Philippians 2:10-11

Satan’s influence: Satan continually tempts people to sin during this church age. But he will be imprisoned and incapacitated during the millennial kingdom, and therefore, unable to tempt anyone, believer or unbeliever. His only evil influence will come at the very end of this kingdom age, when he will be let loose for a short time, and gather unbelievers to fight against God, but unsuccessfully so. Revelation 20:1-10

Judging the sinners: God will deal decisively with unbelievers at the end of this present age, and at the end of the age to come. He will punish the unbelievers living on earth (except those Jews chosen to be saved) at the end of this church age, during the Day of the Lord (Revelation 8-9, 16). At the end of the millennial kingdom age, Jesus Christ, sitting on His great white throne, will judge all unbelievers, all the ungodly, and then cast them into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15

The earth’s physical condition: During this church age, the earth is in a corrupted state, but it will be renovated at the start of the millennial kingdom, and therefore, greatly improved. Only after this 1000-year kingdom age, during the eternal kingdom age, will the earth be completely brand new, perfectly holy in every way, entirely and forever free from sin, death, and the devil. Romans 8:18-24, Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelation 21:1-4

God’s kingdom is growing: The kingdom of God continues to grow in size during the church age and the millennial kingdom age, for people will be getting saved during both time periods. Numerically speaking, God’s kingdom will be fully grown at the end of the millennial kingdom. Matthew 13:30-33

Spiritual and physical growth of the kingdom: During the church age, Christ’s focus is on the spiritual growth of God’s kingdom. People are being born again, and are being transferred from the domain of the devil to the kingdom of God. During the next age, Christ’s focus is on both the spiritual and physical growth of God’s kingdom, on both her internal and external growth. Matthew 16:18, Colossians 1:13; Luke 17:21; Psalm 47, Psalm 67

Glorified or not? During this church age, all believers, those now in heaven and those still on earth, are not yet glorified. But at the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church, they will be glorified, and remain glorified during the millennial kingdom age, and forevermore. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Well known or not? During this church age, our lives are hidden with Christ, meaning we are not well known in the world. But in the millennial kingdom, we will be revealed with Christ and be reigning with Him, and it will be obvious to all that we are God’s children, and are very special to Him. 1 Corinthians 4:8-13, Colossians 3:3-4, Revelation 1:6

Greater glory for God: More glory will be given to God during the millennial kingdom than during this present age. That’s because: a) More of God’s glory will be evident in the world, thereby resulting in more glory being given to Him. b) There will be a greater number of believers living during the millennial kingdom than at any other time in history, resulting in more people giving glory to God. c) All the believers who have lived during this present age will be glorified, and therefore are able to give God much more glory. Habakkuk 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Revelation 19:1-6

Peace on earth: During this present church age, there are many conflicts between people, many wars between nations, and there is not peace on earth. During the millennial kingdom, there will, in general, be peace on earth. Psalm 72:3, Isaiah 9:6

What a blessing to be living for Jesus Christ during this church age! Now is our time to be using our gifts and talents to serve Him. But I must say, I am really looking forward to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, and shortly after that, being with Him on earth during the millennial kingdom age. What an incredible time that will be, for we will be fully saved, glorified and perfect, and fully able to love our Savior and King, and live for Him like never before! Hallelujah!!! “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10

P. S. Here are two short and encouraging posts that go along with what you have just read:  Everything on this Earth is Going to Change, and More on the Glory of God, the Most Important Thing of All.

God’s Kingdom Work

November 23, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #95 ~

God’s primary work is kingdom work! It’s what He’s been doing since the creation of the world. Starting with Adam and Eve, then through the Jews, now through the church, and then during the next age, God has been, is, and will be, building His kingdom.

To understand the history of God’s most important work, we have to go back to the Old Testament, where we find many prophecies and promises that God gave to the Jews about the coming King and His kingdom. Zechariah 14:9 tells us, “The Lord will be King over the earth.” In 2 Samuel 7:8-17, David is told, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever.” Daniel 7:27 says, “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom.” Isaiah 9:6-7 predicts, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom… from then on and forevermore.” Psalm 2:6 clearly states, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 47 tells us the truth, “For God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 98:6 exhorts us, “Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.”

God also promised the Jews, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). You see, God wanted the Jews to be members of His kingdom, and part of the process in establishing this kingdom, both spiritually and physically. Some of the Jews were righteous and serving Him, but for the most part, they were rebellious. The majority of them were looking at things outwardly and worshiping idols they had made, but weren’t loving God, the One who had made them. In spite of all their sins, God was very gracious, for many Jews, and Gentiles too, repented and received God’s mercy, thereby becoming members of His glorious and growing kingdom.

God’s kingdom work continued, wonderfully and dramatically so, when His Son, the King, came to earth. It was about 2,000 years ago that Jesus entered this world as a little baby, then grew up and became a man. Jesus was perfect, the most loving person, an incredible teacher, and a healer of diseases, but the Jews still rejected Him. They didn’t see their need for Jesus to save them from their sins. Their rejection of Him as their Savior led to their rejection of Him as their King. Yet, Jesus assured His disciples that He would come back and set up His kingdom on earth. In fact, right before He ascended into heaven, He was talking to His apostles about the kingdom, “… appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Jesus’ disciples were excited about the coming physical kingdom, but they knew it had to be spiritual at its core, for Jesus first needed to be King in their hearts. He had already told them, “Behold, the kingdom of God is in you.” Luke 17:21

Since that time, Christ has been building His church, and God’s kingdom is continuing to grow, for a great number of people are being born again, and are entering into His kingdom (John 3:5). Millions, if not billions, have been delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13). 1 Peter 2:9 also speaks of this kingdom, telling us that the church is a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” language reminding us of God’s promises and plans for the Jews.

During this church age, God has commanded us to work with Him, to seek His kingdom, to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). We know it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth. That’s because the Jews are back in their land, a clear indicator from God that we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 37; Daniel 12:4, 9

This church age is now drawing to a close, and Jesus Christ will be coming back soon. He will return as a Savior to rapture the believers, as a Judge to punish the unbelievers, as a Redeemer to save a Jewish remnant, and as a King to set up His kingdom on earth. At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). What a momentous time that will be, for Christ will take control of the world, and finally, be her King! Then for the next thousand years, we and all believers will be working with our King, helping Him rule and guide the nations. Multitudes more will be saved, and God’s kingdom will continue to grow during the entirety of Christ’s glorious reign on earth.

It is during this time that God’s millennial promise will be true for all believers, “God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” Our prayer will be, “Let all the peoples praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You” (Psalm 67:5, 7). People all over the world will be praising our King. “O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2). “Then (after 1000 years) comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” 1 Corinthians 15:24

P.S. Here is a good article to read, one that will help you to more clearly understand this post: A Summary of the Prophetic Work of God, from the Time of Abraham to Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God

November 16, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #94 ~

Matthew 4: 23

What was the main message preached by Jesus and the apostles in the first century? It was the gospel! This gospel, this good news, explains that people are sinners, but that Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of man, died on the cross to pay for peoples’ sins, and all those who repent and believe in Him, are justified, forgiven, and will go to heaven (Romans 1:18-32, 3:21-25, 4:4-8, 5:6-10, 6:23, 10:9-13). But it wasn’t just the gospel they preached, it was the gospel of the kingdom of God! Now I am not saying that you need to do more than repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ to be saved. What I am saying is that believing the gospel results in being forgiven of your sins and going to heaven, and also becoming a member of the kingdom of God!

Look at all these verses that talk about the gospel and the kingdom of God:
* Matthew 4:23 – “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee… proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.”
* Matthew 24:14 – “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
* Mark 1:14-15 – “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”
* Luke 4:43 – “But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.’”
* John 3:5 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
* Acts 8:12 – “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized.”
* Acts 19:8 – “He continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”
* Acts 20:24-25 – “to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God… I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.”
* Acts 28:23 – “He was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus…” Acts 28:31
* Colossians 1:13 – “He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

What was being preached in the first century? It was the gospel of the kingdom of God! Clearly, the emphasis of gospel preaching is being saved, and becoming a member, not just of the church, but also of the kingdom of God. And this kingdom goes on forever, including all future ages, as well as incredible blessings and benefits. When we talk to people about Jesus Christ and salvation, we need to also share with them God’s kingdom perspective, for God wants them to see the big picture. People need to know that once they are born again, they enter into God’s kingdom, a spiritual kingdom, where Christ inwardly rules in their hearts. (Luke 17:21). Then when Christ returns, He will rapture the believers, pour out His wrath, redeem a remnant of Jews, and set up His physical kingdom on earth, at which time He will still be ruling in believers’ lives, but also, outwardly ruling over the entire world.

But now, close to 2000 years after Christ’s first coming, I sense that many believers think this church age will just keep going, failing to realize that it will soon come to an end, and that the next phase of God’s kingdom will then be established on earth. That’s why it’s critical to understand what God’s word is telling us about the kingdom of God. At this time, we are living in the church age, what I call, Phase one. At the end of this age, there’s a short transition time (Revelation 7-10, 15-19), then there’s Phase two, when we will reign with Christ for 1000 years (Revelation 20). “Then comes the end (of the millennial kingdom), when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24), which begins Phase three, the eternal kingdom. Revelation 21-22

I hope you are beginning to understand God’s kingdom plans, that He’s faithfully carrying them out, that He is now leading you, together with the entire world, to that point when He will send His Son back to establish His kingdom on earth. So what does God want you to do?
– You are to be praying: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
– You are to be “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God.” Matthew 4:23, 24:14
– You are to serve Him: “Do business with this until I come back.” Luke 19:11-27
– You are to preach rightly: “In view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). To have real purpose and power in your preaching, you need to connect it to Christ’s return and His coming kingdom on earth.

I must say, I get very excited and encouraged when I think of who God has made us to be, and what He has in store for us: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). In conclusion, “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God (church age). When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (kingdom ages). Colossians 3:3-4

P.S.  Being Thankful – The Character of a Christian. Thanksgiving Day will be here soon, but as you know, we are to be thankful every day of the year. Here is an article that I believe  will help you to see the value and blessing of being thankful.

Kingdom Instructions for the Church

November 9, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #93 ~

You need to understand the kingdom of God to fully grasp what it means to be a Christian, to really know how you are to live on earth, and to be genuinely excited about the future God has for you. Jesus came to this earth as Savior, Lord and King. He told the Jews, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). But how could they be a part of His kingdom? Jesus told them how, for He was “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). The key to the kingdom is the gospel, for it is the salvation message, the means by which people can enter God’s kingdom. But a person needs to see his sin, and his need for Jesus to be his Savior. He needs to “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15), this good news that Jesus died on a cross to pay for his sins, and then was raised from the dead.

Yes, some of the Jews repented and believed in Jesus. But most of them didn’t repent; they didn’t want Jesus to be King in their hearts; they just wanted Him to be King over their country. For their rejection of Him, Jesus had no choice but to reject them. He couldn’t be their King, at least at that time, and consequently, His Father’s plans for the Jews were suspended and put on hold. But Jesus gave His disciples hope about His coming kingdom. At the Passover meal, He told them, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes… I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom.” Luke 22:18, 28-30

Jesus had already told the disciples, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). The church would be God’s new plan to build His kingdom on earth, and for the past 2000 years, that’s exactly what has been happening. People are spiritually being born again, and are entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:3-8). But God’s kingdom during this church age is not physical and external, but spiritual and internal, that which exists in the hearts of those who belong to Christ the King.

What is the purpose of the Christian on earth? To work with Christ and the church, and build the kingdom of God, the most important, noble, and satisfying work in the world. But what specifically are you to do?

1. You are to seek the kingdom of God. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). This is to be your work, your purpose, your ambition, your life. You are not to be seeking what you want, building your own little kingdom, and worrying about what you will eat, drink or wear. You are to spend your time, energy and money, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, doing that which builds His church, and therefore, that which builds His kingdom.

2. You are to preach the gospel of the kingdom. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom. Paul preached the gospel of the kingdom, for he “declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:23, 31). You, too, are to preach the gospel of the kingdom. It’s important for you to see that your life is not just about building the church – it’s much bigger than that, for you are to work with Jesus in building God’s kingdom, a kingdom that started way back with Adam and Eve, continues now, and goes on forever and ever.

 3. You are to preach the word: “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Yes, this is for pastors, but in a larger sense, it applies to all of us. In view of the fact that Christ will appear and rapture the church, judge the unbelievers, and then set up His kingdom on earth, we are to preach the word of God. We must see that God’s word needs to be preached in the context of Christ’s coming. Proper and powerful preaching must be connected and related to the fact that our Savior and King is returning to establish His kingdom on earth.

 4. You are to pray: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). You are to pray for Christ’s kingdom to come, for Christ to come back and physically and spiritually rule over His kingdom on earth. Of course, you should pray for people to be saved, for the church to grow, but it’s more than that – it’s seeing the connection between the growth of the church and the return of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth. You don’t want to be short-sighted, you need to see the church in the context of the entire kingdom of God, and that the church age leads to Christ’s coming and the millennial kingdom age.

Just think, you are a royal priesthood, a kingdom and priests to our God! (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:10). Understanding who you are, and knowing the real truth about the kingdom of God, and your part in it, will motivate you to live for the King, and to look forward to that time when you will see Him, and say, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13

The King in Your Heart, and His Kingdom on Earth

November 2, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #92 ~

What’s most important to you, the right king to rule over your country, or the real King to rule in your heart? Both questions are valid, and both are answered in the Bible. But what is first, and foundational, is being right in your heart with God. For many people, their religion is outward, visible, and temporal, and oftentimes, is governmental and political. But real religion, being forgiven of your sins, possessing eternal life, and knowing Jesus as your Savior and King, needs to start in your heart. Romans 10:9-13

Back in the Old Testament days, most Jews knew the prophesies about the coming King and His kingdom. (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Psalm 47, Isaiah 9:6-7, Ezekiel 37:21-22; Micah 5:2-4, etc.). Year after year they went to the synagogue and heard about this Messiah, this coming King. What most Jews really wanted was for this King to rule over their country, defeat their enemies, and bring peace to their land. But they were looking at things outwardly and physically, and not inwardly and spiritually.

Then, in the fullness of time, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her that she’d be the mother of this Messiah, this Jesus. She learned that her son “will be called the Son of the Most High… and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Mary, being a righteous Jew, knew that God, spiritually speaking, was her Savior (Luke 1:46-47). But she also understood Gabriel’s message, that her son would physically reign as the King over Israel and the entire world.

Thirty years later, John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, was proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Not long after that, Jesus, the Messiah, came preaching, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The kingdom was at hand, for the King was at hand. Right away, Jesus showed that He was more than just a man, for He was healing people, casting out demons, raising the dead, and feeding the multitudes. Not only that, but He was the best teacher they had ever heard. But many Jews weren’t satisfied with Jesus, for they really wanted Him to conquer the Romans, and establish Himself as their King. They rightly believed that God would keep His promise about the Messiah being the King, but they were missing a foundational and prerequisite truth.

The Jews didn’t see their sin and their need for a Savior. They didn’t understand and believe in the gospel. They didn’t understand Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, which vividly describes Jesus’ death, physically and spiritually speaking. They didn’t realize that the only way to be forgiven and be made right with God, was for Jesus to die on the cross to pay for their sins. They didn’t realize the need to be saved, of Jesus, the Savior, dying for them, and Jesus, the Lord, living in their hearts.  They wanted a King to rule over them, not a King to rule in them.

For three years, Jesus perfectly carried out the work of His Father, people were being forgiven, and lives were being changed. But in spite of all that Jesus was doing, most Jews still rejected Him as their Savior, and therefore rejected Him as their King. John 1:8 sums up this sad reality, “Jesus came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” But God was sovereign, for the Jews’ rejection of Jesus resulted in Christ’s death and resurrection, in His payment for peoples’ sins, and in a person’s salvation, that is, for all those who would repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

When the Jews rejected Christ, God had to reject them, at least for a while. He repeatedly warned them that they’d be judged. (Luke 19:41-44, Luke 21:20-24, Luke 23:27-31). He told them that the Jews would “fall by the edge of the sword, and… be led captive into all the nations” which took place in the 1st century (Luke 21:24). Yet God would keep His Word, His Old Testament promises to the Jews; and in fact, Jesus went on to say that the Jews would “be led captive into all the nations… until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Many other times, Jesus reminded the Jews that God’s promise about a future and physical kingdom would be fulfilled. (Luke 13:34-35, Luke 22:28-30, Acts 1:6-7). Then in Luke 21:28, Jesus tells us, “your redemption is drawing near,” a promise to the church about being raptured at His return. In Luke 21:31, Jesus goes on to say, “the kingdom of God is near,” which is His promise to both the Jews and the church about His coming visible kingdom, which would begin shortly after the rapture. This will be Christ’s 1000-year kingdom, that time when believing Jews and Gentiles will together reign with Him over this world. Luke 22:28-30

Now we are living in the last years of this church age, and these promises from Jesus will soon be fulfilled. I hope you see that the King is coming, and that “the kingdom of God is near.” What should you do? How are you to live? 1) You are to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). 2) You are to proclaim the “gospel of the kingdom… and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). 3) You are to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

P.S. If you have regularly been reading these posts, you can see that we are on a “kingdom” theme. It is important for you to see the big picture, that you are a member of God’s kingdom, that you are royalty, and that God will continue to build His kingdom, this age, and then in the next age. For the next two weeks, we will continue on this relevant subject.

The Kingdom of God

October 26, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #91 ~

The primary, overarching theme of the Bible is God’s kingdom and glory. From Genesis to Revelation, this is the message God wants you to understand and be passionate about. In this post, I will focus on 3 different aspects of the kingdom of God: 1st, the broad and comprehensive view of God’s kingdom; 2nd, the invisible, internal and spiritual aspect of God’s kingdom; and 3rd, the visible, external and physical aspect of God’s kingdom.

1. A long, long time ago, God created the heavens, the earth, and people. Since He is the Creator, since He made everything and everyone, then He was, and is, and will always be the King! He is the King over the stars and planets. He is the King over people, angels, the devil and demons. He is the King over the land and sea, over animals, birds, and fish. He is the King over cities and countries. He is the King over the kings. He is the King over all that is physical and all that is spiritual. He has absolute authority, power and sovereignty over all of His creation. He has perfect knowledge and wisdom, doing exactly what He wants, when He wants, and where He wants! No one can ever stop Him, for He is the King!

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Psalm 145:13). “The Lord shall reign forever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). These and many other verses (1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 9:7, Psalm 22:8, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 66:7, Psalm 90:2, Psalm 103:19) give us the big picture, the broad perspective of God’s kingdom, that He is a sovereign King, and rules over His kingdom, the entire universe, and all people and things in it. But what about His spiritual kingdom?

2. After the creation, Adam and Eve began to rule the world. They were perfect for a while, but then there was a problem. They rebelled against the King, and they spiritually died, becoming spiritually and relationally separated from Him. Because of sin, all creation was cursed, all mankind was cursed, and people became sinners, resulting in their physical death. What was the King going to do? His answer to this problem of sin is given in Genesis 3:15, where it was prophesied that a future Savior and King would crush the head of the devil, and redeem man from this curse of sin. This would result in the King’s spiritual rule in the heart of man, and eventually His physical rule over the entire earth. This Savior-King is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only One who could and would defeat sin, death, and the devil. This is very good news, the gospel of the kingdom! Matthew 4:23

Since the sin of Adam and Eve, God has been building His invisible and spiritual kingdom. Those living before Christ’s coming would look ahead and believe that He would live on earth, and die and pay for their sins. Those living after Christ’s coming would look back, and believe that He did die and pay for their sins. In either case, the person who repents of his sin and believes Christ paid for his sin, is made righteous in God’s sight, and spiritually speaking, becomes a member of His kingdom. Christ the King then lives in his heart, and freely gives him His love, joy and peace. Romans 13:17

For the past 2000 years, God’s spiritual kingdom has continued to grow. Sinners are being born again, and are entering into His kingdom (John 3:5). They are being rescued from the domain of the devil, and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). All who repent of their sins and receive Christ as Savior and King become members of the church, this spiritual kingdom that He is building. Here is Jesus’ promise to us, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, Psalm 2

3. Now that we live in the end-times, we know this church age will soon come to an end, and Jesus Christ will return and gather all the believers to Himself. Then during the Day of the Lord, the unbelievers will be rightfully punished. Then it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will take control of the earth, and for 1000 years, He will establish His visible and physical kingdom over the entire world. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). During these wonderful years, God’s spiritual kingdom will still be growing. People will be getting saved, and Christ will be ruling in their hearts, and at the same time, ruling over the world. Psalm 67 prophesied this, “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all peoples… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the people’s with uprightness, and guide the nations of the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God.”

After Christ’s glorious, 1000-year reign on earth, “then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24). This millennial kingdom will merge into the eternal kingdom. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and all that is physical and spiritual will be perfect. This good news should fill you with great joy, for it will finally and forever be seen that there’s one perfect Kingdom and God is the King, “so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17

P.S. There are two previous posts that directly relate to this one about the kingdom of God: “The Glory of God – The Most Important Thing of All!!!, and “More On the Glory of God, The Most Important Thing of All!!”

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.”

Christ the King is Coming!

October 12, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #89 ~

What does this world need? Individual people need a Savior to save them from their sins. That’s why, about 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to this earth. But what do the cities, states and countries of this world need? They need a king! Look around the world and you see all kinds of rulers and leaders, some good, some bad, and some wicked, but none are perfect. There are still crimes, conflicts and corruption, and problems in every part of this planet; and only one person can solve them all, and that too, is Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ is coming again, to be the perfect King, to take over this world and make everything right, to rule and to reign, and bring peace to this earth.

A long time ago, God promised that He would send His Son to be the King of this world: “A child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of His peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” Isaiah 9:6-7

Part of this promise was fulfilled when Jesus was born in that little town of Bethlehem. Thirty years later, at the start of His ministry, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Then after three years of crisscrossing the nation of Israel, preaching to the people and making disciples, Jesus died on a cross to pay for the sins of all those who repent and believe in Him. But most of the Jews rejected Jesus as their Savior, and therefore rejected Him as their King.

But the Jews’ rejection of Jesus did not negate His victory over sin, death and the devil. In fact, just before His death, Jesus declared, “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:31). Jesus Christ was lifted up on a cross, dying for sinners and providing the means for their salvation. But His death and resurrection also resulted in the defeat of the devil, and the outworking of that defeat is continually seen in the lives of Christians, and in the churches on this earth. At Calvary, Jesus Christ paid the purchase price to reign over a redeemed people and a redeemed world (Colossians 2:14-15).

The day will soon come when the devil, the ruler of this world, will be completely cast out of this world, and Christ will reign as King over this earth. Verse after verse speaks of this glorious victory. In Psalm 2:6, God says, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” The prophet tells us, “The Lord will be King over all the earth; in that day, the Lord will be the only One, and His name the only One” (Zechariah 14:9). We read, “Sing praises to our King… for God is the King of all the earth” (Psalm 47:7). Psalm 22:28 also makes it clear, “The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.” 

It won’t be long before the return and reign of Christ. You see, we are living at the end of this church age, for the Jews are back in their land, and Israel, once again, is a nation. But that impostor of a king, that most wicked man, the Antichrist, must come first, and rule this world, but only for a very short while (Revelation 13). His devilish dictatorship will suddenly be interrupted by the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Then comes the Day of the Lord, God’s righteous and punishing wrath being poured out upon the unsuspecting and evil unbelievers still living on this earth. Revelation 5-9

Finally, it’s the end of Daniel’s 70th week, and loud voices in heaven will triumphantly proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Shortly after that, in one of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenes you could ever imagine, Christ returns to earth, “I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True… and on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ ” Revelation 19:11-16

For exactly one thousand years, Jesus Christ will reign on this earth, and all glorified believers will be joyfully reigning with Him (Revelation 3:21, 5:10, 20:6). I can’t wait for this to happen, for I get so tired of this evil age and sinful world! To know that we will soon see Jesus perfectly governing this planet should bring great joy and hope to our hearts. As King of the world, He will possess all authority, power and wisdom, resulting in justice, righteousness and peace on this earth. Here is God’s promise to Mary, and to all believers: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:32-33

P.S. The truth about the future reign of Christ is one of the most encouraging things you need to know, for it gives you hope, and gives you a reason for living for the Lord during your time on earth. The Return of the King is the article that tells us why Christ is coming back. You will be amazed and encouraged when you read all the reasons for His return.

Politicians, Judges, and Jesus, Our Coming King

October 5, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning  Post #88 ~

Sidewalk Launches in Washington DC

For those of us in the United States, it’s obvious that we are living in a super-charged political climate. When you watch the news on TV or on the internet, you cannot miss what’s going on – this hot, hyped-up and turbulent atmosphere. There’s the President, Congressmen and women, Judges, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, the media, and who’s right? In the upcoming elections, who’s going to win? People get so emotional and passionate about all this, and for many, it’s because politics is their religion. But for Christians, what does our “religion”, what does our Bible say? “Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

First, let me share a little bit of my story, for it has greatly affected how I think about politics, prophecy and God’s will for my life. In August of 1976, I was attending a church conference in Kansas City, and for part of the time, we marched around Kemper Arena, carrying signs and promoting a Presidential candidate. In 1980, our association of churches was in New York City during the Democratic National Convention, encouraging everyone to “Vote Morality.” Three months later, on the Sunday morning before the national election, my church passed out 40,000 flyers supporting a senatorial candidate. Five years later, our association of churches started “Americans for Biblical Government,” for some believed that the Bible, not the Constitution, was the book delineating the laws by which we were to govern this country. You can clearly see that I was involved with churches that felt strongly about trying to influence the course of this country.

Those were the “Moral Majority” years, which for many churches meant persuading people to be moral, for we thought if we had a moral majority, we could win elections, and change the country. This thinking was partially based on Amillennialism, a belief which states that there’s no future millennial kingdom, no 1000-year period when Christ is ruling the world. This erroneous belief says that Christ will return after the Christians, during this church age, have made this world to be a more loving and just world.

As time went on, I learned that my thinking with regard to these areas was wrong. The problem was not the President, the government or the culture, but the sin in a person’s heart. Yes, my church understood the problem of sin, and the solution to be the gospel of Christ, but we had gotten way off track. When Jesus was on earth, He could have easily routed the Romans and began ruling the world. But He didn’t do that, for that was not His purpose at that time. God’s will and vision, then and now, is to build the church, to preach the gospel and make disciples of all the nations. Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19-20

As Christians, this is our purpose – to build the church. We are not to seek the kingdoms of men, but the kingdom of God, a kingdom that is now seen in the church and is spiritual in nature (Matthew 6:10, 33). We are to pray for the souls of men, not for seats in Congress. We are to put our hope and trust in God, not in rulers (Psalm 146:3-6). Even if we elected a Christian president, and passed many new laws, it wouldn’t make a difference. It’s not new laws we need, but new hearts, not new political leaders but godly preachers.

Our country is on the downgrade, for she’s not so moral anymore, but she’s becoming more immoral. There’s pride, greed, hate, anger, selfishness, injustice and disrespect. There are corrupt politicians and corrupt people. In fact, the entire world is increasingly becoming lawless. But as Christians, we must stay the course that Christ gave us, to build the church, preach the gospel, and make disciples of all the nations. The Jews are now back in their land, Jerusalem is her capitol, a peace treaty will soon be signed, and Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, and the salvation of a remnant of Jews, is at hand. Now is the time to remember that it’s more important to win souls than to win elections, and to raise up pastors than to raise up politicians. Luke 12:32-53

What about your role in politics? It’s alright to be involved, but it shouldn’t be your top priority, and you shouldn’t get mad if a bad law is passed, or an unrighteous person wins an election. Yes, you should vote. Yes, you should pray for your leaders. Yes, you can help in some election. In fact, I still write letters to the Senator our church helped elect in 1980, for he is a Christian, and I want to encourage him to keep doing what is right.

Here we are, living in the end times and in a country that’s going downhill. There are two things you need to do. First, do your part, use your gifts, and serve the Lord, right up to the return of Christ. Second, remember the hope you have from God. “Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:9). Abraham “was looking for the city with foundations” (Hebrews 11:10). You should be super-excited about that future time when Jesus Christ, the perfect King, will rule this imperfect world with a heart of gold and a rod of iron. Then there will be perfect justice, abounding love, great glory, and world peace! “Clap your hands, all you nations… God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:1, 8). “… Your salvation among all nations… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy… You will guide the nations of the earth.” Psalm 67:1-4

P.S. In the midst of all this political passion, we need to be reminded of our real purpose, and with that, I encourage you to read the article, “What Does God Want Me to Do in the End Times?” I mentioned in this article why A-millennialism is not true. To understand why, I would suggest you start with “Replacement Theology: It’s Not True – Part One,” the first of five articles on this subject.

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