When a runner runs his race, he needs to know there’s a reason to run the race, that it has purpose. He needs to know the race will come to an end, that it will soon be over. He needs to know that it’s worth it to run the race, that he will be rewarded for his efforts. That is, a runner needs hope, which is what each and every Christian needs. To run the “race that is set before us,” the race God has given you, you need hope – you can’t live life without it. You will get sick and suffer pain. You will have spiritual battles, personal struggles and be persecuted. You will get tired, feel defeated, be discouraged, and at times want to give up. And now there’s this present crisis in our country, with all the riots, violence, destruction, anarchy, etc. In all this, you have to have hope if you are going to be able to run and win the race God has for you. Hebrews 12:1-3
How do we define hope? It’s a reason to live. It’s what you don’t have now but believe God will give you in the ages to come. It’s expecting God to bless you in the future for your work for Him in the present. More specifically, hope is God’s promise to you that you will be in heaven with Jesus, with believers, in a glorified body, and that you will be eternally rewarded. Hebrews 12:22-24
There’s something else you need to know, which is that your hope as a Christian relates directly to God’s promises to the Jewish people. In the Old Testament you read extensively about God’s future plans for Jewish believers, and these plans relate directly to what God has in store for Christians. Specifically, there are three key promises or covenants God gave the Jewish people. There’s the promise of land, described as the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 13:14-17, Psalm 105:8-11), the promise of salvation, called the New Covenant (Jer. 31:33-34, Psalm 98:2-3), and the promise of a King, which is the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-13, Zech. 14:9).
Literally hundreds of verses in the Old Testament further confirm and describe these promises. As you read your Bible, be looking for them, for they will give you confidence that God will do just what He promised. Sadly, many in today’s churches believe God has cancelled and nullified these promises to the Jews because of their sin and unbelief, but this is just not true. God is faithful, and will be forever true to His word. Psalm 89, Matthew 24:35
As I said, many verses speak of these promises, but my favorites are Ezekiel 37:21-23, for here you see all three of them in one single passage. There’s the land promise – “I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land, and I will make them one nation in the land” (vss 21-22); there’s the promise of the King, which we know is Jesus Christ – “There will be one King over all of them” (vs 22); and there’s the promise of salvation – “I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be My people, and I will be their God” (vs 23). Do you see the word “will?” It’s God’s guarantee to His people that He will carry out His promises, that they will definitely come to pass.
But how does this relate to you? First, there’s salvation, and of course as a Christian, you have been saved. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:5). Second, there’s the land. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:3). This is from Psalm 37:11, which says, “The meek will inherit the land,” which is true for the Jews, but now is true for you as well. Third, there’s the King, and in Rev. 19:16, we read, “On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’” Jesus Christ will return as the King, and will rule perfectly over this world and, in fact, we will be reigning with Him. Revelation 5:10
The verses, in my opinion, that best connect the future of the Jewish believer with the future of the Christian, are Rom. 15:8-13. There we read that the promises God gave to the fathers (Old Testament Jews), are in conjunction with His promises to church-age Christians – “I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Thy name… Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” In the coming kingdom age, all saved people will be in Jerusalem worshiping the King. Psalm 47:1,6 and Psalm 48:1 also talk about this – “O clap your hands, all peoples, shout to God with the voice of joy… Sing praises to our King… Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.”
Do you see that your hope relates directly to the hope of the Jewish people? Though we don’t know all the details of our future, we do know that all God’s people will be together, worshiping and serving Him. As a Christian, you need this hope, you need to know it’s worth it serve the Lord and suffer for Him, that the future blessing you will receive from God far outweighs any troubles or struggles you will ever experience in this life. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
There’s no doubt that Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords, King of kings, and Savior of sinners, is literally coming back to earth – and what an exciting and important truth for this present generation of Christians. Like no other time in history we need to not just know, but believe, that Christ is coming again, and soon – and He will solve all our problems, and make everything right in this world!
When you read God’s word, you discover hundreds of verses describing Christ’s coming. Why? Because He wants you to be convinced that He’s coming again; He wants you to know key details of His coming; He wants you to know why He is coming; He wants you to know that His coming marks the end of this evil age and the start of a good age; and He wants you to be looking forward to seeing Him. Listed below are a number of verses that describe the glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
* Matthew 24:30-31 – “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the others.” These classic rapture verses tell us that we will see and hear that Jesus Christ is coming, and then all believers from all time, those in heaven and those on earth, will be gathered to Him. Mark 13:27 * Matthew 24:42 – “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” None of us know the exact time of Christ’s coming, but God tells us specific events that need to occur before His return so we can know the general time. Matt. 24:32-34 * Luke 19:13 – “Do business with this until I come back.” You are to use the abilities, gifts, and money that God has given you so you can do your part in carrying out His end-time’s work on this earth. Eph. 2:10 * John 14:3 – “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus has prepared a heavenly home perfectly suited for His bride, which includes you. And at just the right time, He will come back and take you home to heaven. Heb. 12:22-24
* 1 Corinthians 1:7-8 – “…as you eagerly wait for the Lord Jesus to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Be assured that God will help you, strengthen you, and keep you going, and make sure you make it to heaven. 2 Tim. 4:18 * 1 Corinthian 15:51 – “Listen, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.” All believers, those who have already died (fallen asleep), and those still alive on earth at Christ’s coming, will be changed, will suddenly, wonderfully, and eternally be glorified.1 Cor. 15:42-44 * 1 Thessalonians 1:10 – “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead.” In view of Christ’s coming, you are to be working and waiting for Him. Luke 12:40-43 * 1 Thessalonians 2:19 – “What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes – is it not you?” A very encouraging part of your hope is that in heaven you will see believing friends and loved ones who you knew on earth. 1 Thess. 4:13-14
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Christ Himself will announce His coming to the Christians on earth, at which time they will suddenly be raptured and glorified, and joining with the glorified heavenly believers, immediately be taken to meet the Lord in the air. 2 Thess. 2:1 * 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4 – “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night… But you brothers are not in surprise.” Unbelievers will be caught off guard by Christ’s coming, but believers will not be surprised but, instead, will be expecting it. Matt. 24:42-44 * 2 Thessalonians 1:7 – “To give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.” One reason for Christ’s return is to deliver the Christians from the persecution they are going through. Matt. 24:21-22 * 2 Thessalonians 2:1 – “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you brothers, to not become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy… do not let anyone deceive you in any way for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.” God does not want you to be led astray by some false teaching regarding Christ’s coming. One erroneous teaching is that Christ will rapture the church before the Antichrist is revealed, but it’s really after he is revealed, which is at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. That is, the rapture happens sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. 2 Thess. 2:8
* 2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and Kingdom, preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season…” God’s word is not just to be taught, but to be taught in view of Christ’s return to set up His kingdom on earth. Psalms 47, 67 * Titus 2:13 – “While we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great Godand Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness.” You are to be waiting, to be very excited, to be excitedly looking forward to seeing your Lord and Savior. Rev. 22:20 * Hebrews 10:25 – “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.” God wants you to be seeing the signs that show us that Christ’s return is drawing near, and then encourage others with this good news. Matt. 24:3, 32-34 * Hebrews 10:37 – “In just a very little while, He who is coming, will come and will not delay.” Christ’s return to rapture the church will happen very soon, and that’s because we now live in the end-times, that time defined by the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. Daniels 12:4; Romans 11, 13:11-12
* James 5:7 – “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too be patient and stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near.” Life for Christians will become very difficult the closer we get to Christ’s return. You are to patiently wait for His coming, knowing that His timing is perfect, and that He will give you all the strength you need to keep persevering for Him. Luke 18:8 * 1 Peter 1:5 – “… who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Christians have many spiritual enemies, but God will keep protecting you from them through all the years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church. 2 Tim. 4:18 * 1 Peter 1:16 – “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Christ is revealed.” Don’t set your hopes on earthly things but on heavenly things and, specifically, that Christ will be returning soon to glorify you and take you home to heaven. Col. 3:1-4 * 2 Peter 3:11-12 – “Since everything will be destroyed in this way what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Don’t be worldly, but be holy, living for God, and looking forward to the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. 1 Thess. 5:4-11
* 1 John 3:2-3 – “We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Remember that when Christ returns, your salvation will be complete, for then you will be given a perfect and glorified body, one like His. Phil. 3:20-21 * Revelation 7:9 – “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” After all the believers are gathered together, they will immediately be taken to heaven so they can be in the very presence of God and worship Him like never before. Rev. 19:1-6 * Revelation 22:12 – “Behold I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” At Christ’s coming, you will receive an eternal, glorious, and generous reward for your earthly service for Him. 2 Tim. 4:8 * Revelation 22:20 – “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Christ keeps telling you that He is coming soon because He wants you to know that He is coming soon, and wants you to be excited about seeing and being with Him. Heb. 10:37, Rev. 22:7, 12
Can you believe it? Jesus Christ is coming again, and soon! All these verses, along with many others, are given so you can know about His glorious appearing, which won’t be long from now. It’s vitally important that you know and think about these verses about Christ’s coming, for they will encourage you and give you hope in these years leading up to the return of our great Lord, Savior, and King. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30
An unpopular subject has recently become “popular.” Every day we hear reports of all these people who have died in the United States due to this flu virus, COVID-19. As of today, that number is a shocking and staggering 36,000 deaths. That’s a whole lot of people, now 12 times the number who died on 9/11. But isn’t it true that death happens all the time? Every day, on average, 7,700 people die in this country, and they die in all kinds of ways. In 2017, according to the CDC, 647,457 people died of heart disease, 599,108 of cancer, 169,936 of accidents, 160,201 of respiratory problems, 70,237 of drug overdose, 55,672 of influenza, 47,173 of suicides, etc. (cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/death). Without question, death is a sad and unpleasant subject, not something we like to think about.
But God wants you to think about death, at least once in a while – and He will bring it to your attention. How does He do this? By death that is sudden, is unexpected, is by an accident, a murder, a suicide, a tornado, a pandemic, a war, etc. You are especially affected by death when it’s close and personal, when a family member, friend or neighbor passes away. Most of you have been touched by death in this way. And why? Because God wants you to come face to face with death so that you think soberly about life and spiritual realities.
We live in a world that spends a lot of time, energy and money on physical and external things. There is work, the weekend and vacation. There are foods, supplements and vitamins. There is our health and medicines. There are clothes, cosmetics and hairdos. There is running, swimming and biking. There are cars, houses and smart phones. None of these are bad in and of themselves, but the truth is that we tend to focus on the physical and forget the spiritual. A sinner once said to himself, “Take it easy, eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19). But Jesus said to his disciples, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.” Matt. 16:26
God wants to use a person’s death to get our mind off physical things, to get us to think about the spiritual world, to seek Him and learn what’s most important. Now when people think about death, they often get sad, scared, fearful, depressed, upset, angry and confused. That’s why we must know what God says in His word about death, and there’s a lot there, a very instructive passage being Luke 13:1-5. The news of the day was that some people had been brutally murdered, and others had suddenly died in an accident. Those with Jesus were thinking these people must have died because they were “bad” sinners, but they failed to see their own sin, and that they too were sinners who deserved to die.
And so, Jesus twice told these self-righteous sinners, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” He wanted them to know they were guilty and spiritually dead, and that they needed to repent of their sin, or they would not just physically die, but perish, be eternally dead and ruined. God wanted to wake these people up, to help them see their need to turn from their sin and trust in Christ before they would physically die, before it would be too late. Ecclesiastes 7:2 tells us: “It is a better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone, and the loving should take this to heart.” That is, COVID-19 deaths are to instruct lost souls about their need for Christ.
Why Christ? Because a person’s main problem is his sin, that he doesn’t love God, which is seen in his pride, anger, selfishness, disobedience, idolatry, immorality, etc. And the result of sin is death! “The soul that sins will die” (Ezek. 18:20). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Now death does not mean ceasing to exist, but here is what it does mean. 1st, sin results in spiritual death, meaning a person is separated from God, and has no spiritual relationship with Him. 2nd, sin results in physical death, the separation of the soul from the body. 3rd, sin results in eternal death. That is, the person who continues to sin on earth, who remains spiritually dead, and then physically dies, will be eternally dead, that is, forever separated from God, and forever punished by God. Matt. 25:41, 46
Christ is the only answer to this problem of sin. Why? Because “God made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). God the Father placed our sins upon Jesus and then punished Him, meaning Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. He died for us but then rose from the dead, His death and resurrection being the only means by which we can defeat sin and death. The person who repents of his sin and believes Jesus died in his place will not perish, but is forgiven and spiritually made alive in Christ. When Christ comes back to rapture the church, he will physically be made alive, will receive a perfect, powerful and glorified body. Those who believe in Christ’s victory receive eternal life – spiritual life when you are born of the Spirit, and physical life at the coming of Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16, John 10:27-28
How does God want a person to respond to the death he sees in the world, or to the death of a loved one or close friend? As I just said, the unbeliever needs to see death as a wake-up call from God, a spiritual prod moving him to repent of his sins so he can be forgiven and receive eternal life. Now if you are saved, this is how you should think about death: * Know that God is sovereign over every person’s death. Acts 5:1-11, Acts 12 * Be thankful you were spiritually saved and will be physically saved at Christ’s coming. * Pray for the lost, those spiritually dead, and as God leads, share the life-giving gospel message with them. * As long as you are alive on earth, know there is still work God wants you to do. Phil. 1:21 * Don’t overly grieve when believing loved ones die, for you will see them again in heaven, and soon. * Know that there will be much more death on this earth before the coming of Christ, and so, don’t be too sad or surprised when it happens. Just keep persevering and keep looking for Christ to return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:9, 28-31; Rev. 6:8-9, 7:7-14 * Know that it won’t be long before you die, or are raptured, and are taken to heaven. “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming, will come, and will not delay.” Heb. 10:37
P.S. I hope you see how God wants to use death in the lives of the saved and the lost. This message, in a much expanded form, is my Sunday message for April 19, 2020. My sermon should be available that day – to be listened to or read – my full sermon PDF notes can be viewed or downloaded: Hope Bible Church of Tampa at Sermon Audio. An important article that relates to this is “Why Do Believers Die?’ – A Memorial Service Message.”
1 Corinthians 15 talks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believers. In the 1st part of this chapter (1 Cor. 15:3-4), we are told that the gospel message, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, is the most important message in the Bible. That Christ was resurrected shows He was victorious over sin and death, and that God was satisfied with His sacrifice for the sins of people. This is great news for all who repent of their sins and believe that Christ died for them, thereby, paying the penalty for their sins. If you have turned from your sin and trusted in Christ, then you have been forgiven, have victory over death, a relationship with God, and a purpose in life. You will also be given a new body, a perfect home in heaven, and a wonderful future with friends. Most importantly, you will be with Jesus Christ forever and ever. 1 Thess. 5:18
In the 2nd part of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:12-19), we read that some had questioned whether the dead were raised at all. If that is true that the dead are not raised, then Christ was not raised. How utterly sad and depressing to even think that Christ was not raised from the dead. If Christ stayed in the grave, then your faith is worthless, you are a condemned sinner, your life has no meaning, and living for Christ makes no sense. How hopelessly and hellishly lost you would be.“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20). “God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24, Rev. 1:17-18). Indeed, all is truly and forever good for those in Christ, for those who have embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Rom. 10:8-13
In the 3rd part of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:20-28), we see the big picture, God’s eternal plans, and how it relates to the resurrection. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead about 2000 years ago, but when will believers, Old Testament and church-age saints, be raised again? Verse 23 definitively tells us that our resurrection happens at Christ’s coming. It’s critical that you know this, that you will be resurrected, be glorified, be given a new and perfect body at Christ’s 2nd coming, specifically at that time when the church is raptured. 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 2 Thess. 2:1
Then God succinctly sums up the ages to come. During the millennial kingdom, Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem, with believers in their resurrected bodies helping Him carry out His plans (Rev. 5:10). Christ will bring peace to this earth, subdue His enemies, and defeat death, the greatest enemy. Then this glorious 1000-year kingdom age will come to an end, when Christ “hands over the kingdom to the Father… then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:24, 28), and the most-glorious eternal kingdom age will begin.
In the 4th part of this chapter (1 Cor. 15:29-34), with this eternal perspective in mind, we are instructed how to live for God during our short lives on earth. Like Paul, we are to “die daily,” and not be afraid of “danger.” About the Christian, Jesus said, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Paul also tells us to live holy lives and have godly relationships, not like non-Christians who believe this life is all there is, who say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” But we know Christ and the truth of the resurrection – “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21
In the 5th part of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:35-49), we learn about our glorified body. First, we learn that the old body must die before there is a new body. Second, we see that the new body will be radically and amazingly different than the old body. A plant is different than the grain of seed it came from and, so too, our heavenly body will be different than our earthly body (Rom. 8:21). Third, we learn that, though there will be differences, there will be similarities. Humans will be humans, birds will be birds, and stars will be stars. Fourth, there will be the new body: it won’t be perishable but imperishable, won’t be dishonorable but honorable, won’t be weak but powerful, won’t be natural but spiritual, won’t be earthly but heavenly. We have this wonderful description of our brand-new body, but we still cannot fathom how glorious it will be. Might you thank Jesus “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Cor. 15:57
In the 6th part of this chapter (1 Cor 15:50-57), we learn how long it will take to be glorified, and when it will happen. As to the first point, it will take place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” quicker than lightning. As to when it will happen, we know it will occur at Christ’s coming (1 Cor. 15:23), but here we learn that it is at “the last trumpet” which is just what Jesus said – “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet.” Matt. 24:31
It is then said that “we will not all sleep,” that not all believers will physically die. When Christ comes back in the clouds, many Christians will still be on earth, and they will be raptured, and immediately be changed and glorified. But believers who had already fallen asleep, had already physically died, will be glorified first, a split second before those still on earth. “The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:15-17
It is at this time, when “this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” that you will say, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:53-55). Finally, you will be fully and completely saved – body, mind and spirit. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-4
In the 7th part of this chapter, you are told how you are to live. In view of the truth of Christ’s resurrection and your resurrection, in view of the fact that you have a most wonderful Savior and a living hope, you are to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58
Living for God must be by faith, and a great place to learn about this is in Hebrews 11. Called the hall of faith, it describes the lives of godly people who were living by faith. These holy men and women had faith in God for the present and for the future, for today and for eternity. Faith in God for the future is what we call hope, that which is based on God’s promises. These Old Testament saints had both faith and hope, which is exactly what Christians in this church age need to have. But what specifically does God want us to learn from Hebrews 11, this faith and hope-focused chapter?
The way to have a relationship with God is by faith. By faith, Enoch “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24) which means he was close to Him. By faith, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). By faith, Abraham was a friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7). By faith, Moses saw “Him who is unseen” (Hebrews 11:27). All the saints in Hebrews 11 had a relationship with God as they were sinners who, by faith, experienced His grace, mercy and love. This resulted in them loving God, seeking God, and obeying God.
The way to please God is by faith. Whether it was Noah building an ark, Abraham leaving his homeland, or Sarah believing she would have a child, it was by faith. This phrase “by faith” is repeated 19 times, example after example being given of believers trusting God, waiting on Him, and doing what He said. And God was pleased by their faith, by their obedience, and this is the only way you and I can please God and gain His approval.
The way to be rewarded is by faith. God wants to bless our lives now and forever. But it’s not by our works, not by what we do, but by believing what God wants to graciously do for us, and through us. This chapter illustrates that God blesses His people, and the key is to have faith in Him, to believe He wants to bless us. By faith Noah constructed the ark, a huge building project that took 60-70 years, and God blessed his obedience, hard work and perseverance, saving him from the flood and His wrath. And by faith, Enoch was taken to heaven, Abraham was given a child, and Moses escaped Egypt.
The way to be resurrected, and live forever, is by faith. Abraham believed that God could raise his son from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Women received back their dead by resurrection (Hebrews 11:35), and these who were raised from the dead died again. But there is a “better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35), and this is still future, a “resurrection of life” (John 5:29) when we “will be made alive… at His coming,” when we will all be given glorified bodies, when we will be made perfect. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 42-44, 51-53
The way to persevere is by faith, and by hope. Life was extremely difficult for these saints of God. Noah, no doubt, was harassed and laughed at as he built the ark. Abraham lived in tents, and admitted he was a stranger on this earth. Moses gave up the riches of Egypt and the passing pleasures of sin. Some “experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, chains and imprisonments…” Others were “wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:36-38). How did they endure and keep going? Why were they willing to suffer? It was by faith in God’s promises, faith that gave them hope, a confidence about a wonderful future. Enoch wanted to be with God in heaven. Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations” (Hebrews 11:10). Moses was “looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). All these Jewish believers were hope-filled and forward-looking – “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and aliens on this earth… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11:13, 16
The way we live for God is by faith. By faith, we walk with God, we serve, we obey, we sacrifice, and we fellowship. And we persevere because we have hope, for we believe it’s worth it to live for God in the present because we know He will reward us in the future. This hope-based perseverance, a major theme in Hebrews 11, is what everyone of us need. God is kind to us for He gives us His word, His glorious promises, and we can only endure and keep going for Him because we are looking forward to when they will be fulfilled. (Note: there are short-term promises, those fulfilled during this life, and long-term promises, those fulfilled after we have gone to heaven).
It all comes together in the last two verses, the conclusion of Hebrews 11.“All these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us (Christians) they (saints of old) would not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40). Do you see this? The saints of old did not then and, nor have even today, received all that was promised them, and neither have Christians. But these verses mean that many of God’s promises for Old Testament believers and for Christians, will be fulfilled at the same time. For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 says that all believers from all time will be glorified at Christ’s coming, when the church is raptured. At that moment, God’s work with the saints of old will be coinciding with His work with the church, and all of us will be glorified, be made perfect.
We live in the end-times and it won’t be long before God’s work with the saints of old and the saints of this age will converge and climax at Christ’s coming. At that time and in the ages to come, all God’s promises for His people will be fulfilled. For now, let’s be like Abraham who “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Know that “God is not ashamed to be called their (our) God; for He has prepared a city for them (us)” (Hebrews 11:16, John 14:1-3). Think about when you go to heaven – “You have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21. Amen!!!
P.S. I can’t overstate the importance of having hope, godly hope. There is a previous post and a previous article I encourage you to to read – “You Need Hope to Get Through Life,” and “You Have to Have Hope!” One more thing: just last Sunday I taught on Hebrews 11 at my church – if you get time, I would encourage you to listen to it.
I have a friend who is a food scientist, which means he understands nutrition, what’s good for the body – the proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals that we need to stay healthy. But how do we keep our soul healthy? We need the truth of God’s word, and one particular and important aspect of His truth are His promises. Let me share some thoughts about these promises, followed up by many of my personal favorites.
1. God’s promises are all true, for God tells the truth, and He does not lie. 2. God’s promises are based on His word and character and, therefore, will never fail. 3. God’s promises are essential, for you cannot truly and fully live for God without them. 4. God’s promises are about your future, your time here on earth, and / or in heaven. 5. God’s promises are forward looking, and keep you from living in the past. 6. God’s promises tell you what God will do for you, not what you will do for Him. 7. God’s promises motivate you to persevere, to press on to the end. 8. God’s promises spiritually energize you to keep going for God. 9. God’s promises, though spiritual in nature, can also physically energize you. 10. God’s promises give hope, not worldly hope, but a godly hope. 11. God’s promises speak of how you will be eternally rewarded for your earthly service. 12. God’s promises are all about experiencing His grace in the future. 13. God’s promises encourage you today because they give you hope for tomorrow. 14. God’s promises will help you understand His purpose for your life. 15. God’s promises are a means to living a holy and God-pleasing life. 16. God’s promises are activated by faith, by believing what God is saying. 17. God’s promises must be personalized, for they speak of what God wants for your life. 18. God’s promises are either conditional or unconditional. 19. God’s promises give you confidence and assurance about your future. 20. God’s promises help you to live rightly today for you know you have a God-blessed tomorrow. 21. God’s promises are needed during stormy times, for they are forecasting a sunny future. 22. God’s promises are often prophetic, predicting His plans for both the church and the world. 23. God’s promises are precious, magnificent, incredible and wonderful. 24. God’s promises speak of how God will show you His great love in the future. 25. God’s promises should be shared with other Christians.
Here are a number of my favorite promises: * 2 Chronicles 15:7 – “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” * Job 23:10 – “God knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” * Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” * Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” * Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” * Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” * Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.” * Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” * Psalm 84:11 – “The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” * Psalm 91:14-16 – “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”
* Psalm 119:1 – “How blessed is he whose way is blameless, who walks in the law of the Lord.” * Psalm 119:50 – “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” * Psalm 136 – “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” * Proverbs 2:3-5 – “If you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom…” * Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” * Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love me, and those who seek Me find Me.” * Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” * Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” * Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear for I am with you; do not be anxious for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” * Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
* Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” * Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” * Matthew 5:11-12 – “Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” * Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” * Matthew 11:28-29 – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” * Matthew 24:31 – “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.” * Matthew 28:19-20 – “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” * Mark 1:17 – “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” * Luke 12:32 – “Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” * John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
* John 5:24 – “He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” * John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” * John 11:25-26 – “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if He dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” * John 14:3 – “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” * John 14:13-14 – “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” * John 15:5 – “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit.” * Romans 8:28 – “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.” * Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” * 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 – “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful…” * 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
* 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in 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.” * 2 Corinthians 2:14 – “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him.” * 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – “Though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” * 2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, you will have an abundancefor every good deed.” * 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” * Galatians 5:16 – “Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” * Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” * Ephesians 2:10 – “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” * Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” * Ephesians 6:2 – “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”
* Philippians 2:9-11 – “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” * Philippians 3:21 – “… the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” * Philippians 4:19 – “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” * Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.” * 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 –“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” * 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – “May the God of peace sanctify you entirely; may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you and He will bring it to pass.” * 2 Timothy 4:18 – “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” * Titus 2:10-11 – “If we died with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure, we will also reign with Him.” * James 4:10 – “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” * Hebrews 10:37 – “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
* Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.” * 1 Peter 5:10 – “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” * 2 Peter 1:4 – “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” * 1 John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.” * Jude 24-25 – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 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.” * Revelation 3:5 – “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and His angels.” * Revelation 5:10 – “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” * Revelation 21:3-4 – “God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.” * Revelation 21:7 – “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son.” * Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming soon.”
All these promises, and many more besides, are wonderful and needed gifts from God. Don’t miss out on the blessing, the grace, hope, peace, strength and encouragement they bring to your soul, your life, and your future. I want to remind you of what Elizabeth said to Mary for, in principle, it applies to us: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her” (Luke 1:45). And remember these words that describe some of the saints of old: “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were exiles and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Sometime in the future, as Joshua said to the Jews, you will be able to say to others, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” Joshua 23:14
The closer we get to Christ’s coming, the more difficult it will be, and the more you will see that you need these promises, and cannot live without them. Through God’s promises, you will experience His amazing grace, and a special closeness with Him, until that time when, for the first time, you will see His face. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh 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. I love God’s promises, and I trust that you will learn to love them and see and experience their supreme and eternal worth. Here is a previous post that I believe will help you learn more about the value of these precious truths from God’s word – “Promises from a Loving Father to His Children.”
Suffering isn’t a subject most Christians want to hear about, and that’s understandable, for who wants to suffer? Who wants to be persecuted? Who wants to go through hard times? But it’s also sad, for Christians need to know what God says about suffering, for it really is a source of blessing, a means of grace, and a way to give glory to Him. To suffer for Jesus is a great privilege, as well as an opportunity to trust Him, and show Him our love.
Examples of believers suffering for the Lord are found throughout the Bible. In Hebrews 11:24-25, we read about Moses “choosing rather to endure ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” It was no walk in the park for Moses, but rather 40 years of putting up with grumbling, rebellious Israelites in that hot, barren desert. Then there’s David, who testified time and time again about being persecuted, and how God delivered and comforted him. (Psalms 28, 31, 35, 55, 59, 142, 143). And don’t forget Jeremiah and the suffering he went through (Jeremiah 26:11, 32:2, 38:6). But it wasn’t just physical, it was also mental, emotional and spiritual suffering that Jeremiah patiently endured all those years, especially at the end, when Jerusalem was being destroyed, and fellow Jews were dying right before his eyes. Lamentations 1-5
In the New Testament, Jesus is our prime example of one who
suffered, but it’s the Old Testament prophecy in Psalm 22 that best describes His
extreme pain and sorrow, and how He sacrificed His life for us. None of us can
comprehend how hard it was for Jesus to be persecuted by the Jewish leaders – “They spat in His face and beat Him with
their fists and slapped Him” (Matthew 26:67), or by the Roman soldiers – “having Jesus scourged… they mocked Him…
they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head” (Matthew
27:26-31). More than that, none of us can fathom the torment brought on by His
Father, who caused Him to suffer the hellish wrath we should have received – “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:46
Then there’s Paul, who willingly and joyfully suffered for the Lord. 2 Corinthians 1, 4 and 6, all talk about his sufferings, but it’s that long litany in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 that best illustrates what he went through for God and for people – “… beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked…”
This subject of suffering is an untaught topic in most churches today, especially in the United States. But it needs to be taught, for many Christians are worldly and soft, not holy and strong. Many believers don’t know what the Bible teaches about suffering, and therefore, won’t be expecting it and be able to joyfully endure it when it comes – and it will come.
But what is it that God wants you to know about suffering? * Suffering is part of God’s plan for Christians. Acts 14:22, 1 Peter 2:21 * God is sovereign over your suffering. He plans it out ahead of time, knowing it will be for your good, and for His purposes and glory. Romans 8:28-35, 1 Peter 3:17 * Suffering is momentary, lasting only a little while. 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6, 5:10 * To patiently endure suffering, God gives you both present grace and the hope of future grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, 1 Peter 1:13 * “If the world hates you, you know it has hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18 * To get through suffering, you need God’s promises. Psalm 119:50, 154; 2 Peter 1:2-4 * God wants to use your suffering for the gospel. Luke 21:12-15, Philippians 1:12-14 * Suffering is one of God’s ways for you to grow in faith and love. James 1:2-3, 12 * The more you live for Christ, the more you’ll be persecuted for Christ. 2 Timothy 3:12 * To suffer in a godly way, you need to submit and entrust yourself to God. 1 Peter 4:19 * “Consider Him who endured such suffering by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 * You find favor (grace) with God when you suffer. 1 Peter 2:19-20 * Never be surprised when you are faced with the fiery ordeal of suffering. 1 Peter 4:12 * When you are persecuted, your faith is being tested. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10, James 1:3 * When you suffer, be thankful that you can share in Christ’s sufferings. 1 Peter 2:10 * Remember, many other Christians around the world are also suffering. 1 Peter 5:9 * Those who suffer on earth will be greatly rewarded in heaven. Matthew 5:12 * To endure suffering, you need to “see”Jesus. Daniel 3:16-27, Hebrews 11:27 * The primary purpose of your suffering is to bring glory to God. 1 Peter 4:12-16
If you are going to rightly suffer for Jesus, you need to know these truths. Not only that, but we are living in the end-times, which means it won’t be long before we experience great tribulation – “they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). Immediately after that, we will all be with Jesus in heaven, never to suffer again (Matthew 24:29-31). In the meantime, learn the above truths, knowing that you will need them in the years ahead. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 5:11-12
While you live on this earth, don’t ever put your hope in the leaders, but trust in God, and look forward to the coming of Christ the King, and that time when He will literally be reigning over this world. As we get closer to the end of this age, we will continue to see Presidents and Prime-Ministers leading their countries and then, according to God’s sovereign plan, the Antichrist will rise up to rule the world. This most hateful and lawless dictator will greatly persecute God’s chosen ones, but his time will be short, for it won’t be long before the King of kings returns to rapture and rescue the Christians, defeat this devilish man, and begin His 1000-year reign. Christ the King is coming! There’s no doubt about it, for God has truly and repeatedly told us so in His Word. Might your heart be abounding with hope as you read the following verses about our coming King and His glorious reign on this earth.
* Psalm 2:6 – “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” * Psalm 22:28 – “The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” * Psalm 24:24 – “Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” * Psalm 45:6 – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” * Psalm 47:7 – “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.” * Psalm 72:8,11,19 – “May He rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth… Let all kings bow down before Him, all nations serve Him… May the whole earth be filled with His glory.” * Isaiah 9:6-7 – “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 peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom.” * Isaiah 43:15 – “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” * Jeremiah 10:6,7,10 – “There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your name in might. Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed, it is Your due… the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.” * Jeremiah 23:5 – “The days are coming when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign as a King and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely.” * Ezekiel 37:22 – “I shall make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one King shall be king for all of the them.” * Daniel 2:44 – “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom… it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” * Daniel 7:14 – “To Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom will not be destroyed.” * Micah 5:2 – “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” * Zechariah 14:9 – “The Lord will be King over all the earth.” * Malachi 1:14 – “‘I am a great King and My name is to be feared among the nations.” * Matthew 6:9-10 – “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 19:28 – “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” * Luke 1:32-33 – “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” * 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 – “Then comes the end, when He (Jesus) hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” * Revelation 5:10 – “You have made them (believers) to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” * Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” * Revelation 19:16 – “On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’”
Let me summarize what God is saying. About 2000 years ago, Jesus came to this earth as a Savior, but He will be coming back as a King. This coming King is a descendant of King David, and therefore, will be both God and man. After the end of this age, after the defeat of the Antichrist and other earthly kingdoms, God the Father will install His Son, Jesus Christ, as King, at which time He will set up His kingdom on this renovated earth. Yes, Jesus Christ is King forever, but we are speaking here of a specifically designated 1000-year period when He will reign as King over the entire earth. Jesus will be a great King, a righteous King, a powerful King, a wise King, a glorious King, the King of kings.
All believers from this present age will be glorified at the time of the rapture, and will reign with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom. Christ’s throne will be in Jerusalem and from there, He will reign over Judah and Israel, and every nation and person in the whole world. Note that the 12 apostles will have specific ruling authority over the nation of Israel. God’s glory will be clearly and wonderfully seen throughout the world during Christ’s reign as King. During His millennial kingdom, Christ will defeat all His enemies, which includes death. Christ, at the end of His 1000-year earthly reign, will hand over the kingdom to His Father. Then the eternal kingdom will begin………
P.S. Hurricane Dorian, a major and potentially catastrophic hurricane, is ready to strike the state of Florida. Indeed, this storm is from the hand of God, and for the purposes and glory of God. I encourage you to read Job 37, which is, in my opinion, the best chapter in the Bible about God’s perspective on weather and storms. I have also written a number of posts related to hurricanes, for as we have in the days ahead plenty of time to prepare for the coming hurricane, so too in these end-times, we have plenty of time to prepare for the coming of Christ. Here are two good posts to read: The Alarm Is Ringing! Wake Up America! The Storm is Coming! and A Big Storm is Coming, and I Don’t Mean Hurricane Irma.
It’s all about God’s kingdom and God’s glory, right? Of course it is! That’s the way it always has been and that’s the way it will always be. “The Lord is King forever and ever… I will praise Your name forever and ever… Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Psalm 10:16; 145:2,13). From Genesis to Revelation this is what we need to know and be excited about. Since the beginning, God has been building His kingdom, and everything is going precisely according to His plans. “His kingdom endures from generation to generation… He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.” Daniel 4:34-35, Psalm 33:10-12
Most of the Old Testament is about God building His kingdom through Abraham and his descendants, through the Israelites. They had some success, and a lot of failure, but God was sovereign, working all things according to the purpose of His will – and His kingdom kept growing. We know that God also had the future in mind, for an important aspect of the Old Testament are the promises He made to His people about the coming Messiah, the coming King, and His coming kingdom on earth. Now this Messiah and King refer to the same person, to the Son of God, the One we call Jesus. Psalm 47, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 53
At the perfect time, this Jesus, this Messiah, was born, the Son of God also becoming the Son of Man. When Jesus was grown up, He announced that the kingdom of God was at hand, and that’s because He was the King. But His primary purpose at that time was not to establish His kingdom on earth, but to die to pay for the sins of ones God had chosen to save. And that’s what Jesus did, fully satisfying God’s justice, enabling God to have mercy on sinners. All people who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus suffered and died for them, thereby paying the penalty for their sins, are born again, forgiven, and spiritually enter into the kingdom of God. Mark 1:15, John 3:3
Sadly, most of the Jews rejected Jesus, for they didn’t want Him to be their Savior, they just wanted Him to be their King. But this rejection of Jesus was all part of God’s divine plan, for the church then became His means to build His kingdom. Since that time and up to the present day, this gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached all over the world (Acts 1:8). Might we be like Paul, who was “solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus” (Acts 28:23). It’s now close to 2000 years after Christ’s 1st coming, and we should be thrilled that hundreds of millions of people have experienced the gracious love of God, having been rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the Kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). During this entire church age, Jesus Christ has been faithfully building His church, thereby, building God’s kingdom, not in a physical way, but in a spiritual way. Jesus said it this way, “The kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
But this is not just a church age, it’s also an evil age, for there’s calamity, deception, distress and hate all around the world. Godless people are fighting against God, wanting power and control for their own glory, but not for His glory. They are not seeking God’s kingdom, they want their own little kingdom. But God has purposed and planned to send His own Son, the King of kings, to establish His kingdom on earth, and He will not be thwarted, He will not be stopped. Psalm 2, Revelation 11:15
Since we live in the end-times, we know we will soon “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). The first thing to happen at Christ’s coming is that Christians will be raptured, safely and quickly taken up from the earth to be with Him. Immediately after that, God will pour out His wrath, justly punishing the unbelievers still living on earth. Then a remnant of Jews will be redeemed, at which time Christ the King will return. “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… the Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:4, 14
What God promised again and again, will finally come true. We need to wake up and be excited about what God is doing, for it won’t be long before we see Him fulfilling His promises. This evil age that’s been going on since the time of Adam and Eve, along with this church age, will soon and suddenly come to an end. Not long after that, we will see our King wisely, lovingly, justly and perfectly ruling over the earth. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Philippians 2:10-11, Habakkuk 2:14
During the millennial kingdom age, this earth will be dramatically, wonderfully, beautifully and magnificently different than now. Everything, spiritually, physically, relationally, and socially, is going to change for the better. That’s because Jesus Christ will be completely in charge of His earthly kingdom for 1000 glorious years, and we, being perfect, will be perfectly ruling with Him. Might we be seeking God’s spiritual kingdom, praying for His visible kingdom to come, waiting for the return of the King, and saying, “Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:10, 14, 33
P.S. Your understanding of God’s kingdom is very helpful for you being able to see the big picture, and your role in God’s work in the world. Therefore, I would encourage you to read two previous posts about God’s kingdom, The Kingdom of God and Kingdom Instructions for the Church.
I
hope you aren’t sleeping. I pray you are wide awake, spiritually speaking, and
know that this present age will soon and suddenly end, that Jesus Christ will
rapture the Christians, pour out His wrath, redeem a remnant of Jews, and then
reign over this earth. In other words, Christ is coming back to take up the
saints, take out the enemy, and take over the world. In last week’s post, I
focused on the millennial kingdom, when Christ will be reigning over this world,
and you, being glorified, will be worshiping Him, serving Him and reigning with
Him. But much more needs to be said:
* You will be serving God on a renovated earth, one much better than this sin-cursed world. Romans 8:21 says, “The creation itself will be set free from its corruption into the freedom of the glory of God’s children.” Acts 3:21 talks about the “period of restoration of all things.” Psalm 98:8 says, “Let the mountains sing together for joy.” Isaiah 65:25 tells us, “The wolf and the lamb will feed together.” Not only that, but non-glorified people will live a lot longer on this restored earth, for Isaiah 65:20 says, “The one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed.” This means there will still be sin and death. Nevertheless, how wonderful it will be during this magnificent kingdom age, for we will serve God in a more glorified place, witness peace on earth, and hear great multitudes of people praising our King (Psalm 67:3-4). Then it will get even better, far better, for after this 1000-year kingdom age (Revelation 20:1-6) comes the eternal kingdom, a perfect and most glorious age, when there will be “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away.” Revelation 21:1
* You will be with your loved ones who knew the Lord. The Thessalonian believers were sad, for they feared they would never see deceased fellow believers again. But Paul told them not to grieve like the world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Yes, you can be sad when a Christian friend or family member dies, but don’t be too sad. Whether by death or by rapture, you will soon see them again. You must understand that relationships continue from earth to heaven, from this age to the next age. Why would God place you with certain Christians on earth, but then never, or rarely ever, want you to see them in the coming ages? Your hope is that you will have heart-satisfying and God-glorifying fellowship with Christians you knew on earth, and a great number of others.
* You will have a home in your Father’s house. Jesus tells us that He will come again and receive us to Himself, and then take us to our heavenly home (John 14:1-3), one that will be infinitely better than any of our earthly homes. It will be perfect, immaculate, beautiful and relaxing, personally prepared for you, and ideally suited for worship and fellowship. You see, during the millennial kingdom age, we will be glorified and need no sleep. That being true, it may mean we will serve Christ on the earth during the daytime (being “in charge of many things” – Matthew 25:21), and then jet off to worship God and fellowship with saints in our heavenly home during the rest of that 24-hour day.
* You will be with newly saved Jewish believers during the millennial kingdom. With all that has been said about Christians being with Christ during the millennial kingdom, it must be remembered that a large remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, and these believers, along with 144,000 more, will be with Christ in the city of Jerusalem, and in the nation of Israel (Romans 11:26-27, Revelation 7:4-8). Hundreds of Old Testament verses speak about the future of these Jewish people (Ezekiel 37:21-28). How all the glorified believers will interact and work with these Jewish believers during the millennial kingdom is not completely known. But it has to relate to the wonderful future God has for you, part of this described in Romans 15:10, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people (Jewish believers).”
The New Testament epistles are about the church, about our present and future lives. Ephesians 1:10-11 speaks about our future,“He made known to us the mystery of His will… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and the earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Do you see this, that God has revealed to us the mystery of His will, that all things will be summed up in Christ, and that we will receive a glorious inheritance? Our future will be very, very good, incredibly and perfectly good.
Ephesians 1:20-21 tells us about the authority of Christ “in this age but also in the one to come.” Now this age to come is the millennial kingdom age. Then Ephesians 2:7 sums up our future by saying, “so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”“The ages to come” is referring to the millennial and eternal ages. What God has planned out for us is unbelievable, beyond comprehension. I hope you see that you are a very rich kid, blessed way beyond anything you could ever imagine. Our heavenly Father is so loving, so kind, and so generous. Be praying that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18). And make sure you love Him and live for Him during this age, and be looking forward to worshiping and serving Him in the coming kingdom ages.
