It is obvious to all of us that we are living in very difficult times, and in a very troubled country. We can speculate all day long as to why things are happening, but we always need to come back to what God tells us in His word. And He makes it clear that sin is our number one problem, and that it affects and relates to everything going on in our world today. Because of this, I felt compelled to write a blog post on the subject of sinners, but it kept getting longer and longer, and finally, it became an article: Evil Doers in the End-Times. I strongly encourage you to take the time to read this, and then pass it on to others. Listed below are the main points in this article. All these truths about sin, sinners, and the solution, must be properly understood by Christians, and especially now that we live in the end-times, in a country and world that is increasingly growing more sinful and wicked, for only then can we live for God in a godly and fruitful way.
1) Do you notice all the wickedness in the world, and that it’s getting worse?
2) Why sinners are sinners.
3) Sinners are not thinking right.
4) Some sinners are worse than other sinners.
5) Stay away from those who are evil and wicked.
6) Some sinners may not appear to be sinners.
7) God will protect you from those who are wicked.
8) The devil and his army of demons work through sinners.
9) Part of God’s plan is to work through evildoers.
10) God is sovereign over all evildoers and uses them for His purposes.
11) How are we to live in this world of wrongdoers?
12) Evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
13) God will judge the wicked in His time.
14) What should we say to sinners?
15) Saintly living in a sinful world
16) The devilish end-times’ deception of sinners
17) What needs to be understood is that we live in a sinful world, and it’s going to get worse.
18) This subject of sinners and God’s dealings with them needs to be understood.
19) What Christians need to know is the hope we have.
This country is terribly troubled! It is sharply divided. It has major problems in its cities. It has big problems in its schools. It has huge problems in the government. It has problems economically. It has problems with crime, drugs, immigration, and human trafficking. There are problems with marriages, families, and even with churches. It is obvious that this country is going downhill, and sad to say, and sovereignly so, it will keep getting worse until Jesus Christ comes back and takes over, not just this country, but the entire world. Rev. 11:15
The real reason for this country’s problems is her sin. The truth about sin and its consequences must be understood by Christians, or else we will be looking for answers in the wrong places. Humanistic and worldly thinking never give us the answers about the spiritual need of the soul, our relationships, and how we can truly live – they only come from God, His word, and from Jesus Christ. John 8:32, 14:6
Sin is a major subject in the Bible. Sin is talked about from the beginning of the Bible to the end of it. One of the best lists of sins is in 2 Tim. 3:2-4: “Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Another detailed list is found in Gal. 5:19-21: “The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealously, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.” Jer. 2:13 sums up sin this way: “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Indeed, the sin of rebelling against God and rejecting Him is the root of all kinds of other sins.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to our sin problem. The wages of sin is death, both physical and spiritual death. “The soul who sins will die” (Ezek. 18:4). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). As people, we have sinned against God, and deserve to be punished, and eternally so. But thankfully, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man, became our substitute, and suffered and died on a cross to pay for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). “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.” All those who repent of their sin and believe that Jesus Christ died for them, satisfying God’s wrath, and then rose again are born again, receive eternal life, are forgiven, and will go to heaven.
Many Bible stories illustrate our sin problem. There was Cain and his sin of murder, and he was judged (Gen. 4:9-14). There was the family of Achan greedy for gold and silver, and God had them stoned to death (Josh. 7:16-26). There were the proud, immoral, and gluttonous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and God righteously rained down fire and brimstone upon them (Gen. 19:23-29, Ezek. 16:49). In Noah’s time, the people in the world were extremely wicked for “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually.” God had no choice but to devastate the entire earth with a flood, and so everyone was punished, and perished, except for Noah and his family (Gen. 6-8). These examples, along with many more, are to wake us up to our serious and deadly sin problem. It is that which affects and afflicts every person, every family, every village, every city, every country, and the whole world.
A time when Israel was troubled by sin and found mercy – 2 Chron. 15:6 tells us, “many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the land. Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.” It was God Himself who afflicted and troubled Israel because of her sin, because she rejected Him and worshiped false gods. And because of her “abominable idols” (vs. 8), “Israel was without the true God” (vs. 3). But King Asa was stirred by the words of the prophet Azariah who told him, “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (vs. 7). The king responded by removing the idols and calling on the people to repent and seek the Lord. And by God’s amazing grace, the people “entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul.” This led to a great revival for we see that God “let them find Him.” The undeserved and unbelievable blessing was that “the Lord gave them rest on every side,” and there was peace, for there was “no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.” 2 Chron. 15:15, 19
A major part of Israel’s history is her sin against God. Time after time, the Bible graphically describes how God’s privileged people sinned against Him, and therefore, He judged them. (Ps. 78, Ps. 106, Neh. 9, and the prophets). From around 1450 BC to 600 BC, God demonstrated great patience and love for His people (Ps. 136). There were short periods of time when the Israelites lived in a godly way, but most of the time they kept on sinning. Finally, and righteously, God had many killed and many others exiled from their land. After the Jewish people returned to their land and had been there for about 500 years, a most incredible thing happened – Jesus Christ, the son of God and Savior of sinners, actually came to Israel. Sadly, most of His people rejected Him, and again God exiled them, this around 70 AD, and this time to all parts of the earth (Luke 21:20-24). Since the 1880’s, God has been mercifully, and according to His promise, bringing the Jews back to Israel, a number now totaling close to 6.6 million. That all these Jewish people returned and now reside in their God-given land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times, and that Jesus Christ will soon return to rapture the church and begin reigning over this world. Dan. 12:1-4
The Old Testament prophets spoke extensively on the subject of sin. 1) The prophets talked very openly to the people about all the different sins they were committing. 2) They made it clear that what they were doing was wrong, and consequently, were guilty before God. 3) They strongly exhorted the people to repent of their sins and turn to God for mercy, for forgiveness. 4) They warned them that if they didn’t repent that they would be judged for their sins. 5) They gave the Jewish people hope, for they spoke about the coming Messiah, One who would be both a Savior and a King. 6) The prophets told them about God’s promises, that in the future He would save a remnant of Jews, give them an eternal King, and that they would inherit a large portion of land (Ezek. 37:21-28). The writings of the prophets occupy a sizeable portion of the Old Testament, and that’s because God really wants us to learn about His holiness, the danger of sin, the consequences of sin, His great mercy, and the hope He has for Israel, which also relates to the hope He has for the church (Ps. 37:11 – Matt. 5:5). It’s not just important, but imperative, that you read the sobering, instructive, and purifying messages of the prophets, for it relates to you, and to the times we live in.
God has been judging the United States. We have been and will continue to be plagued by troubles, and it won’t stop unless we, as a nation, repent of our sins and turn to the Lord. But I do not believe that will happen. Why? Because of the profound magnitude and seriousness of our sin, because of all the Old Testament examples of nations who greatly sinned and then were judged, and because we know that God, as a final and irreversible judgment, gives people over to their sin, especially to gross sexual sin (Lev. 18, Rom. 1:18-33). I don’t believe there’s any stopping our nation’s downhill slide, which we have been witnessing since the 1960’s. David Ettinger, in a recent issue of Zion’s Hope, said, “America is undergoing upheavals, and many of us are concerned. It is tough seeing the foundations upon which our nation was built under attack… If you believe godlessness and secularism in the United States have passed the point of no return – which I, and many evangelicals do believe – then it is highly likely 2020 may have been a spark that quickly becomes an inferno of cataclysmic events paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist and the return of the Lord Jesus. Don’t count on 2021 – and 2022, 2023, 2024, etc. – to offer any respite from the downward spiral in which our nation is swirling.” (Zion’s Hope Magazine – “A Perfect Right Now Passage” – Vol. 31, No. 5, p. 22)
Just because God is judging the United States does not mean He is not working, that people are not getting saved, and that the church is not growing. Jesus Christ is still building the church in this country and will continue to do so until He comes back at the end of this age and raptures the Christians who are still on earth. Until that time, you are to have faith, hope, and love, and be a holy, dedicated, and obedient Christian. Your job is to carry out the assignments God gives you, love all the believers, use your spiritual gift, and be united with the church in making disciples. And remember, seeking God’s kingdom is your main priority (Matt. 6:33). It’s not being consumed with the world, politics, pleasures, sports, or fame. It’s not making money. And it’s not taking it easy (Luke 8:14, 12:13-21). Jesus plainly and lovingly tells us, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). What an opportunity and what a joy to work with God and fulfill His purposes at this time in history – and it results in Him receiving eternal glory, others being eternally blessed, and you receiving eternal rewards.
You may be saddened to think this country is in decline, but you must be thankful and happy in the Lord.“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice” (Ps. 97:1, 1 Thess. 5:16-18). You should know that what is now happening is by the sovereign hand of God, is part of His end-time plans, and must take place before the Antichrist comes to rule over this earth, and before Christ returns to rapture the church, defeat the Antichrist, judge the world, and reign over the world. I cannot stress enough the importance of seeing this big picture, of knowing where things are headed, and that God’s eternal plans are unfolding day by day. It won’t be long before Christ’s coming, and then He will dramatically and wonderfully change everything, and all for the glory of God. “He had made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Rev. 1:6-7
Most people, even many Christians, don’t understand the real meaning of Christmas. We know it’s not about presents, family, food, football, decorations, and singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” but it’s not just about baby Jesus either. Yes, He is the reason for the season, but do you understand the whole story? Do you see the big picture? Do you realize that the Bible stories of Jesus’ birth are not just about Him being a baby, but about His entire, eternal purpose? What does God’s word say about Christmas and it’s true meaning?
In the Old Testament we find many prophecies about Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 9:6-7 tells us, “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… There will be no end to the increase of His government or of 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.” These are remarkable, hope-producing predictions about this baby, this child, a son, and that He would miraculously be God in the flesh, would literally be with us on this earth, and then be a King who will rule over this world forever and ever.
Micah 5:2-5 says, “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… He will arise and shepherd His flock… He will be great to the ends of the earth. This one will be our peace.” This too speaks of the Messiah, this eternal one who would be born in that little town of Bethlehem, and then become a ruler, bringing peace to Israel and to the whole world during what we know to be the millennial kingdom.
The New Testament tells us that these Old Testament prophecies were and will be fulfilled, for they describe Jesus’ birth, but much more than that. In Matt. 1:20-23, we learn that Joseph found out from an angel that Mary’s child was “‘Immanuel’, which translated means, ‘God with us,’” this fulfilling Isaiah 7:14. Joseph was told that the baby’s name was to be Jesus which means Savior, for He would “save His people from their sins.” Matt. 2:1-12 goes on to tell us about the Magi worshiping this baby Jesus, for He was the King of the Jews, thus fulfilling the Micah 5:2-5 prophecy. To sum it up, the Christmas story as stated by Matthew makes it explicitly clear that Jesus wasn’t just a baby but God in the flesh, a Savior and a King.
Luke 1-2 says the same thing. First, there’s an angel telling Mary, “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, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:26-33). Mary, a holy and humble young woman, was surprised but excited to hear that her baby would not just be her son, the son of man, but also the Son of God, and that He would be a King, fulfilling the promise given to David. (2 Sam. 7:12-16). Then there’s the angel bringing “good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
Zacharias, the priest, upon learning from the Holy Spirit that baby Jesus was to be the Savior, proclaimed that He would bring forgiveness of sins to His people, to both Jews and Gentiles (Luke 1:68, 77). He also knew Jesus would be the greatest King ever and would fulfill God’s promise to Abraham about his descendants being rescued from their enemies, receiving land, and living in peace. (Luke 1:71-75, 79). Finally, there’s Simeon, who actually held baby Jesus when He was in the temple with Joseph and Mary – and the ever-hopeful Anna was there too, one who had long been praying for that day. They knew this little baby was the Messiah, the Christ, and also the King who would bring lasting peace to Israel. Luke 2:25-32, 36-38
Indeed, the message of Christmas is infinitely and eternally bigger than just a story about the baby Jesus. I hope you clearly understand the meaning of the Christmas story, as told by Matthew, Luke, and the prophets, that Jesus is the Lord, God in the flesh, and that He came to this earth to be both a Savior and a King.
A little over 2000 years ago Jesus was born on this earth, and He grew up to become the most important Man, a perfect Man who died on a cross to pay the penalty for all your sins. You see, all people have sin-blackened souls and are guilty before God. And not you nor anyone else can save your soul – only Jesus Christ, the Son of God and son of man, can save you, can take away your sins. If you repent, if you tell God that you are truly sorry that you have sinned against Him, and believe that Christ, and Christ alone, satisfied God’s wrath by dying for you, then you will be born again and become a child of God. Your soul will be cleansed from all your sins, and you will receive eternal life, a needed, satisfying, and most wonderful relationship with the living God, one that will last forever and ever. “Repent and return, so your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.” Acts 3:19-20
We are coming to the end of 2020, a year that for many has been most difficult and troubling – and so the true and timeless message of Christmas is particularly relevant at this time. While some may think this is the time to just relax, eat good food, sing songs, get presents, and be with family, let me strongly say that now is when you need to know the real meaning of Christ, that Jesus Christ is a Savior and wants to deliver you from your sins, that He is Lord and wants to use your life for God’s purposes, and that He is King, and will soon return to rule over this world during the kingdom age.
That a great many Jewish people have come back to their land means we are now in the end-times and this church age is about over. We are a lot closer to Christ’s 2nd coming than we are to His 1st coming. It won’t be long before we “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27), before we will be saying, “glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men” (Luke 2:14), and before “the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
Let me share a truth-centered, super-encouraging, 1st and 2nd coming Christmas carol, “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” 1 – “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.” 2 – “Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a King; Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in our hearts alone; By Thine all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
May the true message of Christmas live in your heart and be lived out in your life, bringing blessing to your life and great glory to God!
Never in my life have I seen people so passionate about an election. All this money that’s being spent, all these ads, mailers, debates, signs, and tweets, and all this campaigning and commentary, and for what? Yes, the person who gets elected will affect this country in some small ways, but as Christians, we must keep things in perspective. An earthly leader cannot solve the problem of sin and death, cannot meet our need for love, joy, and peace, and cannot bring real peace to this earth. What the world really needs is a Savior and a King!
A long time ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth. He lived an absolutely perfect life, continually taught the truth, did all these amazing miracles, and then died on a cross to pay for people’s sins. Whoever repents and believes Jesus Christ died to pay for his sins and then rose from the dead, is forgiven and becomes a child of God. Indeed, Christ is the one person people need to know, the gift people need to receive, the life people need to have, and the reason people need to live. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21
Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead, He talked with His disciples about the kingdom of God. It was obvious they wanted Him to stay and set up His kingdom on earth, but that was clearly not God’s plan at that time. Jesus reminded His disciples what He had told them before, that they were to be His witnesses to the world – and then He ascended into heaven. As they gazed into the sky an angel told them that Jesus would be coming back, and they knew that meant He would be returning as a King. In the meantime, the church is to do the work of being a witness to the world and spiritually building the kingdom of God. Matt. 6:33, 28:19-20
So here we are in 2020, and quite the year it has been with the impeachment, the pandemic, sickness, death, lockdowns, riots, fires, hurricanes, and now this election. But as Christians we’re not to be fearful and get sidetracked, we’re to be sober-minded, we’re to stay focused on Christ and on the work He wants us to do (1 Thess. 5:4-9). That we live in the end-times means Christ will soon be coming back to earth. Should we not be excited about this? Should we not be diligently working for Christ while we are patiently waiting for Him. Should we not know that life on earth will dramatically and wonderfully change when He returns?
Christ is longing to come back, and when He does, you will see Him in action – without delay, He will rapture the church, transform the bodies of believers, pour out His wrath on the world, redeem a remnant of Jews, defeat the Antichrist, bind up that evil devil, and begin His reign on a restored earth. You ought to be thinking about these things, that the King of kings will return to this world, take charge, and then rule like no leader has ever ruled before. What the world needs is a Savior, and now, more than ever, a King. “‘Behold, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:21
This theme of Jesus Christ being the King of the world is seen throughout God’s word: * 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – “I will raise up your descendant after you… and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” Jesus, our eternal King, is a descendant of king David. * Psalm 2:6 – “Yet, I have set My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.” God the Father gave the world to His Son, and the authority and power to be King and rule over it. * Psalm 45:6 – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” Jesus Christ, the most righteous King, will reign forever and ever. * Psalm 47:7-8 – “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Jesus is God and He will be King of the entire world, over every single nation on the earth. * Psalm 48:2– “Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Jesus, our King, will be reigning from the city of Jerusalem. * Isaiah 9:6-7 – “A Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us… there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom.” Jesus will perfectly govern, His kingdom will keep growing, and there will be peace. * Daniel 7:14 – “To Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all peoples and nations of every language might serve Him.” Everyone in the world will serve King Jesus. * Micah 5:2-5 – “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… 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.” The coming King, the One who is eternal, is also a man, for He was born as a baby in Bethlehem. * Luke 1:31-33 – “Do not be afraid Mary… behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus… and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary was the mother of the Son of God, the King of kings. * 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 – “Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” One of Christ’s purposes during His millennial reign is to defeat death, His chief enemy. * 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.” Jesus Christ will officially become King of this world at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. * Revelation 19:16 – “On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Christ the King, the One with authority over all kings, will defeat the Antichrist. * Revelation 20:6 – “They will be priests of God and will reign with Him forever and ever.” Christians will reign with Christ the King, and not just for 1000 years, but forever and ever.
There’s great turmoil in our country, and with that, great difficulties; and in the near future, there will be great tribulation for both Jews and Christians. But don’t be sad, upset, or fearful. Get your eyes on God, and think how blessed you are, for you have been saved from sin and death, have eternal life, and now and forever have the honor of worshiping and serving Jesus, your Savior and King.
It won’t be long before you leave this earth and then you will see Jesus. Soon after that you will be back on earth, again worshiping and serving Him, and more than that, reigning with Him over this world. Just imagine how magnificent and gloriously wonderful this will be? This is no made up story, no dream – this is the truth, your future, that you will happily live forever with the King of kings. “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood – and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Rev. 1:5-6
P.S. Psalm 146 instructs us not to “trust in princes, in mortal men,” but to put our hope in the Lord God. Always remember that God is the answer, not men or women. And this is true today, and especially as we think about this election. Here is a related post that tells my own story on this subject – “Politicians, Judges, and Jesus, Our Coming King.”
1) What is the next major event to take place in this world? The coming of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, to this earth.
2) What is the coming of Christ? The word coming is a noun that means both arrival and consequent presence. Christ’s coming is not an instantaneous event, but a period of time during which Christ’s presence and working on earth is clearly evident. It begins after the coming of the Antichrist, and after the end of this age. Matt. 24:15-31, 2 Thess. 2:1-9
3) Why is Jesus Christ coming back to earth? Christ is coming back to rapture the Christians, pour out His wrath, save a remnant of Jews, begin His 1000-year reign, fulfill His promises to believers, and be worshiped. Matt. 24:31, Rom. 11:26, Phil. 2:9-11, Rev. 8-9, Rev. 11:15
4) How is Jesus Christ coming back? He is coming back suddenly, “just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west” (Matt. 24:27). He is coming back visibly, for “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud” (Luke 21:27). He is coming back audibly, “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thess. 4:16). He is coming back as a King, “with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30, Zech. 14:9
5) What is the end-times? The end-times are the final years, the last stage of this church age, a long period of time during which many prophesied events will be taking place, making it increasingly clear that Christ’s return is getting closer and closer. Ezek. 36-37; Dan. 12:4, 9; Matt. 24:4-34; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 1:5
6) How do we know we are in the end-times? The main reason we know we are in the end-times is because a great number of Jewish people have come back to their homeland, to Israel, as prophesied in Is. 11:11, Jer. 32:37, and Ezek. 36-37. Since the 1880’s, the Jews have steadily been returning to their land, resulting in Israel becoming a nation in 1948. God’s work with the Jews in the end-times is in conjunction with His work with the church. Matt. 24:4-26, Rev. 7
7) What is Daniel’s 70th week? It is a seven-year time period described in Dan. 9:24-27 and Rev. 12-13, 17. At the very beginning of this period the Antichrist makes a treaty with Israel. At its midpoint, the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist is revealed and puts an end to temple sacrifice. At the end of this 70th week, a remnant of Jews are saved. Rom. 11:25-26
8) When is Jesus Christ coming back? We do not know the exact time Christ is returning, but we do know the general time, that it will happen sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, after the coming of the Antichrist, but before God pours out His wrath on this evil world. Many prophesied signs and events will be occurring during this time, enabling us to see that His coming is drawing near. Matt. 24:4-14, Matt. 24:32-24, 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Heb. 10:25
9) Are there two separate comings of Christ? No, there is only one second coming of Christ. This word coming is used in the singular when referring to Christ’s return, which means there will not, as many mistakenly suppose, be a coming of Christ to rapture the Christians on earth at the start of the 70th week, and another coming for the salvation of the Jews at the end of this week. There is only one coming of Christ, beginning sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, at which time the rapture, the Day of the Lord, and the salvation of a large remnant of Jewish people will occur.
10) Is there a secret coming of Christ for the Christians? There is no place in the Bible that states there is a secret coming of Christ. Many verses tell us that Christ will appear or be revealed, which means that His return will a visible return, and that it will not be a secret coming only for Christians. Matt. 24:30, 2 Tim. 4:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 John 2:28
11) What is the rapture? The rapture is the culmination and climax of this church age. At the end of this age, Christ will come on the clouds of the sky and suddenly, quickly, and safely take the Christians who are on the earth to be with Himself. At the rapture, all believers, those who have already died and those still on the earth, will be given new immortal bodies. The rapture, the first event to occur at Christ’s coming, takes place during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, after great tribulation, but before the Day of the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:17, 2 Thess. 2:1-3
12) Who gets raptured? Only true Christians will be raptured. A great multitude of believers will stand firm, survive great tribulation, be alive on the earth at the end of the age, and then be raptured. Matt. 24:13, Eph. 6:10-13, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 7:9-14
13) What does redemption mean? In a spiritual sense, it speaks of those who are saved, who are spiritually delivered from sin and are no longer its slaves (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:13). In a physical sense, it refers to believers being delivered from their fleshly body and from this evil word, which happens when Christians are raptured from the earth. Eph. 1:14, 4:30; Rom. 8:23
14) Who are the elect in Matthew 24:22? The elect refers to the Christians who are raptured during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, and the Jewish people who are saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:9, Rev. 7
15) Will Christians be living on earth when the Antichrist comes to power? Yes, Christians will be alive on earth when the Antichrist is here. The Antichrist will be revealed and come to power at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Matt. 24:9-15, 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 13
16) What is the great tribulation? It refers to the great distress and persecution that affects both Jews and Christians in the end-times. This persecution is not God’s wrath but Satan’s wrath. Directed by the Antichrist, it starts at the midpoint of the 70th week but it is cut short just before Christ comes from heaven to rapture the Christians. Matt. 24:9-22, Rev. 13:7
17) What age are we living in? We are now living in an evil age, an age that began thousands of years ago with the sin of Adam (Gen. 3:1-7). Satan is the ruler of this evil age, though he is still under God’s sovereign control. Gal. 1:4, 1 John 5:19
18) When will this evil age end? We know this age has come to an end when we see great signs in the heavens, when “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matt. 24:29
19) What will be happening in the end-times, in the years leading up to the end of this age? There will be birth pains (earthquakes, wars, famines, and plagues – Matt. 24:4-8). There will be a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27). A Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem (2 Thess. 2:4). A 10-nation evil kingdom will be formed (Dan. 7:19-24). There will be a great apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3) The Antichrist will arise and rule over the world. (Rev. 13). The Jewish temple will be desolated by the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15). Great tribulation and persecution will affect both Christians and Jews (Matt. 24:9, 21). The gospel will be preached to all the nations (Matt. 24:14). There will be great signs in the heavens. Matt. 24:29
20) How should Christians live during the end-times? – We should love God and love one another. Deut. 13:3-4, Mark 12:30-31 – We should share the gospel with the lost. Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20 – We should have faith, praying and trusting that God will lead us and take care of us. Luke 18:8 – We should have hope and be looking forward to Christ’s return. 1 Peter 1:13 – We should be sober, and be putting on faith, hope and love. 1 Thess. 5:8 – We should live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:11-13 – We should be wise in how we live. Dan. 11:33, Rev. 13:18 – We should be thankful that we are able to live for Christ in the end-times. 1 Thess. 5:18 – We should encourage one another day after day. Heb. 10:24-25 – We should persevere to the end of this age. Matt. 24:13, 1 Thess. 4:15, Rev. 14:12 – We should be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord. James 5:7-11 – We need to know our God, display strength, and take action. Dan. 11:32
IMPORTANT NOTICE: WE HAVE NOW ADDED THE ABILITY TO DOWNLOAD ALL BLOG POSTS, ALL ARTICLES, AND / OR PROPHECY CHARTS AT ONCE! I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THIS! FOR DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS, CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK: DOWNLOADS
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #187 ~
How do you keep going for the Lord? How do you persevere? What enables you to get through the tough times of life? If you are one of the raptured saints, how will you make it through the great tribulation? These are extremely important questions, and the answer is simple – by having a close relationship with God. I became a Christian in the early 1970’s, and I give God all the credit for keeping me going since that time, for those 48 plus years. Today I want to tell you how God has helped me to stay close to Him and keep living for Christ.
* Getting time alone with God. Every morning, after I get up and get awake, I go to a quiet place and read something from the Psalms, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, and then I pray. “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word… only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part.” Luke 10:39-42
* Being in God’s word. My main priority in life is God’s word – I couldn’t make it without Him teaching me from His word, whether it’s truths I need to know, promises I need to believe, or commands I need to obey. “O how I love Your law!” (Ps. 119:97). “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
* Crying out to God. To me this means being open with God and telling Him when I am sad, tired, anxious, confused, or discouraged. It also means asking God to meet my needs or the needs of others. I am so glad I can go to God for all the grace, wisdom, and peace that I need. “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalms 57:2, 62:8
* Walking by faith. I have learned not to live by feelings, circumstances, relationships, or how our church is doing, but to rely and depend on God, on His word and strength. “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock” (Isaiah 26:4). “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11:6
* Being satisfied by God. Only by seeking and seeing God have I been truly satisfied. Food, pleasures, games, people, and possessions have not satisfied me, but Christ has, for He is the bread of life. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth?” (Ps. 73:25). “The Lord is my portion” (Ps. 119:57). “To live is Christ.” Phil. 1:21
* Being satisfied by God’s love. I don’t look for the love of people, but the love of God. His love has been wonderful, continual, and perfect, and has satisfied me like nothing else. “Your love is better than life” (Ps. 63:3). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love” (Ps. 90:14). “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.” 1 John 4:16
* Knowing the living God. When I say knowing God, I mean knowing in my mind and believing in my heart that He is my Creator, Lord, Savior, and King, and that He is holy, wise, loving, good, patient, forgiving, powerful, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and sovereign. What a tremendous blessing to actually know God! “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God” (John 17:3). “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” 2 Peter 3:18
* Staying away from sin. By no means am I perfect, but God has helped me to say no to sin, to not listen to or give in to worldly and fleshly temptations. I know that I can’t be close to sin and close to God at the same time. “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity” (Ps. 119:37). “Like the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your behavior.” 1 Peter 1:15
* Loving, worshiping, and thanking God. I love God, and that’s because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). His Son Jesus died and paid for my sins and now I’m righteous, forgiven, a child of God, and will be forever with Christ and all the angels and saints. Loving God is heart-satisfying and soul-warming, the most important thing I do. “Praise the Lord… for it is pleasant and praise is becoming” (Ps. 147:1). “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” Psalm 103:2
* Obeying God. Obeying God’s commands is how I have carried out His plans, how I have fulfilled His purpose for my life. When I obey God, I usually feel close to Him, and know His love in a much fuller way. “I obey Your statutes for I love them greatly” (Ps. 119:167). “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to Him…” John 14:21, 23
* Going through trials. Trials are not fun, are not enjoyable. But in these times, God has revealed Himself to me in a special way, showed me His love, and comforted me with His word. Here’s my favorite trial passage – “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant… In the day of my trouble, I call to You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:3-7
* Seeking Him. By this I mean getting extra time with God, usually once a month. For many years now, I’ve been going to a camp or motel room with my Bible, a few books, and some pen and paper. Getting away from the world and from people, and having this special, alone time with God is one of the best things He has helped me to do. “I love those who love Me and those who seek Me will find Me” (Prov. 8:16). “Come with Me by yourself to a quiet place.” Mark 6:31
* Being shepherded by the Lord. The Lord is my shepherd, and He knows me perfectly, and through the years He has made me lie down in green pastures, led me besides still waters, restored my soul, guided me in paths of righteousness, has always been with me, and has loved me every single day. That my Shepherd does these things keeps me strong and keeps me going for Him. “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know me.” John 10:14, Psalm 23:1
* Drawing near to God. God wants me to be close to Him, and I want to be close to Him. As I seek Him, as I go after Him, as I spend time with Him, He draws near to me, and is close to me, and loves me all the more, and He teaches me, encourages me, and makes Himself known to me. “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8, James 4:8
* Learning from the Psalms. My favorite book in the Bible is the Psalms. It has helped me immensely in my relationship with God, and I believe will greatly help you in your relationship with God. The following verses I have memorized, personalized, and say often to the Lord, for they help me to think rightly, stay strong, and be close to Him – Psalms 9:2, 20:7, 23:1, 23:6, 26:3, 27:14, 31:19, 40:8, 46:10, 56:3, 57:5, 63:2-3, 86:11, 90:14, 105:4, 115:1, 118:14, 119:32, 119:67, 119:76, 119:92, 119:112, 139:23-24, 143:10, 145:1-2.
May God help you to stay close to Him. Without question, your relationship with God is the single most important thing in your life, for it affects you and everything you do. Being close to the Lord is the only way you can truly love the Lord and live for Him, in these days, and in times of tribulation, and let me add, in times of great tribulation. “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1
P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of your relationship with God. As you keep loving and seeking Him, you will stay close to Him, and know that He is not only your Lord, but your best friend. Here are two posts that tell you a little more about my life and my relationship with Him: “The Rapture, A Love Story”, and “God’s Time Frame For Your Life.”
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
I can’t believe it! What’s been happening this past week is shocking, horrific, sickening, some of the worst things I have ever seen in our country. It started with the brutal murder of George Floyd by that depraved and evil “policeman.” Then there were peaceful protests, people being rightly upset about the crime that had been committed. But then there were rioters, looters, gangs, and anarchists, smashing, stealing, shooting, and burning, creating mayhem in many of our cities – I have never seen such a blatant disregard for law and order. Some of the people were looking for “excitement,” others wanted “loot”, and others want a new “American Revolution,” with a goal to fundamentally transform this country.
What’s the reason for all these problems? It’s our sin – the root problem is our sin, our rejection of God. You may say that’s too simplistic, that some of the reasons relate to families, government, education, and the church. To some extent, I agree, but I am not here to analyze all the factors contributing to our present problems. I am here to say that the underlying problem is sin, whether that’s in the policeman’s life, the lives of the rioters, or your own life. I was reading Jeremiah this morning, and what he said about God’s judgment of man’s sin motivated me to write this post. “… The Lord pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord brought it about, and has done as He said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey His voice, this thing has come upon you.” Jeremiah 40:3
This verse, like hundreds of others, tells us that sin is our real problem, and it must be judged – and right now, it is being judged. Our country is spiritually going downhill, and our recent history is evidence of that – a country politically divided, a pandemic that has resulted in the loss of 109,000+ lives and has slammed our economy, and now this recent murder of a black man accompanied by this sudden outbreak of crime and violence. That Jeremiah verse, along with many others, is to let us know that God is righteously angry, and not pleased with our sinful and corrupt country.
But what is this sin? At it’s heart, it means we are not loving God but, instead, are loving ourselves or things, whether that’s our body, money, houses, cars, music, movies, etc. Sin is also seen when we are racist, when we are thinking and acting like we are better than those of a different race. Col. 3:8 describes sin as “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech.” 2 Tim. 3:2-4 says sinners “will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God.” God gives us many lists of sins because He wants us to know that it is our main problem. Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:28-31, Galatians 5:19-21
Sin started with Adam, and then spread to all mankind. Genesis 4 tells us about Cain’s murder of Abel. Genesis 6 talks about an entire world greatly sinning against God, except for Noah and his family. Genesis 11 describes a rebellious world trying to build a tower to the heavens. Genesis 19 speaks about the hideous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the prophets go into great detail about the sin of Israel and other countries. You and I then should not be shocked by the sin in our country, for it has always been evident during this evil age. And this most recent eruption of evil reveals once again the sin that is in the heart of man. As I said, God is now judging the sin in this country, and He will continue to judge it, and the time will come when she’s no longer the world’s number one power, paving the way for the devilish kingdom of the Antichrist to be raised up and become this world’s last superpower. Revelation 13, 17:8-17
What’s God’s answer to the sin in this world, in your life, and to that most wicked Antichrist? It’s Jesus Christ, sent by His Father to this earth to be a mediator between God and man. Christ died on a cross to deal with this sin, both paying for man’s sin so God’s justice would be satisfied, and disarming and defeating the devil. God could then forgive sinners, and give eternal life to all those who repent and believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins, and then rose again. This eternal and spiritual life that God gives a true believer is love, joy, peace, a relationship with Himself, and a purpose in life, that will satisfy their soul like nothing in the world can ever do. John 7:37-38; Rom. 5:8, 6:23; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:10; Col. 2:15
Now as Christians, we are part of the church, which has continued to grow for close to 2000 years, her holy light shining in the darkness. But since we still live in this evil age, this sin still greatly affects the entire world. And we wish things were better, that there would be no more hate, murder, racism, or riots, but instead, only love, peace, and unity. But that’s not the way it is, and it’s not going to really change until Jesus Christ comes back. In fact, Matt. 24:12 tells us lawlessness will increase in the end-times, which means this world will become even more evil and wicked, until that time when Christ returns to rapture the church. Matthew 24:30-31
I have mentioned this coming Antichrist, one described as “the man of lawlessness,” the “son of destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3). Yes, there’s lawlessness and destruction now, but this most wicked man will make things much worse, especially for the Christians and Jews he will be persecuting. But in all this, don’t be afraid – be strong, courageous, and loving, knowing that this is our time to live for God, to tell people the good news about how they can know Jesus, be forgiven, and be a member of His great and glorious kingdom. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
I write all this so you understand that sin is the main reason we are having all these problems, and that only Jesus Christ can truly make things better in your life, and in this world – and so don’t be looking for the answer to be found in some President, governor, or mayor. While you are still here on earth, don’t focus on politics, but instead seek God’s kingdom, and do the work He wants you do. And soon, Christ will come back to take you to heaven, and will then judge this evil world and the Antichrist, during what’s called the Day of the Lord. Then He will take back control of the world, and begin His 1000-year reign as King, and like never before, there will be glory to God, peace on earth, and good will toward men. Isaiah 6:3, Luke 2:14
NOTE: I am sure most of you are aware of the sickening and evil murder of George Floyd, and now the senseless rioting that is being seen in major cities all over our country. God is not blind to what is going on in the United States. We have had this problem of the pandemic for over 10 weeks, and now the tragic events of this past week. We must realize that God wants to get our attention, to wake us up – He wants us to turn to Him, to seek Him, to repent of our sins. And we also need to pray for our leaders. God is the answer – only He can truly help us. May He have mercy on us. “… for God troubled them with every kind of distress. As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded… they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul.” 2 Chronicles 15:6-7, 12. The “main thing” we need to do is given in the message of John the Baptist, which is talked about in this post.
THE POST: It’s good to keep up with what’s going on in the world, particularly as it relates to prophecy. As for me, I watch cable news, read a few newsletters, look at some on-line sites, and view an occasional You-Tube video. In the past ten weeks I’ve learned some things about COVID-19, masks, ID 2020, digital identity, surveillance drones, forced vaccines, crypto-currencies, a global financial order, 5G technology, and Russia-China-Middle East alliances.
I am interested in these subjects because I want to see how they might relate to the end-times and the fulfillment of prophecy. But it doesn’t take long to see that there’s a lot of information and a lot of conspiracy theories out there. Now I do plan to keep reading up on subjects like these because I want to be informed, I want to understand the times, and I want to be a watchman (1 Chron. 12:32, Ezek. 3:17). But I’m not going to take the time to burrow into all the minutia, especially if what’s being said seems far-fetched and extreme. Isaiah 8:11-13, 1 Timothy 1:3-4
You see, I don’t want to go down some rabbit hole – I need to stay above ground so I can see the big picture. I do believe God wants us to know general things about Christ’s coming and the end-times, and I’ve taught extensively and repeatedly on these subjects. But I don’t think it’s worth it to get bogged down in specifics or speculation. What I’m saying is that we need to be balanced, and discerning. Yes, there are some things we need to know, but there comes a time when we just need to trust God and realize that He’s in control. Sadly, many Christians get so focused on what’s going on in the world that they fail to do the work of God.
As a pastor, my primary job is to build up the church and reach out to the lost, which is also my purpose with this blog post. My desire for you is to know what will be happening before the rapture of the church, and to be encouraged, to be strong in faith, hope and love, to be doing the Lord’s work, and to be excited about the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1-5
One way to be encouraged is by learning from the lives of believers that we read about in the Bible. I cannot think of a better example than John the Baptist. Even though he and his fellow Jews were oppressed by the Romans, he didn’t fret, he didn’t get angry, he didn’t focus on what they were doing, and he didn’t debate with the “learned” men of the day. He did what God wanted him to do, which was being a forerunner for Christ. And isn’t that our job today? Yes, it is! John knew that Christ was coming soon, and he told the people all about Him. Here we are 2000 years later, living in the end-times, and we too know that Christ is coming soon, and we too need to be telling people about Him. Now what can we learn from John’s life?
John was a man of godly character. He feared God, and he wasn’t afraid of man. His goal was to please God, not man. John was humble – he knew who he was in relationship to Jesus, that Jesus was eternal, above all, and more powerful. He said, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30-31). John was zealous and passionate, and was determined to fulfill the mission God had given him. He was a holy man, not distracted or weighed down by the world or the flesh. John was honest and sober-minded, and did not withhold or sugar-coat the truth. He spoke the word of God plainly, clearly, and powerfully. John 1:19-34
John was a man with purpose, which was to “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for Him” (Luke 3:40). How did he do this? He preached the gospel, the good news (Luke 3:18). He proclaimed, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). He told the people that they were sinners, and specifically how they were sinning (Luke 3:10-14). He told them that Jesus was the Lamb of God, “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He exhorted the people, telling them that they needed to repent if they were to be forgiven of their sins (Mark 1:4). He told them that salvation and being a member of God’s kingdom was by the work of the Messiah – He “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Luke 3:15-16, John 1:29-34
John also told the people what would happen if they did not repent, that they would be judged for their sins. He spoke soberly and boldly how the Messiah would baptize with “fire,” specifically about the “coming wrath,” being “thrown into the fire,” and the “burning up of the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:7-12). John also preached about the millennial kingdom age, though he knew not, like we know, when it would come. He thought it would take place at Christ’s 1st coming, but now we know it will be during His 2nd coming. John declared, “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth” (Luke 3:5). This is speaking of the time when Christ the King will rule over the world, when there will be righteousness and peace. John goes on to say that “All people will see God’s salvation” (Luke 3:6), which is referring to when Christ returns and saves a great many Jews, soon followed by His 1000-year kingdom age, when the whole world will witness God’s mercy, power and glory. Isaiah 40:3-11; Psalms 47, 67, 72, 98
More than any other passage in the Bible, these words about John’s life, his character and purpose, motivate me to prepare the way of the Lord. Can you see how relevant his life is, and how it instructs us what we are to do? We can get so distracted by what’s happening in the world, even with things that may relate to Christ’s return and the rapture, but we must stay the course, and continue to carry out the Lord’s work. We are to teach the saved about the 2nd coming of Christ, and tell the lost about the 1st coming of Christ, and their need to be saved before His 2nd coming, before it’s too late, before they are “thrown into the fire.”
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, in view of His appearance and His kingdom, preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:1-2). This is for pastors and preachers, but it should also encourage you to tell people the truth about Christ, His 1st coming and His 2nd coming. Don’t get off track, don’t be focused on man’s work – be doing God’s work, keeping the main thing the main thing –“Preach the word.”
As you know, the coronavirus has resulted in people getting sick and even dying. It has caused quarantines, social distancing, slowdowns, shutdowns, shortages, markets falling, job losses and financial losses. I am amazed and astounded how this one little virus has spread all over the world and affected so many lives. But has not God not ordained this? Yes, He has, and I believe one reason for this is because He wants to get our attention, He wants Christians to wake up and not be so worldly and fleshly minded. 1 Cor. 3:1-3
There is this physical virus, but much worse than that, there’s a spiritual virus in the souls of many believers, for they are busy loving themselves and the world, but aren’t loving God. While I am sad that many are sick and dying, I am also thankful that God is using this coronavirus to cause us to slow down, to even stop us, and why? So we see what’s most important and seek Him. David said, “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2). More than anything or anyone else, you need the Lord. He must be first in your life, your most important relationship, the One you greatly love. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” Ps. 73:25-26, Col. 3:1-4, 1 John 2:15-17
My favorite verse on this subject is
John 17:3. Jesus said to His Father, “This is eternal life, that they may
know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Jesus
defined eternal life as knowing God, as having a relationship with God and
Himself. This is so incredible, so wonderful, that we can have a personal and
permanent relationship with the living God, that He can talk to us and we can
talk to Him, He can love us and we can love Him, we can know Him, spend time
with Him, and be satisfied by Him. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, I
have no good besides You.’” Psalm 16:2; John 4:14, 6:51, 10:11
What a miracle, what a blessing, that we can know God and have a relationship with Him. What Christ did for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead resulted in more than just being made righteous but being reconciled to God and having a relationship with Him. God could have saved us and set us in some far corner of the universe for all eternity. But no, He saved us so we could be His children and have this intimate relationship with Him, and then someday, leave this earth and literally be with Him in heaven. Psalm 23:6, 1 Thess. 4:15-17
Your relationship with God is the
single most important thing in your life, and He doesn’t want you to be
deceived, to think you are doing good if, in fact, you are living on the “junk
food” of the world. Sadly, this deception describes the lives of many
Christians: “Thus says the Lord… they went far from Me and walked after
emptiness and became empty… My people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.’” Jeremiah 2:5, 13
I hope you realize that worldly and fleshly desires wage war against your soul, and to have a close relationship with God is a continual struggle, one you need to keep winning. (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Here’s how Paul says it – “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7-10). God wants you to see the present and eternal value of knowing Him and Jesus. And to know Them means you know who They are, Their offices, character and purpose. God is your Father, and Jesus is your Creator, Lord, Savior, and coming King. Their character is perfect – They are holy, just, wise, good, powerful, loving, patient, forgiving, faithful, sovereign, etc. And God’s purpose is to be glorified, and for us to be satisfied, rejoicing in Him, and worshiping Him. But it’s not just knowing these things in your head but also knowing them in your heart and life.
One of God’s primary desires for you,
whether that’s here or in heaven, is for you to know Him. Let me ask you: are
you experiencing God’s forgiveness? Do you see that He is patient with you? Do
you see that He is good to you? Do you see how He is sovereign in your life? Do
you see how He loves you? Can you say, “Your love is better than life” (Ps.
63:4). I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing God, who He is and what
He is like. Here’s what Jeremiah says, “Let him who boasts boast of this,
that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises
lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth.” Jer. 9:24
But it’s more than that. Your relationship with God is not one-sided. It’s not just what God says to you or does for you – it’s you relating to Him and responding to Him. Prov. 8:17 – It’s thanking God for saving you, for providing all your needs, for giving you a job, a place to live, a church, a family, friends, and so many spiritual and eternal blessings. 1 Thess. 5:18 – It’s praising God, exalting Him, loving Him with all your heart. Psalm 118:28 – It’s loving God’s word and meditating on it. It’s believing the truths and promises in His word. And it’s obeying His commands. Psalm 1:2, 119:55-56, 119:97 – It’s praying – it’s seeking Him and asking Him to help you and others. Heb. 11:6 – It’s getting time alone with Him, and pouring out your heart, praying to Him, listening to Him and learning from Him, and being spiritually refreshed. Mark 1:35 – It’s walking with God, going through the day knowing He is with you. It means loving Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, confessing sin, asking Him for help, and being encouraged by Him. Gen. 5:24
I strongly believe God is using use this Coronavirus Pandemic to wake up Christians, to revive us so that we are joyfully walking with Him and living for Him. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). You have a Father who loves you so much, a Savior who died for you, lives for you, prays for you, and can’t wait to see you! And He doesn’t want you sleeping. During this time of social distancing, make sure you are not distant from God, but are awake and close to Him. In His rebuke to the lukewarm Laodicean Christians, Jesus says, “‘Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me’” (Rev. 3:19-20). Jesus said to Martha, and to us, “… you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
This blog site is about the end-times, and the closer we get to Christ’s return, the more difficult life will be. What’s most important now, and in times of great tribulation, is your relationship with God. If you are walking with God, then you will have all the grace and peace you need, and everything will work out for His glory and for your good. During our life on this earth, might we say, “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 – How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27
