Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Category: Jesus Christ (Page 5 of 6)

Blog posts about Jesus Christ.

Rejoice: The KING of Kings is Coming!

August 30, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #133 ~

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.

How to Defeat Death and Live Forever

April 19, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #114 ~

Death isn’t a popular subject. Who likes to think or talk about it? But it’s a reality that most people have to grapple with, and eventually face. I was 7 years old when my father died, and in the next 18 years, three grandparents and three uncles also passed away. Those were difficult times, both mentally and emotionally, having an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, and wondering where they had gone. When I was a freshman at college, God enabled me to see what life, and death, are all about. I realized that sin is the root problem and that death is the result. “The soul who sins will die” (Ezekiel 18:4). I saw that death is physical in nature, but first and foremost, is spiritual in nature, in that people are spiritually cut off from God, and can’t experience and enjoy His life and love.

What is the answer to this problem of sin and death? God made it clear to me that either I pay for my own sins by being punished forever in hell, or that I believe His Son, Jesus Christ, died to pay for my sins, and then was raised from the dead. “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).  I understood that Christ’s death and resurrection was the only answer, the only way I could get victory over my greatest problem, over sin and death. By God’s grace, I repented of my sins, and put my trust in Christ, believing that He died for me, that He personally paid the penalty for my all sins. Romans 5:8, Mark 1:15, Ephesians 2:8-9

Now if Jesus Christ hadn’t died, there’d be no forgiveness; and if Jesus hadn’t risen from the dead, there’d be no hope for the future, no life after death. But Jesus did die and rise again from the dead, and that was the best news I had ever heard. I knew I was no longer guilty, but was forgiven and holy in the sight of God, for my problem of sin had been forever dealt with by Christ. My problem of death was also solved, for Christ, by rising from the dead, had defeated and obliterated death. Not only were my sins taken away, but I didn’t have to worry about dying and what came after it. Amazingly, I had been given eternal life, a personal and permanent relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. I had a brand new life on earth, I had hope for the future, and soon enough, I’d be in heaven with Jesus and all the other believers. God “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

During my early years as a Christian, I knew I was forgiven and going to heaven. As time went on, I realized there was much more than just going to heaven after I died. God was increasing my hope, and I could say: I can’t wait to be with Jesus; I really want to be with loved ones who have already gone through death’s door and are in heaven; I’m excited about seeing Christ reign perfectly over this earth and reigning with Him; and now that I am older, and am feeling more aches and pains, I am looking forward to getting that brand new, perfect, immortal body! 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

But if the future is so good, and God loves us so much, then why are we still here? Philippians 1:21-27 tells us why. We are to live on earth for the Lord, which means we are not to live for ourselves, but for others. In particular, we are to reach out to those who aren’t saved. Think about the lost, about all those who live for sin, self and Satan, who love worldly things, who have no hope, and are without God in the world. Oh, they have food, a job, a home, a car, pets, games, sports, movies, video games, and a few friends. But they are in a sad and sorry state if this is all they are living for, if they have nothing more than this to look forward to. People and things may give a little happiness and satisfaction, but they do nothing to save a person’s soul, make him right with God, and enable him to escape death and get to heaven. “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). People need the Lord!

Might you see that the lost are harassed and helpless, distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. Might you pray for them, love them, and share the good news with them. Tell them about Christ’s 1st coming, that He died to pay for people’s sins and rose again, defeating both sin and death. Encourage them to repent of their sins, to trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and a future in heaven. “Deliver those who are being taken away to death” (Proverbs 24:11). Tell them that only Jesus can give them real love, joy and peace, in this life and in the ages to come. Warn them, that if they don’t trust in Christ to pay for their sins, they themselves will have to pay for them by being punished forever in hell. “These will go into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (Matthew 25:41, 45). Tell them it won’t be long before Christ’s 2nd coming, and if they don’t repent, they will miss the rapture of the church, and greatly suffer when God’s righteous wrath is being poured out upon this earth.

What a needed and wonderful message is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you don’t know the Lord, if you are not saved and on your way to heaven, then turn from your sin, and trust in Jesus to forgive you of your sins and give you eternal life. If you do know Jesus, then thank Him, love Him, live for Him, and look forward to seeing Him. Jesus said, “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. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). I pray you do!

P.S. We are celebrating Easter this weekend, or as some say, Resurrection Sunday. Might we all thank the Lord for His incredible and eternal victory over sin and death. Two previous posts that also speak of this amazing victory we have through Christ are: The Resurrection and Rapture of the Church, and Christ’s Resurrection Means the Best is Yet to Come.

Your Great Hope and Most Glorious Future

April 12, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #113 ~

Think of your life on this earth as one single dot on a piece of paper, and the rest of your life as the distance from that one dot to the end of the universe. That’s a long, long way, impossible for your human mind to really comprehend. I use this analogy to help you visualize the never-ending length of your life, but more-so, the supreme and godly character of it. Your finite life on this earth is very small compared to the infinite and incredible future God has planned for you. As Christians, we often focus on our present life, and therefore are short-sighted, failing to rightly see the rest of our eternal life. What we need is Biblical hope, for it speaks about our amazing, magnificent, awesome, perfect, wonderful, spectacular and heavenly future. Romans 5:1-5, 8:29-30, 15:13

How do you get this hope? First, you need to read God’s word to know what this hope is. Second, you need to believe what His word says about this incredibly blessed future. That is, you need faith, for “faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). Third, you need to be looking forward to your hope being fulfilled. Remember when you were a child and you were looking forward to Christmas, and you couldn’t wait for it to come. What we are talking about is better than a billion Christmases! How do you know that you have this godly hope in your heart? When you know, believe, and are looking forward to the glorious future God has in store for you! Hebrews 11:10-16

Titus 1:2 also talks about this, for it says, “in the hope of eternal life.” Your Christian life starts when you are saved, but the fact that it says “eternal” means it never stops, but goes on forever and ever. That it says “hope” means God wants you to be actively thinking about your eternal life, your life after this life. He wants you to be interested in, and excited about, this magnificent future He has designed for you. He wants you to be looking ahead to the best life you could ever imagine. Yes, God has perfect plans for your present life, but you need to live your life in light of eternity, in view of His perfect future for you. This Son-brilliant backdrop of your life on earth is an all glorious and most-blessed eternity. Having this perspective of your eternal life will undoubtedly and dramatically affect how you live your important, but short, life on this earth. Colossians 3:1-4

Let me give you a preview of this fantastic future God has for you, for you need to think about your life after you leave this earth, when you will not be cramped or hindered by your flesh. In the future, your life will always be for God the Father, with Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit. You will never sin, never mourn, never get tired, and never get sick. You will fully know the wonderful love of God, and you will always and perfectly love Him. You will always be experiencing His abundant joy, peace, goodness and strength. You will always and perfectly love every person, and continually be blessed by sweet, soul-satisfying fellowship. You will be most-encouraged by your time with Christian friends from earth, as well as time with all of God’s children, and angels too. Life will be full of purpose, pleasures, and more than anything else, praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It will be eternal life, for it will be eternal and it will be life; and it will be glorious, life like God always intended, for you and all His people. John 17:24

I have saved the best for last. 1 Timothy 1:1 speaks of “Christ Jesus, who is our hope.” Your life in the coming ages isn’t just about seeing people, going places and doing things. It will primarily be centered and focused on Jesus Christ. This verse says Christ is your hope, which means Christ is your life, in the future and forever. This is the most important reason why God wants you to be longing for your heavenly future. Yes, life is good now for “to live is Christ,” but “to die is gain” means life will be supremely better because you will be with Christ. Might you be hoping, might you be expecting to, soon and forever, be with Jesus, your Savior, Lord, King and Friend, the One who loves you more than anyone else in the world. I encourage you to be looking forward to that time when you will be with Jesus, and be with Him forever. “Eternal life is this, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

Let me conclude with a key command about hope: 1 Peter 1:13 says, “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Why does God tell you to fix your hope on Christ’s return? Because:
* that is when all that you have hoped for will begin to be fulfilled;
* then your salvation will be complete, for you will be immortal and glorified, that is, fully saved;
* you will finally see Jesus (unless you physically die before the rapture);
* the church age will be over, and for the first time, all the saints will be with Jesus;
* “to die (or be raptured) is gain,” which means the next and better phase of your eternal life will begin;
* you will be given a special measure of grace, enabling you to be all that God wants you to be in heaven and on earth, and for all eternity.
* then “… I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

P.S. I am in the middle of a series of posts on hope, which is essential for your Christian life. I encourage you to read my article on hope, “You Have to Have Hope,” as well as the post I just put up last week, “You Need Hope to Get Through Life.”

The Christ-Like Character God Wants You to Have

March 8, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #108 ~

God the Father looks down on this world and, in particular, sees His church, His chosen ones, His children. He is focused on us for He loves us, and because He is training us so we can be useful to Him by doing His work on earth. Do you realize that He has been building your character, and will continue to do so until that time when He takes you home to heaven, and glorifies you? As Paul said, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it on the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:6

As Christians, we often forget that God is working in our lives, that He is using our relationships, jobs and trials, to help us be godly and more like Jesus. We often don’t see that God, by His Spirit, word and grace, is helping us to grow up. We have all gone to earthly schools for academic reasons. But now we are in a heavenly school for spiritual reasons, and God is our teacher, helping us to grow in truth and character.

That God develops character in the lives of believers is a major theme in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation we read about His perfect working in imperfect people. The Old Testament is filled with stories about God wisely and wonderfully building the lives of believers. There is Abraham with faith, Moses with humility, David with love, Jeremiah with perseverance, Esther with courage, etc. In the New Testament, we read about Christ patiently discipling His men. Then there are the epistles, filled with instructions about how we are to become godly children by growing in godly character. Might you “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for
His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

What is this character? Suffice to say, in this short blog post, I can only summarize this Christ-like character that God desires for each of His children.
* There is humility, seeing God as our awesome and loving Lord and ourselves as His children, His servants, and worshiping, trusting, and obeying Him. James 4:10
* There is holiness, seeing God as perfectly holy and pure, and then being holy, hating evil, and wholeheartedly doing what is good, right and true. 1 Peter 1:14-16
* There is love for God, where we see Him as our first and true love, and are loving Him, adoring Him, committed to Him, and giving our lives entirely to Him. Mark 12:30
* There is love for people, which results from knowing God’s love for us, and is seen as we are humble, kind, forgiving, gentle, compassionate and loyal. Colossians 3:12-14
* There is truthfulness, living a life in line with God’s truth, having integrity, being honest with others in words and actions, and just doing what’s right. 1 Timothy 1:5
* There is rejoicing, not being sad or down, but having a grateful and glad-hearted spirit, resulting from knowing that you are greatly loved by a sovereign God. Philippians 4:4
* There is faith, a sincere reliance and dependence, not on yourself or others, but on God Himself, for life, strength, joy, purpose, wisdom, and the future. Proverbs 3:5-6
* There is forgiveness, not holding a person’s sin against him, but letting it go and not remembering it, being able to be forgiving and kind to him. Genesis 41:50-52
* There is perseverance, seen in a life that doesn’t give up and quit, that is determined, that continues on for God, in spite of trials, troubles and sinful people. Acts 14:19-22
* There is wisdom, a heart that is not naïve or foolish, but understands God’s word and applies it to life, making good decisions, and knowing what to say and do. Proverbs 1:1-7
* There is zeal, a fervent, wholehearted love for God, people and His work, a life energized by the Spirit, a life excited and driven to live all out for Him. Romans 12:11
* There is faithfulness, the year after year continued devotion to God’s work, seen in that you keep trusting God and keep doing all He has planned for you. Jeremiah 25:3
* There is diligence, not procrastinating, being lazy or distracted, but continually using your time to work hard so you can fully carry out the work of Christ. Ephesians 5:15-17
* There is hope, a looking forward to the future, a confident expectation of the perfect plans God has for you, in heaven, and in the kingdom ages to come. Romans 15:13

I cannot stress enough the importance of having godly character, for this is what God wants for you, and is building into your life. “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). Might you want to be like Christ, and possess His godly character. Might you be a beautiful shining light to those who live in this very dark world. Stand out and speak up for God, and let the world know that you are His child, and that you are heading to heaven; and hold out to them the good news of forgiveness in Christ.

I cannot overstate how difficult life will be for the Christian in the years leading up to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. Having godly character is essential if you are to be a good soldier, one of God’s special forces, one who is courageously fighting for Him. You need to be in excellent shape, “at the top of your game,” trained and ready to carry out God’s assignments, united with the church in making disciples, until the very end of this age. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness… since it holds promise for the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-8, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

P.S. Here are two other articles about the character of the Christian: Being Thankful – The Character of a Christian, and Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Special Forces.

Christ and the Church in the End-Times

March 1, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #107 ~

She is more powerful than any country, more important than any government, and more prestigious than any person or company. I am talking about the church, the body of Christ, the assembly of saints, the called-out ones, those who have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ. In the past, my focus in these posts has been on prophecy and the individual Christian. But as you know, you are not to be a loner, off on your own – your life must be seen in light of the church. As much as anything else, what defines your role in life and your effectiveness as a Christian is your relationship with the church. From Christ’s 1st coming to His 2nd coming, the church is God’s primary focus, His chief interest on this earth. Here are some things you need to know about the church:

Jesus Christ deeply loves the church, for she is His first love, His beautiful and eternal bride. He came down to this earth for her, and died for her, purchasing her with His own blood. More than you know, Jesus loves and cares for His church. He thinks about her all the time, continually intercedes for her, and cannot wait for that day when He will return to earth to take her home to heaven. “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 4:17

Jesus Christ is building His church. Christ is the head, the leader of the church, and He is the One who is building her and causing her to grow. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). Through God’s word and God’s Spirit, Jesus Christ has been lovingly, faithfully, and wisely building the church. Sinners are being saved by Christ, and are being transformed from glory to glory. For the past 2000 years, He has been directing, teaching, encouraging, strengthening, and protecting the church, resulting in her growth, spiritually and numerically. But Christ’s church-building plan won’t keep going on forever, for once that last soul is saved at the end of this age, then the church will be complete, glorified, and gathered up to be with Him. Matthew 24:31

God has chosen and predestined those who are members of the church. “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy…” (Ephesians 1:4). It’s a promise from God that those whom He has chosen will be justified and glorified. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, will finish what they started, and no devil, demon or person, will ever stop Them from fully carrying out Their plan to save the elect and bring them to heaven. Even though the church is fighting in the fiercest and most dangerous of all wars, we know that Christ will completely crush all her enemies, thereby gaining a decisive, glorious and everlasting victory for His precious and beloved bride.

The overall purpose of the church is to “make disciples of all the nations… even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20), to be Christ’s witnesses“to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8), to preach the “gospel of the kingdom” to the whole world (Matthew 24:14), to proclaim “repentance for forgiveness of sins” to all the nations (Luke 24:47), and to be “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Might you be committed to and involved in a church that has these as her purposes.  

As a Christian, you are a member of the church, a key part of the body of Christ.“God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (1 Corinthians 12:18). If indeed you are saved, then be very thankful that you are joined to Christ and are a part of the church. You can be a member of many different groups or organizations, but being a member of the church is what’s most important in life, for this has eternal value. As you love, trust and obey God, and are in a good local church, you will be able to use the spiritual gift(s) He has given you to do the special work He has planned out for you. Not only that, but much of the love, joy, peace, wisdom and grace God wants to give you will be experienced as you fellowship with the church.

Do not neglect the church, but love her and be committed to her. You need to be involved in a good church, a loving, purposeful, and Christ-centered church. Be serving Christ by doing your part in the church, which is how you will be useful to God and be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of people (2 Timothy 2:21). Now that we live in the end-times, it’s essential that you learn from God’s word what will be taking place in our world, the birth pains, great tribulation, the coming of the Antichrist, the coming of Christ, etc. The church will soon enter the most difficult phase of her history, and you want to be working with Christ in helping her to be holy, healthy and victorious. “Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, she waits the consummation of peace forevermore; till with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.” The Church’s One Foundation

It’s paramount that you see the purpose of the church, the importance of the church, and your part in the church, especially as we are getting closer to Christ’s coming. In these years leading up to Christ’s return, might you be excited about what God is and will be doing in and through the church, the body of Christ, the army of God, this family of believers, this fellowship of Christians. Be joined with Him and with other believers in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Your Entire Christian Life ~ Colossians 3:3-4

January 25, 2019 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #104 ~

Do you see the entirety of your Christian life? Do you see where you have come from, where you are now, and where you are going? Do you see the big picture perspective of your Christian existence? Two key Bible verses that help answer these questions are Colossians 3:3-4, for they succinctly state God’s plans for your life. What do they tell you?

“For you have died …” (justified).This is the past, for it speaks of that point in time when God saved your soul, when you were justified and forgiven of all your sins. It goes with Colossians 3:1: “You have been raised up with Christ.” Romans 6:3-4 also speaks of this, for it tells us, “All of us have been baptized into His death… so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Galatians 2:20 says it this way, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” This is life-changing truth, for your old self was put to death, and you were given the Holy Spirit and a new heart. When you were born again, you died with Christ and were raised with Christ, so you can now live for Him. This leads to the next phrase:

“… and your life is hidden with Christ in God …” (sanctified). This is the present, for it describes your Christian life on this earth. God has graciously given you a holy and divine life, and an inner power that no one can see. You may look the same on the outside, but you are brand new on the inside. You are spiritually and intimately united with Christ, and can experience His unconditional and heart-motivating love. You are able to live for Christ. You can say “no” to sin, and “yes” to righteousness. You can love, serve, rejoice and worship like never before. You are able to carry out God’s special plans for your life, doing what builds and blesses others, and brings Him eternal glory. Then what?

“… When Christ, who is our life, shall appear …” (glorified). This is the future, for it speaks of when Christ appears in the clouds, and raptures Christians from the earth. Paul encourages you to be “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13). He says this because he wants you to be excited about that future time when you will literally be with Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior. Then your salvation will be complete, for you will be given a brand new body. There will be no more sin and sadness, fears and worries, and aches and pains, just a perfect, powerful, immortal and glorified body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). There is more –

“… then you also will appear with Him in glory.” This too is the future, for it describes what will take place after the appearing of Christ and the rapture of the church. It says you will actually appear with Christ. You will spend time in fellowship with Him. You will no longer be hidden, for you will be seen with Christ, and the whole world will know you are His beautiful bride and beloved servant. In the age to come, you will be reigning with Jesus, and have authority over the nations (Revelation 3:26, 5:10). Can you imagine this? This is extremely encouraging news, and this is your future. Finally, it says, “in glory,” for you will be glorified, but more than that, “the whole earth is full of His glory,” and you will be saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:3

This is your life, simply summed up in two verses. As they describe your past, present and future, think about what they mean for your life. Might you know that God is completely in charge, and that He is moving you along, in life and in this world, from this day to the next day, from this age to the next age, and for all eternity. Might this hope you have of the future motivate you to serve the Lord today. Might you see that you are a vital part of God’s eternal plans, a key player in His grand and glorious purposes, and that He is perfectly working with you and all the Christians in the world, “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 heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:10

God gives you Colossians 3:3-4 and similar verses so you have hope. (Psalm 23:6, Romans 8:30, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 1:6). Without hope, you will be discouraged by difficulties, and get bogged down in the day-to-day details of life. You need to be confident that God is continuing to work in and through your life, for your present and future good, and for His eternal glory. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

What does God want you to know from Col. 3:1-4? He wants you to know that:
* As a Christian, you are with Jesus Christ, now and forever.
* He has planned out your entire Christian life, from being born again through all eternity.
* Jesus Christ is your life, joy, peace, strength, purpose and hope.
* You are to keep seeking Christ and the things above; you are not to be worldly, but are to be holy and heavenly minded.
* Jesus Christ, now seated at the right hand of God, will soon appear above the earth, rapturing the Christians from this earth, and taking them to be with Him and with all the believers.

P.S. This particular subject is one of my favorites, and I believe, a very important one. It’s imperative to have God’s eternal perspective of our lives if we are to live rightly and wholeheartedly for Him. I encourage you to read two other posts that relate directly to this one: God’s Time Frame for Your Life and An Overview of Your Christian Life.

Loving the Lord and Longing to See Him

December 28, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #100 ~

When we talk about the rapture, we need to think of it as a love story. You see, the truth about the end-times and Christ’s return is not some cold truth devoid of feeling, but a truth filled with warmth, love and affection. “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). This is the gospel. The heart of the gospel is the fact that Jesus loved us and wanted to die for us so we could be His eternal bride. And the heart of the rapture is the fact that Jesus wants to complete our salvation by taking us off this earth, glorifying us, and bringing us to heaven so we can forever be with Him. Then He will love us like never before (John 17:24). Now this is the perspective of Christ, that He dearly, deeply and eternally, loves us.

What is our perspective? It too, is about love. We see our sin and our need for Jesus to save us. By God’s grace, we respond to His love and believe the gospel, by which we are miraculously saved. With this salvation comes eternal life, this most wondrous relationship with God, our Father, and Jesus, our Savior. Christianity is this relationship, this eternal life, that has at its center, at its core, this love for God and Jesus. And our service for God is founded and grounded in our love for Him. If not, there is no relationship, just heartless rituals and useless routines that are empty and worthless. Our Christian life is defined by love, by knowing the love of God, and by loving Him. And this divine love relationship, showing forth God’s love for us, and our love for Him, is both present and future.

It’s the prophetic portion of Scripture that explains God’s plans for the future of this present evil age, that which started with the sin of Adam and ends with the coming of Christ. It says that Christ will return at the end of this age, rapture the church and then reign over the world. But now that we are in the end-times, it won’t be long before all these things take place. It’s vital that we understand the facts of Christ’s return, and the rapture, that time when Christians are suddenly, gently and quickly taken up from this earth, brought to Jesus, and taken to heaven.

This is where you need to see that you are the bride, and that Jesus, your bridegroom, is coming to rescue you, as well as all believers still alive on this world at the end of the age. This is where you need to see that Jesus is coming back because He greatly loves you, and wants to show you His love by saving you from this evil earth, by glorifying you, and by bringing you to heaven to be with Himself. Aren’t you glad Jesus loves you, and wants to show you His love like this? Might this truth of Jesus’ coming thrill your heart, and fill you with a deep and genuine love for Him.

Should you not be so in love with Jesus that you can’t wait to see Him, that you can’t wait to be with Him, that you can’t wait to personally tell Him that you love Him? Should you not be overflowing with love for Jesus, and with heart-throbbing anticipation, be eagerly looking forward to that first time when you will see His face and His smile, and hear His words of love for you? Jesus is your wonderful Savior and glorious King, the One who loves you more than anyone else in the world. Because of His love for you, you ought to be filled up with love for Him. Because of your love for Him, you ought to be looking forward to that time when He will leave His Father’s side, speed down to earth, and snatch you up to heaven.

Our Savior, Lord, Shepherd, King, Friend and Bridegroom is coming to get you so you can be with Him, so you can experience His love and see His glory like never before. If you are not excited and longing for that time when you will first see Jesus, then what’s wrong? What is going on in your heart if you are not wanting to see Jesus, if you are not watching and waiting for Him? Have you lost your first love? Are you loving the world or some person more than you love Jesus? That would be terrible. That would be sad. I fear that many Christians have forgotten their first love for Jesus. If there’s a sin that keeps you from loving Jesus, and from longing to see Him, then it must be confessed. You must repent, and show Jesus that you love Him, and tell Him that you love Him and can’t wait to see Him, whether that be by death or by rapture. “To live is Christ, and to die (or be raptured) is gain.” Philippians 1:21

We are most blessed to be alive at this time in history, in the last years of this present age. I cannot help but think that many of you reading this will not physically die and go to heaven, but will be raptured and go to heaven. In either case, might you, with great passion and excitement, be loving Jesus and looking forward to seeing Him, and being with Him. “Behold, I am coming soon…. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

P.S. The Rapture, A Love Story is another encouraging post that conveys a similar message as does this one. Also, as we look forward to the new year, I would suggest that you read this article, The Time of My Life.

The Christmas Story and Christ’s Second Coming

December 21, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #99 ~

It’s the Christmas season, that glorious and wonderful time of the year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. And we must, for that’s when God became man, and therefore, was with man, a necessary and most-amazing miracle for mankind. But understanding the meaning of the Christmas story is more than just learning about Jesus’ birth – it’s learning about Jesus our Savior, and Jesus our King and His reign on earth.

The Christmas story, found in Luke 1-2, tells us about Joseph and Mary, the birth of Jesus, and some key details about what happened that winter night. We also learn why Jesus was born. Now God tells us why by providing witnesses who speak about the purpose of Mary’s Son, of God’s Son. Knowing their testimony is vital to comprehending the whole truth of the Christmas story, for they give us critical information about Jesus being both Savior and King, that which relates to both Jews and Christians. These witnesses, the angels, Mary, Zechariah, Simeon and Anna, all knew the God-given prophecies, the promises concerning the Messiah. Their testimony centered on three of these promises, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant.

First, there’s the Abrahamic Covenant, which is national, focusing for the most part, on the nation of Israel. Mary said, “He has given help to Israel, His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and His descendants forever” (Luke 1:54-55). Zechariah affirmed this, “… Salvation from our enemies… and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father” (Luke 1:71-73). It was said of Simeon that he “was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). Then there’s Anna, who “continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). These faithful witnesses knew this covenant related to Israel and Jerusalem, and that God’s promise to Abraham would result in a great nation, a vast amount of land, many descendants, and God’s blessing to the entire world (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15, 17:1-8). We have seen some of these physical blessings in the past and now again in the present, but it’s in the future, at Christ’s coming, that we will see this covenant completely fulfilled. It must also be said that all believers are spiritual descendants of Abraham. Romans 4:16-17

Second, there’s the Davidic covenant, which is universal, for it tells us about the reign of Jesus Christ over Israel, and of course, over the entire world. The angel explains this when he says to Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Now that we live in the end-times, we know Christ’s reign over this earth is about to begin.

Third, there’s the New Covenant, which is personal, for it speaks of the salvation of an individual sinner before God. Jesus was born to live a perfect life, and then die for sinners. This covenant applies to all people who repent of their sins and turn to Jesus for mercy, believing that He died to pay the penalty for their sins, resulting in complete forgiveness. Mary joyfully shared, “My soul exalts in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46). Zechariah spoke of this when he said, “To give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77). The angel declared, “Today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). This is the key and central covenant, for the person who is saved from his sins will also, fully and forever, enjoy the blessings and benefits of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants.

Do you see what these witnesses were saying, that Jesus would be the One to fulfill God’s promises to His people, those given in the Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenants? The Christmas story tells us about Jesus’ birth, but more than that, it tells us that He came to keep God’s promises. At His first coming, Jesus was born, died for sinners, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, which all relates to the New Covenant. But He has to come again, He must come again, and He will come again, to finish the work that relates to the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants.

I hope you see the relevance and the importance of the Christmas story for those of us living at this time in history, for much of what these witnesses said will soon come true. Yes, their testimony reminds us of Christ being born to die for our sins, but it also relates to His second coming, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to believing Jews and Gentiles. Unbeknownst to them, these witnesses are speaking to us today. Might we be listening to them!

There’s no doubt that Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna, were overflowing with joy when Jesus came the first time, for they knew what His presence on earth would mean for the Jews, for all believers, and for the entire world! Might we be just as excited about seeing Jesus! Might we be praying for His kingdom to come, be telling others about Him, and be looking forward to seeing Him come in the clouds, and then begin His reign over the earth! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men.” Luke 2:14

P.S. Here is the Christmas post from last year that I would encourage you to read – First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming. Our focus, as Christians, is to always be on Christ, and here is an article that will help direct your attention to Him – Thinking of Jesus Christ.

Make Ready the Way of the Lord

December 14, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #98 ~

As Christians, is it not our duty, our responsibility, to tell others about Jesus Christ, specifically, the truths of both His 1st coming and His 2nd coming? Now that we live in the end-times, and are seeing God’s prophetic word being fulfilled in the world around us, are we not even more obligated to tell people about Christ’s 2nd coming, and that He’s coming soon to rapture the church, and begin His reign over this earth?

Look at the example of John the Baptist. When he was here, he was fired up, telling people about the coming of Jesus Christ. He was a fearless man, filled with zeal, courage and love for Christ. “He preached the gospel to the people” (Luke 3:18). He told the lost they needed to repent of their sins so they could be made right with God. He made it clear that Christ would baptize people with the Spirit, speaking of salvation, and with fire, referring to God’s wrath. John, unlike the religious establishment of the day, was telling the people what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear.

Not long after John began his ministry, Jesus came, “preaching the gospel of God, and saying,‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). As we know, Jesus spoke to the masses, discipled twelve apostles, did all kinds of miracles, died for the sins of people, and then rose from the dead. But the Jews rejected Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and in so doing, rejected Him as their King. Therefore, Jesus didn’t stay to be their King, but left them and went back to His Father in heaven. Since then, He has been building His church. But John didn’t know there would be two comings of Christ, and didn’t know about the church age, and that Christ would come back after it was over, then establish His kingdom on earth.

But now we have the whole word of God, enabling us to know the truth of Christ’s 1st coming and to see ahead to His 2nd coming. Since the Jews are back in their land, we know this church age will soon come to an end. As Christians, what are we to do? Luke 3:4 tells us to “make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” This verse, more than any other, motivates me to tell people about the return of Jesus Christ! Just think, the Lord of all, the Savior of sinners, the King of kings, will soon return and be revealed to the whole world! Doesn’t that get you excited, doesn’t that fire you up, doesn’t that get your spiritual adrenaline flowing? The One who loves you so much, the One who will judge this world, the One who will reign as King over this earth, is coming back to stay, and He will change everything, and it will be glorious!

What are we to do? We are to be like John the Baptist. Now we don’t need to wear a garment of camel’s hair, and eat locusts and wild honey, but we are, like him, to have love and zeal for Christ. And we are to preach the gospel to the lost! We are to tell them about Christ’s 1st coming, that He came to die for people’s sins, then rose again. We are to exhort them to repent and believe in Christ’s payment for their sins, so as to be born again, to be forgiven, and to enter into the kingdom of God. “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 

We are to also tell the unsaved about Christ’s 2nd coming, and warn them that if they don’t repent of their sins, they will experience God’s wrath on earth, and then experience His wrath in hell. This is the truth, the message we must share with the lost, and now is the time, since “the coming of the Lord is near” (James 5:8), since “the Judge is standing right at the door” (James 5:9), since it won’t be long before “the Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9

What do we tell those who are saved, who are already Christians?
* Remind them of Jesus Christ’s 1st coming, and that we are now living in the end-times, the last years of this church age, and that His 2nd coming is right around the corner.
* Make sure they know about the evil Antichrist and the great tribulation that will affect both Christians and Jews.
* Tell them about the rapture, God’s rescue plan for us, and that we will then be glorified, perfected forever. 
* Tell them about the Day of the Lord, God’s punishing wrath upon the unbelievers still living on earth at the return of Christ.
* Let them know that a remnant of Jews will be saved, that Christ will reign as King over the world for 1000 glorious years, and that the believers will reign with Him.
* Tell them about the eternal kingdom, the new heavens and new earth, that God will actually dwell among us, that we will be His people and He will be our God.

But don’t just tell them what will happen. Encourage them to be living a holy life, the most blessed, rewarding and satisfying life there is. Encourage them to be loving Christ, living for Him and looking for His coming. Encourage them to read passages in the Word that explain these truths so they themselves will have strong convictions, and can then tell others all about the 2nd coming of Christ. 

One more thing – I really believe that God, in these days, is raising up a large number of Christians who dearly love His Son, Jesus Christ, and are excited about His soon return, and see it as their sacred duty to “Make ready the way of the Lord.” Might you be one of them!

P.S. Here are two previous posts that summarize specific things that need to take place before the return of Christ. Knowing these things will help you more effectively witness to others about Christ’s 2nd coming. When Is Christ Coming Back? and What Needs to Happen Before Christ’s Return?

Christ the King is Coming!

October 12, 2018 /

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #89 ~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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