Category: Uncategorized (Page 2 of 3)

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #226 ~

The Christian life is knowing God and the work He is doing and joining Him in His work. Since we are in the end-times, this means work that must be done before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church. Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work, and I too am working” (John 5:17). Realizing that our heavenly Father, along with Jesus Christ, is always working is extremely encouraging. Only they know all the work that needs to be done and are then able to get it done. But what should you know about God and His glorious work, and how that directly relates to the work He wants you to do at this time in history?

God made the heavens and the earth, He made all the angels, and He made every person who has ever lived. “O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your possessions” (Ps. 104:24). And God made you! “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it well” (Ps. 139:14). God made you just the way you are so you can do what He wants you to do (Jer. 1:4-10). And might you, like Jesus, glorify God by doing the work He wants you to do. “I brought You glory by completing the work You gave me to do.” John 17:4

God is working powerfully and mightily, spiritually and physically, in big things and little. “One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts” (Ps. 145:4). God is working truthfully, wisely, according to His Word, and with full knowledge of everything in the universe. “The word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in truth… He sees all the sons of men… He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works” (Ps. 33:4, 13-15). God is lovingly, kindly, and patiently working. “The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All your works shall give thanks to You.” Psalm 145:8-9

God is working purposefully and faithfully, doing all that He has planned to do. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning… ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Is. 46:9-11). Most importantly, God is working for His glory and honor. “All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power.” Ps. 145:10-11

The greatest work of God is the work of salvation, that Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay for peoples’ sins, rose from the dead, appeared to His disciples, and ascended into heaven. Only when you repent of your sins and believe in Christ and His work of salvation will you be truly saved and forgiven of your sins. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). Those who turn from their sin and turn to Christ become holy in God’s sight, and receive eternal life. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us.” (Tit. 3:5, Rom. 3:21-26). Once you are saved and begin to experience God’s mercy and love, then you will love Him and serve Him, “doing the Lord’s work” (1 Cor. 16:10) and being “zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:14

Since God is completely righteous, then all who reject God’s offer of forgiveness remain unrighteous and must be punished after they die. “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire… these will go away into eternal punishment” (Matt 25:41, 46). And in the context of God’s final wrath on earth, we read, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? You alone are holy.” Revelation 15:3-4, 16:1

The Bible is an accurate record of God’s work, from Genesis to Revelation, from creation to Adam to Noah to Abraham and the Jews, to Joseph to Joshua to Deborah to Ruth to Ahab to Hezekiah to Isaiah to Malachi to Mary to Jesus Christ to Judas to Peter and the church, to Paul to Timothy to the Antichrist to Jesus Christ, to the kingdom ages to come. God’s most important work is that which is done in the lives of people. Whether it’s Abraham and faith, Noah and obedience, Moses and patience, David and love, Esther and courage, Mary and humility, or Paul and perseverance, we know that God is working and His work is being done. God’s word is the only book in the world that gives a super-clear picture of the perfect, powerful, holy, loving, wise, purposeful, purposeful, and glorious work of God.                        

When you study God’s work in Bible characters, you realize there’s direction, movement, connectivity, and continuity, that there are no gaps or mistakes, that His purposes are fulfilled just like He planned them. You see this when you examine the Old Testament record and compare it with Jesus’ genealogy in Luke 3. You see this when studying the life of Ruth, that she is David’s great-grandmother. You learn that one thing leads to another, that one person leads to another, that God’s work is chronological, cumulative, conclusive, and most important.  

God is working sovereignly, always in control, always carrying out His will. “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Whether it’s our lives, families, or church, God is working all things together for our good and for His purposes. The synergistic work of God is truly miraculous, a super-massive global puzzle precisely being pieced together over the millennia. God is perfectly fitting together billions of people and trillions of situations and events. And this is true in the church – “the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

Sometimes God works alone (as the Trinity), sometimes He works with angels, and sometimes He works with people, but He is daily, purposely, and always carrying out His predetermined plans. “Bless the Lord, you His angels… Bless the Lord, all His hosts… Bless the Lord, all you works of His, in all places of His dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul.” Psalm 103:19-22

Jesus’ primary work is building the church, the local and universal church, with the result that people are being saved, believers are growing, and disciples are being made. There is “the equipping of saints for the work of service” (Eph. 4:12), the “proper working of each individual part” (Eph. 4:16), and spiritual growth, that is humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, unity, compassion, and forgiveness. (Eph. 4:1-3, 32). It’s sad that we live in a sick, crazy-wicked world, but don’t be discouraged, for the Lord is always victorious. No one will ever stop Him from carrying out His purpose for His church, from fully reaching His goal. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). As you walk with the Lord, as you learn from Him, trust Him, pray to Him, and obey Him, then you will be doing His work. “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” (Phil. 2:12-13). As Christians, there are no excuses, for God enables and empowers us to do the work He planned out for us. “I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.” Ephesians 3:7

It’s now 2021. Do you know what time it is? It’s the end-times, the last years leading up to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. Do you know what needs to take place before God sends His Son back to earth? God said there would be birth pains – plagues, famines, wars, and earthquakes; a realigning of nations (the US is clearly in decline); a Jewish temple in Jerusalem; the coming of the Antichrist; surveillance, identity-marking technology (Rev. 13:14-17); the gospel being preached to all the nations; and the persecution of Christians and Jews.

All these things will be fully carried out by the sovereign, powerful, purposeful working of God. He will completely finish all the work that must be done before His Son returns to rapture the church – and He wants you to join Him in His work by doing your part, that which He has already planned out. I hope you are excited that God chose you to work for Him at this time in history, in the last days of this church age. What a privilege, what an honor! “My beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). Remember God’s promise – “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to the work He has done.” Revelation 22:12

P.S. It’s very important that we focus on God and what He is doing, on His work, for that helps us to know what we are to do. I would encourage you to read these two posts, “God Is In Charge of Everything,” and “God Is In Charge of Your Life,” for they help you to see God and His way of working.

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #182 ~

The Old Testament is primarily about the Jewish people. From Genesis 12 to Malachi 4, its primary theme is God’s work with this special group of people, a chosen race, a treasured possession. We read about their birth, their growth, their worship, their leaders and kings, their victories, their sins, their defeats, God’s judgment of them, and His plans for their future.

We come to the New Testament and it’s about Jesus Christ, His disciples, the church, and the future that God has both for the church and the Jewish people. Now some may say God has forsaken and forgotten the Jews, that His promises to them have been reneged and rescinded and are no longer valid. But that is not true! An honest study of the New Testament reveals over 100 different verses that not only corroborate God’s Old Testament plans for the Jews, but further explain and expand on them. All Christians, need to understand God’s past, present, and future work with the Jews. Today, and again next week, I will be looking at New Testament Jewish verses that speak of their future, and relate to the future of the church.

As we examine these verses that describe God’s plans for the Jews, we will learn:
1. Verses in the New Testament about the Jews are not hidden, obscure, or hard to see – they stand out, are obvious, and easy to see. 
2. These verses are clearly for the Jews, and in no way can be construed to be for the church.
3. These verses about the Jews are in the context of God’s work with the church. They are not isolated, sitting by themselves, but are adjacent and connected to passages about the church.
4. These verses show us God’s plans for the Jews in this age and in the age to come. 
5. These verses help us see the entire sequence of events, from God’s work with the Jews in the past to God’s work with the church in the past (church age) to God’s work with the Jews and the church in the present (the end-times) to Christ coming back to carry out His plans for the Jews and the church in the future.
6. Knowing the chronology of prophesied end-time events, and then seeing God fulfill His prophecies for the Jews, will help the church know where she is at, timing wise, with regards to Christ’s coming.    
7. These New Testament verses about the Jews complement God’s Old Testament promises to them, and enable us to see the whole picture, God’s overall plan for the Jews.  
8. Now that we live in the end-times, it’s essential that we understand the true meaning of these verses, and how they relate to the church.

Let’s look at these New Testament Jewish verses in the context of the church. 
1. Acts 1:6-11. This speaks of the apostles’ time with Jesus right before His ascension into heaven. They ask Him when He is going to restore the kingdom to Israel, for they want to know when He will begin His reign on earth and when they will be ruling with Him. Jesus tells them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem… to the remotest part of the earth…” Christ wanted them to know that He must first build the church, and then, at the end of this age, He would return to earth to set up His kingdom. We are now living in the end-times, and it won’t be long before Christ comes back to set up His kingdom, a kingdom for believing Jews and Gentiles. Acts 28:20-23, 30-31

2. Acts 2:17-21. These verses, taken from Joel 2:28-32, are for the Jews, but there is a dual fulfillment, for they are also for church. Now the “last days” is a reference to the church age. The beginning of this age is depicted by the outpouring of the Spirit, and the end of this age is marked by the signs in the heavens. During this age, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). Whereas Acts 2:21 speaks of the salvation of the church before these heavenly signs, Joel 3:32 speaks of the salvation of the Jews after these signs – “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape…  in those days and at that time when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem…” This refers to the great escape and salvation of a remnant of Jews and the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. (Rev. 11-12). These first century Jews did not understand the church age, but now we have 2020 vision, and looking back we can clearly see the dual fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32, and that a chosen remnant of Jews will soon be saved.    

3. Acts 3:18-21. These verses show the chronology of God’s work with His people. There’s the suffering of Christ, which is followed by His resurrection and ascension, after which there’s the church age, during which time people repent of their sins, turn to Jesus Christ, and are saved. At the end of this age, Christ, who is now in heaven, will come back and restore the earth, which is what the Jews wanted to hear, for it meant God’s plans for them would be fulfilled.

4. Acts 15:14-17. These verses, from Amos 9:11-13, speak of God’s work with both Jewish and Gentile believers. Like the previous verses, we read about the church age, and vs. 14 speaks of this, a time period during which God is focusing on the Gentiles. “After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David…” This is referring to Christ’s return to earth after this age is over to rebuild Jerusalem and establish His reign over the earth, a time when both Jews and Gentiles will be greatly blessed. “God blesses us…” Psalm 67

5. Romans 11. This New Testament chapter, better than any other, tells us about the salvation of Jews during this church age, and at the end of this age. Most Jews, during this age, harden their hearts and do not believe in the Messiah, but some, a select few, believe and are saved. But God, after this age, after the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, and in accordance with His promises and mercy, will save a remnant of Jews – “This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins... To Him be the glory forever.” Romans 11:26-27, 36

All these verses, in addition to ones we will look at next week, prove to us that God has not forsaken the Jewish people during this church age. He has kept the Jews alive, has kept saving a remnant of them, and now in the end times, and in view of the church, is renewing His work with them. Once this age is over, God will fulfill His three main promises to the Jewish people, for He will redeem a remnant of them (salvation), renovate the earth (land), and begin ruling over the earth (King). “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” Romans 15:10, Ezekiel 37:21-28

P.S. I hope you are excited to learn about these New Testament Jewish verses and how they relate to the church. Make sure you read next week’s post to find out the other verses that speak of the Jewish people and their future. In the meantime, I would encourage you to read the article, “A Summary of the Prophetic Work of God, From the Time of Abraham to Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.”

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #155 ~

The rapture is not imminent. But the vast majority of evangelical Christians in the United States believe it is imminent, that no signs or prophesied events need to happen before Christ comes back to snatch the church from the earth. People who think the rapture is imminent are mistaken, in error, and don’t know what must happen before the church on this earth is suddenly taken to heaven. Let me explain why the rapture is not imminent.

First, we need to understand that the rapture takes place at the coming of Christ. Many people believe the rapture and Christ’s coming occur at two different times, but that’s not true. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 says, “This we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Verse 17 says, “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The same exact phrase, “we who are alive and remain” appears in both verses. Verse 15 speaks of those alive and remaining until the “coming of the Lord.” Verse 17 says those alive and remaining will be “caught up.” When you put these verses together and see how they relate to each other, it’s obvious that the rapture takes place at Christ’s coming, and is, in fact, the first event to occur at His coming.

2 Thessalonians 2:1 says the same thing: “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…” Being gathered is referring to the rapture, which happens at the coming of our Lord. Then there’s 1 John 3:2 that says we’re glorified when He appears, and 1 John 2:28 that says Christ appears at His coming. This means we’re glorified at Christ’s coming, and since we’re glorified when we’re raptured (1 Corinthians 15:50-52), then we know the rapture takes place at Christ’s coming. Look at Matthew 24:37-41 and 1 Corinthians 15:23 and you will realize they also validate this very important point, that the rapture occurs at Christ’s coming.

Second, we need to see that many prophesied signs and events occur before the coming of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, speaking of the day of the Lord, which occurs during the coming of the Lord, says, “it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction (the Antichrist) who opposes and exalts himself above every so called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God.” From this we understand that four things will take place before the day of the Lord and before Christ’s coming, and therefore, before the rapture: the apostasy, the revealing of the Antichrist, the building of the temple, and the desolation of the temple. That Christ’s coming and the rapture are after these four things forces us to conclude that the rapture is not imminent, that it cannot happen until these events take place.

Matthew 24:4-31 also makes it clear that Christ’s coming isn’t imminent. In verse 27, Jesus tells us about His coming – “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” His coming is further described in verse 30 – “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” In verse 31, we find the rapture – “they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” What takes place before these things? In verses 4-26, Jesus tells us there will be false christs, wars, earthquakes, famines, great tribulation, the betrayal of Christians, increasing lawlessness, false prophets, the preaching of the gospel, the desolation of the temple, Jews fleeing the enemy (the Antichrist), and signs in the heavens. All these things, including plagues, like the Coronavirus (Luke 21:11), will take place before Christ’s coming (verses 27, 30) and the rapture of the church (verse 31).

By reading these and other prophecy passages (Mark 13, Luke 17, Luke 21, Revelation 6-7), it’s obvious that many prophesied signs and events will take place before Christ’s coming, proving that the rapture of the church is not imminent, and cannot happen at any moment. For example, it cannot happen today, tomorrow, next week, next year, 10 years from now, or any other time in the future, unless all these prophesied events take place first.

That the rapture is not imminent is confirmed by Matthew 24:33, for Jesus says, “when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” When we “see all these things” Jesus talked about in verses 4-29, then we know His coming and the rapture is near, at hand, will take place very soon. To drive this point home, Jesus goes on to say, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (verse 34). When Jesus uses the word “truly”, He is being emphatic about the fact that Christians will see “all these things” before He returns to rapture the church. There will be a “generation” of Christians who will observe “all these things” and then be raptured.

Another key verse on this subject is Matthew 24:25, where Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything in advance.” What is “everything”? It is “all these things” pertaining to His coming. Why has He told us these things? And why has He told us these things ahead of time? Just so we can know what they are. Of course not. Jesus is telling us these things because we need to know them, and when we see them taking place, we will be confident that His coming, and the rapture, is getting closer. Jesus wants us to know what will be happening before He raptures the church because He doesn’t want us, His bride, to be afraid or caught off guard. He wants us to be ready, alert, and expecting and looking for His return. 

Jesus’ coming and the rapture are not imminent and will not happen until particular signs and events take place. And He told you “all these things” because He loves you and doesn’t want you to be surprised, but to be awake, aware of what is going on in the world, and excited about seeing Him. Jesus knows life will be extremely difficult for Christians on the earth at that time, and He wants you to have hope. But it’s not just about you having hope, but about you telling others so they have hope, for Hebrews 10:25 says, “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

P.S. This subject, that Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are not imminent, is extremely important for you to understand. Here are three other posts that will help you understand this subject: “We Will See the Day of Christ Drawing Near”, “Reflections on the Timing of Christ’s Return”, and “When Is Christ Coming Back?”

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #127 ~

These are Jesus’ words, spoken in the context of His comprehensive second coming message recorded in Matthew 24. Paul, in his end-times’ epistle (2 Thessalonians 2:5), wrote something similar, “Let no one in any way deceive you.” Isn’t it instructive that in both of these passages you are warned about error? This means that the devil will lie about Christ’s coming and events leading up to it, and many people will believe his lies. But God wants you to know the truth about the end times so you won’t be deceived and misled by the devil. I hope you realize that a little error can really hurt you. It’s like poison in your food, an infection in your body, or a wrong road on a map. And so too, you don’t want to be led astray by any error in any subject, and that includes in this area of prophecy. My goal in this post is to share God’s truth to correct six different errors, specifically with regards to Daniel’s 70^th week, the coming of Christ, and the rapture of the church.

1. The rapture of the church is not imminent. Many Christians believe that the rapture can take place at any time, at any moment, and that no signs or prophesied events need to take place before it can occur, but that is not true. Matthew 24:5-30 lists a number of events that need to happen before the church is raptured (verse 31). Knowing these events will help us to “recognize that He is near” (verse 33). 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 tells us that we are not to be in darkness, surprised like the unbelievers, but we are to be awake and alert, which means we are to know what God’s word says about conditions in the world before Christ’s coming. Hebrews 10:25 further establishes this truth by saying that Christians “are to see the day drawing near.”

2. Great tribulation is not God’s wrath. Many think that the great tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24:9, 21 is God’s wrath, but that’s wrong thinking. Tribulation in the New Testament, also defined as affliction, distress, trouble and persecution, almost always refers to that which affects Christians (Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 4:17). Surely this distress and persecution is not God’s wrath, but Satan’s work, instigated by the Antichrist at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week. You must understand that great tribulation is persecution brought on by the Antichrist, but wrath is punishment brought on by God. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 corroborates this, for it makes it clear that tribulation directed at Christians is distinct from God’s wrath, and comes before His wrath.

3. Daniel’s 70^th week is not seven years of tribulation. Some people believe the entire 70^th week is tribulation, and therefore, is all God’s wrath, but that’s error. Let me give you an overview of Daniel’s 70^th week to help you see what will be happening. First, tribulation will occur during the first 3½ years of the 70^th week, for tribulation, believers being afflicted and persecuted, is a church-age and universal truth (Acts 14:22, John 16:33). Second, Matthew 24:15-22 informs us that great tribulation, initiated by the Antichrist, takes place during the 2^nd half of Daniel’s 70^th week, starting at the midpoint of that 7-year period. This tribulation is then cut short, meaning it is stopped by God sometime during those last 3½ years, and then Christians are raptured (verses 29-31). Third, God’s wrath (Revelation 8-9) starts immediately after the rapture, and continues to the end of Daniel’s 70^th week. This 70^th week then is comprised of tribulation and great tribulation affecting the Christians, and wrath directed at the non-Christians. (Many Jews, chosen by God to be saved, will be protected from this wrath – Revelation 7:1-8, 12:13-16).

4. The church will be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed. Many Christians think they will be raptured before the Antichrist’s coming, but that is not true. 2 Thessalonian 2:1 tells us that at Christ’s coming, Christians will be gathered to Him (this includes the rapture). But when is Christ’s coming? 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 makes it clear that His coming, and therefore, the rapture of the church, occurs after the Antichrist’s coming. Thus, it is true that the church will be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed, and is ruling. Revelation 12:6-17 helps us to understand this, for the devil, failing to catch the Jews, goes “to make war” with the Christians, which is obviously after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week. Revelation 13:7 elaborates on this, for it says that the Antichrist is making war with the saints, and saints are Christians, which means the church is still on earth at that time. This same sequence of events is given in Matthew 24:9-31, again proving that the church, the body of Christ, will indeed be on earth during the rule of the Antichrist.

5. The church is raptured at the coming of Christ, and is the initial event at His coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 says, “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says, “we who are alive and remain will be caught up (raptured).” These are equivalent phrases, instructing us that Christians will be caught up (raptured) at the coming of the Lord. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 confirms this truth when it says, “with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.” This gathering includes believers who have already gone to heaven, and those still living on earth, who are raptured at Christ’s coming. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 also establishes this fact, for it says, “… all will be made alive. But each in His own order: Christ, the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

6. The rapture of the church does not occur at the beginning of Daniel’s 70^th week. That the rapture happens at the beginning of this 70^th week is never stated in the Bible. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 explains to us that Christ’s coming and the rapture occur after the Antichrist’s coming and desecration of the temple. Since the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week (Daniel 9:27), then the rapture has to take place after that point in time. Matthew 24:15-31 tells us the same thing as 2 Thessalonians 2, that the abomination of desolation, the desecration of the temple (verse 15), caused by the Antichrist, comes before the rapture of the church (verse 31), caused by Jesus Christ. We do not know the specific time of the rapture, the day or the hour, but we do know the general time, that it will happen after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week, after the Antichrist is revealed, after great tribulation is cut short, and before the day of the Lord’s wrath. Matthew 24:29-36

I have given you some arguments and summary statements regarding truths and errors with respect to end-times’ prophecy. In particular, I have focused on pre-millennialism, which means Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church occur before His 1000-year reign on earth. As you can see, I have not fully developed these arguments, but I wanted to introduce them to you, and give you sufficient information to help you see that they are from God’s word, and are true. In the future, I plan to more fully explain them.

In the meantime, read and study the following prophecy passages, Matthew 24:3-41, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 2-3, and Revelation 6-9, 12-13. These will help you grow in your convictions about what God says will be taking place in the end times, and help you learn the truth, and discern the error. Don’t forget what Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you… So be on your guard; I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:5, 23 

P.S. There is one article that I believe is extremely important in helping you understand the truth of the end times, and that is “Matthew 24 – The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.” I also suggest that you check out the “Charts.” Take time to go over them, for I am convinced they will give you a proper overview of the future that God has in store for us.

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #123 ~

We have always lived in a world where there are kings, presidents, and prime ministers leading their countries. But at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week (Daniel 9:27), we will see this man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, ruling the world. I say “we will see” because the church will still be on earth when he is revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5). His divinely appointed time on earth will be the culmination of Satan’s long, age-old war against God (Revelation 12-13). As Christians, it’s essential that we understand what these prophecy passages are telling us, for this Antichrist’s zeal for evil, and super-intense hatred for God and His people, will be like nothing we have ever seen before.

2 Thessalonians 2 tells us some important things God wants us to know about this man of lawlessness. We learn that he is now restrained, and is not yet doing his most-wicked work. But the time will come when he won’t be restrained, when he will be revealed. Here are three specific things we need to know about the revealing of the Antichrist:
* First, this arrogant impostor will “take his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (verses 3-4). This deceiver will actually proclaim that he is God, which is God’s sign to true Christians and discerning Jews that the Antichrist has been revealed.
* Second, it says that “in his time he will be revealed” (verse 6). God is in charge, and He is the One who determines when the Antichrist will take his stand on earth.
* Third, this “lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (verse 8). This gives us the all-important big picture, that this son of destruction will be revealed, but will not be victorious, for he will soon come to an end, completely and forever defeated. “His dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.” Daniel 7:26

What else does Paul tell us about this evil Antichrist, this beast, this son of destruction?
* That he is Satan’s man, and that he will be motivated and energized by Satan himself, and will be doing his devilish and despicable work. Verse 9, Revelation 13:3-7
* With the help of a second beast, he will carry out many powerful signs and wonders, with a goal of deceiving everyone on earth. Revelation 13:13-14 confirms this: “He (another beast) performs great signs… and he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs…” The Antichrist, this most dangerous man, will set up a one-world religion, and sadly, most people will be fooled and believe he is God, and will worship him. “They worshiped the dragon… and they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:4

Paul goes on to tell us about these evil, end-time unbelievers, ones who won’t worship God, but instead will worship the Antichrist, and therefore, worship Satan himself. They will be deceived by amazing signs and wonders, and by the seductive power of wickedness. (verses 9-10). They will be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4). They “took pleasure in wickedness” (verse 12). “Men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Like the days of Noah, they will love their sin, and will be pleasing and satisfying their sinful flesh.

These sinners will love their sin, but won’t love the truth, which means they won’t love Jesus, and His gospel message. Because they won’t love the truth, they won’t “believe the truth” (verse 12). They will hate the Savior and won’t want to be saved from their sins. God will harden the hearts of those who harden their hearts against Him and the gospel, for He “will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false” (verse 11). These wicked people will be abandoned by God to their own sin, and the consequences of their sin, which is what Romans 1:24-28 says: “God gave them over to degrading passions… to a depraved mind.” What happens next? They will be judged, and will perish, being eternally punished for their sins (verses 10, 12). “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of God.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9

Do you get the picture? During this time on earth, there’s Satan, the Antichrist, and a world full of sinners – and it will be exceedingly dark. But the Christians alive on earth at this time are to be bright lights, lovingly sharing the gospel to the very end of the age (Matthew 24:14). Yes, they will be hated and persecuted during this time of great tribulation (Matthew 24:9), but God will give them abundant grace, peace, and victory. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?… In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-39). Then at the rapture of the church, there is relief for all the Christians who are suffering and experiencing tribulation. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7, Revelation 7:9-17

You need to know the order, the sequence of these end-time events: First, the temple in Jerusalem will be built. Then at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week, the Antichrist will be revealed, desecrating the temple. After that, great tribulation will begin, affecting both Jews and Christians. Then there’s the coming of the Lord, the initial event being the rapture of the church. Right after that, there’s the day of the Lord, the pouring out of God’s wrath upon the unbelievers. At the end of Daniel’s 70^th week, many Jews will be saved. Then the Antichrist and the other beast will be cast into the lake of fire. Finally, Jesus Christ will begin His great and glorious 1000-year reign on earth. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth… Sing praises to our King.” Psalm 47:2, 6

P.S. Here is an extensive, must-read article about the Antichrist – The Coming of the Antichrist, The Devil’s Man on Earth.

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #122 ~

The Thessalonian church was being greatly persecuted. Then they heard some message or read some letter making them think the Lord Jesus had already returned, and that they had missed the rapture. Paul, as an apostle and pastor, heard they were troubled, and knew he had to clear up their confusion, their error, and so he writes another letter to them, 2 Thessalonians. In chapter 1, he tells them that the relief that comes with the rapture takes place before the day of the Lord, before God’s wrath is poured out on this earth. In chapter 2, he tells them that two events must occur before the day of the Lord, and therefore, before the rapture of the church. First, there needs to be the apostasy, this defection of so-called religious and church people. Secondly, there needs to be the revealing of the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist. As we look back through history, we see that neither of these events have ever happened, but they will, and not long from now.

That’s because we live in the end-times, which means this 2^nd Thessalonian epistle is especially relevant to us. But it’s not just relevant, it’s essential that we understand it. I say this because many Christians believe no events need to occur, and no conditions need to be met before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. But that’s not true, that’s erroneous. Right here in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul tells us two events that need to take place before the rapture. Other prophecy passages state additional conditions and events that need to happen. Matthew 24:3-30, Luke 21:7-28, Revelation 6:1-17

God gives us these signs because He wants us to have a general idea when His Son is coming back to earth. It’s true we don’t know the exact day or hour of Christ’s return, but God wants us to know many of the end-time events leading up to His return, as well as the sequence, the order of these events. We will “see the day (of Christ) drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25), and then “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud…” (Luke 21:27). Jesus Christ is coming like a thief in the night to unbelievers, but not to believers, not to us. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 

Let’s look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, which is about the man of lawlessness, known also as the Antichrist. What God wants us to know is that Christians will be alive on earth when the Antichrist is revealed. We may not want to hear this, but it is the truth. These verses make it clear that the Antichrist must be revealed before the day of the Lord, which means before the coming of the Lord, and therefore, before the rapture of the church and the gathering of all believers to Him. Matthew 24:31

The Antichrist, this most lawless, vile and devilish man to ever live, is described in great detail in the book of Daniel. He will be a strong and boastful speaker, extremely powerful, crushing and ruling other nations, and leading a ten-nation kingdom. He will be “waging war with the saints,” and arrogantly speaking out against them (Daniel 7:11, 19-26). He will be smart, shrewd, intimidating and destructive, and will “even oppose the Prince of princes” (Daniel 8:23-25). He will make a peace treaty with Israel, pretending to be her protector, but will then turn violently against her. Daniel 9:27

This most evil man will “do as he pleases, and will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36), which is just what 2 Thessalonian 2:3-5 tells us will happen. The time will be the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week, and the place will be the temple in Jerusalem. During the first half of this week, this 7-year time-frame, this man of lawlessness grows in power and prominence. Seemingly unstoppable, he “opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship.” He is strongly opposed to all religions, churches and God Himself, for he wants no one else in the world, but himself, to be worshiped. Revelation 13:3-8 

Then “he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” This is the “abomination of desolation,” predicted by Daniel and confirmed by Jesus (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15). It is at this time, at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70^th week, that this “man of lawlessness is revealed,” for then Christians and discerning Jews will know for certain that this devilish man is the Antichrist. He will be the greatest God-hater, Jew-hater, Christian-hater ever. “He opened his mouth in blasphemies against God… It was also given to him to make war with the saints, and overcome them.” Revelation 13:7

It’s the beginning of the 21^st century, and this son of destruction is now restrained, is kept in check, for his time has not yet come. But his father, the devil, is not restrained, for since the sin of Adam and Eve, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). In the near future, the restrainer, who I believe is Michael the archangel, will be taken out of the way, and then the Antichrist will be revealed – and we will know its him. (Daniel 12:1, Revelation 12:7-12). Thankfully, this Antichrist “has only a short time,” for “that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8

P.S. Here are two previous posts that go along with this one, and will help you further understand the future that God has planned for our world: That Evil Antichrist, and His Short Rule on Earth and The Timing of the Rapture.

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

I love the truth and the reality of the rapture. My latest article is 50 Truths God Wants You To Know About The Rapture, a detailed listing and description of what God has in store for the church at the end of this age. I encourage you to take the time to read it, to work your way through it, and get a better picture of the future and great love that God has for us.

The Espanol tab now features a drop down menu with the first line, “Mensajes Recientes” linking you to the latest and recent posts, and the second line, “Archivos”, linking you to a chronological listing of the posts (just like the “Archives” tab), from the first post, to the last and most recent one.

Our church was so blessed this past Sunday with Marv Rosenthal as our guest speaker. He has been faithfully serving the Lord for close to 60 years, and a friend and mentor to me for over 23 years. To see his love for the Lord and for truth, and to see him persevering has been a great encouragement to my wife and me, and I’m sure to thousands of others. You can listen to his message at our Sermon Audio home page for Hope Bible Church.

Next week, February 2, I’ll be continuing with the blog posts, again focusing on the coming of Christ and the end time events that will be taking place before His return and the rapture of the church.

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

It’s been exactly one year since I started this blog site, and having the opportunity to share Biblical truth about prophecy has been most encouraging to me, and I trust for you as well. But I’m taking a two-week break, and am planning on publishing posts again starting on February 3^rd. There are a few things though, that I want to mention:

* There is a new tab called “Archives.”  This is a consecutive listing of all the posts, starting with the first one written last January, continuing on up to the last one. This format will make it easier for you to find a post you haven’t read yet, or want to go back and read again. I want to say too, that I’ve written these posts in a particular order, and for maximum learning, I’d encourage you to start with number one, and go on from there. In fact, if you’ve not read all the posts, I’d encourage you to go back and start with the first one. Having the Archives set up this way, will make that much easier to do.

* The “Espanol” tab is being reworked for easier access and readability. It should be up and ready to go in the next week or two. Please pass this on to your Hispanic friends.

* I want to remind you that all posts, articles and charts are for you to use as the Lord leads. Download, print and use for your own learning, and then pass them on to your family, church members and friends.

* I have a lot more to share with you about the end times, the coming of Christ, and the millennial kingdom age to follow. I do appreciate your prayers for understanding, wisdom and protection. If you have any thoughts or questions, please write me using the email address listed. The next post will be up and ready to read in two weeks, February 3^rd, Lord willing. “To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” Jude 1-2

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Special Post ~

This is Thanksgiving Day, a wonderful day to enjoy family and friends, and to eat some very good food. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25). It is also a time to remember the great blessings God has bestowed on our lives, and to then reflect on His great goodness toward us. What a kind and gracious Father we have, who has blessed us so, so much, and will continue to bless us in this life on earth, and forever and ever. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

As you know this blog is about the end times and Christ’s Kingdom. Indeed, there is much that can be said, and needs to be said about what will be taking place in our future. But to live for the Lord in the way He wants we need to not just know what will be happening, but we need to possess the godly character He speaks about in His word. Over the course of the next year my desire is to write a number of articles about the character of a Christian. The first is given to you here – “Being Thankful – The Character of a Christian.”

Happy Thanksgiving!  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14