Greetings and God's blessings to you!
I am grateful you are here and interested in reading about and studying what God says in His Word, the Bible, about the future return of His Son and our Lord, Savior and King Jesus Christ! My first weekly post is schedule to be available on January 21, 2017 so I hope you come back to read it then. Until then please enjoy looking at and reading some of the information that is already here.
For our Lord Jesus Christ,
Steven J. Hogan
Pastor of Hope Bible Church of Tampa
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #1 ~
“They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). Jesus Christ is coming again! We know this is true because God has told us in the Bible, and He has told us over and over again. And God doesn’t lie. I am telling you, this is the truth, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of the world, the Lord of all, the Savior of souls, the Judge of sinners, and the King of the world, will soon be returning to this planet.
About 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to this earth for the first time. He lived a perfect life and died a perfect death, to pay for all the sins of all the people who would ever repent of their sins and believe in Him. Not believing in Christ for salvation means you will forever be apart from God and His glory, and be rightly punished for your sins. But by believing in Christ, you are immediately forgiven of all your sins and immediately receive eternal life - this is very good news and, without a doubt, the best news in all of life, and in all the world. John 5:24, Revelation 20:11-15
At this time in history, we are nearing the end of this present church age, which means Jesus Christ will be returning soon. When He comes back, He will first take the Christians who are on earth up to heaven. Second, He will judge the unbelieving world. Third, He will save a great number of Jewish people. Fourth, He will begin His reign on earth. This is, without question, definitely going to happen. And everything, and I mean everything, is going to change - in your life, in your family, in your church, in this country, and in this world. Jesus Christ will be completely in charge and, ruling perfectly, He will finally bring true justice and peace to this world. Psalm 67, Habakkuk 2:14
You might wonder how we know Christ is coming back soon? Because we live in what the Bible calls the end-times (Daniel 12:4, 9). The Jews have been gathering back to Palestine, to Israel, since the late 1800’s, and this is God’s sign to us that we are in the end-times. God’s plans for the end of this age are now being carried out, and He Himself is directing the people and events of the world, leading up to that time when His Son will return to this earth to fulfill His glorious purposes. Ephesians 1:9-11
But I need to tell you something else - life on earth is going to get extremely difficult before Christ returns, for we will be experiencing “birth pains” - wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes (Matthew 24:3-8). These things are taking place now, but like the labor pains of an expectant mother, they will get harder and harder. God wants you to know ahead of time what will be taking place so you can be ready, so you can know how to live during the last years of this age, and so you can tell others. “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” Mark 13:23
For close to 27 years now I have been studying the subject of Christ’s return. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that God has been teaching me these important and timely truths, and I pray that He will touch your heart and teach you these things. The Lord has a lot to say on this subject and, Lord willing, week by week, I will be sharing His prophetic truth, connecting the truth of His Word with events taking place in the world. My prayer is that you will be learning from the Lord, loving the Lord, living for Him, and be looking for His soon return. Never forget Jesus’ last words to us: “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:7, 12, 22
P.S. Check out the tabs - the glossary with all its terms, the articles that expand on this subject, and the many charts that will help you see the big picture, how it all fits together, and where it’s all going.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #2 ~
Right in the middle of a prophecy passage, Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything ahead of time.” Mark 13:23. This verse really motivates me to want to know what God wants me to know about these days leading up to Christ’s return. Today, I want to give you a “table of contents”, a preview and an overview of our future. Might God excite your heart with the truth about His plans for you and the church, and for this earth.
1. Prophecy is not man’s word, it is God’s Word; and it is going to take place just like He promised. Matthew 24:35, Revelation 1:1-3
2. JESUS CHRIST, the CREATOR of the world, the LORD of lords, the SAVIOR of souls, the JUDGE of the earth, and the KING of kings, is actually returning to this earth, and nothing will stop HIM. Luke 21:27, Psalm 98:9
3. The church age started after Christ’s 1st coming and will end before His 2nd coming. We are now living at the end of this age, and the next age will soon begin. Romans 13:10-11, Acts 2:17-21
4. We know we are living at the end of this age, in the end times, because according to God’s promise, the Jews have been regathering to their land. Ezekiel 36-37; Daniel 12:4, 9
5. God’s work with the Jews in the end times is in conjunction with God’s work with the church in the end times. Since this is true, then we know that Christ is coming soon, first to rapture the church, and then to save a remnant of Jews. Matthew 24:4-27; Revelation 7, 14:1-3
6. Calamitous events (“birth pains”) will take place around the world, but don’t be surprised, for God told us this would happen. Trust Him, and He will give you peace. Psalm 46, Matthew 24:4-8
7. Daniel’s 70th week is a future 7 year time frame during which many prophesied events, affecting both Jews and Christians, will be taking place. Daniel 9:24-27, Revelation 6-14
8. The next major prophesied event to take place is the signing / confirming of a peace treaty between the Jews and the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
9. The Antichrist is revealed to the world at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15
10. Christians will go through great tribulation brought on by the Antichrist but they will not go through the wrath of God. Acts 14:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Revelation 7:14
11. Christians are to be preaching the gospel and making disciples until the end of this age, and then Jesus Christ will return to rapture the believers from this earth. Matthew 24:13-14, 28:19-20
12. No one knows the exact time of the rapture except God, but we can know the general time, for prophesied events are and will be taking place, signaling that Christ’s return is getting closer. Matthew 24:32-36, Hebrews 10:25
13. Major prophetic events that will take place at Christ’s return: rapture of the church, wrath of God on earth, redemption of the Jews, and reign of Christ on earth. Revelation 7-20
14. God will fulfill His promises to the Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week - the Abrahamic (land), Davidic (King) and New (salvation) Covenants. Psalms 110-111, Ezekiel 37:21-23, Daniel 9:24
15. Everything always has, and always will ultimately be about the Kingdom of God. In this church age, the Kingdom of God is in us, but the next age will soon begin and Christ will set up His Kingdom on this earth. Psalms 47, 67, 72, 145; Ephesians 1:20-21
16. As a Christian you need hope, and hope means looking forward to being with Christ! being in heaven! being with believers! being in a new body! and being rewarded! Romans 5:1-5!
I know there is a lot here, but again this is just a preview of upcoming posts. Stick with it, and in the weeks and months ahead we will be going over these things in much greater depth and detail, and so keep reading and learning. Please check out the charts linked to these points, for they are designed to give you greater understanding, and to help you see the big picture. For all of us, by God’s grace and for God’s glory, let’s keep making disciples “to the very end of the age.”
PS – I want to let you know that I’ll be regularly adding more charts and articles. Feel free to use or copy them for yourself, your family or your church. Contact me at stevehogan@ChristsKingdom.org if you have any thoughts or questions. May God bless you, and use you for His purposes and glory.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #3 ~
Throughout the years, I have loved to get up on top of hills, and on the top floors of big buildings and parking ramps. I have loved to look out over the land and get some perspective, for too easily I know that I can focus on my own life and my own little world. As Christians, we need Biblical perspective, spiritual perspective - we need to see things from God’s point of view. But I'm not talking about what is presently going on in the world - I am talking about a historical and prophetic perspective. And it's what the Bible says about our past and our future that gives us this big picture, and should then motivate us to live for Him in the last years of this church age.
Let’s break down the past, the present, and our future into four parts:
- First, there was the time of Adam and Eve, and they were perfect, and they were perfectly ruling over a perfect world. This is Genesis 1-2.
- Second, there's the present evil age, an age that began with the sin of Adam and Eve. During this age, Satan, the most wicked and sinful being ever, has been ruling over an evil and corrupt world. This is our time to live! This is Genesis 3 - Revelation 19.
- Third, there's the next age, the 1000-year kingdom age, when Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King, will perfectly rule over a far better, though still not perfect world. This is Revelation 20.
- Fourth, there will be the eternal kingdom, when God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will perfectly, wonderfully, and forever be ruling over a perfect heaven and a perfect earth. This is Revelation 21-22.
Do you see this? Do you see where this world has come from, and where this world is going? Do you get the big picture? And do you see where you and I are at right now? This present evil age (Galatians 1:4), that started with Adam's sin, is now in its "last days" (Acts 2:17), the church age. Not only that, but with the Jews back in their land, we know that we are at the very end of this evil age, this church age. This means that Jesus Christ will soon return to rapture the Christians who are on earth and take them up to heaven. At that time all believers saved during this evil age, both Old and New Testament saints, will join together to worship and serve the Lord, and reign with Him over this earth. Hallelujah!!!
This future is our hope, and we should be extremely excited and looking forward to it. We are so close to this monumental juncture in the history of our world when this evil age will end - when we will see the return of the King, and the beginning of the next age. Our salvation will be complete, we will be glorified, and the good age, Christ’s kingdom age, will begin. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 summarizes this by saying, "But each in his own order: Christ, the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father." Ephesians 1:21, speaking of Christ's rule and authority says, "in this age, but also in the age to come."
But this is 2020, and this is our time, our time to live for the Lord! To think that God purposed and planned for you and I to be alive, not back in the days of Moses or David or even at the time of Christ’s 1st coming, not in the Dark Ages or at the time of Luther or out in the wild west, but now in the end times, and so very close to Christ’s 2nd coming. In all of human history, this is the time God wants us to be alive on this earth, and this should greatly motivate us to want to live for Him, and be a part of what He is doing in this world. The parable of the minas (Luke 19:11-27) instructs us, “Do business until I come back.” Might we be living all out for the Lord, using our time, talents, and treasure for Him, building up the church, encouraging the believers, and reaching out to the lost. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
PS – Always notice the little man in the charts. That’s you and me. Do you see where we are? And do you see where we are going? It won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and takes us home to heaven.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #4 ~
Imagine a good friend, a close relative or your dear child coming to visit you. Wouldn’t you be happy, excited, and looking forward to seeing him? Wouldn’t you be getting ready – cleaning your house, fixing up their bedroom, and figuring out what meals to have? And wouldn’t there be this joyful anticipation, where every single day you’d be thinking about his coming, until finally he arrives?
Now imagine God Himself coming to visit you. Wouldn’t you be happy, excited, and looking forward to seeing Him? Wouldn’t you be getting ready for His arrival? I hope you'd say yes. And the truth is, God is coming!!!
Jesus Christ is coming back to earth! Jesus Christ is God and man, and He's coming back, and He’s not just paying a visit, He’s coming to stay. Over 20 times in the New Testament we read about the coming of Christ; and this word “coming” means “arrival and continued presence.” You see, Jesus Christ came the first time about 2000 years ago and He stayed for only 33 years, and then went back home to heaven. But this time He will arrive and stay for good. Let me explain why Christ's coming is so, so important.
Jesus Christ is the Savior! Christ died for our sins and rose again, enabling us to be forgiven and receive eternal life. If you have repented of your sins, and trusted in Christ to forgive you, to save you, then He’s your Savior. And over time you learn how much He loves you, and so much more than anyone else. Then you learn that He’s coming back to rapture you and take you home to heaven. I can’t tell you how important it is for you to realize how passionately Christ loves you, and that He can’t wait to see you. Might your soul be charged up by His great love for you, so that you love Him, and are looking forward to His return, His coming for you.
Jesus Christ is the Judge! Yes, here comes the Judge, and there is nothing more serious than this, for after Christ raptures the Christians, then He will judge the unbelievers who remain on earth, and this will be one holy devastation. This is the wrath of God, the Day of the Lord, a judgment of fire, a time when Christ will perfectly judge this earth and the people on it. It is the Trumpet and Bowl judgments spoken of in Revelation 8-9, 16, that describe how dreadful and deadly this will be for the all unbelievers left behind.
Jesus Christ is the Redeemer! God repeatedly promised that He would redeem a remnant of Jewish people, and it is at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week that this will be fulfilled. Then the Jews, along with all the believers, which includes all Christians, will begin to reign with Christ over this world. And by the way, we know we are in the end times because the Jews have been regathering to their land since the 1880's, all this leading to that climactic moment, the redemption of a remnant of Jews. Romans 11:25-27
Jesus Christ is the King! As you well know, we do not have peace in this world. Throughout the years, many rulers have tried to bring peace, but they have all failed. Only Jesus Christ can and will do this. After the rapture, and after the wrath, is when Christ's 1000-year reign will begin. I must say, I am really looking forward to this millennial kingdom, and finally seeing true justice, peace and joy all over this world. Psalm 67
Jesus Christ, the Savior, Judge, Redeemer and King, is literally coming back to this earth! This is the truth. This is not folly, fiction or fake news - this is what God has told us again and again in His Word. And this is God’s Word, not man’s word, and you need to believe it and be convinced of it. I personally believe Christ's coming may take place in your lifetime, and if not in your lifetime, then in your children's or grandchildren’s. Do you understand how amazing, how wonderful, how dramatic, how climactic, how exciting, how earth-shaking, earth-changing, life-changing, devil-defeating, and God-glorifying this will be??
One more thing - In the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). He repeats Himself three times. Why? Because He’s trying to wake you up, and alert you to the fact that He is soon returning to earth. He wants you to know that He is super-excited about coming back to take you to be with Himself, and He wants you to be super-excited about being with Him - and with great joy and great feeling say, “COME, LORD JESUS!”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #5 ~
At the end of this age, Jesus Christ will come down from heaven. With all authority, He will lovingly, powerfully, suddenly, quickly, and safely take up all the believers who are remaining on this earth. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet,” we will be taken out of this evil age, and be taken up from this earth. Immediately we will see Jesus, and then be with Him forever. This is the rapture of the Christians! 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
At this time, we will be caught up together with all the believers from all time. “We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds...” 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Those in heaven and those on earth will be gathered together to be with Jesus Christ. Then we will see all the believers, which includes loved ones, family members and friends who went to heaven before us. What a great reunion, what a glorious celebration this will be! This is our hope, our future – this is the truth, what surely will take place, and what we should all be looking forward to. Matthew 24:31
“…to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17. We will not just see one another, but we will see Jesus. Then we will hear His loving voice and His truth-filled words. Finally, it hits us, we are actually with Jesus, our Lord, Savior, Friend and Husband. Filled with awe and overflowing with joy, with great emotion we will praise and thank our Lord, and tell Him, as Revelation 7:9 says, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
“We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2. Not only will we see Jesus, but we will also be like Him. That is, we will be glorified, we will receive our brand new body. Do you realize that no believer in heaven or on earth at this time is glorified, is fully saved? This takes place at the rapture. And for believers now on earth, we are justified, we are being sanctified, and we will be glorified at the rapture, when all believers from all time will receive their perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual bodies. Our salvation will finally be complete! How wonderful this will be! Glory be to God! Romans 8:28-30, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
When will this take place? No one but God knows the exact time. But God does want us to know the general time of Christ’s coming and the rapture; and it won’t be long because we are now living in the end times. It is Matthew 24 that helps us see the general time of His coming, and gives us the best chronology of end time events. It tells us that the rapture (vs 31) will be after the birth pains (vss 4-8), after the Antichrist is revealed (vs 15), after great tribulation (vss 9, 21, 29), after the gospel has been preached to the world (vs 14), and after the end of the age, the signs in the heavens (vs 29). The rapture will take place sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, but we do not know the day or the hour.
The rapture of the church, the first event at Christ’s coming, is a most pivotal, critical and climactic point in human history. Why? 1) All believers are happily with Christ, our salvation is complete and we are glorified. 2) This present evil age is over, and the day of the Lord, God’s righteous wrath, will then take place on earth. 3) Then the good age will begin, when Christ will reign on this earth, and we will reign with Him. The rapture – what a glorious moment this will be, and O what it means for all eternity! Think about it. Believe it. Be excited about it! Look forward to it! “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20
JESUS LOVES ME - Anna B. Warner / William Bradbury
“Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so."
“Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way; He’s prepared a home for me, and some day His face I’ll see. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”
P.S. - Our church will be hosting a Bible Prophecy Conference on April 1-2. The speakers will be Marv Rosenthal, Alan Kurschner and myself. Check it out on the front page of www.HopeBibleChurch.US - it's going to be a great conference, and I want to invite you to attend.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #6 ~
Jesus Christ is now in heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father. And do you know what He’s thinking about? He’s thinking about you and me, His bride on earth, and no doubt longing for that time when He will return to rapture and redeem the believers who are still on earth. But He is not just “thinking” about coming back, He’s “excited” about it, He’s “looking forward” to it. He “can’t wait” to come back and take you home to heaven. Jesus’ heart is aflame with love for you – He loves you so much more than you know - “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love towards those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11
But here’s a question? Do you love Jesus? I mean do you intensely and passionately love Jesus? Is your heart aflame with love for Him? Are you loving Jesus by living for Him while you are on this earth? And are you excited that He’s coming back to take you home to heaven? Is this your desire and prayer, and what you spend time thinking about? My concern and fear in this day and age is that many Christians are sleeping, are apathetic, and aren’t interested in Christ’s return and the rapture. But why? Are they lovers of self? Are they worldly? Are they “choked with worries, riches and pleasures of life?” Luke 8:14. Or are they ignorant, and just don’t know about Christ’s return?
In over 100 verses, God specifically tells you that Jesus is coming back; and 100’s of more verses give all kinds of details about His return. Why does God say so much? Why does He keep repeating Himself? Because He loves you, and because Jesus loves you. These verses are Jesus’ love letter to you, letting you know, convincing you and reminding you about His coming for you. More than you realize, Jesus longs to see you and be with you, and He wants you to long to see Him and be with Him - and to be ready and waiting for Him.
Think of a serviceman overseas, writing emails and texts to his wife, and he keeps telling her, “I miss you so much. I can’t wait to see you. I’ll be home soon. All my love.” Then the day comes and he returns home, and he is in the airport, and he sees his wife, and they are jumping up and down, shouting, crying, hugging and kissing. And their love for one another is quite obvious. For a long time they’ve been thinking about this, and looking forward to this one moment. And now it’s true!
But we are talking about seeing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and being in love with Him. Now there are many ways to get stirred in your love for Jesus. One way is by taking communion, for this is to remind you of Jesus’ love for you so that you then love Him. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” This church age verse instructs you to stay in love with Jesus “until He comes.” Jesus’ heart is fired up for you, and He wants your heart to be fired up for Him, to be charged up by His love for you. It’s that simple. Jesus loves you and He wants you to love Him, and to be longing for that time when you will see Him. Jesus is your Savior, Friend and Husband, and three times at the end of His Revelation love letter, He says to you, “Behold, I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:7,12, 20
Your relationship with Jesus is a love story, and undoubtedly the best of all love stories. Jesus has loved you for a long, long time. God chose to save you, and since eternity past Jesus has had you on His heart, has had His eye on you, and then He died for you (Romans 5:8), and then you were physically born, and then He called you, and then you were saved, at which time you first began to love Him. And now you continue to love Him. But sad to say, your heart can get cold. Revelation 2:4 says, “you have left your first love.” Revelation 3:16 says, “you are lukewarm.” Today, if your heart is not fervent in your love towards Jesus, then repent, tell Him you are sorry, and “dine with Him” and “do the deeds you did at first”. And keep loving Him “until He comes”. I still remember and love Pat Terry’s song from the 1970’s – “I can’t wait to see Jesus in His glory as He bursts from the sky…”
P.S. I just finished an article, “An Introduction to the Book of Revelation.” I believe you will find it very helpful, very instructive, and very encouraging.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #7 ~
Why should we read Bible prophecy? And why do I read and study it, and come up with all these charts, and then take the time to write to you about it? Because Bible prophecy is God’s Word, and therefore it’s true, and therefore it’s most important, especially at this time in history. What I am writing you are not my ideas or other men's thoughts, but is based on God's Word,
The Bible is the word of God, and not the word of man. Millions of books have been written by man – some are fiction, some are non-fiction, some are intelligent and some are silly or profane. But the Bible is the only book written by God - and it’s the supreme and absolute truth, and therefore, it has authority over our lives. It tells us about God, and how to get right with God; it tells us how to live; and it tells us about our future. We are foolish if we think it does not need to be read and applied to our lives, and that we can just do whatever we want. Who are we to think we can ignore God’s Word, and in these end times, God’s prophetic Word?
You listen to a person who talks to you, right? Well, God is talking to you and He is telling you the truth, and you’d better listen, or else there will be consequences. When you were a student, did you ever not listen to your teacher or not read your textbook? And if you didn’t listen, if you didn’t read, then you’d fail the test, you'd flunk out. How much more important is it to listen to God’s Word, for God is your Teacher, and you need to read and take heed to His Word, the only textbook He has given you.
The Bible is a book of truth and a large portion of it speaks about your future. Your loving Father wants you to know and believe what will be taking place, and He has told you ahead of time everything you need to know about the end times and the return of Christ. Personally, I really want to know what He wants me to know, and I really want you to know too. Mark 13:23
I get very excited when I think about this large unfulfilled portion of the Bible that is now more relevant than ever before, that is beginning to come true right before our eyes. There is prophetic truth in Genesis, in the Psalms, in Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah. In the New Testament, there is Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, 1 Peter 1, 2 Peter 3 and Revelation. There are other verses here and there, but these are the main portions about prophecy. In these passages God predicts, He promises, He instructs, He explains, He warns, He comforts, and He gives hope.
Old Testament prophets predicted Christ’s 1st coming, and it all came true; and all Christians believe in Jesus Christ, and then celebrate Christmas and Easter. Old and New Testament prophets and writers predicted Christ’s 2nd coming, and should we not believe them? Will not all there predictions come true too? Yes they will, every single one of them. “(The prophets were) seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you... things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:10-12. Wow! I love these verses! The prophets predicted the coming of Christ, and they did it for us, and specifically for us in these days. Let’s be excited about prophecy, and find out all these things they have said about the end times and the coming of Christ.
About 2,550 years ago, God told Daniel, “Conceal these words and seal them up until the end of time.” Daniel 12:4. Since the Jews are back in their land, then we know we are living in the end times. This means Biblical prophecy is no longer concealed, no longer sealed up. These are the days for you and I to be reading and learning about prophecy. For the Christian, it is not an elective, it is required reading, it is a required course of study. Might you love God’s prophetic Word and read and study it so you can learn more about the future God has for you.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35. Right in the middle of one of the most important prophecy passages in the Bible, Jesus gives you this powerful statement regarding the absolute truth of God’s prophetic word, and it will surely come to pass, and maybe in your own lifetime. This is God’s promise to you - “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
P.S. Please check out my new article! Article 10 – Charting the Future With Prophecy Charts
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #8 ~
It was Carroll, Iowa in the late 60’s and early 70’s and I was in high school, and jogging was just becoming popular. A huge city cemetery was right behind my back yard, and 3-4 times a week I would hop over the fence and take a run. Many times I’d stop and look at grave stones, noting a person’s name and his birth year and death year. I thought about how people define life in a physical way, by when they are born and by when they die. A person celebrates his birthdays and sooner, or later, he dies. Then he has a memorial service, and gets one of those grave stones with his name and two dates on it. I thought about how a person has only so many years on this earth, and then he is gone, and in the ground.
It was Ames, Iowa in August of 1971, and I was attending Iowa State University. It was my first day of classes and I can still remember waking up to my roommate’s clock radio playing “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” It was later that year that I thought of that title in a new way, for by God’s grace I realized my problem was sin and that Jesus Christ was the only answer - and I believed that He died for me and paid for all my sins. God was merciful to me, for I was born again, and was forgiven of all my sins. I was a child of God in the kingdom of God. I didn’t fear death anymore, for death was a good thing, a door from this life to the next, from earth to heaven. This was the gospel message - the best news I had ever heard! Now I had a heavenly Father (my earthly father had passed away 10 years earlier). Life was no longer just a physical life, but more importantly, a spiritual life, a relationship with God Himself. I had eternal life, and I was going to live forever! John 11:25-26
God’s Word became my favorite “school” book, and God was my teacher. He taught me that my relationship with Him was in three parts. In the past, I was justified, I was born again and had a spiritual birthday. In the present, I am being sanctified, and I am spiritually growing up. In the future, I will be glorified, I will be perfect - body, soul and spirit. These words summed up my life – justified, sanctified and glorified. But I learned that being glorified wouldn't happen when I physically die. Christians who die shed their old body, and go to heaven in a spiritual form, but are not at that time glorified. That doesn’t happen until Christ comes back at the end of this age, and then all believers will be given perfect, powerful, spiritual and eternal bodies. A person’s salvation is only completed when he is glorified.
This perspective of our life is seen and summed up in many verses. Philippians 1:6 says, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it on the day of Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.” My favorite verses are Colossians 3:3-4 – “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Shortly after becoming a Christian, I started learning about prophecy, what the Bible said about Christ coming back to this earth, our future, and the future of the world. I realized that my life on earth was converging and coinciding with Christ's return. I saw that I may be here when Christ comes back, and then, at that time, I and all the other believers from all of history will be glorified. It became clear to me that there are two possibilities for my future – either I’ll make it to the end of my life and die and go to heaven, or I’ll make it to the end of this age, and Christ will come back, and I will be raptured and then go to heaven.
Do you ever think about this? Do you realize that you may not live to be 70, 80 or 90 years old? You may not become a grandparent. You may not have children. You may not even get married. The fact that you live in the end-times means you need to look at life differently, for your “glory” days are not that far away. You may be living on earth when Christ returns and raptures all the saints. Thinking about life in this way changes things, and helps you to not be fleshly and worldly, but to be living for God. It affects how you live, the things you do, the places you go, the people you see, and how you use your time and money. Might you see that the time frame of your life is now fitting in with God’s time frame for the end times. Knowing this gives you the right perspective on your life! Now, in these days, is our time to live for God!
P.S. I just finished an article on Matthew 24 which I believe is the single most important, most instructive prophecy chapter for Christians in the entire Bible. Take your time in reading it for there is a lot to digest. Please feel free to make copies of it for your own personal use.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #9 ~
There’s a particular problem I have observed during my Christian life, and it’s that there’s a lot of confusion, uncertainty, deception, error and apathy about end times prophecy. I have talked to many people, watched TV shows and You Tube, and read magazines and books on this subject, and some things that are being said are Biblical, but other things are irrelevant, strange, or just not true. I’m sure many of those who share these things are sincere and well-meaning, but sometimes they just don’t know what they are talking about. This naivety and lack of understanding on this important subject of prophecy greatly concerns me.
Let me list some things I have heard talked about with regards to prophecy in my 45 years as a Christian: the European Common Market, the European Union, wars, earthquakes, Israel, Babylon, red heifer ashes, blood red moons, Antichrist, 666, Iran, Russia, China’s 200 million man army, Fatima, Armageddon, pre-trib rapture, pan-trib rapture, Jewish temple, Seals, Trumpets, Bowls, Preterism, A-millennialism, imminence and date setting, and then there’s predictions by Nostradamus that some people think are actually coming true.
Here’s the main point: God wants you be discerning with regards to the things I just mentioned and everything else that’s being said about Christ’s coming and the end times. God wants you to know what’s Biblical. He wants you to know what His Word says on the subject of prophecy so you aren’t misinformed, doubting, afraid, or fooled by the devil’s lies.
When a cataclysmic event takes place, that evil devil wants people to worry, to be confused, or be scared out of their mind. When some “Chicken Little” erroneously cries out, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling," that deceptive devil wants people to believe it and think they need to head for the hills. This should not be. Jesus said, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?” Mark 12:24. Many terrible things and events will take place in the years leading up to Christ’s return, but God’s people by God’s Spirit need to know God’s truth about what will be happening in the world.
Once in a while I will watch something on the Science or Discovery Channel that’s about prophecy, and I need to be Biblically sharp so I can understand what is being said, whether it’s from God or not from God, whether it’s relevant or irrelevant. In Matthew 24:3 Jesus says, “Watch out that no one deceives you.” You are to see to it that no one misleads you when it comes to prophecy, for the devil will do all he can to get you off track, to lead you astray. Your mind needs to be taught with Biblical truth so it becomes like a sieve, a spiritual filter that screens out the good from the bad, that enables you to recognize the truth and discard the error, so you can know the difference between what’s important and what’s not important. You don’t want to be deceived, you want discernment!
My desire, my prayer for you is that you grow in discernment, in wisdom, in understanding. God wants you to know what His Word says about what’s going on in the world in these end times. In his prophecy epistles, Paul says, “Examine everything carefully” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and “Let no one in any way deceive you” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). In the months ahead we will be looking at many passages in the Word that give us clarity about the world we now live in, and where things will be heading as we get closer to the end of this age. Next week we will look at Matthew 24 which tells us many significant events leading up to the coming of Christ and the resurrection and rapture of the believers.
P.S. I encourage you to look at the article about hope that I just put up today. Every day we need hope - we need to be looking forward to the great future God has for every one of His children.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #10 ~
I know I am old school, but I love road maps. When I travel, I like to know where I am at and where I am going. I like to know what cities I will pass through before I get to my destination. A map gives me clear directions. It also gives me confidence about my journey, for when I pass through those cities, I can say, “I’m right on target.” With respect to prophecy, God has given us many road maps, but Matthew 24 is one of the best road maps there is for Christians living in the end times. The following is a succinct summary and analysis of this important chapter. (I encourage you to read Matthew 24:3-36 before you read this post.)
Matthew 24:3. The disciples knew Jesus was leaving, and so they ask Him to give them some signs that would let them know when He was coming back. Jesus answers their questions but He goes on to tell them, and now He’s telling us, many more things that will be taking place before His coming, and before the rapture and resurrection of the believers.
Matthew 24:4-8. We learn: 1) There will be “birth pains”, and these are false christs, wars, famines and earthquakes. 2) As times goes on, these “birth pains” will increase in frequency and intensity. 3) They don’t affect all the people in the world, for they occur in various places. 4) They are not God’s wrath but are events leading up to the end of the age. 5) They are only beginning birth pains, and the end of the age, Christ’s return and God’s wrath is still to come.
Matthew 24:9-14. We learn: 1) These events occur after the beginning birth pains. 2) Whereas the beginning birth pains affect all kinds of people, these events focus primarily on the Christians. 3) The Christians are being hated, persecuted and martyred all over the world. 4) The gospel is being preached to the end of this age, and many Christians endure to the end of the age and then they are saved, are raptured into heaven.
Matthew 24:15-27. We learn: 1) This focuses on the Jews. 2) The Antichrist desolates the Jewish temple in Jerusalem at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. 3) He begins great tribulation against Jews in Jerusalem which then spreads to Jews and Christians all over the world. This tribulation is cut short by Christ at the end of this age. 4) These events take place in the same time frame as verses 9-14, which means God’s work with the Jews in the end times is in conjunction with and coinciding with His work with the church. 5) The final event listed is Christ’s coming, which corresponds with the end of the age that is spoken of in verses 3, 13 and 14.
Matthew 24:28. Many people are dying all over the world because of these events.
Matthew 24:29-31. We learn: 1) The sign of the end of the age is cosmic disturbances which occur after the tribulation, the persecution of the Christians. 2) The sign of Christ’s coming is the heavens being lit up by the Shekinah glory of Christ. 3) Verse 31 is a resurrection and rapture verse, for believers will be gathered together from the heavens (those who have died in the past), and from the earth (those who survive the tribulation). 4) God’s wrath will occur after these two signs and the rapture of the church on earth. Isaiah 13:9-10, Joel 2:31
Matthew 24:32-34, 36. No one knows the day and hour of Christ’s return, that is, the specific time of Christ’s coming. But Christians can know the general time, for the events given in this chapter are to inform and encourage us that Christ’s coming is getting closer and closer.
Matthew 24:35. This chapter is God’s Word, and the events discussed here will absolutely, unquestionably, undoubtedly and undeniably take place, and maybe in our lifetime.
In conclusion let me say: 1) It is 2017, and we are now in verses 4-8, in the beginning birth pains. 2) People will say all kinds of things about the end times in the years to come, and so don’t be naïve or deceived, but rather examine Matthew 24 so you can be discerning, so you can not only know what events are going to occur, but the order of these events. 3) Twenty different events listed in Matthew 24 need to happen before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. 4) As Christ’s coming gets closer, the believers living on earth will be seeing these events taking place. Therefore, encourage one another as you see the day of Christ drawing near. Hebrews 10:25
P.S. I've just added an important new article on trials, which I hope and trust will encourage you!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #11 ~
Picture an ancient scroll, one that has seven seals on it. It is in Revelation 5 that we first read about this most valuable scroll, and there we learn that only Jesus Christ can break these seven seals. He must break them, for they set in motion conditions that must be met, and events that need to take place before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. Revelation 6 describes the breaking of the first six seals, and you realize that the content of this chapter corresponds to Matthew 24. But why would God give us two chapters so similar to one another? Because He wants to stress that what Christ is saying is true, and that it is vitally important information that all Christians living in the end times need to know.
Revelation 6:1-8 tells us about the breaking of the first four seals, resulting in false christs, wars, famines and death. Now these famines are related to financial hardship – that is, there will be major economic problems, which should not surprise us. We see too that these first four seals are very similar to the beginning birth pains described in Matthew 24:4-8. This will be a most difficult and troubling time in the world, for many people will be hurting and dying. But remember, these events won’t affect everyone in the world, for “you will be hearing of wars,” and “in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.” Matthew 24:6-7
Revelation 6:9-13 tells us about the breaking of the 5th seal and it speaks of more death, and specifically the martyrdom of Christians. These verses correspond to Matthew 24:9, 21, which speak of great tribulation, of Christians being killed all over the world. Matthew 24:15 informs us that it is the evil Antichrist who is promoting this persecution. Revelation 6 does not specifically talk about this Antichrist, but we need only to go to Revelation 12-13 for more details about this man’s devilish work in the end times. These are sobering passages, and you need to read them so you can learn what will be taking place, and what may be affecting you, your family and your friends. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37
But notice three things about the Christians: first, they love God’s Word and are proclaiming it. Second, they want to know when God will judge their enemies. Third, they learn that God is sovereign over each believer’s death, and has ordained who is yet to be killed, and then Christ will return to rapture the Christians who have endured, and who remain on the earth.
Revelation 6:12-17 speaks of the 6th seal. And the breaking of this seal is one thing Christians should be looking for, for this is the sign of the end of the age, which is also described in Matthew 24:29. At this time the entire world goes dark, which means great tribulation is over, is done. For the Christian this is “Hallelujah” time! For non-Christians, this is their worst nightmare, but sad to say, it is not a nightmare. These unrighteous, ungodly unbelievers now know that God’s wrath is coming, and so they try to hide from God, but they cannot hide, and they will not escape. God is most holy and these unholy worshipers of the Antichrist deserve what is coming. “It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31
What about the 7th seal? When will it be broken? It is Revelation 8:1 that tells us that this seal is broken, and it is at this time that the scroll is unrolled. Chapters 8-9 go on to describe the contents of this scroll, which is God’s righteous wrath being poured out upon an evil world. But what happens to the Christians? Revelation 7 answers this question, telling us that a great multitude of believers is delivered out of great tribulation. And so, the rapture of the Christians is in Revelation 7, and this is after the tribulation in Revelation 6, but before the wrath of God in Revelation 8.
By God’s Word and Spirit, a great number of Christians will be overcomers, and will persevere to the end of this age. They will be looking for Jesus Christ, and then suddenly be raptured into heaven, and then they will see Him, and then they will know that it was all worth it. Just think, you and I might be part of this great multitude of believers who will be lovingly, powerfully and safely taken up to be with Jesus Christ. Amen!
P.S. We recently started a new tab, Español, that takes you to blog posts that are translated into Spanish. Please tell your Hispanic friends about this. I thank my friend Mario for doing the translation work.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Special Post ~
What a great prophecy conference this past weekend in Tampa, Florida! It was on Friday, the day before it started, that I knew it would be great. I was to pick up Alan Kurschner, one of the speakers, around 3 pm, but Alan had called me earlier and told me that his flight from New Jersey was delayed. To make a long story short, after two different planes, 13 flight time departure delays, and some fervent prayer, Alan flew, not into Tampa, but into Orlando, over 100 miles to the east. I thought, “Wow, the devil sure doesn’t want Alan to speak. That means God wants Alan to speak and it is going to be a great conference.” It was a few minutes after 11 pm that Alan, after a two hour Uber drive, arrived at our home. After some food and fellowship, we headed for bed, quite tired, but excited about the next day.
Attendees for the conference, from Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, started registering at 9:15 am, and the first session began just a few minutes after 10 am. Alan was the main speaker for Saturday, primarily expounding on Matthew 24, proving that the rapture of the church is not imminent. The vast majority of Christians in this country believe that the rapture is imminent, that it can happen at any moment, that there are no signs whatsoever that need to take place before Christ returns. But that is just not true - and Alan, in four different sessions, talked about events needing to happen before the coming of Christ. And I thought how interesting, for this is what I’ve been writing about in my past two blog posts.
My turn to speak came early Saturday afternoon. I have to admit that I was revved up, for I was talking on one of my favorite subjects, the big picture of our life and how it fits in with the big picture of all that God is doing throughout human history. It just so happens, as I think you now know, that we live in the end times, at the very end of this age, that time right before Christ’s return. It won’t be long before we will “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
There were plenty of break times, a good lunch, but most of all there was great fellowship. I believe I can speak for everyone when I say that it was very encouraging talking to people we had just met, about the Lord and His soon return. One of my favorite times was the singing. I have to admit that we have an excellent music group, and we must have sung and / or heard close to 15 different songs during our conference, most of them related to prophecy. That was definitely a taste of heaven, being with one another and singing to the Lord!
Our Sunday speaker, Marv Rosenthal, and his wife Marbeth, drove in Saturday afternoon, and Marsha and I had the blessing of having a meal with them that evening. Marv and Marbeth truly love the Lord and His Word, and love our little church. What an encouraging time being with them, talking about family, the church, the state of the world, and prophecy.
It was another short night, and in the morning I took Alan to the airport – and fortunately the plane was on time. “Thank you Lord.” Then back home and Marsha and I head back to church. Again, there is good singing, and then the messages. Marv spoke with clarity and passion from 1 Thessalonians 4-5, two short, powerful chapters about the resurrection, the rapture, and the Day of the Lord, important lessons about what happens to believers and unbelievers at Christ’s coming. Then the final song of the conference – “Revelation 19.” (You have to hear this, and you can if you email me and ask for “Scripture Songs”, a double CD set.) Then the benediction from Jude 24-25, and finally, more fellowship, a lunch and many good byes. I thank God for a Christ exalting and edifying conference!
P.S. Messages will be online in the next week or so at Hope Bible Church at Sermon Audio. The blog post for this Saturday is “How Then Should We Live in the End Times?”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #12 ~
In the past two weeks we’ve looked at Matthew 24 and Revelation 6, and I’ve talked about “what” is going to occur in the years leading up to the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. But now we need to answer the “how” question. Since all these things are going to take place before Christ’s return, then how should we live, and how should we prepare? I hear people give all kinds of answers to these questions, but what does God say?
In His Word, God instructs us how we are to live. And I want you to see that every single one of the following instructions is given in the context of Christ’s 2nd coming. Yes, we are to always have these godly qualities, but all the more so, as we live in the end times. Those living on the earth right before Christ’s return will need to up their game, for this will be their World Cup, their World Series, their Super Bowl, their Olympics. How then should we live in the end times?
HAVE FAITH - “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8. In the years leading up to the rapture, life will be very difficult, for there will be lawlessness, wars, famines and persecution, and we are to trust God, to believe His promises, to rely on Him.
FIX YOUR HOPE ON CHRIST – “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13. When there is tribulation, you need hope - you need to think about being with Jesus, being in heaven, being with believers, and being in a new body.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER - “The end of all things is near… above all keep fervent in your love for one another.” 1 Peter 4:8. Loving one another is one of the main ways you are to live for God in the end times. Be patient, kind, gentle, humble, compassionate, forgiving, forbearing and loyal.
BE HOLY – “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” 2 Peter 3:11. This instruction is simple - don’t be fleshly or worldly. Put sin to death, be living a holy and obedient life, and all the while be looking for Christ.
BE SOBER – “Let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6. Don’t be sleeping - be spiritually awake and alert, untainted by fleshly desires and worldly temptations, setting your mind on Christ’s coming, and doing the work He wants you to do.
BE IN FELLOWSHIP - “Not forsaking our own assembling together, …encouraging one another… as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25. As we get closer to Christ’s return, and as times get tougher and tougher, you will need other Christians, and others will need you.
BE PRAYING - “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7. The storm will rage before the Son appears in the sky, and you will need to pray, for faith, wisdom, courage, endurance, for one another, and for His Kingdom to come.
SERVE GOD - “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9. When life gets real hard, don’t go by how you think or feel, but keep serving God, trusting Him, obeying His commands, using your gifts, doing what He wants you to do.
PREACH THE GOSPEL - “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20. Right up to the end of this age you are to be winning and building, proclaiming the gospel and making disciples.
WAIT FOR CHRIST - “Wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10. As the days get darker, as there is persecution and even death, keep looking for the Light, keep waiting for Christ, “for the blessed hope.” Jesus will come!!!
PERSEVERE - “Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” Revelation 13:10. Here is another key: no matter how tough it gets, do not quit. You are to endure, to keep believing, to not grow weary, to stay the course, to keep going to the end of your life or to the end of the age.
DO NOT BE DECEIVED - “Let no one in any way deceive you.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3. In the end times the devil will lie to you like never before. It is imperative that you not be deceived, but that you discern what is true and what is false, what is of God and what is of the devil.
DO NOT FEAR - “Do not fear what you are about to suffer…Be faithful until death.” Revelation 2:10. Do not be afraid, do not worry, do not be anxious. If you die, then you will be with the Lord; and if you endure to the end of the age, then you will be with the Lord. Either way you win.
BE AN OVERCOMER - “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life.” Revelation 2:7. In the context of the end times, Christ continually instructs us to be overcomers, to be winners, to get victory over sin, fears, doubts, worldliness, our enemies, and yes, the Antichrist.
BE FIGHTING - “Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day…” Ephesians 6:10-13. The most evil days will be the end times, for the spiritual battle will be most intense. Be strong in the Lord, put on the full armor of God, and be a good soldier for Christ.
Please, do not put these instructions in a drawer and then pull them out when times get tough. Now, not later, is the time for you to be learning them and practicing them, and then you will be ready for whatever comes. If you are a designated survivor, then know that God is training you for the great tribulation days, so that you endure, so that you overcome, so that you are a champion for Christ. Psalm 144:1-2. “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #13 ~
This past week a friend of mine died. But that was a good thing, because God took her soul from her frail body and from this sinful world to heaven. Our biggest problem, as humans, is death. It is a problem in both a physical and spiritual sense, and it is a problem that every person must face. Jesus Christ is the only answer, for when He was on earth He lived a perfect life, then He suffered and died on a cross to pay for people’s sins, and then He was raised from the dead.
A person is saved, is delivered from his sins and from death, when he repents of his sins and believes that Jesus Christ actually died in his place, and paid the penalty for his sins. Spiritually speaking he has been crucified with Christ and raised from the dead, and therefore he is no longer spiritually dead but he is spiritually alive! He is forgiven of all his sins, given eternal life and will go to heaven after he dies! Ephesians 2:1-9
Once a person is saved he is transformed, and by the word of God and the power of the Spirit he is to live for Jesus Christ. I like how Philippians 3:10 sums up a person’s life on earth, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.” The believer is to know Jesus Christ and His resurrection power, and is to experience His love, joy and peace, and is to fulfill God’s plans while he is living on earth.
But what happens when this person dies? Because of Christ’s resurrection, his soul is immediately and supernaturally taken to heaven. By God, by Christ, by the Spirit, he has walked through that door called death, and is still alive, still experiencing the life of God. He is in heaven, freed from all sin, all pain, all sickness and all sorrow. And he is with God and Christ, millions of angels, and a great multitude of believers who have gone on before him. But his salvation is not complete. Yes, he is spiritually alive in heaven but he has not yet been physically glorified, he has not yet received his new physical body. He was justified on earth, lived as a Christian on earth, and then died, and is in heaven, but he has not yet been glorified.
When will this person be resurrected and glorified? Remember, it was about 2000 years ago that Jesus Christ, at His 1st coming, was raised from the dead and was physically glorified, was given a perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual body. But understand that it is at Christ’s 2nd coming that this person will be resurrected and glorified. Therefore, it is still in the future. At the end of this present age, Jesus Christ will return in the clouds above this earth, and it is at that time that this person and all believers who have already physically died will be resurrected and physically glorified. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
What about believers who are still living on earth when Christ returns? They will not be resurrected because they did not die, but they will be raptured, will be quickly snatched from this earth, physically glorified, and immediately taken to be with Christ. This also takes place at Christ’s 2nd coming. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. At Christ’s return, all believers already in heaven, and all believers still on earth, will be glorified, will be given a perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual body. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. “We will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, … for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. We will “attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:11.
Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He died to pay for your sins and then was raised again from the dead? If you have, then you have defeated death in every way, shape or form, and you will spiritually and physically live forever with God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and all the angels and saints. The central part of God’s eternal working in human history is Christ’s death and resurrection. This is what you must believe and should be most excited about, that Jesus Christ died for you and was raised from the dead, resulting in your past justification, your present sanctification, and your future glorification.
“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’... Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
P.S. I just published a new article about being in heaven with Jesus...
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #14 ~
2 Peter 3:3-4 – “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, … ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’” In these last days, sinners are saying that nothing will dramatically change on this earth, that everything is going to basically stay the same. But they are deceived and wrong! Peter goes on to say that they don’t realize what took place in the past, the cataclysmic flood that God used to judge sinners and destroy the world; and they do not know what is going to happen in the future, the fiery judgment of this world and the “destruction of ungodly men.”
Don’t be deceived like the unbelievers, and don’t be sleeping. Be awake, and aware of what God’s Word clearly tells us, and alert to the events that lead up to Christ’s return to rapture the church. Today, I am listing a series of monumental, earth-shaking, life-changing, God-promised events that will be taking place when Christ comes back. Please listen up - you, your family, and your church need to know what will be occurring on this earth, for everything is going to dramatically change!
This present age will come to an end. This present age that began with Adam’s sin is an evil age, for the whole world has been in the power of the devil. But this age, and this church age (the last days), is soon coming to an end, and a glorious new age will begin. Ephesians 1:19-21
All believers will be glorified. At Christ’s coming, at the rapture, those who have died and are in heaven, along with all those who are alive and remain on earth, will become like Christ and the angels, receiving perfect, powerful, immortal and spiritual bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
All believers will be gathered together to be with Jesus Christ. “We will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18. Think of finally being with Christ and all the other believers! What love, what joy, what peace, what glory!
God will pour out His righteous wrath upon the earth after the rapture. This terrifying and fiery Day of the Lord is the righteous punishment of all the unbelievers still living on earth at Christ's coming, ones who rejected Him and took the mark of the beast. “She (the earth) will be burned up with fire”. Revelation 8-9, 18
“The Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9. The devil will no longer be in charge, for Jesus Christ will take complete control of the earth. Hallelujah! “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and Christ; and He will reign forever.” Revelation 11:15
A great number of Jews will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Romans 11:26-27 - “And so, all Israel will be saved… This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” God’s glorious promise to the Jews will finally come true. Ezekiel 37:21-23; Psalms 67, 72
The Antichrist will be defeated. The most wicked man in the history of our world will be dictator over the earth in the last 2-3 years before Christ’s coming, but this “beast was seized and with him the false prophet… these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire.” Revelation 19:20-21
Satan is bound and thrown into the abyss. Our chief enemy, “the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world,” will be chained up for 1000 years, and will not be able to hurt or harm any person on the earth during that time. Then he will be thrown into the lake of fire. Amen! Revelation 20:2
All glorified believers will begin to reign with Christ. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Just think, we will worship and serve Lord and King for 1000 years – this will be so exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding! Revelation 5:10, 20:6
Each of the above events is huge in and of itself - and in the near future, starting sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel's 70th week, they will be taking place one after another. Do you see what is going to happen? Things will not be the same. We get so used to our homes, families, church, jobs, schools, cities, leaders, and way of life. But do you see that Jesus Christ, the Lord, Savior, Judge and King, is coming back soon? And He will lovingly, powerfully, and righteously change everything on this earth! Wake up to what will be happening. And fear the Lord, love Him, serve Him, and be excitedly looking for His return. “He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new… these words are faithful and true.’” Revelation 21:5
P.S. I encourage you to read these other posts and articles - I am sure they will be helpful to you: "God, You, and the War in Ukraine", "How Then Should We Live In the End-Times?", "Daniel's 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End-Times", and "Why is Jesus Coming Back to Earth?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #15 ~
The great majority of people in this world have no clue, no concept of the devastating destruction that will soon be affecting this entire earth, what God calls the “Day of the Lord.” They are ignorant of God’s fiery wrath that will be directed towards all the sinners on earth at that time. But God’s wrath is nothing new, for God has been judging guilty sinners ever since Adam and Eve. He has given us many examples in the Bible to warn us that He does not excuse, tolerate or put up with sin. He punishes those who reject Him, hate Him or ignore Him, whether it’s individuals, families, cities, countries or the whole world. “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness.” Psalm 98:9.
We are living in the end times, and it is obvious that this world is spiritually and morally going downhill – that most people are not lovers of God, but lovers of sin and self. Pride, lying, hate, violence, anger, selfishness, immorality and rebellion are seen all over the world, and it’s getting worse and worse. Then in God’s time, the Antichrist, the “man of lawlessness” will be revealed, promoting sin and fueling this judgment all the more. Seeing all the people who have rejected His offer of mercy, and have taken the mark of the beast, God will have no choice but to judge the entire earth, but this time it won’t be with a flood, but with fire. Revelation 14:9-13
This is so sad that the sinners on earth are ignorant of what will soon be taking place. They are and will be mocking us, laughing at us, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” But they have no idea of this coming wrath, and how catastrophic and deadly it will be. “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31. “Destruction will come upon them suddenly.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3
You might ask, “What about the Christians?” In the not too distant future, all people living on earth will see the skies suddenly become dark - this is the sign of the end of this age, the sign right before the day of the Lord. Acts 2:20. Then Christ will appear and will gather, glorify, and bring all the believers to Himself, and then to heaven. “One will be taken, the other left.” Luke 17:36. But the unbelievers who are left behind are “fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the earth.” Luke 21:21-26. These sinners are scared to death and say to the mountains, “Fall on us and hide us … from the wrath of the Lamb.” Revelation 6:12-17. For about 30 minutes these trapped sinners will be worrying about what’s going to happen, and then the first trumpet will blast, signalling that God's wrath has begun on earth. Revelation 8:1-7
This wrath of God, this day of the Lord, is the Trumpet and Bowl Judgments of Revelation 8-9, 16. But this “day” is not referring to a 24 hour day but to a time period starting during Daniel’s 70th week. It will not be quick like the Noahic flood, but painfully prolonged and altogether righteous - a series of “hell” on earth type judgments that will afflict all the unbelievers. A third of the earth will be destroyed by fire; all unbelievers will be tormented by demonic locusts for five months; a third of mankind will be suddenly killed; all people will be covered with sickening sores and then scorched with fierce heat; a great earthquake will flatten the cities; and 100 pound hailstones will pound the people. And there is much more. “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 8:13. “The day of the Lord is near… I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity.” Isaiah 13:6-11
The day of the Lord has been promised by God - it is certain to come. The day of the Lord is the righteous judgment of God - don’t complain. The day of the Lord will be totally unexpected by the unbelievers – “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”. 1 Thessalonians 5:2. The day of the Lord will devastate the earth - this world, as we know it, will come to an end. Zephaniah 1:2
How should you be affected by the wrath of God that is coming upon this earth? 1) Never think God is wrong in these judgments. “Righteous are You, …O Holy One, because you judged these things.” Revelation 16:5. 2) Be thankful. It is only because of Christ’s mercy, because Christ suffered the wrath you deserved that you will escape God’s wrath on earth, and His wrath in hell. 3) Fear God. Be holy. Why do sinful things for which God’s wrath is coming upon this world? “Come out of her so that you will not participate in her sins.” Revelation 18:4. 4) Warn people about this wrath, this bad news, and tell them the good news about Jesus Christ. Tell them that forgiveness of sins can be granted when they repent of their sins and believe that Christ died for them. Tell them to turn from their sin and to trust in Christ before it’s too late.
P.S. The audio messages from our April 1-2, 2017 Florida Biblical Prophecy Conference are now all available at Hope Bible Church of Tampa at Sermon Audio. The speakers were: Alan Kurschner, of Eschatos Ministeries; Marv Rosenthal, of Zion's Hope; and I, Steve Hogan. We were grateful to host this conference for God's glory and the good of His people!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #16 ~
About two months ago, I received a call from another Christian. He had been reading my posts and was wondering why I was writing things in an urgent way, making it sound like Jesus Christ was returning right away. Let me share a few things that I believe will help you understand why and how I think about end times' prophecy and the timing of Christ’s second coming.
1. Christ’s return is an urgent matter. Two hundred years ago I wouldn’t have written articles like I’m doing now, but the fact that the Jews have been gathering back to their land for the past 130 years is a wake up call from God, a clear sign that we live in the end times. God is gearing things up, actively carrying out His final plans for this present world, and soon enough, Christ will return to rapture the church. Now is when we need to know what God’s Word says about Christ’s coming, and how then we should live. Luke 12:56, 1 Chronicles 12:32
2. Christ’s coming is very soon. In Revelation 22:20 Christ Himself said, “Behold, I’m coming soon.” If His coming was soon back in 95AD (the approximate date Revelation was written), then now it’s very soon. In Romans 13:11, Paul says, “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now, salvation is nearer to us than we believed.” If Christ’s return was near in the 1st century, then how much nearer is it today? Hebrews 10:37 says, “In a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Acts 2:17 describes the church age as the last days and that was about 2000 years ago, and so now we are living in the very last part of the last days.
3. When I say Christ’s coming is very soon, I don’t mean it could be tomorrow or next week, or even in the next year or two. And I don’t mean His coming is imminent, that no signs or events need to precede it, for it is not imminent, and that's because many prophesied events need to take place before the rapture. When I say Christ’s coming is very soon, I mean it is very soon when you think about all of human history, from Adam and Eve to the present day. As Christians we need to step back and get perspective - we need to see the big picture. I like sports and I think of it this way: it’s the bottom of the ninth inning, and the baseball game will soon be over; or the two minute warning has sounded, and the football game is nearly finished.
4. When people ask me where we’re at with regard to Christ’s return, I tell them it’s “the beginning of birth pangs” stage (Matthew 24:8). These birth pangs (false christs, earthquakes, wars, famines) have already been occurring. For example, many false religions have started since the early 1900's. There have been wars and rumors of wars for the past 100 years, and most recently there’s been the North Korean situation. Then a few weeks ago I read, “20 million people are now threatened by famine – more than at any time since World War II.” (Tampa Bay Times – 4/14/17). And in the near future you’ll hear about some major earthquake. All these birth pangs will continue to take place as we approach Christ’s return, but with increasing intensity and frequency. Where are we at? We’re at the beginning stage of the end times, but let me add, well into the beginning stage.
5. Yes, Christ’s coming is very soon, but it’s going to be years before He comes, and whether that is five years, fifty years, or more, I don’t know. You see, many things still need to happen before Christ returns. The birth pangs will increase in frequency and intensity (Matthew 24:4-8). The world will get more lawless and wicked (Matthew 24:12). Evangelism needs to continue around the world (Matthew 24:14). Persecution of Christians will get worse (Luke 21:16-19). The desire for globalism will increase before the Antichrist is revealed (Revelation 13). Nations need to be realigned and reformed; and yes, the USA needs to decline in power (Daniel 7:19-24). The peace treaty involving Israel and the Antichrist will be signed (Daniel 9:27). And there is more. I am trying to make it clear to you that Christ’s coming is very soon, but in the whole big scheme of things, we still have a little ways to go, a number of years. But we don’t know the day or the hour of Christ’s return.
As Christians we should be extremely excited to be alive at this time in history. How amazing that God has chosen these end time days to be our days to be living for Him. But many Christians are asleep, and need to be woken up. And somebody needs to wake them up and let them know that events now taking place in the world are confirming God’s prophetic Word. That “somebody” may be you. “I have appointed you a watchman.” Ezekiel 3:17
P.S. I have written a new article for encouragement ~ Thinking of Jesus Christ!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #17 ~
The book of Acts is God’s history of the early church. But it is in Acts 1, 2, 3, where God tells us some things He wants us to know about the future of the Jews and the future of the church. God tells us that Christ ascended into heaven and that He’d come back, but in between there'd be this interval, the “last days”, the church age. God tells us that it's during these last days that the gospel is to be preached, and then this age will come to an end. God also tells us that there will be the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, but more than that, the restoration of all things. Let me explain further:
Acts 1:4-11. Jesus was teaching the apostles about the kingdom of God, and this was both the spiritual kingdom of God where He’d rule in the hearts of Christians, and the physical kingdom of God where He’d rule over the world. These Jewish apostles then asked Jesus the question that was uppermost in their minds. “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus answered them, but He didn't say that the kingdom wouldn't be restored to Israel, but that they didn't need to know when it would be restored - He just wanted them to focus on their new job, proclaiming the gospel to all the nations.
Not long after this, the apostles watched Jesus ascend into heaven. They had to have been confused seeing Him leave - they had to have been wondering what was going to happen. But the angel assures them, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” To hear that Jesus was coming back had to have been very encouraging, for they knew it meant that He would then be “restoring the kingdom to Israel.”
Acts 2:17-21. With passion and clarity, Peter is preaching to the Jews. He calls the church age “the last days”, a phrase referring to the last part of this present evil age, an age that started a long time ago with the sin of Adam and Eve. But it was about 2000 years ago that the church age started with the outpouring of the Spirit, and an age that will end with the sudden appearance of signs on the earth and wonders in the heavens. The Jews knew from the prophets that these signs and wonders would occur before the Day of the Lord, God’s devastating judgment of the earth (Isaiah 13:6-11, Joel 2:30-31). But it’s during this church age that the gospel is to be preached, and that people need to call on the Lord to be saved from their sins – before it’s too late, before the Day of the Lord.
Acts 3:17-21. A primary purpose during the church age is stated again, that sinners are to “repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” But what happens after the last days, after this church age is over? It will not just be "restoring the kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6), but the “the restoration of all things.” This restoration will be under the direction of Christ Himself, and will take place after the celestial signs and after the Day of the Lord. “The Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9
Acts 1, 2, 3 makes it clear that God never diminished or negated His promises to the Jews, that the church never replaced the Jews. But what happened back in the first century is that God suspended His plans for the Jews. One reason He did this was so His plans for the church would be fulfilled during the last days. “A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved.” Romans 11:25-26
In summary, Acts 1, 2, 3 tells us that the church age starts with the pouring out of the Spirit, and ends with the appearance of the signs and the wonders. Then Christ will come back and rapture the believers, and then the Day of the Lord, the wrath of God, will begin. After God's justice is carried out, Christ will rule over the earth for 1000 years, there will be the restoration of all things, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jews. As Christians, we will reign with Christ during His millennial kingdom.
Whereas the book of Acts talked about the beginning of the church age, now we live at the end of the church age, and we know that Christ’s return is very soon. The apostles had their time to serve the Lord and now it is our time to serve the Lord. With love and zeal for God, might we fight the good fight and finish the course He has given us. And maybe you and I will see Christ “come in just the same way” as the apostles saw Him taken into heaven, and 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 shall we always be with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Amen!
P.S. Please consider listening to the sermon series I just started on God's Love here and here (and continuing on for the next several Sundays.)
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #18 ~
I want to look at a parable that has greatly impacted my life, that has made me very excited about serving the Lord in these days. Luke 19:11 - “Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that God’s kingdom was going to appear immediately.” This story was about a nobleman going away to receive a kingdom, and in the meantime his ten slaves were to invest his money, to put his money to work. He instructed them, “Do business until I come back.” Luke 19:13. The main lesson of this parable is that, during this church age, you are to use the talents, time and money God has given you for His purposes and glory.
God has given you unique gifts and abilities, and a certain amount of money to use, and a certain amount of time to live. And as a Christian, these things aren’t yours - you don’t own anything, for everything you have is what God has temporarily given you. He is the owner, He is the Master, and you are just a manager, a steward, a slave. And you are not to work for yourself but for God, using the gifts, abilities, money and time He has given you.
You have to realize that God Himself has made you a certain way, and has given you all you need to do all the work He wants you to. This should excite you, and motivate you to work for God, to “do business” right up until Christ comes back, right up to the rapture. As a Christian, you are extremely privileged to be God's servant, and so work for Him and do His work. Be faithful. Be diligent. Be pragmatic. Work joyfully. Work hard. Work smart. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
This God-planned work can relate to serving in the church, and so use your spiritual gifts. It can relate to working at a job, and so use your talents. Yes, you may be a nurse, a teacher, an engineer, a factory worker, a farmer, a cook, a graphic artist, a wife, a mother, a pastor, etc., but remember, all your work is spiritual, and it has both earthly and eternal value. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.” Colossians 3:23-24.
Now you may retire from working at a job, but you are to never retire from working for God. No matter your age, keep investing your life in God’s work until Christ comes back, or until you die. Don’t be short sighted, but see your life in light of the ages to come - and remember that God wants to eternally bless you for your earthly work. Look forward to what Jesus wants to say to you, “Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:17
Then there is the sad part in this parable about the wicked, worthless and fearful slave, who wasn’t working for his master, and who was wasting his money. Luke 19:20-26. The master was right to take what he had given him and give it to someone else who would use it in a productive way. The lesson for us is simple - might we not be lazy, selfish or worldly, but might we wake up and get to work.
Let us also remember the overall work of the church. Matthew 24:14 – “This gospel is to be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go and make disciples of all the nations...” Yes, we have different jobs we’re doing for the Lord, but they need to be seen in the context of preaching the gospel and making disciples. It’s important then to be in a church that’s focused on preaching the gospel and teaching the Word.
This parable is for all believers during this church age, but it has particular relevance for us at this time. About 2000 years ago, “they supposed that God’s kingdom was going to appear immediately.” But now we live in the end times, and therefore Christ is coming back soon, and then His kingdom will appear. We should be thrilled to think that in all of history, now is our time, now is our opportunity to serve the Lord. Let it be said again, “Do business until I come back.”
P.S. Here are two links to information related to this post which I believe may encourage you: Luke 19 sermon - Being a Good Steward; and a new article: The Time of My Life.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #19 ~
When we talk about end times prophecy, we can’t just focus on the church. We have to understand the past history of the Jews to understand God’s present working with the Jews, and that His present work with them in these end times is in conjunction with His work with the church. Here is a summary of God’s past working with the Jews.
It was about 2050 BC that God began to carry out His plans for the Jews. He promised Abraham that he would inherit a large area of land, and be given a great number of descendants (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-16). Then came Abraham’s son Isaac, and then his grandson Jacob, and then his great grandson Joseph. It was Joseph who was providentially taken to Egypt, and years later was joined by his 11 brothers. From the 12 sons of Jacob came the 12 tribes of Israel, and the birth of the nation of Israel in the nation of Egypt.
It was in 1445 BC that God chose Moses to miraculously help the Jews escape out of Egypt and into the desert. There God gave them the Law, and the means by which they were to worship Him. Moses humbly led the Jews in the desert for 40 long years, but it was Joshua who led them into Canaan where they soundly defeated God’s enemies, finally taking possession of the promised land. But it wasn’t long before the Jews were disobeying the laws God had given them, and were doing what was right in their own eyes. Therefore, God began appointing judges who led Israel for the next 325 years.
In 1110 BC God first revealed Himself to Samuel, and He raised him up to be a prophet and a priest. Now the Jews desired a king, and so Samuel anointed Saul, but he was not a very good king. Then there was David, a man after God’s heart, and he was the best of the earthly kings. God then made an amazing promise to David, that one of His descendants would be the Messiah, the future King of the entire world (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
Then came Solomon (970 BC), a world-famous king who was responsible for building a temple for the Jews. After him came many more kings, some good and some bad. And sadly, instead of worshiping God, many of the Jews started worshiping idols. This terrible and grievous sin went on for over 350 years, stirring up God's righteous anger, resulting in His wrath often being poured out upon His people. He also sent them prophets, like Isaiah, Joel and Jeremiah, to proclaim God's truth, and help them see their need to repent of their sins. In all this God was very patient and very forgiving. It was during this time that God made a most gracious promise to Jeremiah, that in the future, He would save a great number of Jews (Jeremiah 31:33-34).
But finally, God had enough of the Jews’ sin, and so He punished His people by sending them out of Israel (722 BC) to Assyria, and out of Judah to Babylon (606 BC). Then after 70 years, God, through Haggai, Ezra and Nehemiah, began mercifully bringing these Jewish exiles back to their land. They rebuilt the temple and the city wall, and again began to worship the one true God. And as time went on, the Jews were sinning more and more, but it wasn’t idol worship as much as it was a proud and self-righteous rebellion against God.
Then, in the fullness of time, around 4 BC, JESUS, a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and David, the Messiah, the Son of God, was born. When He was 30, He began His ministry, teaching, healing and making disciples. Then He humbly and lovingly went to the cross, suffering and dying for our sins - but God raised him from the dead, and after 40 days He ascended into heaven. Amen!
Sadly, most Jews were hard-hearted, and didn’t turn from their sin and trust in Christ for salvation. And so in 70 AD, God severely punished the Jews - close to one million of them died, and the rest were led captive into all the nations. But God’s promises and plans for the Jews were not then nullified or changed, as some believe, but were only suspended. The church age had begun: from heaven, Christ was building His church on earth - it was the time for people to call on the Lord to be saved from their sin.
It is 2019, close to 2000 years later, and it’s still the church age. But now we live in the end times, the last part of the church age, for the Jews, after being scattered for over 1800 years, have miraculously returned to their land. The prophetic pieces of the puzzle are being put into place; God’s work with both the church and the Jews is clearly evident; and it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the Christians, then pour out His wrath on this world. God will be true to His Word, and fulfill His promises to the Jews - the promise of salvation, the promise of land, and the promise of a King. Finally, world peace. Shalom.
P.S. My new article will further help you to understand this subject of God's working with the Jews: Charting God's Miraculous Working With the Jews.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #20 ~
The Old Testament is the truth of God. It is a set of 39 books, that together with 27 books in the New Testament, make up the Bible, the word of God. And just like you need to read all the chapters in a book to get the whole story, so too you need to read the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to get the whole story, to understand God’s past, present and future working with His people, and with this entire earth.
What is the Old Testament about? It is about Jesus Christ, who He is, what He’s like, and what He’s doing – His office, character and purpose. There are many verses, types and illustrations of Christ in the Old Testament, giving us a very good picture of our Lord, Savior and King. Jesus Himself used the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms from the Old Testament to help His disciples understand who He was (Luke 24:25-27, 44-45).
The Old Testament is about the Jews. Their purpose was to write God’s word, to be recipients of God’s Laws and covenants, to carry out the temple service, and to be the “Woman” who’d give birth to the Messiah, to Jesus Christ. We also read stories about the Jews, their lives and service for God, which give us many good examples of faith, hope, love and perseverance. There’s Adam, Abraham, Moses, Deborah, Ruth, David, Isaiah, Esther, Nehemiah and many others. But these are not just saints with godly character that make for nice Sunday School lessons. The Old Testament is more than just a lot of stories with no larger context, but it’s part of the entire Bible, and therefore a necessary part of the whole story. Consider the following:
First, there were the promises, the covenants from God. Abraham knew that from his lineage would come a great multitude of descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). David knew that the Messiah would be one of his descendants, the future King of the entire world (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Jeremiah knew that a great number of Jews would be saved in the future. (Jeremiah 31:31-34). These three promises are extremely important, for they not only speak of God’s plans for the Jews, but they also relate to the church and to our future.
Second, there were the predictions of the prophets. They “predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.” 1 Peter 1:11. For example, Isaiah, Micah, Zechariah and Daniel all spoke of the coming Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7, 53; Micah 5:2-4; Zechariah 14:9; and Daniel 7:13-14). As we now know, some of their predictions literally came true at Christ’s 1st coming, but others will literally be fulfilled at Christ’s 2nd coming, and in the kingdom age to follow. For example, Jesus was literally born as a Baby on this earth, and in the near future He will literally appear and be the King over this earth.
Third, there were the parts played by godly Israelites. There was Moses, and if it weren’t for him, the Jews would never have made it to the promised land. There was Ruth, a key player in the big scheme of things, for she was the great grandmother of David. There was Esther, whom God used to preserve the Jewish race, and without her, Jesus would not have been born. And then there was Ezra, and he helped bring the Jews back to Israel, and so Jesus could be born in Bethlehem. These stories, seen on earth, were all part of God’s plans. But behind all this has been the invisible spiritual war between God and Satan. Revelation 12 tells us that Satan has been fighting like the devil to stop the work of God as it relates to both Jews and Christians, but God has defeated him again and again.
You can’t disregard the Old Testament. When you read it, you need to realize that it’s not just isolated events that took place in the past with no connection to the future. You have to see the Old Testament promises and predictions of God, all pointing to and leading to New Testament events, Christ’s 1st coming, His 2nd coming, and His kingdom age. You have to see that God’s people played key roles in the past, but were also necessary for God’s future plans. You need to see God sovereignly directing people and events in accordance with His eternal purposes and plans. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” Psalm 33:11
At this time in history, we are in the last part of the church age, for the Jews are back in their land. God’s working with both Jews and Christians is now in high gear, and it won’t be long before His end time plans for them will be fulfilled. Then in the next age, we will all be worshiping and serving the Lord together. Hebrews 11:13, 39 is instructive - “All these (Old Testament saints), having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had something better for us (New Testament saints), so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”
P.S. I have an important new article for you to read - "Why Do Believers Die?" ~ A Memorial Service Message. Also, just as a reminder, we have been continuing to post new Español posts every week!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #21 ~
God has a lot of unfinished business left to do with regard to the Jews. But many Christians don’t understand His plans, or are uninformed, confused, or in error. In fact, there are some who actually believe God’s work with the Jews is done, is over, is finished. Yes, they say the Jews were the ancestors of the Messiah and the writers of God’s Word, but they say they blew it when they killed the Messiah – they had their chance, and they took themselves out of the picture. Now they readily admit that the Jews have reoccupied Israel, but they still adamantly say there’s no Biblically prophesied future for ethnic Jews, for those who are Jews physically speaking. They say that we’re now in the church age, and that all God’s future plans relate directly and only to the church. Let me explain why their thinking is wrong:
God’s Word is true – it was true when it was written, it is true today, and it is true forever. God is not a man that He should lie or that He should change His mind, and therefore, every single word of God will be fulfilled, which includes His promises to the Jews. “The word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does… The Lord’s counsel stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation (Israel) whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own possession.” Psalm 33:4, 11-12
God’s character is at stake. Do you think God would give all these promises to the Jews, and then not keep His Word? If God has changed His mind, then He has deceived many people, even Jesus’ own mother (Luke 1:28-35). If God doesn’t keep His promises, then He is a liar. But God is not a liar - He will always be faithful to His Word. “Do you think I came to abolish the Law or the prophets? I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17-19
God’s promises are not based on law but on grace, and therefore are unconditional. They depend on God’s Word, and on God’s power, mercy and faithfulness, and therefore can’t be annulled because of Israel’s sin and unfaithfulness. God’s promises to the Jews that they’d inherit some land (Genesis 13:14-17), that Messiah would be King over the entire world (2 Samuel 7:12-13), and that a Jewish remnant would be saved (Jeremiah 31:31-34), will, without question, be fulfilled! “God has remembered His covenant forever.” Psalm 105:8
God’s promises are literal. They are not to be spiritualized. You can’t take some of God’s promises literally, and others figuratively. The promises of Christ’s 1st coming were fulfilled in every detail, and the promises of His 2nd coming will be fulfilled in every detail. How can a person say Jesus was literally born as a baby but won’t literally come back as a King? How can a person say that Old Testament promises for the Jews are not to be taken literally, but are now true for the church? You can’t say these things. Listen to what God says: “Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it and I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11
God’s promises to the Jews are eternal promises. “All the land which you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever.” Genesis 13:15. How can anyone say God’s promises are not eternal when God says they are eternal? God is not going back on His Word, is He? His promises cannot in any way, shape or form be taken back, be rescinded - they will come true, and they will be true forever. “Thus says the Lord...” Jeremiah 31:35
God never said His promises were changed. Neither God, Christ or any New Testament writer ever actually denied these promises to the Jews, or said they were altered or reneged, and then given to the church. In fact, they were affirmed to be true. Luke 1:54-55, 1:68-79; Romans 15:4
Most of God’s Word is about the Jews. Nearly 70% of the Bible is about the Jews, and close to 23% is about the church. Then you have over 1000 Old Testament verses that restate and amplify God’s promises to the Jews. How can anyone say that the Jews are irrelevant, and that God's promises to them are null and void? Anyone who thinks God’s future plans for the Jews have been nullified and invalidated are terribly mistaken. Don’t believe those who say there's no future for the Jews. Believe what God says: “Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem for all generations.” Joel 3:20. “I will make a covenant of peace… an everlasting covenant with them. I will multiply them and set my sanctuary in their midst forever.” Ezekiel 37:26
This is a very important post. I write this for there are many who question God’s promises to the Jews - but we should never question God and His Word. With regards to His future working with the Jews, read the Old Testament, particularly the Law, the Psalms and the Prophets. Take them literally, and believe them, and see how God’s plans for His people, for both the Jews and the church, are now coming true at this time in history. And stay tuned, for there’s much more to be said on this subject in future posts and articles.
P.S. Here is another important article about what the Old Testament teaches us about the Kingdom Age on this earth: Hidden Treasure in the Old Testament.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #22 ~
It was about seven years ago, that by God’s grace, I finally figured out how to read the Old Testament. I was so excited! For the first time in my life, I could see the whole big scheme of things, how everything in the Bible fits in with God’s future plans. My prayer and desire is to help you know how to read the Old Testament, so you can more clearly understand God’s plans for the Jews, the church, and the ages to come.
First, here are some basic, Biblical ground rules that you need to know:
1. The Old Testament is true, and it needs to be taken literally. For example, Israel means Israel; Jerusalem means Jerusalem; and forever means forever.
2. God’s promises to the Jews regarding their land, salvation and King have not been changed or nullified. They are still true, and God will most definitely carry them out.
3. Israel has not been replaced by the church with regard to God’s plans. Promises made to Israel are not figuratively being fulfilled by the church, but will literally be fulfilled by the Jews.
4. You can’t understand the future of the church if you don’t understand the future of the Jews, for God’s work with the Jews in the end times is in conjunction with His work for the church. Daniel’s 70th week is a key time frame for both Jews and Christians.
5. Old Testament prophecies can usually be placed in one of four time periods: (1) The prophecy relates to the writer’s time period, and shortly thereafter. (2) The prophecy relates to Christ’s 1st coming. (3) The prophecy relates to Christ’s 2nd coming. (4) The prophecy relates to Christ’s kingdom age. (A prophecy may have both a near and far fulfillment.)
Here are some examples of how Old Testament prophecies fit in one of these four time periods – (1), (2), (3) or (4). Psalm 22:1-21 speaks about Christ’s suffering on the cross, and this refers to Christ’s 1st coming (2). Then Psalm 22:28 says, “The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations” and this refers to Christ’s coming kingdom age (4).
Psalm 37:29 says, “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” This Psalm tells us about the fulfillment of God’s promise to the Jews that they will inherit some land, and this too is speaking about the coming kingdom age (4).
Psalm 98:2-3 tells us, “The Lord has made known His salvation… He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel.” This verse is talking about the house of Israel, and so this is not referring to the salvation of people during the church age, but to the salvation of the Jews at the 2nd coming of Christ (3).
Isaiah 9:6 is a classic, for the first part of the verse, “A child will be born to us, a son will be given us” is referring to Christ’s 1st coming (2), and the very next part of the verse, “and the government will rest on His shoulders” talks about the kingdom age (4).
Ezekiel 37:21-23 is one of my favorite prophetic passages, for right here in these three verses we read about the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jews with regard to their land (verse 21), their King (verse 22), and their salvation (verse 23). These prophecies are clearly referring to Christ’s 2nd coming (3), and His kingdom age (4).
Micah 5:2-5 tells us two different things, that the coming Messiah will be born in Bethlehem which takes place at Christ’s 1st coming (2), and that “He will be great to the ends of the earth”, and this no doubt is speaking about the kingdom age (4).
Christians living in the end times of this church age have a distinct advantage. We can look at a particular prophecy, and then look back in history, and see if it has taken place or not, if it is a past or future event. We can see where everything fits, in time periods (1), (2), (3) or (4). It’s essential to learn how to rightly read the Old Testament, to properly interpret God's prophetic word, and then you can understand His future plans for both the Jews and the church. I believe you’ll be thrilled as God gives you understanding, and then enables you to Biblically visualize the future God has for you, and for all His people on this earth.
There are 100’s and 100’s of verses in the Old Testament that predict God’s plans for the Jews. Here are some others I’d encourage you to check out in your spare time: Psalm 47, Psalm 67, Psalm 102:12-28, Psalm 105:5-8, Psalm 130, Isaiah 2:1-5, Isaiah 60, Isaiah 61:1-2, Jeremiah 32:6-44, Ezekiel 37:24-28, Daniel 12:1-13, Hosea 1:10-11 (the triple play), Joel 2:27-32 (Jews and church), Haggai 2:4-9, Zechariah 2:10-12, and Zechariah 14:9.
P.S. I encourage you to look at the charts (links) which we have in the above post, for they will help you to understand this lesson.
P.P.S. We have also just published a new article that I believe will help you understand our heavenly Father's great love for us: The Father's Love for His Children.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #23 ~
What really amazes and encourages me is how much God has told us in His Word about the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. I’ve recently written about an enormous number of Old Testament prophecies that are particularly relevant to those of us living in the end times. It’s necessary that we rightly interpret these prophecies so we can have the understanding God wants us to have about His plans for both the Jews and the church.
Today, I want to focus on one prophetic passage. It’s Daniel 9:24-27, and it speaks of a divine schedule, a timeframe that’s absolutely essential to help you see the sequence of events in the end times. This timeframe is the 70 weeks of Daniel, where 1 week equals 7 years, and 70 weeks equals 490 years.
Biblical scholars believe these 70 weeks started in 445BC. Now Daniel 9:26 predicted that the Messiah would be cut off after the first 69 weeks, or 483 years. What’s so amazing is that mathematicians have calculated that God’s timetable was perfect, for these 483 years take us right up to 30BC, the exact time when Christ was crucified. Again we see that God’s prophetic Word is to be taken literally, and is completely, 100% accurate.
But what about the 70th week? Has it started yet? No, it hasn’t. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:9-26, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, and Revelation 13 all tell us of specific events that need to take place during this 7 year timeframe, but they’ve not yet occurred, meaning the 70th week is still future. It’s obvious that this church age has now been going on for close to 2000 years, meaning there’s a long gap between the 69th and 70th weeks.
Yet, over the past 130 years, the Jews have miraculously regathered back to their land, and this is a clear sign from God that we now live in the end times, and that the start-up of the 70th week is not far away. In fact, Daniel 12:4 first used the phrase, “the end time”, which is the time period when these 70 weeks will come to an end. The fact that God is again actively working with the Jews means He’s wrapping up His work with the church, and it won’t be long before Christ’s return. Of course only God knows when the 70th week will start. But when it does, we’ll see a great deal of prophetic activity, and the glorious fulfillment of many of God’s promises to both the Jews and the church.
Here are some of the major prophesied events that will take place during Daniel’s 70th week:
1. At the very start of Daniel’s 70th week, there’ll be the confirmation of a covenant (or peace treaty) between Israel, the Antichrist and other nations (Daniel 9:27). Obviously, for many years now, the United States and other nations have been trying to get a peace treaty signed. Even this week we have been seeing the pursuit of a peace treaty over in Israel.
2. At the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel, the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist will be revealed, and he will desolate the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:27). True Christians and many Jews will discern that this is the Antichrist, this most wicked man who will then begin greatly persecuting them all over the world. (Revelation 12:13-17)
3. At the very end of Daniel’s 70th week, the 7 year mark, a great many Jews will be saved (Daniel 9:24, Romans 11:25-27). At this time, the kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15).
4. Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church will take place sometime during the last half of this 70th week, but no one knows exactly when (Matthew 24:31-36). The day of the Lord, God’s judgment of unbelievers still alive on earth, will begin right after the rapture.
Only as you understand this 70th week timeframe will you be able to clearly figure out “what happens when” in the end times. I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing this divine schedule, for then you’ll be able to know how to put the prophecy pieces in their proper place. Otherwise you’ll be blind, and you won’t be able to see what God wants you to see about the future God has for you, your family, and for your church.
After Daniel wrote these prophesies, he was instructed to “seal up the book until the end time.” (Daniel 12:4, 9). Well, about 2450 years later, with the regathering of the Jews back to their land, this book was unsealed. How exciting and encouraging to be living in the end times that Daniel predicted. I’m sure he would’ve loved to be alive now, but God meant it for us. This is our time! It won’t be long now before the start of Daniel’s 70th week, and not many years later, the wonderful rapture of the church, the devastating wrath of God on earth, the promised redemption of the Jews, and then the glorious reign of Jesus Christ on earth. Psalm 72:18-19
P.S. I have just posted an important new article explaining why replacement theology, which believes God's promises for the Jews are no longer valid, is wrong: Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 1.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #24 ~
For the past five months we’ve looked extensively at the end times, but there’s one thing you need to understand, and that’s Daniel’s 70th week, a prophecy-packed, 7-year timetable. Once this 70th week makes sense to you, then you’ll be able to clearly see how, when and where specific events fit in with regard to the end of this age, the return of Christ, and the rapture of the church.
About 2600 years ago, the prophet Daniel wrote about 70 weeks, a 490-year time period. “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city…” (Daniel 9:24). This time frame began in 445BC, but in 30AD, after 69 weeks, after 483 years, Jesus Christ was “cut off”, was crucified, was buried and raised from the dead, and He ascended into heaven. Since that time, Christ has been building His church. But in 70AD, 40 years after the church age began, the Jews were defeated by the Romans and were then scattered all over the world. But since the 1880’s, the Jews have miraculously regathered back to their land, this being the sign that this final and climactic 70th week is soon to begin.
The event taking place at the very start of this 70th week is the Jews signing a peace treaty, and it is the Antichrist to come (probably unknown to us at that time) who will be a key player in making this deal. It’s debatable whether we will even know when this signing is actually taking place. But it is at this point that God’s end time prophetic work will be in full swing for both the Jews and the church, and for the entire world.
The birth pains, that is, wars, earthquakes, famines and plagues, will be growing in intensity. People, desperate for a strong leader, will be desiring peace. Nations will be forging new alliances. Jews will be sacrificing at their temple in Jerusalem. Unbelievers will be increasingly sinful. Jews and Christians will be greatly hated. And the coming Antichrist will be growing in power.
Then the Antichrist is revealed to the world, a huge earth changing event occurring at the midpoint of this 70th week. Unbelievers will love this devilish man, actually worshiping him like he’s God. But Christians and discerning Jews will know he’s really the Beast, the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist. Then persecution will break out against Jews and Christians, but there’s “peace” for the non-Christians. The Antichrist lovers will gladly be taking his mark and worshiping his image. They are so happy, for life is now “normal” – they are eating and drinking, buying and selling, but are totally oblivious that God’s wrath is soon to be poured out on the world.
What about the rapture of the church? 2 Thessalonians 2 and Matthew 24 make it clear that Christ’s coming is after Antichrist’s coming. Since the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, then we know that the rapture of the church is after the midpoint, but at a time completely unknown to us, for we don’t know the day or the hour. Then sometime during the 2nd half of this 70th week, Christ will return to rapture the church, redeem us from our bodies, and rescue us from this coming wrath.
The great Day of the Lord, the wrath of God, will take place after the rapture, during the last part of Daniel’s 70th week. Then at the end of this week, at exactly the 7-year mark, a great remnant of Jews will be saved, at which time “the kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ, and He will reign forever.” (Revelation 11:15). Let me sum it up this way – Christ was cut off at the end of 69 weeks to be our Savior, but will be crowned at the end of the 70th week to be our King.
For you to truly make sense of end times prophecy, you need to understand Daniel’s 70th week, inside and out. You have to look at it like a divine time frame, for it will help you to see when key events will occur. My sincere desire for each of you is to be able to read prophecy passages (Matthew 24, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, Revelation, etc.), and then using Daniel’s 70th week, be able to figure out where everything fits. And if you happen to be living during Daniel’s 70th week, then you’will be seeing all kinds of prophesied events taking place, but you won’t be surprised – you will know God is carrying out His plans - and by God’s grace, you’ll be enduring, and looking forward to see Christ coming in the clouds to take you home to heaven.
P.S. I've just posted my second article on the error of replacement theology: Replacement Theology - It's Not True - Part 2.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #25 ~
Why? Why is this the 7th week in a row that I’m doing a blog post related to the Jews? Because all that you read in the Bible about the Jews is God’s Word and is true. Because the Bible talks about their past but it also talks about their future. Because hundreds of promises for the Jews are still unfulfilled – they haven’t been cancelled, only suspended. Because you can’t understand God’s future plans for the church if you can’t understand God’s future plans for the Jews. Because error is being taught about the Jews that needs to be corrected. Why? Because it relates to the purposes of God, the work of God, and the glory of God. The truth about the Jews is very important!!
Many Christians haven’t learned everything they need to know about the Jews, and are therefore confused, in error, or uncertain of God’s overall purposes for the world. Because they don’t understand God’s past, present and future working with the Jews, then their knowledge of His plans for the Jews and the church is incomplete and incorrect.
Since we live in the church age, it’s necessary that we focus on the church, but it’s also important, especially at this time in history, to back up and see the big picture. We need to go back to the past, and then come back to the future, so that we can see where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. A big picture Biblical perspective of God’s work with the Jews is essential for the spiritual growth and health of the church.
Let me share my experience. About five years ago I was teaching the book of Revelation at our Wednesday Bible study. We came to Revelation 20 which is about the kingdom age, but there weren’t many details given, and so I felt stuck. I couldn’t just zoom past 1000 years of our lives, a glorious time when we’ll be reigning with Christ on earth. I had to figure out what this millennial kingdom age was all about. Then I realized God didn’t say anything about it in Revelation 20 because all He needed to say had already been said in the Old Testament, and He expected me to read what He had already written. Why should He repeat Himself? I knew I needed to go back to the Old Testament and learn some things about the Jews that I should’ve learned a long time ago.
For the whole next year, our Bible study examined the Old Testament to see what it said about the Jews’ future (and the church’s future). I have to tell you, that was one of the most enlightening and encouraging studies I’ve ever done - WOW! It was revolutionary - it changed my view of my life, my view of the church, my view of prophecy, and my view of the future! I have to admit, the Bible made a lot more sense. Like never before God gave me a glimpse of the plans He had for the Jews and for the church. But more than that, my enlarged view of God and of Christ, of their purposes and character, and of their greatness and glory, transformed my heart like never before. I was really humbled.
My desire is to pass on to you what I’ve learned, to keep sharing with you what I know; but I want to encourage you to read the Old Testament yourself. By God’s grace, might you begin to more clearly see God’s promises and plans for the Jews, and how that fits in with your future, the future of the church, and the future of our world.
And since the Jews are back in their land, we know that God is moving full steam ahead in carrying out His prophetic plans. Now is the time to understand how His end time work with the Jews fits in with His end time work with the church. In this last part of this church age it’s all coming together for God’s elect, and you need to see this, and know that Christ is coming soon for the church, and for the Jews.
Well, I have 2-3 more blog posts about the Jews and then I’ll again be focusing on the end of this age. I have a lot more I want to tell you. We need to learn from Daniel, Luke 21,1-2 Thessalonians and Revelation. We need to learn about all the things the Bible says will be taking place before Christ’s coming. We need to learn about Israel, realigning nations, the United States' decline, the Antichrist, great tribulation, the gospel, hope, suffering, perseverance, the rapture, the Day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and the millennial kingdom. And we also need to learn how to live in these days leading up to Christ’s return. Most importantly we need to learn more about Jesus Christ.
P.S. I have just posted another important article which I believe will be very helpful to deepen your understanding of this subject: Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 3.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #26 ~
Does God say anything in the New Testament about the future of the Jews? Of course He does, and that’s because He wants us to know for certain that His promises to the Jews are still true. Here are some key verses:
Luke 24:45 – “All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Jesus needed to remind His disciples, and us, that all the things written in the Old Testament about Him would come true, which would include reigning as King over the world, and carrying out His promises to the Jews.
Romans 11:25-26 – “A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved.” These are the most crystal clear verses in the entire New Testament about the salvation of the Jews in the end times. It's going to happen, and it’s after this church age is over, after the salvation of a great number of Gentiles.
Hebrews 11:10,13,16 - “He (Abraham) was looking for the city which has foundations… All these died in faith without receiving the promises.” These verses once again prove that God’s promise to the Jews about their land will be fulfilled, and this will take place after the end of this church age.
Luke 1:54-55 – “He (God) has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and His descendants forever.” All the Jews knew about God’s promise to Abraham, and now through Mary, God lets us know that He’s not going back on His word - He will most definitely keep His promise!
Acts 3:20-21 – “that He (God) may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets.” Here's another verse validating the truth of God’s Old Testament promises to the Jews, that they would be blessed with land, and with a Kingdom that would be ruled by Christ Himself.
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.” God made this promise to David that one of His descendants would be King over Israel, and over the entire world, and it will finally be realized at the 7th trumpet, at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week.
Luke 1:31-33 – “You will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High… He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” This is another confirmation of God’s promise about His Son being the eternal King over this earth. And it was Mary’s first-born son, Jesus, who would be the Son of God, in fulfillment of His promise to His people.
These verses were placed in the New Testament because God wants Christians living during this church age to know and be convinced of His future plans for the Jews. All these verses are clear confirmation that God has not nullified His plans for the Jews, but will faithfully carry them out. And there is nothing in the New Testament that negates God’s promises to the Jews. Those who say there’s no future for national, ethnic Israel are in error, for God never says that the church replaces Israel when it comes to the Old Testament promises. And in fact, here are some other New Testament verses that specifically relate to this subject of the Jews and their future: Matthew 23:37-39. Matthew 24:15-27. Mark 13:14-23. Luke 21:20-24. Luke 22:29-30. Luke 24:25. Acts 1:6-11. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9. Revelation 7:1-8. Revelation 11:1-13. Revelation 12:5-17. As we look at the world around us, and as we closely examine the above passages, it’s obvious that God’s end time work with the Jews will soon be moving full speed ahead.
At this time, Christians should focus on the church. We are to also have our eyes open to what God is doing around us, and to know that the future of the church relates directly to the future of the Jews. God will not do His prophetic work with the Jews apart from His prophetic work with the church. Old Testament believers had promises for their land, their King, and their salvation, but they wouldn’t see them realized apart from the New Testament saints. Hebrews 11:39-40 says it well, “All these (Old Testament believers), having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us (New Testament believers), so that apart from us (New Testament believers) they (Old Testament believers) would not be made perfect.”
Let me conclude by giving you the big picture perspective: Christ’s 1st coming was transitioning God’s work from the Jews to the church, and Christ’s 2nd coming will be transitioning God’s work from the church to both Old Testament believers and New Testament saints. That takes us into the next age, the millennial kingdom age.
P.S. I've just published a short article about the importance of the Word of God with a long list of some of my favorite verses: The Instructive, Commanding, Comforting and Encouraging Word of God!!!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #27 ~
Everything I’ve talked about so far isn’t that relevant if we can’t clearly and convincingly answer this one question: “How do we know we’re living in the end times?” God’s Word tells us that the Jews would return to Israel, and that’s exactly what has taken place in the past 130 years. The fact that the Jews are back in their own land is the main reason we know we’re in the end times, that time period leading up to the 2nd coming of Christ, the rapture of the church and the redemption of the Jews. Let me explain more fully:
From 750BC-490 BC, many Old Testament prophets predicted that the Jews would be gathered back to their land. Isaiah 11:11 - “In that day the Lord will reach out His hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of His people…” (Note this is the second time – the first gathering took place between 530BC-440BC). Jeremiah 32:37-38 - “I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in My furious anger and great wrath. I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be My people and I will be their God.” Zechariah 8:7-8 - “I will save My people from the countries of the east and the west and bring them back to Jerusalem, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.” Ezekiel 36:26 - “I will gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land… I will give you a new heart and spirit.” Hosea 1:11, Amos 9:14-15, Micah 4:6-7 and Zephaniah 3:14-20 also speak of this great gathering.
It was around 1880 that all these predictions started coming true, for that was the beginning of this gathering of Jews back to Israel. First there were thousands, then tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands, then millions, and finally 6.5 million strong in May 2017 (Jewish Virtual Library). This is an amazing miracle of God! For a people group to be gone from their land for so long, and then to return with their same identity, same language, same culture, and same religion is absolutely phenomenal. Nothing like this has ever happened before! God’s promise about the Jews has been coming true, just like He said, and no one can deny it. Indeed, we are seeing a miraculous and glorious work of God!
But you say, “This is about the Jews, but what about the church?” Let me make the connection. Matthew 24:9-26, Mark 13:9-23, Luke 21:12-24, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 and Revelation 7:1-17 are all prophecy passages, and in each of them there’s a section about the Jews adjacent to a section about the church. By examining these passages, it’s obvious that God’s work with the Jews in the end times is coinciding with, and in conjunction with, His work with the church. Therefore, we know that God will not do His prophetic work with the Jews apart from His prophetic work with the church. And since the Jews are back in their land, then we know this age is coming to an end - it won’t be long before Christ returns to carry out this work, fulfilling God’s promises for the church and the Jews.
Do you see this? Over 2500 years ago, God predicted that the Jews would come back to their land. The fact that God has gathered them back to Israel is a clear and obvious sign that we are now living in the end times. (Daniel 12:4 - “Seal up the book until the end time.” The book has now been unsealed, for the Jews are back in their land). “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land… and one King will be king for all of them… and they will be My people and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 37:21-22 (Emphasis mine). The first part of this verse has come true for the Jews, and now the last part about God’s three promises for them, will also come true. They will be saved from their sins, will have Jesus as their King, and will then be blessed in their land.
But now that we’re in the end times, all the other prophecies with regards to Christ’s 2nd coming will soon be taking place – there will be birth pains, a peace treaty, a new Jewish temple, the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, the great persecution, the rapture of the church, the Day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and then Christ will begin His reign over the earth. Hallelujah!!!
It was only 150 years ago that the Jews weren’t in their land, but now they are. The prophetic alarm clock is now ringing, and God is telling us to wake up, for Christ’s coming is right around the corner. Be encouraged, be excited, learn what you need to learn, do what you need to do, and look forward to seeing your Lord, Savior and King!
P.S. I have just published a new article: Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 4. This is a very helpful supplement to today's post. Please check it out and especially note point #3 which talks about the gathering of the Jews to Israel.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #28 ~
Our primary subject in this blog is the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. But you need to know the importance of His 1st coming before you can see the significance of His 2nd coming. You’re not going to be excited about Christ coming again if you don’t know why He came the first time, and if you don’t know Him as your personal Lord and Savior.
In this world there are a multitude of problems, but by far, the biggest problem is sin, and it’s in the heart and life of every single person. And what is this sin? Sin is not loving God - it’s worshiping the creation instead of the Creator, glorifying man instead of glorifying God. Sin is rebelling against God, breaking God’s laws, and disobeying His commands. It’s ignoring Him and just doing your own thing. Jesus gave a list of specific sins - “evil thoughts, fornication, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.” Mark 7:21-22. And your evil thoughts, words and deeds are a lot more than you realize - it’s not just a couple of crimes you’ve committed against God, but millions of them.
And this sin is bad. It’s a spiritual cancer that kills, that will totally ruin your life. It results in sorrow, fear, worry, loneliness, conflict, emptiness, depression, hopelessness, physical sickness and death, and much more than that, in spiritual death and eternal death. It means you’re completely cut off from God. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. “Your sins have made a separation between you and your God.” Isaiah 59:2
Because you’ve sinned, you’re guilty before God. And because you’re guilty, you must be punished by God. This punishment is altogether just. “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10. “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire.” Matthew 25:41. You’re spiritually dead, spiritually lost, and spiritually helpless. This sin and death is your worst problem, a most desperate situation, but what can you do about it?
Here’s the answer: about 2000 years ago God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth; and when He was on earth, He did everything right and nothing wrong. Then, as a perfect sacrifice, He died on the cross for sinners, taking their sins upon Himself. Christ became a substitute, being punished by His Father for people’s sins, thereby paying the penalty they deserved. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. “God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
What must you do to be saved? You must see that only Jesus Christ can save you. You must see that you’re a sinner, and deserve to be punished for your sins. You must repent of your sins, being sorry that you’ve sinned against God, and you must believe that Christ died for you, and then rose again, and that God was fully satisfied by what Christ did for you. Turn from your sin and trust in Christ, and then you’ll be born again, and become a child of God. You’ll be forgiven of all your sins, and be given everlasting life, an eternal and personal relationship with God Himself. “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. “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no man may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
Do you know what will happen if you don’t turn to Christ? One of two things – either you’ll physically die and go to hell, or you’ll be here when Christ comes back to earth. And if you are here and aren’t right with God, then Christ will be your Judge, and it will be “hell” on earth - and then you’ll be in hell forever. You do not want that. I strongly exhort you - tell God you’re sorry that you’ve sinned against Him, and believe that “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18. “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Now I’ve talked about the bad news, the sin and death and hell. But I want you to remember the good news of Jesus Christ, the greatest demonstration of love this world has ever seen, that God is offering you a complete pardon of all your sins. More than you know, God wants you to get saved, and wants you to know Him and His love. He wants you to live a life that has meaning, and is pleasing and glorifying to Him. God wants to be your Father, and wants you to be with Him forever. “I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10. “If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37.
If you believe the truth about Jesus Christ at His 1st coming, then you will be looking forward to seeing Him come back as your King at His 2nd coming!
P.S. Please check out my newest article about the character of God, which I just published today: I Still Say My ABC's, The ABC's of God's Character.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #29 ~
God is all glorious! That’s because of who He is - God is God, and He is the Creator of the world, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, and the Savior of sinners. “O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty God?” Psalm 89:8. God is glorious because of what He’s like - He’s supreme, holy, just, wise, loving, powerful, truthful, sovereign, forgiving, good, faithful, patient, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable and eternal. “His name alone is exalted; His glory is above heaven and earth.” Psalm 148:13. And God is glorious because of what He does, because of His awesome works. “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.” Psalm 145:5
God is always glorified! There’s never a time when He is not glorified. Every single thing that God has ever done, or ever will do, gives Him glory. Not only that, but as Revelation 4 tells us, the four living creatures are continually and eternally giving glory to God. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty… Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things…” But there’s been a big problem.
Man is made to glorify God. But as Romans 1:18-32 says, man is worshiping the creation instead of God, His Creator, and this is his main sin, his root problem, resulting in all kinds of other sins. Yet, in His kindness, God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to save man from his sin, to redeem those who believe He died and paid for their sins and then rose again. And why did God do this? For man’s eternal good, and so he would glorify God. The Westminster Confession sums it up, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
As a Christian you are to glorify God - to worship, to extol, to exalt, to praise, to bless, to honor, to thank, to fear, to love Him. This is your main purpose, your primary duty during your life on this earth, and forever and ever. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. “To Him who loves us… to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 1:5-6. O might you see this! O might your heart, soul and life be filled with praise to God, for He is worthy!!!
God made the heavens and the earth, the angels, plants and animals, mountains and hills, and men and women, to praise and glorify God. But as was said, man sinned and didn’t give Him glory. But God has reconciled people to Himself, and the Bible and all of history tells us stories of selected men and women giving glory to God. The Jews, for example, were a chosen people, and many of them worshiped God. As David said, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God… and will glorify Your name forever.” Psalm 86:11. But overall, the Jews did not honor God, and so He punished them, for “they worshiped a molten image. They exchanged their glory for an image of an ox.” Psalm 106:19-20. Yet God never gave up on the Jews, for though He exiled them and later scattered them all over the world, He promised to gather them back to their land (and now they are there), so they would give Him glory. “I will be glorified in the midst of Thee.” Ezekiel 28:22. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Habakkuk 2:14
But now we’re in the church age, and the time for the revival of a remnant of Jews, and these promises to be fulfilled, is still to come. This is our opportunity and time to serve the Lord and give Him glory. Many verses tell us this - Romans 16:25-27, Galatians 1:4-5, Philippians 4:19-20, 2 Peter 3:18, Jude 24-25, Revelation 1:5-6, Ephesians 3:21 - “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Since we live in the end times, we know it won’t be long before Christians on earth “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27), and before we will be “raised in glory” (1 Corinthians 15:42), and before all believers “will be revealed with Christ in glory” (Colossians 2:3). Do you realize what’s going to happen? And do you see that our primary message is God's glory, and that our main purpose is to glorify Him, and to “tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among the peoples... to ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name?” Psalm 96:3, 7
It’s so joyful, exhilarating and fulfilling to glorify God with the saints during this church age, but I'm looking forward to glorifying Him in the next age with all the believers from the Old Testament and church ages, and from the millennial kingdom age. It won’t be long before “every knee will bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” and before we’re saying, and I believe singing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Philippians 2:10-11, Isaiah 6:3
P.S. I plan to have my new article posted early next week: "Replacement Theology : It's Not True - Part 5." Look for it then!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #30 ~
The glory of God! What a great and glorious subject! Might we desire to glorify God, to give Him all the glory! Before we were saved, we were sinners, and we weren’t giving glory to God. We “exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man…” (Romans 1:23). But thanks be to God He saved us so we’d give Him glory. Then we are told that we are to “exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). One of the main reasons we are saved is so that at Christ’s coming we’ll be glorified, and then we’ll glorify God all the time, and with all our heart and soul. This is what we should truly be excited about and looking forward to!
But now we’re on earth, and the flesh oftentimes wants to be seen, recognized, applauded, famous, popular and promoted. And it's Psalm 115:1 that again tells us our primary reason for being here: “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, because of your love and because of your truth.” We’re to give God glory, and why? Because His love and His truth have wonderfully and eternally transformed us. What was David’s desire? “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. For your love toward me is great" (Psalm 86:12-13).
How do we give glory to God? Psalm 63:1-5 tells us that we are to seek God, and then we will see God, and specifically His power and His glory. Then we will be satisfied by His love, and then we will glorify Him. Again, as we seek God, we will see Him, we will know Him, we will be in love with Him - and then we will glorify Him by blessing Him, by praising Him, by singing to Him. And by the way, it’s better than a million sunsets, or anything else on this earth.
How else do we give glory to God? 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that our entire life is to give God glory. “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We glorify God by eating, by our jobs, by using our gifts, by serving in church, by our relationships, our family time, our work outs, our vacations, by “whatever you do.” We also glorify God by being strong in faith (Romans 4:20), by doing the work God gives us to do (John 17:4), by being thankful (Psalm 69:30), and by being holy (Isaiah 6:3).
Then there are the “glory” verses. 1 Timothy 1:15-17 says God is glorified because He saves us. Philippians 4:19-20 says God is glorified when our needs are met. 2 Peter 3:18 says God is glorified as we grow in knowing Christ. 2 Timothy 4:18 says God is glorified because He rescues us from evil attacks. Jude 24-25 says God is glorified by taking us from earth to heaven. Hebrews 13:20-21 says God is glorified because He equips us to do His will. Romans 11:36 says God is glorified because He saves a remnant of Jews. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Do you see this? By far, our supreme goal, our greatest joy, our most satisfying endeavor, is giving glory to God, now and forever!
But back to the coming of Christ: I have to tell you, I get real excited when I think about Christ coming in His awesome glory, splendor, power and majesty (Luke 21:27). For then I’ll be glorified, I’ll be fully saved, and I’ll finally be able to do what God chose me for, created me for, and saved me for – to fully and always glorify God and Jesus Christ. And it’s not just me glorifying God, but all the saints together glorifying God. “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God” (Revelation 19:1).
But one of my favorite glory verses is contained in Jesus’ prayer for us: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory…” (John 17:24). Can you imagine actually being with Jesus, seeing Him and seeing His amazing, magnificent and spectacular glory, and then giving Him glory? There is nothing better than this, and this is what we will be doing forever and ever and ever!
I pray that you'll give glory to God as you live on this earth. But I also pray that you’re excited about seeing Christ return in glory, for then you’ll be glorified, and then you’ll appear with Christ in glory, and then you’ll give Him glory like never before - and you will be most encouraged, most satisfied, and filled with joy. “All the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Numbers 14:21). “From the ends of the earth we hear singing: ‘Glory to the Righteous One’” (Isaiah 24:16). “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13).
P.S. My latest article was just published a few days ago: Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 5 (Why People Have Believed This Error.) This will help you to more clearly understand the history of this error. Next week we'll be looking at North Korea, microchips, and the solar eclipse, and how all this relates to the end times.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #31 ~
In recent weeks, you may have heard about North Korea, microchips, and a solar eclipse. But what amazes and saddens me, is when I hear people getting so worried about these things, wondering if the end of the world is right around the corner. It’s reminds me of fearful “Chicken Little” crying out, “The sky is falling!” As Christians, we shouldn’t be afraid or confused, for God has already told us what’s going to happen, and has even given us a 7-year time frame so we can see where these things fit in with His endtime plans.
First, let’s talk about North Korea. Matthew 24:6-7 tells us, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.” Jesus goes on to say, “these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” Let me explain: these birth pains are wars, earthquakes, famines and plagues taking place before the end of this age and Christ’s coming, and this includes this North Korean conflict. But it’s just the “beginning of birth pains”, meaning a lot more things, and yes, more wars, need to take place before the rapture of the church.
Second, we read about small rice-sized microchips that for years have been implanted in animals as identification and tracking devices. And now they’re putting them in people - but why is this potentially such a big deal? Because Revelation 13:16-17 tells us that “he (another beast) causes all… to be given a mark on their right hand or forehead.” Now we don’t know exactly what this “mark” is, but I believe it relates to these microchips that are presently being developed and increasingly being perfected. This beast, together with the devilish Antichrist, will be using this kind of technology, and “no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark…” This “mark” will be one of the main ways the Antichrist will control people, run the economy, and rule the world during his short dictatorship.
When will this take place? I’ve previously taught about a 7-year time period called Daniel’s 70th week, and right after the midpoint of this week, this mark will be implemented by the Antichrist and this other beast. Now Daniel’s 70th week hasn’t even started yet, for we’re still at the beginning of birth pains. But this mark, this chip, will be ready to use on a global scale, and accepted by society at large when the Antichrist steps out on the world stage. Now Christians will still be on earth at this time, what Matthew 24:21 calls the great tribulation. But be assured, that if you’re a true, born again Christian, then you will not and cannot take this mark of the beast. Only unbelievers can take the mark.
Third, there’s this coming solar eclipse. Some well-known Christians have actually said this is a sign that judgment is coming on America. And yes, the Bible tells us about “wonders in the sky” (Joel 2:31), and that the “the sun will be darkened… ” (Matthew 24:29) before the Day of the Lord, but this particular solar eclipse is not part of these end of the age cosmic disturbances. Why do we know that? Because the Bible tells us that these heavenly signs will not take place until after the Antichrist has been revealed, after the mark of the beast is implemented, immediately after the great tribulation, and right before the rapture of the church. Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 6:12-7:14
Let me sum it up: As a world, we’re now experiencing beginning birth pains, and part of that are these wars and rumors of wars. Then in the near future there’ll be a peace treaty between the coming Antichrist and Israel, and this begins Daniel’s 70th week. At the 3½ year point of that week, the Antichrist will be revealed, and he’ll make non-Christians take the mark of the beast, and also begin great tribulation against both Jews and Christians. Immediately after this great tribulation is cut short, there’ll be these warning signs in the heavens, marking the end of this age, the return of Christ, and the rapture of the church. Then God’s wrath will be poured out on all the unbelievers living on this earth.
God has told us ahead of time what’s going to take place before the return of His Son. Why? Because He wants us to know He’s in control, that He’s doing exactly what He has planned to do; and He doesn’t want us to worry - He wants us to have peace in our hearts. We need to know that Jesus Christ is coming soon, but I say “soon” in terms of all of human history. The truth is, the Bible tells us a number of things that need to take place before Christ’s coming. In the weeks ahead we will be looking closely at many of these things. Hebrews 10:23-25
P.S. Please feel free to check out the many articles and charts here on this blog. They are here to help ones understand more fully what the Bible teaches about the return of Christ the King. Also, here is a post about the Good News ~ how a person can know Jesus Christ now and forever!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #32 ~
Wars - earthquakes - plagues - famines - economic crisis - lawlessness - global unrest - nations realigning - false Christs - false prophets - apostasy - betrayal - Jewish temple desolated - Antichrist ruling the world - mark of the beast - great tribulation - persecution - martyrdom - pseudo peace - world evangelization - signs in the heavens.
In the years ahead all these things will be taking place in our world, leading up to the end of this age and the return of Christ. In His Word, God has specifically talked about these things because He doesn’t want you to speculate, be in the dark, or be in error by listening to someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. In view of this, I encourage you to read Daniel 7:15-28, Matthew 24:3-41, Mark 13:3-32, Luke 21:7-36, 1-2 Thessalonians, and Revelation 6 and 13, for these passages clearly spell out God’s plans for the future.
In Mark 13:23 Jesus says, “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” The Lord didn’t have to tell you about these end time events - He could have let it all be a complete surprise. But He told you in advance because He wants you to know what will be taking place. And should you not then want to know what He wants you to know? But not only does He want you to know what will be happening, but He wants you to be watching and working, and looking forward to seeing His Son, and your Savior.
Of course, God didn’t tell us every single thing that’s going to occur, but He told us every single thing we need to know about the climactic last years of this evil age. The God of this universe, and hopefully your heavenly Father, doesn’t want you wondering what will be happening, or caught off guard and fearful when calamitous and earthshaking events do occur. He wants you wide awake, clearly understanding His prophetic word, and fully aware of predicted events as they come to pass in the world. “The men of Issachar understood the times, and knew what they should do.” 1 Chronicles 11:32
Now some believe that the people, events and things on this earth are just random and evolving, but that is so not true. Since eternity past, the Creator of this universe has planned out your life and the course of this world. And yes, you’re responsible for your actions, but yet in a way you can’t completely understand, God is sovereign over your life, and over this entire world. God knows exactly what He’s doing and exactly what He’s going to do, and there’s nothing that will stop Him from carrying out all His plans for this planet earth. Everything has been made by God for His purposes and glory, and He is wisely orchestrating all the people and events on this world, leading up to that one point in time when He sends His Son back to this earth. Daniel 4:34-35, Ephesians 1:9-12
But where are we now, and where are we going? Think about taking a trip - you have a map, smart phone or GPS, and you know your location, your destination, the roads you need to take, and the turns you need to make to get to where you want to go. As Christians, it’s God’s prophetic word that’s our map, and a perfect map it is for our time, for these years leading up to the return of Christ to this earth. In my opinion, Matthew 24 is the single most important part of this map, for it’s a simple summation of the sequence, the chronology of end time events.
And so where are we? Since the Jews have gathered back to Israel, we know we live in the end times, which is that period of time leading up to the return of Christ. Now we’re experiencing “birth pains”, which means we’re in the beginning stage of the end times. We have a little ways to go then before the appearing of Christ. There need to be more wars and earthquakes, a peace treaty needs to be signed, the temple needs to be built, the Antichrist needs to come, and yes, Christians will go through great tribulation in that time right before Christ comes to take them home. Matthew 24:4-8
But how are you to live? Christ says you are to “do business until I come back”, “to make disciples of all the nations”, and to be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Be excited and tell others what will be taking place, and look forward to the “day of Christ”, for it won’t be long before He’ll return to take up the saints, take out the enemy and take over the world. “Behold, I am coming soon.”
P.S. Next week we will begin to specifically and carefully look at the above mentioned prophesied events that need to take place before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church.
P.P.S. In view of Hurricane Harvey, I encourage you to read Job 37, the best weather chapter in the Bible. The last verse is most instructive - “Therefore men fear Him.”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #33 ~
My son lives in Houston, and so for the past week, I was closely following Harvey, this slow motion tragedy, this epic catastrophe, this 1000 year flood event. Watching what’s been taking place has been surreal, unbelievable, the continued rain resulting in massive flooding, untold heartache, uprooted lives, unspeakable and unimaginable devastation, and also death. What are we to think? What are we to do? This is a time to be like the good Samaritan and love your neighbor. This is a time for compassion and kindness, a time to serve if you are able, a time to give financially to reputable charity organizations. But most importantly, this is a time to pray and ask God to pour out His grace and mercy upon the millions who are so needy.
This is also a time to consider what God has been doing. Do you see that every drop of water from the heavens above is from the hand of God? “God says to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone He has made may know His work, He stops all people from their work” (Job 37:6-7). Do you realize this storm is to get your attention, to get you to stop what you’re doing so you look to Him, and to put the fear of God in you? Do you see that God is sounding the alarm, trying to wake you up from your sleep, to jolt you out of your slumber? God is calling on all Americans to wake up!
“The clouds change direction, turning around by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the earth. Whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen… stop and consider God’s wonders” (Job 37:12-14). “The voice of the Lord is over the waters… The Lord sits enthroned over the flood. The Lord is King forever” (Psalm 29:3, 10). We get so occupied and distracted by school, work, sports, games, TV, texts and tweets, but might we hear the voice of the Lord. Listen up! God is telling us that He is God and we are but men, and that He is holy, supreme and powerful, and that He can do whatever He wants. Daniel 4:35
But what is God saying to those who don’t know Him? He wants them to know about His mercy, but it’s not just a temporal mercy by helping them through a physical problem, like a flood, but an eternal mercy by offering salvation from their sins, from their greatest spiritual problem. Yes, God wants to physically save people out of the rain and the flood and all the destruction that goes with it, but He’s more concerned about showing mercy to people by saving them from an eternal hell. 1 Timothy 2:3-6
How can a person be saved from his sins and from hell? He needs to know he’s a sinner in need of a Savior. He needs to know he has not loved God, but has loved himself and pleasure and money, or that he’s been proud, or that he has ignored and disobeyed God, or that he’s been angry, covetous or immoral. A person then needs to genuinely repent of his sins, and truly believe that Christ actually died for him, and was punished by God for all his sins. Those who repent and believe, who call out to God for mercy, will be forgiven, and be given eternal life, and become children of God. Christ can save you from your sins, from the spiritual cancer that’s killing you, and this is the best and most important news in the world. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Ephesians 2:8-9, John 5:24
What is God saying to the person who’s already a true Christian? That if he is spiritually sleeping, then by God’s grace, he needs to wake up. If he is sinning, then he needs to repent and be holy. If he is loving the world, then he needs to love God. If he is proud, then he needs to be humble. If he is worried, then he needs to see that God is sovereign. If he is disobedient, then he needs to obey God. If he is churchless, then he needs to get in a good Bible church, faithfully loving and serving the saints. Finally, he is to tell others the good news about how Christ can save them from sin, death and hell. I must say that there’s no greater joy than knowing the Lord, worshiping Him, working for Him, and waiting for His glorious return and the rapture of the church.
Let me ask again, do you see what God is doing? He ordains little trials as well as these massive storms, these super-natural disasters. And He wants you to know Him as the One who meets both your physical and spiritual needs “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besides quiet waters.” Psalm 23:1-2
P.S. – All kinds of calamities will continue on up to the return of Christ. Next week, I am planning on looking at the birth pains - the wars, famines, plagues and earthquakes that are and will be taking place in the end times.
P.P.S. – I have just posted a very informative and important article about the coming of Jesus Christ. (By the way, my son is safe and encouraged).
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #34 ~
Meteorologists, the weather experts, have been telling us for 10 days now about this huge hurricane named Irma that’s coming to Florida. They know the seriousness of this storm and are greatly concerned, and therefore have been regularly updating us about the storm track, where it’s headed and when it may hit. But all this advance notice about hurricane Irma reminds me of all the advance notice God has given us about Christ’s return. “Take heed, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). God really wants you to know what will be taking place in the time leading up to the return of His Son, and that’s because He wants to give you a general idea as to when He’s coming back. And the first things will be the “birth pangs”.
God’s Word gives us a lot of information about these “birth pangs”, for there are four similar passages describing these conditions that need to be met before Christ’s return. Matthew 24:4-8 talks about false Christs, famines, wars, rumors of wars and earthquakes. Mark 13:6-8 tells us the exact same thing. Similarly, Luke 21:7-11 says there will be false Christs, wars, disturbances, great earthquakes, famines and also plagues. Finally, Revelation 6:1-6 focuses on false Christs, wars and famines. Now it’s true these kind of events have occurred throughout history, but the fact that four prophecy passages all talk about them confirms the certainty of them, and that they’re happening in that time leading up to the coming of Christ. They are also different than past events in that they are unique in size, extent and effect.
Now the words “birth pangs” portray a vivid picture, illustrating to us an important truth. Just as the labor pains of a pregnant woman indicate that the birth of her child is near, so too these end times’ “birth pangs” are letting us know that Christ’s coming is near. But there’s something else we need to learn from this illustration. Having been with my wife before and during the birth of our four children I know that labor pains start slow, but then increase in both frequency and intensity. They get closer and closer together, but also stronger and stronger. At the outset of these pains my wife would be up and about, doing things around the house, but there came a time when we had to head to the hospital, for my wife knew that the hard labor was coming, and that our child would be born very soon.
I personally believe the “birth pangs” are already taking place. Now some say they haven’t yet begun, that they start at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, and then continue for about 4-5 years until the coming of Christ. But I don’t believe you can cram all those events, wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes, etc., in those few years, particularly since we know that it takes some time for events like these to increase in intensity and frequency. Not only that, but God’s work with the Jews is in conjunction with His work with the church, and I would add, with these “birth pangs”. I believe these labor pains have been taking place in this elongated time frame going back to the late 1800’s when the Jews began returning to Israel. Then in Matthew 24:8, Jesus gives us some insight as to the general timing of these wars, famines, plagues, etc., and therefore, the general timing of Christ’s return. He says, “All these are the beginning of birth pangs”, which means a whole lot more things need to take place after these beginning “birth pangs.”
Where are we at then with respect to Christ’s coming? It’s 2017, and we’re in the “beginning of birth pangs” stage. Right now they may not be so obvious, but as time goes on, they will be. The closer we get to the end of this age, the more you’re going to see and / or feel these labor pains – more earthquakes, famines, plagues, wars, etc. But I need to remind you that the hard labor is still to come. I hate to say this but I have to say this - the conditions in this world are going to get worse and worse before Christ’s return.
Many other prophesied signs will be fulfilled, making it very clear that Christ’s coming is getting closer. There’ll be the building of the Jewish temple, realigning nations, increasing lawlessness, the Jews’ peace treaty with the Antichrist, increasing desire for globalism, more persecution of Jews and Christians, world evangelization, etc. It’s all part of God’s eternal plan, and all under His control. We should be thankful that God knows what He’s doing, that He told us ahead of time what’s going to happen, and that we can serve Him at this very important time in history. I urge you to be spiritually alert as to what’s taking place in the world, and don’t be afraid as you see these signs, but be encouraged, for you know you’ll soon be seeing your Savior and King.
PS – In my post title last week I wrote that “A Storm is Coming”. Honestly, I wasn’t thinking of Hurricane Irma – I was thinking of the coming “birth pangs”. But now at this time, realizing the certainty and devastation of this storm, I ask you to pray for God's mercy with respect to all our lives here in Florida, physically and spiritually, and particularly for those who aren’t saved. Pray too that God would be greatly glorified through this catastrophic event. Again, I encourage you to read Job 37, and look at my article on trials.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #35 ~
In the past few posts, I’ve talked about the birth pangs - the wars, earthquakes, famines and plagues we’re now going through, and that will only increase as we get closer to the coming of Christ. Let’s be honest, this is scary stuff, and God knows our natural tendency is to be alarmed and get worried by events like these. And so right in the middle of His instruction about these birth pangs, Jesus says, “See that you are not frightened, for these things must take place” (Matthew 24:6). Some people, when thinking about the future, just want to put their head in the sand and hope these things won’t happen. But no, these birth pangs are going to take place, and the way to truly get through them is to have a close relationship with the Lord and trust Him, for He will give you all the grace and peace you need. Isaiah 26:3-4
This past weekend, a Cat 1 hurricane came very close to Tampa, and to be honest, I was tempted to be afraid. Days ahead of time, I was listening to the weatherman, and he was warning us that it was going to be bad, with high winds, heavy rain and possible flooding. Then on Sunday afternoon the storm started and it continued through early Monday morning. My wife and I, tucked inside our home and with the power out, were listening to hurricane updates on our little radio. Once in a while we’d step outside our front door and we’d see the swaying trees, hear the howling wind, and feel the strong wind, this force of nature from the hand of God. And yes, it was frightening.
Through the years, I’ve seen that one of man's most common problems is his fear, a troubled mind, a gnawing spirit, an anxious soul. But man’s real root problem is that he’s not trusting God. He’s looking at the storm, but he’s not looking to God. Do you remember the story when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and there was a “fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat?” And the disciples frantically wake up Jesus and He says, “Why are you afraid? Do you have no faith?” (Mark 4:35-41). Now has Jesus ever said this to you, “Why are you afraid?” Of course He has.
Yes, we can be afraid, but we are not to stay afraid. We are to look to God and say, “Father, I’m scared, but I trust you.” And I promise you, that He’ll calm your heart and take away your fear. I think of what God told Joshua, “Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). When attacked by enemies, David prayed, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You" (Psalm 56:3). In speaking to the Jews, God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not look anxiously about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10). O remember these truths, that you have a Father who greatly loves you, who truly cares for you, who is always with you, and as you pray to Him and trust Him, He will give you His peace, He will help you, He will make you strong and courageous. As you go through the storm, don’t forget that Jesus is always with you in the boat, and He will take you to the other side. Psalm 107:23-32
Then there’s Psalm 46, that end times’ chapter about wars and earthquakes, similarly described in the birth pains of Matthew 24. Our response is verse 2, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change.” But why are we not to fear? Because verse 1 says God is our refuge and He will protect us and keep us safe, and He’s our strength and will help us make it through even the most difficult and troubling times of life.
Then verses 4-5 tell us about hope, and hope helps take away fear, for hope means that we believe that the Son will soon be seen in the clouds and right away we will be in heaven, in the city of God. Verse 7 tells us the fear-removing truth that the Lord is always with us, that He’s our constant companion. Then verses 8-9 speak about the “works of the Lord,” and it’s imperative that you get your mind off yourself by seeing what God is doing. It’s not about you, and the little things you are so concerned about and get so worried about. It’s about seeing God and His end times’ work, that He will cause all wars to cease, He will defeat our enemies, and He will bring peace, not just to our hearts, but to this entire planet.
Then there's the conclusion. Verse 10 says you are to “cease striving”, to be still, to relax. O might you know your powerful, loving and sovereign God, and stop thinking about yourself and your own little problems and being so afraid. Make it your goal to work for the glory of God, and He will take care of the rest. “Seek His kingdom and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:31-32). Remember God’s promise, for this is what will most certainly take place, “I will be exalted in the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:11
P.S. Here are two more of my posts that relate to hurricanes, and important lessons for us to learn during this time in history: "A Hurricane is Coming - Be Ready, Watching and Working" and "The Alarm is Ringing! Wake up America! The Storm is Coming!"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Special Post ~
This past Monday I listened to a number of false teachers on YouTube videos predicting what they think will take place on and after September 23, 2017. I was shocked and saddened to hear all the spectacular, sensational and nonsensical things they were saying, all their errors, these lies of the devil. For example: the rapture is going to take place on September 23, 2017 - FALSE. The world as we know it will end on September 23, 2017 - FALSE. There will be a number of signs and events taking place on September 23, 2017, that will then lead to the end of this world - FALSE.
After listening to this false teaching, I felt compelled to share the truth and give some instruction, for you need discernment, you need to know the difference between what is true and what is false when it comes to prophecy. You need to know what God says is going to take place in the future so you don’t fall prey to the end times’ errors that are so prevalent and rampant in our world today.
1. Be aware of error. Many false teachers, false prophets and false Christs are making predictions and promoting their error, and you need to know what God’s word says about prophecy - you need to be discerning. “See to it that no one misleads you…” Matthew 24:4, 11, 24-25
2. The rapture will not take place on September 23, 2017. The Bible makes it very clear that no one knows the day or hour of the rapture, and therefore no one can predict the day or hour of the rapture. “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Matthew 24:36
3. The rapture cannot happen on September 23, 2017, and that’s because God’s word tells us many things that still need to take place before Christ’s return and the rapture. There will be an increasing number of false Christs, wars, earthquakes, famines and plagues. There will be a great apostasy, the building of the temple in Jerusalem, the United States declining in power, the realigning of nations, the revealing of the Antichrist, and people taking the mark of the beast. There will be a great persecution of Christians and Jews, global evangelization, and finally, signs in the heavens. All these things are prophesied to occur before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. God tells us these things because He wants all believers to know the general timing of Christ’s return. “… so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” Matthew 24:32-33
4. The rapture of the church is not imminent, and that’s because there are a great number of discernible prophesied events that need to take place before the rapture. We can know the general time of Christ’s return, but we cannot know the specific time. (Point #3 lists many of these prophesied events that will occur before the rapture).
5. Understand what Jesus has told us about the birth pains, the false Christs, wars, earthquakes, famines and plagues (Matthew 24:4-8). This will help you to see that the solar eclipse and hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, are not Biblically prophesied signs of Christ’s return. False teachers are misinterpreting Luke 21:25-26 - “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves.” The “signs in sun…” is referring to signs in the heavens that will take place right before the rapture of the church (Matthew 24:29), and will be seen by everyone on the earth. The “roaring of the sea and the waves” is not referring to recently occurring hurricanes that have hit the United States and its territories, but will be a result of a great earthquake occurring right before the coming of Christ (Psalm 46:2-3, Revelation 6:12). Hurricanes, catastrophic as they may be, are not spoken of as prophecy predicting events in the Bible.
6. Never add to God’s word, or subtract from God’s word. Always remember that truth + error = error. In this recent round of errors concerning September 23, 2017, many false teachers are mixing astrology (Virgo), astronomy (Jupiter) and the Bible (Revelation 12:1-2), and this is so terribly wrong. Mixing the word of God with the word of man results in error. Our understanding of eschatological, end times’ prophecy must be based solely on the Bible, for it is prophetically sufficient, it is all we need to know. “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life.” Revelation 22:18-19, Matthew 24:35
7. Be a good Bible student. Read God's word; study the word; compare passages; don’t go beyond what is written; interpret the Bible correctly; take it literally, that is in its normal, natural, plain sense; and don’t try to make the events of the world interpret God's word, but rather let God's word interpret the events of the world. Saturate your mind with Biblical truth so it becomes a spiritual sieve that filters out the good from the bad, that enables you to recognize the truth and discard the error. Don’t be naive, don't be deceived, don’t be fooled by the devil, but get discernment and wisdom from God’s word. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:15-16
When it comes to prophecy, be very careful of what you watch and who you listen to. Don’t be fooled by false teachers and the deception and lies of the devil. “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). I strongly encourage you to check out the following links to other posts that I have specifically written to help you understand the timing and chronology of events leading up to the rapture: North Korea, Microchips, and the Solar Eclipse - A Hurricane is Coming - Be Ready, Watching, Working - Deception or Discernment? - Matthew 24 - A Road Map of the End Times - The Seals of Revelation 6 - The Storm Before the Son - Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? - Daniel’s 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End Times.
P.S. – This week’s “Saturday Morning Post” will list out a number of critically important points that will give you a lot more insight and understanding about the end times' birth pangs.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #36 ~
Has not God told us the future? Has not God told us what will be taking place in the years leading up to the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church? Has God not clearly told us in His word what we need to know? Yes, He most definitely has! And I’m so glad He has written it all down for us. We don’t need to guess or wonder, or worse yet, listen to false prophets and profiteers who aren’t telling the truth but are only tickling people’s ears. Please don’t be naïve, confused, misinformed or in error. Take heed to the word of God, and find out what your heavenly Father wants you to know.
Over the course of the coming months, I’ll be systematically going over many specific events that the Bible says will be taking place before the return of Christ to this earth. In the past few weeks, I’ve been examining the birth pains (birth pangs), and today I want to sum things up by sharing ten relevant points about them.
1. These “birth pains” are described as false Christs, wars, rumors of wars, plagues, famines, earthquakes, and financial distress.
2. These “birth pains” are spoken of in Matthew 24:4-8, Mark 13:5-8, Luke 21:8-11 and Revelation 6:1-8. The fact that God repeats them four different times gives a great deal of added weight to their truth and importance.
3. They are called “birth pains”, which is instructive, for it means they will increase in both frequency and intensity. That is, these end time "birth pains" will get nearer and nearer together and harder and harder as we get closer to the coming of Christ.
4. Matthew 24:6-7 tells us that “you will be hearing of wars”, and “in various places there will be famines and earthquakes”. Do you see this? These "birth pains" aren’t occurring in every city and country in the world, but only in "various places". People on this earth will be "hearing" about them, but most will not be experiencing them.
5. To the discerning Christian it will be very obvious that these “birth pains” are increasing in frequency and intensity – those believers who are spiritually awake and alert will sense in their heart that Christ will be coming soon. Hebrews 10:25
6. Just like a mother experiences birth pains over a period of time, so too these earthly “birth pains” will occur over a period of time. Some believe they start at the beginning of Daniels’ 70th week and go on for only a few years, but the very nature of these events, and in particular, famines, wars and financial crisis, suggest they take place over a longer period. Personally, I believe they’ve already been going on for a long time.
7. One of the results of these “birth pains” is that people, unbelievers in particular, will desire and even be desperate for a global leader to bring order and peace to the world, this leading to the acceptance and worship of that most devilish Antichrist.
8. These “birth pains” are taking place before the coming of Christ, proving that the rapture of the church is not imminent, and cannot happen at any moment. Many other discernible prophesied events will also occur before the return of Christ.
9. Matthew 24:4-8 says, “all these things are the beginning of birth pains.” The “birth pains” happening at this present time do not mean that the rapture will be right away. “When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” Luke 21:9. Many more things still need to take place before Christ’s return - a Jewish peace treaty, the revealing of the Antichrist, nations forming alliances, people taking the mark, great tribulation, etc.
10. People who say these “birth pains” are part of the “Day of the Lord’s” wrath, are wrong, are in error. Revelation 6:1-8 identifies these birth pains as the first four seals, and goes on to make it super clear (Revelation 6:15-17) that they will all take place before God’s wrath, the trumpet and bowl judgments of Revelation 8-9, 16. Revelation 6 speaks about birth pains, tribulation and the end of the age. Revelation 7 is about the sealing of the Jews and the rapture. Revelation 8-9 describes the wrath of God.
There’s no denying the truth of God’s Word with regards to these birth pains - you must not ignore or take lightly what God is telling you, for they are now occurring in the world around us (e.g., rumors of war with N. Korea, earthquakes in Mexico, and 20 million people experiencing famine in Africa), and will continue to happen until Christ’s coming. We should be very thankful that our Father told us these things ahead of time. We’re His kids, and He wants us to believe what He’s telling us. He wants us to trust Him and love Him and be looking for His Son’s return. Live for Jesus in these years before the rapture by being a faithful saint, a hard-working servant and a brave soldier. “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
P.S. – Jesus Christ did not come back on September 23, 2017. Many things still need to take place before His return and the rapture of the church.
P.P.S. – Be praying for the people and families so catastrophically affected in Mexico City by the earthquake, and in Puerto Rico by the hurricane, for both their physical and spiritual needs.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #37 ~
Contrary to what some Christians believe, there are a number of prophesied events that need to take place before the rapture of the church. In the past few weeks we’ve been looking at the birth pains. But today, and in the next two weeks, I want to talk about Israel and the Gentile nations, the realigning and remaking of kingdoms and countries in the end times, and finally, the decline of the United States as a world power.
God works through nations, particularly, and most importantly through the nation of Israel. To have a Biblical and proper view of history, and of end times’ prophecy, it is essential to understand God’s laser-focus on Israel. My purpose is to summarize some foundational and historical truths with regards to Israel and the Gentile nations.
The origin of the nations: Genesis 10 tells us that the nations of the world came forth from Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. This chapter specifically lists nations that were, and to some degree still are, relevant for God’s purposes for the Jews and for the entire world. God’s sovereign scattering of proud and rebellious nations across the face of the earth is described in Genesis 11:1-9. The rest of Genesis 11 tells us that the nation of Israel would come from Shem’s descendants, and specifically through Abram.
The most important country: God chose Israel to be the greatest and most blessed nation (Deuteronomy 4:32-40). Genesis 11:10 to the end of the Old Testament makes it very clear that God loved Israel and had great plans for her, and that she was the most important country in the world. The Gentile nations were usually only spoken of as they related to the history and purposes of Israel. But during this church age, God is focused on the Gentiles, and in fact, for most of this time, Israel did not even exist as a nation. But things are changing, and in the next age, Jesus Christ will reign as King from Israel, and the whole world will see that she is the number one country on earth. Psalm 67
The Old Testament: Israel’s history takes us from her birth in Egypt, to 40 years of testing in the desert, to conquering the Canaanites and occupying the promised land, and to judges delivering them from evil Gentile nations. It continues with the kings, some who were good, but most who were evil; and it was David and Solomon who led Israel during their glory years. After that she went downhill. Then God used prophets to declare to Israel and Judah their sin (the nation was split), to predict judgment and exile, and to promise her hope for the future, a Christ led millennial kingdom, which will begin after this present church age. Psalm 72
During those Old Testament years, God’s people were living in an anti-God world, sometimes being holy, but usually being wicked. But most impressive, was the powerful working of God with this weak and sinful nation, and His continued mercy, kindness, love, patience and justice towards her (Nehemiah 9). And as Ezra tells us, He faithfully brought Judah back from exile to her own land. Against all odds, and by God’s sovereign grace, she continued on through all the years, both defeating and being delivered from Gentile nations, and in particular, the Satanically inspired “beast” nations – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome (Revelation 12:1-3).
The time of Christ: Then it was time for Jesus, the Son of God, to be born and come to Israel, to His people. He came as a King, but He couldn’t reign in a physical way until there was spiritual revival and He was Lord in their hearts. That would have to wait, for these Jews rejected Jesus Christ – they didn’t see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior. But Jesus continued on, fulfilling His most important purpose, suffering, dying and rising again for billions of people who would put their faith in Him for salvation from sin, death and hell. Then Jesus left this earth and went back to heaven with the promise that He’d return to be King of Israel and King of the world. Matthew 24, Acts 1:4-11
The church age and the present time: In 70AD, the God forsaking nation of Israel was severely punished, being soundly defeated and scattered into all the nations, and as we see, was set aside for close to 1900 years. Now we are in the church age, the time for the salvation of many Gentiles, and for a few Jews too (Romans 11). But in the past 130 years, over 6 million Jews have supernaturally returned to their land, and the nation of Israel has miraculously been resurrected. It is obvious that God is now actively working with both Israel and Gentile nations, for their end times’ configuration and place in the world must be in line with the prophecies of Daniel 2, 7, 9 and 11.
The fall of the United States and the rise of Antichrist’s kingdom. All can see that the United States is going down, her pride, greed and immorality being the principle reasons for the decline of this most powerful nation. Then sometime after she is sufficiently weakened, we will see the realigning of more nations, and the eventual rise of that evil Antichrist and his kingdom. After his short devilish rule, the Antichrist will be crushed by Christ. And from Jerusalem in Israel, Jesus Christ will gloriously reign over a Gentile world for 1000 peaceful and wonderful years. Psalm 47, Revelation 20:1-11
P.S. For further understanding of this important subject, please check out my article: A Summary of the Work of God, from the Time of Abraham to Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #38 ~
As people living in the 21st century we need to know how God has been working in the world with regards to the nations, and I’m not talking from a geopolitical perspective. I’m not talking about what the United Nations says, that weak body of leaders that will never bring unity or peace to this world. I’m not talking about what Presidents, prime ministers or politicians say, and surely not what the news media says. I’m talking about a Biblical perspective, a Biblical framing of the nations, past, present and future. What does God’s word say about the nations? Where in the world are things headed?
Genesis 10-11 tells us that the nations of the world are divided into two main groups - the Gentile nations, from Noah’s sons, Ham and Japheth, and the nation of Israel, from Shem, Noah's other son. The promise we must never forget is what God said to Abram in Genesis 12:1-3, “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Do you see this, that all true blessing in this world, both spiritual and physical, comes through Abram and his descendants, through Israel?
The main theme of most of the Old Testament, specifically Genesis 12 - Malachi 4, centers on the nation of Israel. You can only understand the Old Testament as you understand God’s sovereign and special working with Israel and how that affects the rest of the world. God’s dealings with all the other nations relate directly to their relationship with Israel.
Psalms 1-2 says that God works through individual people and nations. Psalm 1 tells us about individuals, the righteous who will be forever blessed (remember that God wants to use your life for His purposes), and the unrighteous who will perish, and be eternally punished. Psalm 2 talks about Gentile nations taking their stand against God. In their defiant pride they fail to see that Christ is King, and that He will inherit the nations and then begin His reign from Zion, from Israel. And if nations, kings and people don’t worship and serve the Lord and King, then they will be utterly destroyed.
Revelation 12:1-3 says that Satan has been strongly opposing the nation of Israel from the beginning. His devilish work has especially been seen in these “beast” nations – Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome I and Rome II. The Bible tells us how God has continually rescued and preserved this nation of Israel and, in the future, will enable them to help fulfill His plans. Psalms 33:10-12, Isaiah 40-66, Esther
God’s judgment of the nations for their sin is a major theme in the Bible, and is described in great detail, particularly in the prophets. Yet, God shows extreme patience with sinful nations, and for over 1500 years we see this with Israel, but His patience has a limit. In Isaiah 1:4, 26, God promises to judge Judah, “Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt… I will turn my hand against you.” Isaiah goes on to declare God’s wrath against Moab, Babylon, Ethiopia and Egypt. In Hosea 9:7, God says to Israel, “The days of punishment have come”. Obadiah tells us about God’s judgment against Edom.
Every nation has been judged or will be judged by God. The Bible and world history make this very clear. And since we’re now in the end times then it won’t be long before God’s wrath will be poured out on both people and nations. God's global judgment is most sobering, a divine, devastating wrath that takes place right after the rapture of the church, but right before Christ’s reign over the world. Joel 3:2 tells us, “I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.” Psalm 9:5 informs us, “You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked.” Revelation 8-9, 16
In these days before Christ’s return, God must realign the nations of this earth. (Ezekiel 36-38:1-6, Daniel 2:31-45). God has brought the Jews back to Israel, and He’s getting other nations ready as well. Yes, this world is rapidly changing, but you look at countries like Israel, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Russia and the United States, and it’s obvious that we’re not there yet. And Antichrist’s 10 nation kingdom hasn’t even come to power, but it will. Yes, Christ is coming soon, but many more things still need to take place before we see Him return in power and great glory. Matthew 24:27-41
God is holy, but He is also merciful. During the Old Testament days Israel was to be a light to the nations. In Psalm 96:2-3 the Jews were told, “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation... Tell of His glory among the nations." But in these days the church is to let her light shine, and is to “make disciples of all the nations… even to the end of the age,” and then Christ will return to reign over the entire world. Matthew 28:19-20, Revelation 11:15
After the church age, the great glory of God will be seen in the nations during the millennial kingdom. Psalm 47:8 - “God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 67:2,4,5 - “Your salvation among the nations… let the nations be glad… You will guide the nations on the earth.” Psalm 86:9-10 - “All the nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name. You are great and do wondrous deeds.”
P.S. Next week I will be sharing about the present and continuing decline of the United States, and how in the near future, she will no longer be the leading world power. She must go down, and then sooner or later, God will raise up the Antichrist's kingdom.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #39 ~
Jesus Christ cannot come back until the United States declines in power. That’s the truth, and on one hand I hate to say the U.S. is going down, for I like living in this country that’s been greatly blessed by God. But it’s going to happen, sooner or later - it has to. That’s because the Antichrist needs to be in power just before the coming of Christ. Therefore, the United States can’t be number one in the world at the same time the Antichrist and his ten-nation kingdom is ruling the world. The U.S. has to go down before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church.
The Bible tells us in great detail what happens when nations reject God. “The nations have sunk down in the pit in which they have made… Let the nations be judged before You.” (Psalm 9:15-20). “Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone” (Hosea 4:17). “I have cut off nations, their strongholds are demolished” (Zephaniah 3:6). “In the generations gone by God permitted all the nations to go their own ways” (Acts 14:16). But it’s Romans 1:18-32 that outlines the downward moral progression of a person or a country that rejects God and His truth. Three times it says, “God gave them over.” When people abandon God, then God abandons them and lets them alone in their sin. Their sin is the reason why they are judged, and more sin results, and that increasing sin becomes the actual judgment of their sin.
One of the first visible signs of God abandoning the United States to her sin was seen in the open sexual immorality that began in the 1960’s. The second sign was when homosexuality was accepted, lawful and promoted in society, which has been taking place in the past 15-20 years. The third sign of a country’s decline is when God gives the people over to a depraved mind “to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife… haters of God… disobedient to parents… unloving” (Romans 1:28-32). Sad to say, but this list of sins increasingly describes our country. More and more people are totally disregarding the truth of God’s Word, consciences aren’t functioning rightly, there’s open rebellion against authority, and lawlessness is becoming more rampant. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.” Isaiah 5:20, Ezekiel 16:48-50
For many years, this moral and spiritual decay has been affecting the character of our country, and like a cancer it has been spreading, resulting in the educational, political, economic and entertainment sectors of our nation becoming terribly sick. Not only that, but we’re gradually becoming more anti-Semitic - “the one who curses you (Israel), I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). Then there’s the severe financial indebtedness of this country, which could result in a nationwide economic collapse. Add to that, the significant societal and political divisions we see in this nation (which I believe is irreversible) - “any kingdom divided against itself cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). Yes, it is true that there is some good in the United States, and that she is still being used by God for His purposes. But the fact remains that she is now in decline, paving the way for other world powers to arise, unless the Antichrist and his kingdom are the next in line to take over, and if so, then they will rule the world.
Most countries gradually go down in power; the decline doesn’t usually happen in a day, a month or a year - it takes place over decades and sometimes centuries. When will the United States no longer be the number one power in the world? No one but God knows, but her downturn, along with all the other events signaling Christ’s return, indicate to me that it will be sometime in the near future. There could even be catastrophic events accelerating the downfall of this nation - more terrorist attacks, a great California earthquake, a super-volcano, electromagnetic pulse weapons, etc. This country is in serious decay, and any major cataclysmic event could be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” that which quickly weakens her beyond repair.
For a number of years, this world has been trending towards globalism, which needs to take place before the Antichrist can come to power. As you know, this country recently elected a nationalistic and populist President. But this is only a temporary shift, for it won’t be long before globalism becomes the great desire and cry of this and most every country. People will be desperate for a world leader to solve global problems, like war, famine, plagues, earthquakes, the economy, and yes, putting a stop to Christianity, too.
The main point of all this is that the United States will lose her first place status in the world, and become subservient to the power structures that are being raised up in Europe and the Middle East, and eventually to the Antichrist himself. Daniel 2:31-45, 7:15-28, 9:24-27 and Revelation 13 explain this more fully. As Christians, we must not be overly concerned with the politics and policies of this country. Our real goal is not to have a moral majority, or get dominion over this country, or to make America great - it is to preach Christ crucified, to make disciples of all the nations until the end of this age and the return of Christ, and to pray - “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
P.S. I would encourage you to read another post I have done called "That Evil Antichrist and His Short Rule on Earth."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #40 ~
One condition that must be met before Christ’s 2nd coming is increasing Jewish persecution. This Antisemitism has been taking place since the beginning days of Israel’s existence when they were growing up in Egypt, and 3600 years later it still goes on, and will continue right up until Christ’s return. Revelation 12 best summarizes this hellish opposition against the Jews, this persecution driven and directed by the devil himself. The imagery is given of a seven-headed, ten-horned dragon, depicting eight different devilish empires opposing the Jews. Seven of these are now in the past, but one more, the Antichrist’s 10 nation kingdom, is still to come.
Revelation 12:1-5 takes us from the birth of Israel to the birth of Christ. The pregnant woman with 12 stars is the nation of Israel, and she was in painful labor during this time. That’s because Satan was using six different kingdoms to persecute the Jews and prevent the Savior from being born - they were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. These God hating kingdoms wanted to wipe out the Jews and Jesus, but none were successful, for verse 5 tells us about the birth of Jesus Christ, the future Ruler, and that He ascended into heaven. And that’s all it says, for the main point of this verse isn’t about Christ being the Savior, but that Christ will be the King over the world.
Revelation 12 isn’t about the church age, it’s about the “woman”, the Jews, being persecuted by the devil. Looking back we see that there’s about a 2000 year gap between verses 5 and 6, taking us from Christ’s 1st coming to the last half of Daniel’s 70th week and Christ’s 2nd coming. But where were the Jews during this entire time? When Jesus was on earth, He repeatedly predicted that wrath was coming upon the Jews (Luke 19:41-44, 20:16, 21:20-24, 23:28-31), and this tragically took place around 70AD. Historians tell us that close to 1 million Jews were killed by the Romans, and Luke 21:24 says the rest would then “be led captive into all the nations, and will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles.” God’s word has come true, for there’s been great persecution against the Jews over the course of all those years, but by God’s mercy, they were never completely destroyed - a remnant of Jews has always survived.
The Diaspora, this worldwide Jewish displacement, lasted a long time, a little over 1800 years, but by the promises of God and for the purposes of God, the Jews have miraculously been returning to their land. And the persecution continued, their darkest days occurring when this devilish Hitler led a holocaust resulting in the mass murder of close to 6 million Jews. God was sovereign in that their deaths led to the rebirth of their nation in 1948. The anti-Semitic attacks kept coming – there was the Sinai War of 1956, the Six Day War of 1967, the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Lebanon War of 1982, and in addition, a great deal of global opposition.
Now it’s 2017, and it’s obvious to those who watch world affairs, that there’s a major effort underway to get a peace treaty between the Jews and Palestinians. What’s amazing is that over 2500 years ago God predicted that a covenant between the Jews and the Antichrist would be confirmed, and it would take place right at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, that end times’ prophecy packed 7 year time frame (Daniel 9:24-27).
I don't believe it will be too long before this covenant is signed, and life may then be a bit better for the Jews, but this “peace” will be short lived. That’s because the Antichrist is a liar. We then come to the midpoint of Daniels’ 70th week, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us that this “son of destruction… takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” All discerning Jews and Christians will know that this is the Antichrist. This most evil man will begin persecuting the Jews, then the Christians. Starting in Jerusalem, this great persecution will spread to the whole world. “There will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now” (Matthew 24:15-21).
The good news is that a sizable Jewish remnant will escape (Matthew 24:16-26, Revelation 12:13-16). But not all will get away from the Antichrist and his forces of evil, and the killing fields will once again be red with the blood of the Jews. Even the United States will abandon the Jews and be against them. In fact, “All nations of the earth will be gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3). This Jewish persecution will continue “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). Then God will fulfill His promise of salvation for the Jews. “And thus all Israel will be saved... This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins (Romans 11:25-26). Then begin the glory years, the millennial kingdom age, and all believers from all time, you and me included, will join the Jews in worshiping and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.” Psalm 72:19
P.S. I've just posted another article about your future: Prophecy Psalms for the Jews and for You - Part 2.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #41 ~
The gospel, that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, suffered and died to pay the penalty for man’s sin, and was raised from the dead, is by far the most important message in the world! When a person repents and believes that Christ died for his sins, he’s forgiven and becomes a child of God. He is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and is given eternal life, a personal relationship with God. He doesn’t go to hell when he dies, but instead goes to heaven (unless he is raptured). Satan is no longer his master, but Jesus is Lord of his life. And during his time on earth he experiences real love, joy and peace, and has a reason for living. He has grace for the present and hope for the future. There’s no doubt about it, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news in the world! Mark 1:15, John 5:24, 1 Peter 3:18
The direction of these posts for the past few weeks and for the next few months is about what needs to take place before Christ’s 2nd coming. One thing that’s crystal clear is that the church’s primary objective is to reach the world with the gospel, and then Christ will return to rapture the church and reign over this earth. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus instructs the disciples that they were to “go and make disciples of all the nations… even to the end of the age.” In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would be restored to Israel. But first things first, for Jesus tells them, “You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Then in Acts 3:19-21, Peter concludes his gospel message by saying, “Therefore, repent and return so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration.”
You see these instructions about preaching the gospel repeated in all these end time passages. “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:13). “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mark 13:10). “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” (Matthew 24:14). Then look at Revelation 14:6-7. There are no ifs, ands, or buts. This gospel will be preached to the whole world until the end of this age, and then Christ will return and take the believers still on earth home to heaven.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only answer to man’s problem, the only way to be saved from sin - it’s what people desperately need to hear. We can so easily worry about our own lives, but we need to be concerned for the lost, and seek first the kingdom of God. We should be excited to know we can serve the Lord in these days leading up to the coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:5 says, “each one has received his task. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.” I tell you, this verse really motivates me. God has given each one of us a key role to play in reaching the world with the gospel. It may primarily be prayer, it may be sharing your testimony, explaining the gospel or passing out a tract, but for all of us it means loving the lost and being a good example to them. I encourage you to do your part, to use your gifts, abilities, time and money for the sake of the gospel.
Don’t forget that Jesus Christ is in charge of world missions - He is heading up this global, evangelistic outreach. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, He oversees every church, works with every mission agency and Christian ministry, and directs every believer in fulfilling their gospel-related task. Christ will keep working until He gets the job done, until that last person to be saved, is saved. And mark my words, Christ’s worldwide campaign to get His message out is close to being completed.
I can’t tell you how encouraged I am when I hear specific stories about God’s people being sent out into His harvest, the gospel being shared and heard on radios and smart phones, and read in Bibles and tracts. This Christ-directed effort to reach the world is succeeding. People are getting saved, disciples are being made, and the church is growing. But what does it mean to reach the world with the gospel? I don’t have a specific answer - there are unreached peoples, the 10-40 window, and all kinds of stats. But we do know we’re not there yet, otherwise Christ would already be back on earth. The fact that we are in the end times means this age will soon come to an end and the church will be raptured, and then believers will be in heaven from “every nation and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:9-10
P.S. A related article that specifically explains the Gospel is found in this previous post: The Most Important Thing for You!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #42 ~
The most wicked, vile, evil man ever, will soon be ruling over this world. This man is the Antichrist, also called the Beast, the man of lawlessness, or the little horn. He will hate God and Jesus Christ with a devilish passion, and therefore hate His people, both Jews and Christians. Now I’m not here to scare you, I just want you to know the truth.
Since the Jews are back in their land, we know we’re living in the end times, and now in 2019, we’re in that time period Matthew 24:8 calls the “beginning of birth pains.” That is, wars, earthquakes, famines and economic problems are taking place in various places around the world. But we’re only at the beginning stage, which means they will be getting a lot worse. And what comes next? Matthew 24:9 says, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” This is why I say Antichrist is coming soon, because this tribulation, which is instigated and directed by the Antichrist, clearly comes right after the “beginning of birth pains.”
Some of you may not want to hear this, or believe this, for you don’t even want to think about the possibility that you and your family may be alive when this Hitler-like Antichrist is ruling this earth. But as a Christian, you need to know what God wants you to know. And what does the Bible say about the Antichrist? It's Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27) that helps you to frame this end-times’ picture of the Antichrist and his evil work.
Right at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, there will be the signing or confirming of a peace agreement involving the Jews, and the Antichrist will be the key player promoting this deal. During the first half of this 70th week, these “birth pains” will be increasing in intensity and frequency. People will be so distraught with these worsening world conditions that they will be desperate for some strong leader to rise up and solve these global problems. During this time, this future Antichrist will be growing in popularity, power and influence, eventually gaining control over 10 different countries.
Then we come to the 3½ year mark, the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 tells us that the Antichrist is in Jerusalem, and he breaks this peace agreement with the Jews, for he “exalts himself above every so called god… so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.” The Jews were sacrificing in their temple, but no more. This "abomination of desolation," this desecration of the temple, is when Christians will know for certain the identity of the Antichrist, for this is exactly what God had predicted would happen. But the good news is that they know it won’t be long before the true Christ returns to rapture the church. Matthew 24:15-26
At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the unbelievers are so happy, for the Antichrist, the answer to all their problems, is now ruling the world. He is in charge of the military, the economy and religion, and he will be their “god." This smart, well dressed, good looking, smooth talking super-man will bring a pseudo peace to this planet. And Satan is super-happy, for now both he and the Antichrist are being worshiped. “The whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast, they worshiped the Dragon (Satan)… and they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:3-6
The Antichrist will be in power, in charge, but it’s his evil partner, this false prophet, who implements his plan. By doing great signs and wonders this 2nd beast will further deceive the masses and gain their allegiance. Then he will make people worship an image of the Antichrist, and if they don’t, then they are to be killed. He will force people to take his mark on their right hand or forehead, and if they don’t, they won’t be able to buy or sell. But please, don’t be afraid, for true Christians will not and cannot worship the Antichrist or take his mark. Revelation 13:11-18, 14:9-13
What happens to the Christians? Revelation 13:7 says, “It was given to him (the Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” This is what is called great tribulation. Matthew 24:9, 15-26 and Revelation 12:13-17 describe how the Antichrist first comes after the Jews in Israel, but a remnant of them will escape and be protected. But this Antichrist, as mad as the devil, now comes chasing after the Christians. Many Christians will be martyred for their faith (Revelation 6:9-11), but a great many will persevere and endure to the end, and then be raptured at the coming of Christ. Matthew 24:9-14
That the devil’s man, this Antichrist, will soon be ruling this world, is a most sobering subject. But this is God’s plan, and who are we to argue with God? Isn’t it also true that many of our Christian forefathers have had the privilege of suffering for the Lord? It’s our time, and so let’s continue to serve our Lord in this great battle for the truth, right up to the end of this age. And let's be singing, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.” Remember, God is God, and He will lead you, encourage you and use you for His purposes - and one day, whether by death or by rapture, He will bring you home to heaven.
P.S. Here is another shorter post about the Antichrist - That Evil Antichrist and His Short Rule on Earth. I also encourage you to read a more extensive article about the Antichrist.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #43 ~
There’s a lot of sin in this world, and it’s going to get a whole lot worse before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. “In the last days, difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God… evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse” (2 Timothy 3:1-3, 13). During this present evil age, we see all this sin, but this world will only get more and more wicked the closer we get to the coming of Christ.
Matthew 24 is all about the end times, and verse 12 warns us, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” In these years before Christ’s coming, the non-Christians will increasingly be mean, cruel and hateful. Then there's 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8-12, and it actually calls the Antichrist the “man of lawlessness.” One reason why there will be this escalating sin in the end times is because this Antichrist, this man of sin, will not just be permitting evil, but will be promoting it.
What does this sin look like? 2 Timothy 3 gives us some details, but Galatians 5:18-21 further describes it by saying, “the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities… drunkenness, carousing.” In Mark 7:21, Jesus says, “out of the heart of men proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries… envy, slander, pride and foolishness.” In the years leading up to Christ’s return, unbelievers will be blatantly sinning, unashamedly sinning, defiantly sinning and greatly sinning. Sin will be rampant, openly seen in families, in leaders, in schools, in government, at work, on the internet, and in media, music and movies. I know you may not want to hear this, but this is the truth, this is what God says in His Word, and this is what He wants you to know.
In the end times this entire planet will be filled with people who have cast off moral restraint, who hate God and love their sin. 2 Peter 2:10 talks of “those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despite authority.” People will be shaking their fists at God, rejecting those in authority, and doing what is right in their own eyes. Sinful behavior will be completely accepted and normalized. It will be like the days of Noah when “the wickedness of man was great on this earth, and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only continually evil” (Genesis 6:5). Remember the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when Bedford Falls is imagined to be Pottersville, a dark, evil, perverted and partying place? Sadly, this will be similar to the condition of our world.
Let’s be honest, these latter days will be very difficult for Christians. I’m reminded of that wicked city of Sodom when “Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men… while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds.” But remember the promise that follows, “The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:7-9). Christians living on earth in these coming days will go through great tribulation for a short time, and then be raptured, and then be with the Lord forever. But God’s enemies will not escape His wrath, for they will be punished forever. It won’t be by a flood like in the days of Noah, but by fire during the day of the Lord, and then in Hades for 1000 years, and then in the lake of fire for all eternity. Revelation 20:15
When you look at the world, you see how people are so polarized, on opposite sides in so many areas, but it’s only going to get worse. There will be right or wrong, light or darkness, those who do good or those who do evil. And then, like never before, the non-Christians will be hating and persecuting the Christians. But God is so patient, “not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). As we live in this dark world, might we too be patient, and see this as an opportunity for our light to shine (Daniel 12:3). Might we love our enemies and give them the gospel, knowing that some will turn from their sin and turn to Christ, being forgiven and becoming children of God. May God give you the grace to persevere, to stay the course, and to keep making disciples right up until the end of the age and the return of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved (raptured). This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:12-14
P.S. When life is difficult, we always need to have hope. I encourage you to read my article: You Have to Have Hope! It will be a blessing to your life!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #44 ~
Many significant and history-defining events will be occurring in the years leading up to the coming of Christ, and we have already talked about some of them - birth pains, the decline of the United States, the coming of the Antichrist, increasing lawlessness, etc. But it’s also important to understand God’s plans for the Jews, for His working with them coincides with His working with the Christians. Seeing what’s happening with the Jews is to alert you and give you confidence that Christ is coming back soon to rapture the church. Let me go over what is now, and what will be, taking place with regard to the Jews:
The Jews have been miraculously gathering back to their land for the past 130 years, from about 25,000 in the 1880’s to over 6.5 million at the present, proving that we are now living in the end times of this church age (Ezekiel 37:21-23). During much of this period, Arabs and Muslims have been persecuting the Jews. But it’s also true that most every nation in the world is opposed to them, seen in the United Nations’ anti-Semitic activities, and their voting record, which consistently denounces and diminishes the rights and freedoms of the Jews. And it’s only going to get much worse. Zechariah 12:1-3
The time will soon come when the Jews will be desperate for peace, leading them to sign a deal with the devil, that is, with the future Antichrist. This treaty, predicted over 2500 years ago, will be confirmed at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27). Even now the United States and other world powers are actively pursuing this peace treaty. That the Jews will once again have a temple in Jerusalem is also a key component of God’s end-time plans for the Jews. A likely scenario is that the building of this temple will be part of this Israeli peace package. Revelation 11:1-2
But during the first half of Daniel’s 70th week global problems will be greatly increasing, at the same time this coming Antichrist is growing in influence, making alliances, and becoming more recognized around the world. At the midpoint of this 70th week, this Antichrist, this devilish beast of a man, will suddenly break his treaty with the Jews. “The man of lawlessness is revealed… who opposes and exalts himself above every so called god… so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). To discerning Jews and Christians, it will be obvious that the person desolating the temple is the Antichrist, and that he is not a man of peace but a man of war, for right away he will begin aggressively persecuting them. Matthew 24:9, 21
Matthew 24:15-25 instructs the Jews living in Israel that they are to run for their lives. And Revelation 12:13-17 tells us that many of these Jews miraculously escape and are protected during the last 3½ years of this 70th week. This frustrated and angry Antichrist then “went off to make war with the rest of her children (Christians), who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” In addition to the escape of these Jews, there are another 144,000 who are sealed and physically kept safe. At that time or shortly thereafter, these 144,000 Jews are spiritually saved, becoming holy worshipers and faithful followers of Jesus (Revelation 14:1-5). During this same time, God raises up two Jewish witnesses, believed to be Moses and Elijah, and for 3½ years they are performing amazing miracles and proclaiming the truth about Jesus.
Sometime during this last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week this great persecution is cut short; and then Christ comes in the clouds for the Christians, glorifying them, and taking them home to heaven. God’s wrath is then righteously poured out on the earth, and a large number of rebellious and unrepentant Jews will be killed, two-thirds of their entire population, as Zechariah 13:8-9 seems to say. But this Jewish remnant that had escaped the Antichrist will continue to be protected up until the end of this 70th week. Then the two witnesses will be killed by this Antichrist, then raised from the dead and taken to heaven. It's at this time that this chosen remnant of Jews will be redeemed by the Lord - “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). These newly saved Jewish believers will then remain with Christ, reigning with Him during the millennial kingdom. Revelation 11
These are God’s end-time plans for the Jews - gathered back to their land - persecution - peace treaty - temple built - revealing of the Antichrist - great persecution - great escape and protection - sealing 144,000 Jews - two Jewish witnesses - the coming of Christ - the salvation of a remnant of Jews - and they will be carried out. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure… I have planned it, surely I will do it.’” Isaiah 46:9-11
The Jewish events listed above are divine sign posts for Christians living in the end times, giving us clear evidence and confidence that God is completing His final plans for this present age, and that Christ is returning soon to rapture the church. As we see these events unfold in the years ahead, might we be encouraged to keep loving our Lord and living for Him, and to keep persevering to the end of this age.
P.S. I've just published an article that contains a long list of very encouraging Bible verses: Encouraging Verses that Express the Love, Grace and Peace of God.
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
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #45 ~
In the Bible, God has told us many things that will be occurring before the coming of Christ. One significant thing He wants us to know, is that the Antichrist will be ruling over this whole world, politically, militarily and economically, but also spiritually. It will be the Antichrist and a one world religion. “The whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast (Antichrist)… they worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:3-4
How do we get to the point where there are no more religions, no more Catholics, Lutherans, Muslims or Buddhists, etc., where everyone is worshiping the Antichrist? That seems impossible! People now go to churches, mosques, temples and synagogues; and many don’t attend any place of worship, but rather stay at home and watch football or soccer, or go out to eat, or go shopping, or go to the movies, or whatever. Every person is a worshiper, and always worships someone or something.
Let me share how we will get to that time when the world is worshiping the Antichrist:
1. Globalism. Everything on this earth is moving towards globalism. You see it with an increasing desire for one world government. You see it with travel, that you can go anyplace in the world. You see it with the economy, with foreign-made goods being sold in every country. You see it with the English language being spoken all over the world. You see it with communication, with the internet and smart phones. You see it with globally shared music and movies. You see it with currency. You see it with open borders. When you put it all together, you can see how we are getting closer to global unity and a global dictator, to one devilish man ruling the whole world.
2. Birth pains. Problems in the world, specifically the birth pains, earthquakes, famines and wars, will necessitate global solutions (Matthew 24:4-8). Eventually, a smart, sharp, strong and charismatic leader will take charge, solve our problems and bring “peace” to the world.
3. False prophets. False prophets and antichrists will increasingly be teaching that God’s word isn’t true, Christ isn’t God, man isn’t sinful, salvation isn’t through Christ alone, and that there’s no heaven and hell. (Matthew 24:11, 1 John 3:18). False teachers will be emphasizing “peace” and “love”, but diminishing truth and holiness. Popes will be pushing for unity, but it’s a fake unity. Churches and religion, in general, will be getting less popular, and attendance at places of worship will be decreasing.
4. Apostasy. There will be an apostasy, a falling away, a turning away, a huge defection from the church. “Many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matthew 24:10-11, 21). But these defectors were never true Christians in the first place. They will turn from the Lord, turn against Christians, and turn them in to the authorities. It will be very evident that there are just Christians and non-Christians, believers and non-believers. “The apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3
5. Deception. “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). Unbelievers in the world won’t be believing the truth, and so God will permit these unrighteous people to be deceived even more by all these Satan inspired signs and wonders. From the context of these verses, you can easily see how these sinners will be worshiping the Antichrist. Revelation 13:11-14
6. “Resurrection” of the beast. The Bible isn’t completely clear on the details, but some kind of seeming miracle takes place with regards to the beast, and people all over the world will be so amazed, and in awe, that they’ll worship this Antichrist. Revelation 13:3
7. Religions destroyed. Revelation 17:1-7 says that this harlot, this wicked woman symbolizing the false religions, will be destroyed, for the devil will have no more use for them. Revelation 17:16 says, “The ten horns you saw, and the beast (Antichrist), will hate the harlot and make her desolate and naked.” At this time, the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the world will be so deceived that they will think this Antichrist is God, and will then worship him. “The man of lawlessness is revealed… 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, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
All this, the globalism, birth pains, false prophets, apostasy, deception, “resurrection”, and destruction of religions, will be the means and motivation by which unbelievers in the world will worship this beast, this Antichrist. Right before Christ’s return there will be either the false religion of the Antichrist or Christianity. People will be worshiping God or worshiping the devil. But don’t be afraid, for God is in charge. And don’t forget, Christ will build His church, and we’ll be working with Him, preaching the gospel and making disciples right up to the end of the age. By God’s grace we will overcome, and then Christ will return to rapture the church, pour out His wrath on the unbelievers, defeat the Antichrist, and then rule over the world. Revelation 1:4-8
P.S. Please email me at: stevehogan@christskingdom.org if you would like a free copy of Marvin Rosenthal's instructive and encouraging pamphlet entitled: "As a Thief in the Night". If you haven't read my Thanksgiving article, which I recently posted, you can check it out here: Being Thankful - The Character of a Christian.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #46 ~
Never forget what Jesus Christ declared, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). The truth is that Christ is now building His church, and this glorious work will be fully completed when He returns at the end of this age. But there are times when you look out at the spiritual landscape of the world, and it seems like a mess. You may even think to yourself, “Why isn’t the church growing more?” Let me answer this question: 1st, it’s because Christians still have a sinful flesh. 2nd, the devil with all his demons, is doing all he can to harm the church, to spread lies, error and deceit. 3rd, God is sovereign, and everything is going according to His perfect and eternal plans. “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever.” Psalm 33:11
But I need to explain two phrases, used in theological circles, to help you understand what Christ is doing with regards to the church. It is the concept of the visible church and the invisible church. The visible church refers to all people attending church services, those who profess to be Christians, those on church membership rolls, those you can visibly see. Some of these people are true Christians, but others are not. The invisible church refers to all people who are true Christians, the elect of God, those who are truly saved and born again, and God knows those who are His. But what believers see on earth is a mixed body, comprised of the saved and unsaved, or as Jesus said, those who are wheat and tares. But we shouldn’t be surprised, for this is what Christ told us would happen. “So shall it be at the end of the age.” Matthew 13:36-43
When Christ said, “I will build My church,” He was referring to the invisible church. There’s no doubt those the Father chose to be saved will be saved, adopted as His sons, redeemed by Christ’s blood, forgiven of their sins, and sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption. We can confidently say, “the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21
Do you not know and do you not believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the church, that He is in charge, that He is leading the way, and that He is directing Christians on earth to do His work? Do you not see that Christ will be victorious all the way to the end of this age, that He will finish what He started, and then return to rapture the church and take her to Himself, and then take her home to heaven? Amen!!! Ephesians 1:9-12, 4:11-16
Yes, it is true that Christians aren’t perfect and don’t always do what they ought to do, and sometimes are living for self instead of living for God. It’s true that this hateful and evil devil is continually tempting us, attacking us and fighting against us – indeed, we are in a fierce spiritual battle. It's also true that some pastors preach a simplistic gospel, and are not teaching all of God’s word, but instead are trying to be worldly and entertaining, with hopes that people will then join their church. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
But remember, God is sovereignly and powerfully working all things together for good, and will faithfully fulfill His promises, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth,” and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” and “that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things.” Acts 1:8, Acts 2:21, Acts 3:20-21
God has ordained it so that Christians will pray, “Your kingdom come,” and “will seek first His kingdom”, so that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world… and then the end will come”, so that Christians will “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,” so that Jesus will be with us “even to the end of the age.” Matthew 6:10, 6:33, 24:14, 28:19-20
I am very encouraged that God is in control and that everything, to the last detail, to the last word preached, to the last martyr, to the last person saved, to Christ’s coming in the clouds, to His return in glory and His rapture of the church, is going exactly according to His eternally wise and wonderful plans, and will most assuredly soon be fulfilled. “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
P.S. During this Christmas season when we can be so easily be distracted by all kinds of things, let's remember to be Thinking of Jesus Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #47 ~
Have you ever wondered if you are going to make it to the end? And when I say “make it”, I mean, continuing on, staying the course, persevering, serving the Lord to the very end, whether that means to the end of your life, or to the end of this age. I will admit that sometimes I wonder. As you know, the Christian life can be extremely difficult, for there are spiritual battles and Satanic attacks, and times when you are discouraged, overwhelmed, physically exhausted, or just weary of the fight.
In the past two months we have been looking at what will be taking place before the coming of Christ – the birth pains, increasing lawlessness, the downfall of the United States, apostasy and betrayal, that evil Antichrist, etc. Then you add this to the above mentioned everyday struggles, and you realize it’s a rough road leading up to the rapture of the church. But isn’t this what God has planned for the church, and for you, too? And if this is what God wants, then surely He will give you all the grace you need. Never forget that God is your heavenly Father, you are His cherished child, and He loves you much, much more than you can ever imagine. Surely He will keep you, strengthening and sustaining you, helping and holding you, and if need be, carrying you across the finish line. Your heavenly Father will never leave you, but will be with you always, and make sure you are safe and sound, all the way from earth to heaven.
Let me share some promises to assure you of your great and glorious victory:
- Philippians 1:6 - “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ.” Do you see this, and do you believe this, that God began His good work in you, and will make sure He completes it on the day of Christ, at the return of Christ and the rapture of the church?
- 1 Corinthians 1:8 - “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Never forget that God will keep you strong, keeping you going to the end of your life or to the end of this age, whatever He has planned for you.
- 2 Timothy 4:18 - “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly Kingdom.” Here’s this great promise of protection, that God will rescue you from all the human and devilish evils of life, and then bring you safely to heaven.
- Jude 24-25 - “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority…” Here is a heart-assuring promise, that God will keep you from stumbling, and will literally and supernaturally bring you from earth to heaven and into the very presence of God.
- Romans 8:30 - “And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.” This “Golden Chain”, as some call it, from predestined, to called, to justified, to glorified, cannot be broken. What God planned for your life in eternity past, that you be glorified, will finally be fulfilled at the coming of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
How does this happen? What are the means by which God will make sure you keep persevering as a Christian, then are taken off this evil earth, and into the wonderful presence of Jesus? Yes, it is by these promises. But it is also by God’s grace, by the teaching of God’s Word, by Christ interceding for you, by the Spirit working in you, by the church helping you, by Christians encouraging you, and by angels ministering to you. Matthew 24:13
But you also need to look to Jesus. “Consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself so you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). Remember Jesus and all that He went through just for you, which shows you how much He loves you. Remember that He died for you, was raised again for you, now lives for you, and prays for you – He loves you so, so much. I think of Moses and how "He endured as seeing Him who is unseen” (Hebrews 11:27). There’s no doubt that God will enable you to endure all the way to the end, and then, “We shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
As you can tell, I am not going to sugarcoat your future on earth. Yes, it is going to get very hard. As Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven” (Acts 14:22). At this time there is tribulation, and in the coming years, there will be great tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22). But isn’t this our time to live for the Lord, and do the work He has called us to do? What an honor and privilege to be picked by Him to be part of the end times’ team that’s ushering in the return of Christ. Remember these promises, and fix your eyes on Jesus, being convinced of His love for you and that He is with you all the way to heaven. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation or distress, or persecution, or nakedness, or peril, or sword… But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37
P.S. An encouraging article that you will want to read, which is related to today's post, is You Have to Have Hope!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #48 ~
As you probably know, I don’t preach a prosperity gospel, where health, wealth and prosperity, are some of the primary objectives. There’s no doubt God physically blesses Christians, but more importantly, He spiritually blesses us, giving us eternal life, and love, joy, peace, purpose and hope. During our time on earth, God has called us to serve Him, and to sacrifice and suffer for Him. Now this is not a popular message, especially in this country, but it’s the truth, and I will not ignore it or skim over it. When you read the Bible, it’s obvious that suffering and persecution are very big subjects.
Remember what Jesus said, “A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Think of what Peter said, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in His steps… Since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose” (1 Peter 2:21, 4:1). Then Paul told us, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
As Christians we shouldn’t be surprised when we are persecuted and suffer. Loving the Lord by living a holy life and speaking the truth will result in suffering. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). But isn't it true that God has blessed the United States with the freedom of assembly, speech and religion, and therefore, Christians living in this country haven’t been persecuted as much? When I read mission magazines or go online, it is obvious that it’s a lot worse in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where Christians are commonly mistreated, beaten, jailed and even killed. But you can see that persecution is getting worse in this country, and there will soon come a day when it will be just as bad here as these other places.
I say that because we now live in the end times, and the Bible clearly tells us that persecution will continue and then become great persecution the closer we get to the coming of Christ. In fact, this subject of persecution and suffering is part of every major Bible passage that speaks about events leading up to Christ’s return. Jesus repeatedly tells us about it because He wants us to know what will be taking place, and to be ready and alert, and able to be joyfully and fearlessly serving Him.
Jesus says, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me” (Matthew 24:9). Jesus says, “Those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of creation” (Mark 13:19. Jesus says, “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death” (Luke 21:16). We all know Christians have been persecuted since the beginning days of the church, but these passages, along with Revelation 6:9-11, make it clear that it will escalate, will become severe, will climax, and go global, particularly in the years right before the return of Christ.
But how will this happen? At the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week, the Antichrist is revealed and, having taken control of the world, he will unleash great persecution, first against the Jews and then against the Christians (Matthew 24:9-10, 15-26; Revelation 12:13-17). It won’t just be government officials persecuting Christians, but former fellow church-goers coming after them as well - “Many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another” (Matthew 24:10). But in my opinion, the worst will be when “brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.” Mark 13:12
The devil will be stirring up this great hate for God’s people, and therefore deceived unbelievers will be going after innocent Christians, opposing them and trying to kill them. This will definitely be the most difficult time ever for Christians on this earth. Revelation 13:7 warns us, “It was also given to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” I know this is not a feel good message, but I have to tell you the truth - the church will be greatly persecuted before the coming of Christ. And we shall overcome!
How then are we to think about persecution and suffering? 1st, know that God is sovereign and will protect you (Romans 8:28-39). 2nd, remember Peter’s instruction, “Those who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right” (1 Peter 4:19). 3rd, share the gospel. As Jesus said, “They will lay their hands on you and will persecute you… It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:13). 4th, “Consider Him who endured such suffering by sinners against Himself so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). 5th, Jesus told us, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer” (Revelation 2:10). 6th, Paul wrote, “God will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 7th, as Paul said, "Know what is the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18). 8th, remember Jesus’ promise, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness… rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great!” Matthew 5:10-12
P.S. The day of the Lord is coming soon - a catastrophic and devastating judgment upon this world. Here are three more posts that will help you understand what will be happening in the future, and how should you live - "God Will Keep You Strong to the End", "Truths You Need to Know About the End Times", and "That Evil Antichrist and His Short Rule on Earth."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #49 ~
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders…” (Isaiah 9:6-7). “As for you Bethlehem Ephratha, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel…” (Micah 5:2-5a). These are “1st coming - 2nd coming” prophecies. To the person who wrote them and the people who initially read them, it would have seemed like these events would occur in the same time period. But that didn’t happen. Now over 2500 years later, we can look back and see that these prophecies were to take place at two different times, at Christ’s 1st coming and at His 2nd coming, with the church age in between.
Let’s first look at Christ’s 1st coming, and by reading Luke 1-2, we see that Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna, were all looking forward to the fulfillment of these prophesies about the Messiah. And lo and behold, these four godly Jews literally see the baby Jesus, and see these predictions come true, at least part one. Then Jesus, this perfect God-man grows up, and thirty years later His ministry begins and many more prophecies about Him are fulfilled. In particular, there’s Psalm 16, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 accurately predicting that Jesus would suffer and die for the sins of man, and then be raised from the dead. Fifty days after His resurrection, this victorious Savior ascended into heaven to be with His Father. But most Jews weren’t happy with Jesus, for they had wanted Him to be their King, but they didn’t understand that He first needed to be their Savior. They also didn’t understand that Christ’s 1st coming work had been completed, that His mission was accomplished. Luke 2:11, John 1:29, John 17:4
It was during Jesus' ministry years that He had promised to build the church, instructing His disciples to preach the gospel and to go and make disciples, which has been taking place now for nearly 2000 years (Matthew 28:20). He also made it very clear to them that He’d be returning at the end of this church age - He wanted to make sure His disciples knew He was going to fulfill all His promises, particularly that He’d be coming back as the King. Zechariah 14:9, Matthew 24:3-41, Luke 19:11-15
Do you see that Jesus’ disciples were thinking about these prophesies regarding Jesus’ future Kingdom, for right before His ascension into heaven they ask Him, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel“ (Acts 1:6)? Then a little later in Acts 3:18-21, we read that Peter was preaching “that His (God’s) Christ would suffer (1)… repent and return, so your sins might be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (2); and that He may send Jesus… whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration” (3). Peter and some of the other Jews were finally seeing the big picture, for in this passage the 1st phrase represents Christ’s first coming, the 2nd phrase is the church age, and the 3rd phrase is Christ’s second coming. The disciples knew that the Christ had come, and that they were to be His witnesses to the world, but they longed for their Lord and Savior to return to reign as King over the earth.
Then there's 1 Corinthians 11:26, which commemorates the Lord’s death, a verse many Christians read during their communion time, but it also gives this big-picture perspective. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup (church age), you proclaim the Lord’s death (1st coming), until He comes (2nd coming)”. Can you see that our Lord wants to continually remind Christians of the past (Jesus dying for our sins), the present (Jesus building the church) and the future (Jesus reigning as King)?
Now it’s Christmastime 2017. To sum up, Jesus came as a baby, lived a perfect life, died a most purposeful death, was raised again, ascended into heaven, and since that time has been building His church. But the Jews are back in their land and therefore, we’re living in the end times, which means it won’t be long before Christ comes back. I am so excited to be alive at this particular time in history, at the end of this church age, knowing that our Lord may soon appear in the clouds to rapture us, suddenly and safely snatching us from earth so we can be at home with Him in heaven.
Do you realize that you are living between Christ’s 1st and 2nd coming, during the church age, but more importantly at the very end of it? Do you see that this is your time to live for God, your one time on this earth to serve Him, and that Jesus has instructed you, “Do business until I come back” (Luke 19:13)? It won’t be long before Christ returns, and part two of these “1st coming - 2nd coming” prophecies will come true, when Jesus will be King over the entire earth, bringing peace to this planet - and we will reign with Him for a 1000 years!
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing... Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sound joy… No more let sins and sorrows grow; nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found… He rules the world with truth and grace; and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love…” - A Christmas Carol about the 2nd Coming of Christ
P.S. I just finished a very instructive and encouraging article: The Rapture of the Church.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #50 ~
It is good to think about the work of God. He is always committed to His cause and is right on course to accomplish all that He has set out to do. In every person’s life and in every part of this world, God is carrying out His plans. Here at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, I want you to think about God’s work in your life and in this world. “Great are the works of the Lord; they are studied by all who delight in them.” Psalm 111:2-3
First, think about God’s work in the world. Ephesians 1:9 speaks of the “mystery of His will… to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” This is a prophetic verse, for everything and everyone is moving towards that time when Christ will return and be ruler of this world. But to see the big picture, you need to go back to Genesis 1-2, and remember that this world used to be a perfect place, with perfect people. Then Adam and Eve sinned, resulting in this evil age, Satan ruling over the earth, and sin and death spreading to all men. But in His mercy, God promised a Savior who would deliver people from their sin (Isaiah 53), and create a new heavens and earth. Isaiah 65:17
God made perfect plans to fulfill these eternal purposes, and over the millennia He has been faithfully fulfilling them. He worked with and through the Jews for about 2000 years, and then "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). Christ lived a perfect life, died to pay for man’s sins, was raised again and ascended into heaven. He continued His work on earth through the church, saving millions and millions of people from sin, death and hell. Now that the Jews are back in their land, it won’t be long before Christ returns, the church is raptured and believers are glorified. Matthew 24:27-31
Second, think about God’s work in your life. It is important for you to know that in eternity past, God chose to save you, and to glorify you, to be like His Son, Jesus Christ. Then came that wonderful day when God actually saved you and forgave you of all your sins. Since then He’s been working in your life, making you holy and using you to fulfill His purposes (Ephesians 2:1-10). Romans 8:28-29 says it well, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,” with His primary purpose being that all believers be “conformed to the image of His Son.”
Think about this past year. In every situation, job, relationship and trial, God was working in you and through you, for your good and the good of the church, and ultimately, for His glory. God was always kind to you, always teaching you, always patient with you, and always carrying out His will in your life. There’s no doubt He’ll continue with you in this way in 2018, 2019, etc. Then will come the day, whether you’ve already gone to heaven or whether you’re still on earth, when Christ will come back, and you will be glorified, and your salvation will be 100% complete. It’s essential to have this perspective and to be encouraged by God’s perfect work in your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
The fulfillment of God’s plans for the Jews, His promises to the church, and His plans for you, are all converging together in these last days of this church age. God is directing every detail in this world, moving all things full speed ahead, bringing us closer and closer to that time when He will send His Son back to earth. And this age will end, believers will be glorified, this wicked world will be judged, a remnant of Jews will be saved, and Christ will begin His rule over this world. Revelation 6-11
It’s necessary for you to think about your life, and your connection to, and purpose in the world. Otherwise you’ll be rudderless and directionless, like a ship adrift out in the open sea. You must see that your life is intricately and intimately intertwined with God’s work in the world. You are like a puzzle piece, and God is fitting you and all the other pieces together. God has His plans for the world, and His plans for you in this world, and you are a vital part of all that He is doing. Everything happening in your life and in every other life in this world is part of God’s plan to bring His Son back to this earth. God will not be stopped, thwarted or delayed, and will not give up until His Son returns and is reigning over this world. Be excited that you can serve God in the way He has planned for you, in the church He has placed you, and with the people He puts in your life. “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 2:21-22
P.S. As we think about the New Year, here's an article that specifically instructs us about the time that God gives to each of us: The Time of My Life.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #51 ~
All kinds of people try to predict the future, and they may guess right some of the time, but most of the time they are wrong. But God predicts the future and He is right all the time. Our primary subject on this blog site is Bible prophecy. But what is prophecy? In a general way it is defined as the speaking forth of God’s truth. It is also used to speak of the entire inspired word of God. More specifically, it is defined as God predicting the future, which is the way I’ve been using it in this blog site and will use it today.
As Christians we understand fulfilled prophecy as that which was predicted in God’s word and has already come true. For example, Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and about 700 years later He was (Micah 5:2). Jesus Himself predicted He’d be killed and raised up, and that came true a short time later (Luke 9:22). Then there’s unfulfilled prophecy, predictions which will be fulfilled in the future. My main objective is to explain to you and get you excited about unfulfilled prophecy. Today I want to share some verses to give you a better understanding of prophecy.
2 Peter 1:21 - “No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Prophecy is from God - it is definitely not from man. It was God speaking to men through the Holy Spirit who then proclaimed it to the people. Many prophets began by saying, “The word of the Lord,” for they wanted their listeners to know it wasn’t what they were saying, but it was God Himself who was speaking to them and through them (Jeremiah 1:11, Ezekiel 28:1, Jonah 1:1, Micah 1:1).
2 Peter 1:19 - “Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart.” Prophecy predicts events that will take place in the future. This word “until” is a timing word telling us that “the day dawns” in the future. This prophecy was given at a particular time, and at a later time it will come true. Specifically, it is predicting that Christ will return in glory to rapture the believers, and then set up His kingdom on earth.
2 Peter 1:19 - “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” Prophecy is given by God to man, and we need to listen to what He’s telling us, and be looking forward to its fulfillment. It’s 2018, about 2000 years after Christ’s 1st coming, and many prophecies have already been fulfilled, but since we’re living in the end times then we know it won't be long before His 2nd coming. It is those who pay attention to God’s prophetic word who will literally see His word being fulfilled in the world around us. Might we be like the “men who understood the times.” 1 Chronicles 12:32
Luke 24:44 - “All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” As we now know, some prophecies about Jesus came true at His 1st coming which means the rest will be fulfilled at His 2nd coming. And there’s not one single prophecy about Jesus which will remain unfulfilled. “All things… must be fulfilled.” It’s imperative and important to take heed and pay attention to God’s prophetic word, and especially what it says about the return of Christ.
Isaiah 46:9-11 - “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure… Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.’” God purposed what He was going to do, God planned what He was going to do, and He predicted many of the things He was going to do. Our loving, holy, powerful, omniscient, wise and sovereign God knew exactly what He was going to do. Long before God made this world, He had determined His eternal purposes and made plans to fulfill them. And all that God planned to do, He has either already done, or will be doing in the future. I encourage you to seek the Lord and study His word, and find out what He wants you to know about the future. Revelation 22:7, 10, 12
Mark 13:23 - “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Prophecy contains critically needed information about the end times. In a great number of prophetic passages, Jesus tells us every future end time event and detail that He wants us to know, as well as specific instructions as to how we are to live. Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, 2 Thessalonians 1-2 and Revelation.
Revelation 1:3 - “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near.” Do you see that you will be blessed as you read and believe the words of prophecy, and then live by what is written in it? What a great privilege and opportunity it is to be alive at this time in history. “Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. Here is an informative and encouraging article that goes along with this post: A Summary of the Work of God, from the Time of Abraham to Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #52 ~
Prophecy is a critical and significant portion of Scripture, especially since we now live in the end times. Listed below are a number of general and instructive truths about prophecy that will give you more clarity and understanding as you study specific prophecy passages.
* The Bible is theological, historical, biographical, poetical and prophetical in nature. When we use the words prophetical or prophecy, we are speaking of that portion of the Bible that predicts what is taking place in the future. 1 Peter 1:10-12, Matthew 24:3-41
* Whatever God has prophesied will come true with 100% accuracy. In eternity past, “God was declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:10). Because God is truthful, supreme, holy, omniscient, powerful, wise and sovereign, He will most definitely fulfill all He has prophesied concerning His purposes and plans. Psalm 33:11
* All prophecy was given in a “dark place”, that is, during this present evil age, the time from the sin of Adam until the end of this age. A major portion of prophecy points to that time when “the day dawns”, when Christ returns and sets up His wonderful and glorious kingdom on earth. “You will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19
* God’s purpose in prophecy is not to tell you everything that’s going to take place in the future, but only those things He wants you to know. This should motivate you to study God’s prophetic word so you can find out exactly what He wants you to know. “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23
* There is fulfilled prophecy and unfulfilled prophecy. At this time in history, many prophecies that were predicted in the past have already been fulfilled. Other prophecies are still unfulfilled, that is, were predicted in the past but will be fulfilled in the future. Some examples of unfulfilled prophecy are Isaiah 60, Zechariah 14:9 and Matthew 24:15-31.
* It is important when you read the Bible to specifically know what is prophecy and, in particular, what is still unfulfilled prophecy. Ask yourself if what you are reading has taken place yet? If not, then you know it is unfulfilled prophecy and will be fulfilled in the future. Psalm 47
* Old Testament prophets who predicted the coming of the Messiah and events related to His coming, thought they would all be fulfilled in the same time frame; but now we know that many prophesies were to take place in two stages, at His first coming and at His second coming. Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 61:1-2, Micah 5:2-5, Zechariah 13
* The fact that we can study the Bible and see that God has fulfilled many prophesies in the past, gives us a confidence that He will fulfill His remaining prophecies in the future. Seeing first-coming prophecies about Jesus already fulfilled gives us assurance that second-coming prophecies will also be fulfilled. Psalm 22, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2-5, Luke 1:26-33, Revelation 12:5
* Prophecies about Christ’s second coming are now more relevant than at any time in history, and that’s because we live in the end times, in the last years of this church age. Like never before, we need to pay attention to unfulfilled prophecy, for we will be seeing it coming true, right up to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Luke 12:56, 21:5-36
* Most prophecies found in the New Testament will be fulfilled in the near future. There is a great deal of relevant, essential and vital information God wants you to know about the end times and Christ’s 2nd coming. Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 5:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, 2 Thessalonians 2 and Revelation are all prominent passages predicting what will be taking place in the end times.
* The most important and most extensive prophecy themes in the Bible are the first and second comings of Christ, that is, “the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.” Psalm 22, Isaiah 53-54, 1 Peter 1:10-12
* God did not have to give us Bible prophecy. He could have let everything that’s going to take place in the future be a big surprise to us. But He told us the future so we could have confidence in His character, and in His word, and so we could have hope. At this stage of the church age, God wants His children to know what to expect, to be looking forward to the future, to be prepared for what will be taking place, and to be serving Him right up until the coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
* What a privilege to be alive at this time in history, in the closing years of the church age, when many prophecies will be fulfilled. God’s prophetic words about the end times are no longer sealed (Daniel 12:4, 9). Might we be like the prophets who “made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you.” 1 Peter 1:10-11
* Prophecy about the future focuses on events taking place during three time periods. There will be events leading up to Christ’s return, events taking place at Christ’s return, and events taking place after Christ’s return. Prophecy about the end times focuses on the Jews, the Christians, the Antichrist and Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:15-21, Revelation 12-13
* There are several reasons why people don't think much about prophecy, and why it doesn't affect their lives. They do not read it. They do not believe it. They love the world and don't love Christ, and therefore aren't thinking about the fact that He's coming back soon. They are more interested in what man says about the future than what God says about the future. They are more interested in fiction than in the truth. Or they may think that prophecy is not to be understood, or cannot be understood. May this kind of thinking not be true of you.
* “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
P.S. An article that goes well with today's post is: Why Study the Subject of Prophecy?
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 3rd. 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 3rd, 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 ~
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 Saturday Morning Post #53 ~
You know what’s happening this Sunday, right? The Super Bowl will be taking place, the biggest sports event of the year, the most watched show on TV, and with all those expensive ads. Where am I going with this prophecy post? Simply this, that the next, the best, the biggest, the greatest, most dramatic, earth-shaking, life-changing event in this world, is the return of the King, the appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It’s infinitely more important than the Super Bowl! “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
For some people, life is sports – there’s the Super Bowl, March Madness, the Masters, the Stanley Cup, the NBA finals, the World Cup, the World Series, and so on. For other people, life is food, music, movies, clothes, work, school, politics, children, relationships, or something else. I’m not saying these can’t or shouldn't be a part of your life. What I'm saying is that, whether you are a Christian or not, you need to know that true life is Christ. Real love, joy, peace, hope, purpose, meaning, and relationships, can only be realized through Jesus Christ. Everything, in and of itself, apart from Him, is empty. Not only that, but everything connected to the world and the flesh is coming to a sudden and shocking end. That’s because Jesus Christ, the Lord, Judge and King, is returning to earth, and He will be completely in charge and will change everything.
We’re talking about the Son of God returning to rescue the church, judge the earth, and rule the world. We're talking about the rapture, the wrath and the reign. These supercharged, supernatural, super-exciting, super-relevant events will soon be taking place. Sad to say, the majority of people don’t know much, if anything, about these things. I am concerned that they live in their own little world, with no clue as to what will be occurring on this earth. But might you know what God clearly tells us in the Bible, in His word, and realize what is happening in the world around us, that we are living on a sin-sick planet, and that this age, as we know it, is coming to an end.
What’s now taking place in this world and leading up to Christ’s return is not understood by most people. They are working at their jobs, going to school, going out to eat, going to movies, going to parties, buying things, playing games, watching TV, etc.; and they are oblivious to the fact that the Bible is coming true right before their eyes. They need to know what, and who, is coming! The truth is that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth, and this is a major subject in the Bible, for God has told us in great detail about the end-times and the return of His Son to earth.
After the end of this age, there will be the greatest transfer of power ever seen on this planet - from that evil devil to Christ the King. The Lord of lords and the King of kings is coming back, not to visit, but to stay, and to take over the world. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will begin a brand new age, radically and wonderfully changing the way things are done. Finally, there will be true justice and world peace, and everyone will give glory to God. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men.” Luke 2:14
This is very good news, for this earth, as you know, is a mess. There are many sinful people living in this devil-controlled world, and therefore, all kinds of problems. And only Jesus Christ can solve these problems and make things right. Only He has the authority, the power and the wisdom to do this, and He will. You wait and see. But don’t just wait and see. If you have not yet gotten right with God, then you need to know why Christ came to this earth the first time. Do you realize He lived a perfect life and then suffered and died, being punished for peoples’ sins so they wouldn’t have to be punished forever in hell? Christ died on the cross and then rose from the dead to save the souls of sinners. “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
Don’t wait until it’s too late. You don’t want to be surprised and be left behind. Repent of your sins and believe Jesus died for you, so you can be forgiven of your sins and get right with God, so you can live for God on this earth, and then have a glorious future in heaven. “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).
If you do know Christ, then live for Christ. Love Him and not the world. Serve Him and not yourself. Look forward to His return and the rapture of the church. And tell others why Christ came the first time and that He’s coming a second time, and it won’t be long from now. “Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Hebrews 9:27-28
P.S. Here is a helpful and instructive article I've just written about how God wants us to live in these days: What Does God Want Me to Do in the End Times?
P.P.S. If you have not yet had a chance to read my article on the rapture, I would encourage you to do so: 50 Truths God Wants You to Know About the Rapture.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #54 ~
Do you ever feel like you’re stuck, like there’s no forward progress, no success, like you’re just going along, but not really getting any place? Well, if you’re a Christian, that is just not true. God is always working and carrying out His purpose in you, moving you along to that time when you will be gone from this earth, and in heaven, with Jesus and all the saints. I am so thankful for God’s wonderful work in our lives, and that He’s using us for His purposes in the world. Remember what Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17
The Lord God Almighty is purposely and sovereignly working, overseeing, directing, leading, guiding, intervening, and having His way in our lives, and in the world around us. We are on a journey, individually and collectively. But it’s not like we’re physically going someplace, for this is a journey of time, with every day bringing us one day closer to Christ’s return. It’s a journey where Christ is building the church, and taking her to the end of this age. It’s a journey where God is working in kings and countries, and bringing us to that time when we will see the return of the King. It’s a journey where God is working with us until our time on earth is up, and then He’ll take us home to heaven. It’s a journey where God-prophesied events are coming to pass, and soon there will be the rapture of the church. It’s also a journey where evil is getting worse and worse in this world, leading to that dreadful Day of the Lord. “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may also be.” John 14:3
We are not sitting still, and this world is not sitting still. We are not going backwards, we are not zigzagging along, and we are not going in circles. From God’s perspective, we are all moving ahead in a straight line, and there’s no wasted effort, no wasted day, no deviation from His preordained plans. Since God is completely in charge, then all His plans for you, the church and the world, are being perfectly carried out. God knows His “end game”, and knows exactly what He’s doing, what people need to do, and how and when to make things happen. There are only so many days left between now and the day of Christ, but be assured that God will get all His work done, and will bring this church age to a glorious end. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure… Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.’” Isaiah 46:9-10
But where are we in our journey to the end of this age? Since the Jews are back in Israel, we know we’re in the end times, that last set of years leading up to the return of Christ, the rapture of the church and the Day of the Lord. To be specific, we are now living in a time characterized by “the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8), when wars, earthquakes, famines, and plagues are increasing in both frequency and intensity. But there’s more than just “birth pains.” There will also be false teachers, the aligning of nations, the downfall of the US, the Jewish peace treaty, increasing globalism, the preaching of the gospel, world-wide apostasy, that wicked Antichrist, an unloving world, and growing lawlessness. And there's one more thing, great tribulation, which we will be looking at in the upcoming weeks.
Here’s a big picture verse that shows you how God is working and where things are headed: “With a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:10-11). What is this saying to us?
- God has predestined future events, which will definitely come to pass.
- God has an incredible, unbelievable and wonderful inheritance for you and me.
- God is working all things in accordance with His will, His purposes. “All things” means every person, family, town, city, country, leader, government, church, pastor, school, job, business, angel and demon in this world. God has specific plans to bring about His purposes, and these plans will be perfectly and precisely carried out, and no act of man or of the devil, will slow down or stop this great work of God. “God does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand.” Daniel 4:34-35
- Jesus Christ will soon be the King, reigning over us and the entire world. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.” Revelation 5:12
P.S. As you know, there have been lots of charts connected to the blog posts, and today I want you to know there are five new ones - "in kings", "home to heaven", "zigzagging", "end times", and "big picture". I encourage you to check out the charts, for they complement the posts, and help you to more effectively understand what is written. I would also suggest that you read the articles: "Charting the Future with Prophecy Charts" and "Charting God's Miraculous Working with the Jews".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #55 ~
When is the rapture going to take place? I don’t know. In fact, no man knows. No one but God knows the exact time of the rapture, when His Son will return to earth to gather all the believers to Himself, and then take them home to heaven. But we can know the timing of the rapture, and particularly where it occurs in relationship to the 70 Weeks of Daniel, a 7-year prophecy packed timetable. Knowing what God says about the 70th week is the key to discerning the timing of the rapture. “Give me understanding…” Psalm 119:169
Let me remind you that we live in the end times, that time period leading up to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Right now, we are in the “beginning of birth pains” stage, but sometime in the near future Daniel’s 70th week is going to start. It is Daniel 9:24-27 that states some of the main events, some definitive markers in this divine time frame. The first event taking place is the signing or confirming of a peace treaty between Israel and other countries. Then 3½ years later, at the midpoint of this 70th week, the Antichrist is revealed. Finally, at the very end of these 7 momentous years, a great remnant of Jews will be saved. Now don’t forget the key years, 0, 3½ and 7, and the main event associated with each year. “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people… to make an end of sin… to bring in everlasting righteousness.” Daniel 9:24
Again, we can’t know the exact time of the rapture, but we can know the general time, where the rapture is at in relationship to the three events I just mentioned. And so when is the rapture? It’s after the midpoint, the 3½ year mark of Daniel’s 70th week, and before the end of this week, the 7 year mark. That’s it - the rapture of the church occurs at an unknown time to us, sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week.
Let me explain. First, we know that the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, at which time he desecrates the temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15). Then he unleashes this great tribulation which is directed at both Jews and Christians (Matthew 24:9, 21). But after a little while, this tribulation is cut short by God (verse 22), marked by these great signs in the skies (verse 29). Immediately after that, Christ comes in the clouds to rapture the Christians (verse 31).
Let me say it again. After the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of the 70th week, he begins great tribulation, but it is cut short (meaning it doesn’t last the entire 3½ years), and then the church is raptured. Since the salvation of the Jews takes place at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:24), then we know the rapture happens sometime during the last 3½ years. Matthew 24:9-31 lays out the order of events in the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, and therefore, the timing of the rapture. First, there’s the revealing of the Antichrist (verse 15), then great tribulation (verse 21), then signs in the heavens (verse 29), and then the rapture (verse 31). “He (Jesus) will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.”
What about God’s wrath? It’s after the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “Jesus… rescues us from the wrath to come.” The rapture, believers being taken off this earth, is the means by which we are rescued from God’s wrath. The rapture of the church then is after the tribulation of the Antichrist but before the wrath of God. It is after the persecution of the church but before the punishment of the unbelievers. Therefore, the rapture of the church is post-tribulation and pre-wrath. Thanks be to God that, for a little while, we can suffer great tribulation for Him - but Hallelujah, for then we will be delivered from His great wrath on earth and from His eternal wrath in hell. “Momentary, light tribulation is producing for us an eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
God clearly tells us the timing of the rapture in Matthew 24, but also in Mark 13, Luke 21, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, and Revelation 6-7. He repeatedly tells us that the rapture takes place sometime in the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week, and that’s because He wants us to know where it fits, because it’s important to know this, and because He will be wanting us to see that it’s getting closer and closer. “… but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day (rapture) drawing nearer.” Hebrews 10:25
God greatly loves us, and wants us to greatly love Him. He wants us to be excitedly serving Him in these days, to be willing to suffer for Him, and to be enduring to the end of the age. In Matthew 24:9, 13, Jesus tells us, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you… but the one who endures to the end will be saved (raptured).” Jesus encourages us, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
P.S. One of the most important things for your life is knowing the love of God. I strongly encourage you to read the article that I just finished, "Keep Yourself in the Love of God." I would also suggest reading my article on the "The Rapture of the Church." It gives you much greater detail about the rapture.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #56 ~
The next greatest event in this world is soon to take place. It’s the rapture of the church, when Jesus Christ suddenly and rapidly takes the believers living on earth and brings them to Himself, and to heaven. But when is the rapture? As I’ve said, God doesn’t tell us the exact time, but He does tell us the general time (Matthew 24:32-36). To really understand God’s timing, you need to see that the rapture occurs at the coming of Christ. Now some Christians believe it happens before His coming, but that’s just not true. Here are four prophecy passages making it very clear that the rapture occurs at Christ’s coming:
1) 1 Thessalonians 4:15 says, “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord.” The phrase “We who are alive and remain” speaks of the Christians alive on earth at the end of this age, and it says they will remain “until the coming of the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 contains the same exact phrase, “we who are alive and remain,” that we saw in verse 15, but goes on to say that those who remain “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Putting verses 15 and 17 together, we see that those who remain until the coming of the Lord (15) will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (17), and are those who are raptured. It is at Christ's coming that the church is raptured and is, in fact, the first event to occur at His coming.
2) 2 Thessalonian 2:1 says, “With regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him…” The subject is the coming of Christ and believers being gathered to Him at that time. “Being gathered to Him” is referring to the rapture of the church. What else would it be? This further establishes and confirms what we saw in 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17, that the rapture takes place at the coming of Christ.
3) 1 John 2:28 tells us, “abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” A few verses later, 1 John 3:2, referring back to 1 John 2:28, says, “When He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is.” When we put these verses together, we learn that we will see Christ at His appearing and His coming, and then we will be like Him, that is, be glorified. Since we are glorified at the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:21-23, 51-52), then we must conclude that the church is raptured at the appearing and coming of Jesus Christ.
4) Matthew 24 focuses on Christ’s coming, and is mentioned in verses 3, 27, 37, and 39. This great prophecy chapter says the rapture takes place at the coming of Christ. Let me explain. The coming of Christ is described in verse 27, “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Verse 30 further describes His coming, “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Then verse 31 actually describes the rapture, “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.” There’s no question, no disputing the fact, that the gathering of the believers, which includes the rapture, must take place at the coming of Christ.
We have answered the “when” question by saying that the rapture occurs at the coming of Christ. But where, in the sequence of events described in Matthew 24, does the rapture take place? As I said, Matthew 24 speaks about the rapture of the church in verse 31. This means the rapture is after great tribulation (verses 9, 21), after the apostasy (verse 10), after the gospel is preached to all the nations (verse 14), after the Antichrist desolates the temple (verse 15), and after the signs in the skies (verse 29). Since the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27), we know the rapture takes place sometime after the midpoint of the 70th week.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 also gives us insight as to the chronology of end-time events. “That lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay by the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” This clearly states that the coming of Christ is after the revealing and coming of the Antichrist. Therefore, the rapture of the church, which occurs at Christ’s coming, takes place after the Antichrist is revealed, sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week.
Why I am going into all this detail about the timing of the rapture? Because God repeatedly tells us about it in His Word, and therefore, it must be very important to know. The truth is, Christians will be alive on earth during the rule of the Antichrist, and during great tribulation. God doesn’t want there to be any confusion, questions, doubts or errors about this. He doesn’t want you to be surprised by His Son’s coming, but to be working hard for Him, and ready and waiting to see Him. “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit, soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
P.S. If you have not yet read the article I wrote which goes along with this post, I encourage you to do so: Matthew 24: The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #57 ~
I know you may not want to hear this, but it’s the truth, all Christians go through tribulation. Some health-and-wealth false teachers may try to deny it, but you can’t deny what God has repeatedly told us in His word. And you can’t deny that a countless number of Christians have experienced tribulation throughout church history. How about your own life? Haven’t you gone through tribulation? Of course you have.
How is tribulation defined? It’s from the Greek word “thlipsis.” Vines Dictionary defines the verb form as “to suffer affliction, to be troubled, has reference to sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of persons.” Austin Precept says, “thlipsis pictures one being crushed by intense pressure, difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from without. Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or tribulations all press hard on one’s soul. Thlipsis does not refer to mild discomfort, but to great difficulty… most often used of outward difficulties…”
What does God’s word say? The underlined words in the following verses are translated from the Greek word “thlipsis.” John 16:33 - “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation,…” Acts 11:19 - “… those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen...” Romans 5:3 - “… we exult in our tribulations.” Romans 8:35 - “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?” 2 Corinthians 1:4 - “Blessed be God… who comforts us in all our affliction.” Ephesians 3:13 - “I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations…” Revelation 1:9 - “… your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and persecutions which are in Jesus…” Here are even more verses speaking about “thlipsis”: Matthew 24:9, 21; Mark 13:19; Acts 7:9-10; Romans 12:12; 1 Corinthians 7:28; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 3:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 6; Revelation 2:10, 7:14.
These verses make it very clear that believers experience “thilipsis”, this tribulation, persecution, affliction, this trouble, distress and pressure. Every Christian goes through tribulation, though some go through it more than others. The point I am making is that you shouldn’t be surprised by “thlipsis”, for it is a normal Christian experience. Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22). But why does God want you to go through it? Because it’s a means by which He works in your life, uses you for His purposes, and then blesses you forever. “For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
What about great tribulation? Will some Christians go through this in the future? Yes. But many Christians say they won’t, that they will be raptured before great tribulation, particularly what is spoken of in Matthew 24:21-22. Let me explain why that’s not true.
1. There are many, many verses about Christians going through tribulation, and that includes great tribulation. You just can’t say great tribulation isn’t a part of tribulation. Your own experience tells you that sometimes life is hard, and sometimes life is extremely hard.
2. The English language tells us that great tribulation is tribulation, only greater. By definition, the only difference between great tribulation and tribulation is that great tribulation is greater, more intense, more severe than tribulation. You can’t say a Christian goes through tribulation, but does not or will not, go through great tribulation.
3. The Bible never says Christians are excused from great tribulation. We are exempt from God’s wrath, but not from tribulation or great tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9
4. Many Christians say the great tribulation, spoken of in Matthew 24:21, is part of God’s wrath. But how can you have all these verses on tribulation referring to believers, and then get to Matthew 24:21 and redefine it as God’s wrath? You can’t do that. Great tribulation affecting believers, is separate and different from God’s wrath affecting unbelievers. For example, Revelation 6:9-11 is speaking about great tribulation and Revelation 8, 9, 16 is speaking about God’s wrath.
5. Matthew 24:9 says, “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” In this verse, who’s being killed and hated? It’s the Christians. This verse says future believers will be going through tribulation, and you could even say this is great tribulation because of its deadly severity and global scope.
6. The Bible tells us that great tribulation, initiated by the Antichrist, starts at the midpoint of the 70th week, and sometime after that, is when Christians are raptured. (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-31). Therefore, Christians will go through great tribulation.
This subject is heavy on my heart, for I fear many Christians are ill-informed, mistaken, or in error, regarding the truth that believers will go through great tribulation before the return of Christ. I am warning you, great tribulation is coming, and so be ready, be serving, and be willing to suffer (Revelation 2:10). But remember 2 Thessalonians 1:7, that God will “give relief to you who are afflicted … when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven” - this relief from tribulation happening when Jesus Christ is revealed, and you are raptured and taken to be with Him.
P.S. I encourage you to read the article, A Biblical Perspective on the Trials of Life, for it will most definitely help you as you go through tribulation, understanding what God is doing in your life, being strengthened by His Spirit, and being encouraged by His grace.
P.P.S. The Charts tab was changed to be a drop down so that you can find the charts by number or by subject. This will make it much easier for you to find and look at all the charts on one particular prophecy subject.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #58 ~
My journey as a Christian takes me back to the early 1970’s, a time when there was a lot of talk about the rapture. It was being taught that the church would not go through great tribulation, for that was God’s wrath, and was reserved for the unbelievers. Fast forward to the early 1990’s and, for the first time, I began to really study end-times’ prophecy. I soon learned from God’s word that great tribulation is not God’s wrath.
Last week, I shared a number of verses illustrating how Christians go through tribulation. Paul summed it up by saying, “Through many tribulations you will enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). This word tribulation, from the Greek “thlipsis,” is also translated as distress, affliction, trouble or pressure. Therefore, we could say that great tribulation is great distress, great affliction, great trouble or great pressure. It’s not Biblical or logical to say a Christian goes through tribulation, but won’t go through great tribulation. Yes, a Christian is exempt from God’s wrath, but not from tribulation or great tribulation.
What does Matthew 24 say about this? Verse 9 says, “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” This is clearly referring to Christians being persecuted and martyred for their faith. Now the adjective “great” is not used in this verse to describe tribulation, but we have to admit that being hated and killed by all nations, is great tribulation. Therefore, we can conclude that the tribulation spoken of in verse 9, is actually great tribulation.
We read on and see that the focus of Matthew 24:9-14 is the Christian. Then we see that Matthew 24:15-26 is a parenthetical to verses 9-14, describing what is happening to the Jews during this time. First, there’s verse 15, speaking of the abomination of desolation, a desecration of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, occurring at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and instigated by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5). Then the Jews are instructed to head for the hills (verses 16-20), for that murdering Antichrist and his forces are going after them. The Antichrist’s pursuit and persecution of the Jews, and of the Christians, as we will soon see, is what Jesus calls great tribulation in verse 21.
We discover Revelation 12:16-17 saying the same thing, “The dragon (working with the Antichrist) was enraged with the woman (Jews), and went off to make war with the rest of her children (Christians) who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” This passage describes this devilish Antichrist chasing after the Jews, and making war with the Christians. Isn’t this what Matthew 24 said? Great tribulation starts out against Jews in Jerusalem, and then expands, being experienced by Christians all over the world. Great tribulation talked about in verses 15-21, leads to, and is directly related to great tribulation that is affecting the Christians, spoken of in verse 9.
Matthew 24:22 says this great tribulation is cut short for the sake of the elect. That is, only the elect are experiencing great tribulation. And who are the elect? They are the saved, and those who will be saved. The context of Matthew 24 makes it clear that great tribulation is what both Christians and Jews will experience. It’s critical to see this, that great tribulation is not the Day of the Lord wrath being poured out upon unbelievers. These are two separate events occurring at two different times. If Jesus meant great tribulation (Greek “thlipsis”) to be God’s wrath, then why didn’t He use the word wrath (Greek “orge” and “thumos”)? Because great tribulation isn’t God’s wrath, that’s why.
Where’s the rapture in Matthew 24? First we see it in verse 13, for those enduring to the end are believers who will be saved, that is, raptured. Then we see it in verse 31, for it says all believers, those on earth, and those already in heaven, will be gathered to Christ. Do you see that the rapture is spoken of in verses 13 and 31? Do you also see that the rapture occurs after great tribulation, spoken of in verses 9 and 21? This is exactly what Matthew 24:29-31 says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened… the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky… and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.” Do you see what God says, that first there’s great tribulation and then the rapture? You can’t miss it, Christians will go through great tribulation, then be raptured into heaven, and rescued from wrath.
All believers go through tribulation, and some will even go through great tribulation in that time just before Christ’s return. Don’t be surprised, dismayed or worried, but consider it a high honor and privilege to serve the Lord and suffer for Him, “for you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-19, John 15:18-25
P.S. When we talk about the future and tough times that will be coming, we have to have hope. It is not an option - it is what God knows will strengthen and encourage you. A comprehensive article that I have written about hope will be of great benefit to you.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #59 ~
Through the years, I have talked to many people who believe Christians are raptured at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, before great tribulation - but they are in error. Not only is their thinking wrong, but they don’t see how believing this error will have a harmful effect on their own life, family and church. But why don’t people see that the Pre-tribulation rapture idea is wrong? Why don’t people understand the truth? It’s because they have not properly studied and understood Bible passages that speak about great tribulation and the rapture of the church. It may also be that they have been deceived and affected by false teaching on these subjects. “See to it that no one misleads you.” Matthew 24:4. “Let no one in any way deceive you.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3
In particular, they don’t understand what Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:3-36, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10, and Revelation 6-17 say about Daniel’s 70th week, this most important seven-year time frame. Clearly they don't know what end-time events take place during this period, where they fit, and when they will occur. 1 Chronicles 12:32
- They mistakenly believe tribulation and/or great tribulation lasts a full seven years, the entirety of Daniel’s 70th week. They don’t know what it means when the Bible says this tribulation time is cut short for the sake of the elect. Matthew 24:21-22
- They wrongly think the rapture takes place at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. But the Bible says it takes place at the coming of Christ, which occurs after the Antichrist is revealed, after the midpoint of this week, and therefore sometime during the last 3½ years of this seven-year period. No one but God knows the day or hour of Christ’s return. Matthew 24:15-36, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9
They are in error when they think tribulation and great tribulation, spoken of in Matthew 24, are God’s wrath. The truth is that Christians will experience tribulation and great tribulation, but they won’t go through God’s wrath. Matthew 24:9, 21-22, 29; Revelation 7:14
- They wrongly state that the rapture is imminent, that it can happen at any moment. They don’t realize that many prophesied events need to occur before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. Matthew 24:4-14, 25, 32-35. (I plan to address this next week.)
- They wrongly believe the “birth pains” described in Matthew 24:4-8 are part of the “Day of the Lord” wrath. They incorrectly think Christians will be raptured before these birth pain events - famines, wars, earthquakes and plagues. But these events only occur in “various places” around the world, and are to awaken and alert both believers and unbelievers about Christ’s coming and the "Day of the Lord" wrath. Revelation 6:1-17
They fail to understand the overall chronology, the order of end-time events repeatedly stated in prophecy passages. For example, they fail to see the flow of events in Matthew 24, that there are beginning birth pains (4-8), then great tribulation affecting Jews and Christians (9, 21), signs in the heavens (29), followed by the rapture at Christ’s coming (31), and finally, the Day of the Lord, God’s wrath upon the earth (Acts 2:19-20). Mark 13:14-27 tells us there’s tribulation, rapture and wrath. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10 tells us there’s tribulation, rapture and wrath. And Revelation 6-9 tells us there’s tribulation, rapture and wrath. This is what the Bible says, and this is the way it will be.
There are other reasons why people, particularly in the United States, don’t believe we will go through great tribulation. This country has been greatly blessed, and in general, people are happy and satisfied with the way things are. Many people are worldly, complacent, and taking it easy (Amos 6:1-6, Luke 12:19, 1 John 2:15-17), and sadly, some Christians are like this. They don’t want to even think that life could get hard and there could be great tribulation. Many Christians can’t fathom that they, and their families and friends, could go through tough times. They don’t believe there will be great tribulation because they don’t want to believe it! Acts 14:22, Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Revelation 7:14
It’s also true that many Christians in this country don’t know what it means to really suffer for the Lord. The U.S. has been a relatively peaceful country, blessed with freedom of speech and religion, and for the most part, freedom from persecution. The very thought of going through great tribulation is far from the minds of most people. Yet, when Jesus taught on prophecy, He almost always spoke on suffering. (Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 21:12-19, Revelation 6:9-11). The night before Jesus suffered and died, He instructed His disciples, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Jesus goes on to say, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Finally, Paul encourages us, “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be given to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
P.S. In times of tribulation or great tribulation, it is important to set your heart and affections on Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King. I encourage you to read this article that speaks about this: Thinking of Jesus Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #60 ~
If you are going to visit a friend or family member, you usually don’t surprise them - you let them know ahead of time that you’re coming to see them. God has done just that, for there are over 100 verses telling us about Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. But does God also give us a heads up, an advance notice or signs that Christ’s coming is getting closer and closer? Yes, He does. Now some Christians believe the rapture is imminent, that no signs or prophesied events need to occur before this important end-times’ event. They think the rapture could occur at any time, at any moment. But this is not true. Not only are there over 100 verses telling us Christ is coming back, but there are over 100 more verses describing what needs to happen before He comes back.
The most extensive list of signs and events taking place before the rapture is given in Matthew 24:3-30 (false christs, wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, apostasy, great tribulation… and the sign of Christ’s coming). It’s in Matthew 24:31 that we read about the rapture. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus confirms that these signs and events will occur before the rapture. “Truly I say to you, this generation (the generation being raptured) will not pass away until all these things take place.” “All these things” is referring to the signs and events Jesus just talked about in Matthew 24:3-30. There’s no question that Jesus wants that generation of believers alive in the end times to see and know that His return and the rapture of the church is getting closer.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 tells us, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief.” Yes, it’s true that Jesus is coming as a thief in the night for the unbelievers, but not for the believers. This means Christians are not to be surprised or caught off guard by Christ’s return. In His Word, God is giving us advance notice about Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. Why does God do this? Because He wants us to be working hard for Him, to be preaching the gospel in the time leading up to His Son’s return (Luke 19:13, Matthew 24:14). Yes, we should always work hard for God, but He wants us to be highly motivated and diligent as we get closer to the end of the age. Why else does God want to alert us to the soon return of His Son? Because He wants our hearts to be overjoyed about seeing our loving Savior, to be excitedly expecting and looking for the return of our Lord and King. “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
Let me ask you a question: If Christ’s return is imminent, why would God give us all these signs and events that need to precede Christ’s coming? It doesn’t make sense for these end-time details to be in the New Testament if they are not relevant to the church. There are those who say all this information about upcoming signs and events is for unbelievers, or for the Jews, but that is not true. Matthew 24:15 says, “Let the reader understand”, and the “reader” is the Christian. God wants you and me, and other believers, to know what needs to occur before His Son appears in the skies above us. God has planned the return of Christ, promised the return of Christ, and predicted what will be taking place before the return of Christ. And He did this for us, for the Christians.
I know many will say, “Don’t you see that Christians are not here during Daniel’s 70th week, that this seven-year period is just for the Jews?” But that’s not true, that’s a false presupposition. Just because Daniel’s 70th week was originally written for Jews, doesn’t mean it’s not relevant for Christians. Revelation 12:11, 12:17, 13:7, 13:10 and 13:18 all have to do with Christians who are alive during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11 also tells us that Christians will be alive during this time. It talks about the rapture of the church occurring at the coming of Christ, which is after the coming of the Antichrist. Since the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27), we know Christians are raptured sometime after the midpoint, after this 3½ year point in Daniel’s 70th week. Therefore, all raptured Christians will see, hear about, or experience these prophesied signs and events spoken of in Matthew 24 and other prophecy passages. Again we see that the rapture of the church is not imminent.
Hebrews 10:25 says, “… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Christians will “see the day drawing near.” That is, we will know and discern by the events occurring in the world that the day, that is, the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church, is getting closer and closer. We don’t know the exact day or hour of the rapture, but we can know the season (Matthew 24:32-35). As we see and hear about these prophesied signs and events taking place, we will have a greater confidence that Christ’s return is near. Can you imagine how excited, how thrilled we will be, knowing that Jesus will be coming soon to take us to be with Him, and then take us home to heaven? “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. As you know, I love charting out the prophetic future God has given us. I recently added all my charts to this blog site so that you can look at them, study them and use them for your own ministry or church. I really do believe these charts will greatly help you understand what the Bible says about the end times and the kingdom of God. The charts are listed in two ways: by number or by subject.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #61 ~
“I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised again on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, then without question, this is the greatest news, that Christ died for your sins, and was raised again! Might this gospel message bring great joy, blessing and hope to your heart. Though you were dead in your sins and unable to save yourself, God intervened and forgave you, made you His child, and gave you eternal life. Hallelujah!
During this time of the year, we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection. It’s essential that you know what Christ did for you, by His death and resurrection, justified you. Now you are now being sanctified and you will be glorified. A lot could be said about your past justification and present sanctification, but the primary purpose of this blog site is to help you understand the future, and particularly, that you will be glorified and live forever with Christ and all the saints.
One of the best Bible passages to explain this is 1 Corinthians 15. Starting with verse 23, we read about the order of the resurrection. “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.” Jesus Christ was the first person to be resurrected, to be raised from the dead and never to die again, to be glorified and immortal. That was about 2000 years ago. But when will we be resurrected? It is at Christ's coming. It is not before Christ’s coming, but in fact, is the first event at His coming. When Christ returns in the clouds, all believers, all those living on earth, and all those who have already died, will be resurrected, will be glorified, will be physically saved and forever transformed. “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the humble state of our body into conformity with the body of His glory.” Philippians 3:20-21
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 describes this resurrection body with four words: imperishable, glorious, powerful and spiritual. Our brand new body will be imperishable and immortal, one that will never perish, wear out, morally decay or die again. It will be glorious - it will be amazing, beautiful and spectacular, perfect inside and out, infinitely better than your present body. It will be powerful, invincible, indestructible, incredibly strong, much stronger than Superman, Iron Man, Tron, Captain America, etc., and able to do all God wants you to do. It will be a spiritual body. Though it is physical in nature, it is also spiritual in nature, perfectly suited to worship God, to love and serve the saints, to have fellowship, and to wonderfully enjoy God and the pleasures of life. Psalm 16:11
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 gives us more information about believers being glorified. “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” This means that not all believers are going to physically die, but all believers will be changed, or glorified. Think about this, that all believers from all time will be glorified at the coming of Christ, those who have already died and are in heaven, and those who still remain on earth. This is what 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 is explaining, that “the dead in Christ (those who have already died) will rise first,” and then “we who are alive and remain (until the coming of the Lord) will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” This last verse is referring to the rapture, when Christians who are alive at the coming of Christ will be rapidly taken off this earth and then be glorified. This will happen “in a moment,” quickly, suddenly, instantly, and immediately after the sound of a trumpet and the sighting of Christ in the clouds.
In the world there’s lots of talk about victory, success, winning, and being first. But by far, your greatest success is your victory over death; and by death, I mean spiritual death and physical death. So what if you have problems, trials or sickness. So what if you get old and die. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory, where is your sting?... Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Might you be super-excited! Might you be extremely happy in Christ, filled with His joy and peace, knowing that through Him, you are a winner, you are victorious, and you have a future and a hope!
What is the conclusion to this truth about the resurrection of Christ and our coming resurrection in Christ? How are we to live? “Therefore, 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 Corinthians 15:58). We are to love God, be filled with the Spirit, and do the work of Christ until we physically die and are taken to heaven, or until the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. “God will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:8
P.S. There are a couple of articles that relate directly to this most important subject of the resurrection. When you get time, I would encourage you to read them: Heavenly Verses That Speak About Your Glorious Future! Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #62 ~
THE COMING OF CHRIST! Matthew 24 is about Christ’s 2nd coming and events leading up to it. The disciples had privately asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (verse 3). Jesus went on to give them a detailed answer. He wanted them to know what would be taking place before His return, but more importantly, He wants those of us living in these end-times’ days to know what to be looking for.
Jesus first spoke about birth pains affecting both believers and unbelievers (verses 4-8). These birth pains are false Christs, wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes now occurring in various places all over this planet. At this time, in 2018, our world is in the beginning birth pain stage, which means it’s “not yet the end” of the age. Therefore, Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church is not imminent. Revelation 6:1-8
Then Jesus spoke about events relating to and affecting Christians living in the end times (verses 9-14). All over the world, Christians will be experiencing great tribulation; so-called Christians will be turning away from the true faith (apostasy), and then betray believers; many false prophets will lead people astray; widespread lawlessness will bring sorrow to our souls; by God’s grace, many Christians will endure to the end of the age and be physically saved, that is, raptured into heaven; the gospel will be preached to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus describes what will be affecting the Jews in Israel during this time, this 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week (verses 15-28, Daniel 9:27). He tells us about the “abomination of desolation”, which is when the Antichrist “takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). There’s great tribulation directed by the Antichrist against the Jews, and then against the Christians around the world. Revelation 12:17 also speaks about this: “the dragon (devil) was enraged with the woman (Jews), and went off to make war with the rest of her children (Christians), who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” These will be very difficult and distressing days, for many people will die - “wherever the corpse is…”
Then there’s some very good news (verses 29-31), for this tribulation affecting both Jews and Christians will be cut short. “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” These heavenly signs will mark the end to this tribulation and this evil age. At the perfect time, Jesus our Savior, will suddenly and wonderfully appear in the skies above us. “As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be… the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Christ will gather together all God’s children to Himself, those who have already died, and are now in heaven, and those still living on earth. “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Then Jesus tells us about the timing of His coming (verses 32-36). He says “when you see all these things” talked about in this chapter, then you will know that His return, the rapture and our redemption, is near. That is, we are to know the general time of His coming. But we will not know the specific time, for Jesus goes on to say, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Hebrews 10:25 - “Encouraging one another… as you see the day drawing near.”
Jesus also wants us to know about the unbelievers (Verses 37-41). This is so sad, and sobering, for the unsaved living on earth in these days will be oblivious to what will be taking place. “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah… they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” They will be mocking Christians, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? (2 Peter 3:4)”. They will be ignorant of the fact that “the Judge is standing right at the door (James 5:9),” that God’s devastating wrath will soon be poured out upon the earth. But when the skies go dark, they will know “the great day of their wrath has come… (Revelation 6:12-17)”. At the coming of Christ, “one will be taken (Christians), and one will be left (non-Christians).”
Jesus has some final words for Christians (verses 42-51). “Be on the alert… you also must be ready… who then is the faithful and sensible slave?” His instruction to us is crystal clear - be working and waiting for Christ. “You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
I am so thankful that Jesus, our Lord, Teacher and Friend, has told us ahead of time about His coming. “Behold, I have told you in advance (Matthew 24:25).” There’s no doubt that we need to read this most important prophecy chapter, Matthew 24, so we can know what to expect before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35
P.S. An article that will be helpful to read that goes along with this post is: Matthew 24 - The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #63 ~
We live in an age that will soon come to an end, and then the next age, a new age, will begin. But when will this happen? That’s what the apostles asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). These Jewish disciples were finally realizing Jesus would be leaving them, but they were convinced He would come back and set up His kingdom on earth. They believed God’s promises about the Messiah reigning as King over Israel, and over the world, and they wanted a sign to let them know when this would begin to happen. In last week’s post we looked at Matthew 24, and discovered a number of events that will occur before the end of this age. This week I want to focus on the present age, and the age to come. Ephesians 1:21 speaks of Jesus Christ “…not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.”
First, let’s get some perspective. Since that first sin of Adam thousands of years ago, we have been living in “this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). The clear-thinking Christian can see Biblically, historically, and at the present time, that people living on this planet are exceedingly sinful. But it’s not just that there are sinful people, it’s that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). There’s no doubt that we live in an evil age, at a time and in a place, controlled by the devil.
But we can gladly say that God has been sovereignly ruling over the world during this entire evil age. “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Psalm 145:13). During this time, God has been working through both the Jews and the church, and His work has not been thwarted, and will not be thwarted. With respect to the Jews, “The Lord nullifies the plans of the nations… the plans of the Lord stand firm forever… blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose” (Psalm 33:10-12). With respect to the church, Jesus says, “Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). Yes, we live on an evil earth in an evil age, but we know that God has chosen His people, and He will keep them “strong to the end.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
Many people think this church age will keep going for a long, long time. But they are mistaken, for now we live in the end times, evidenced by the fact that the Jews are, once again, living in their land. Many also believe this age is going to get better and better, and then Christ will return. This also, is not true, for the Bible says this world will be getting worse and worse, and then Christ will come back. It tells us, “lawlessness is increased” (Matthew 24:12); “the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37); and “in the last days, difficult times will come.” 2 Timothy 3:1
Let’s look briefly at Matthew 24, for it has lots to tell us about the end of the age:
1. Many prophesied events have been and will be fulfilled, signifying that the end of this age, Christ’s coming, and the rapture is getting closer and closer. Matthew 24:3-44
2. “Birth pain” events are taking place, “but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6). Famines, wars, earthquakes, etc. that are occurring now do not mean the end of this age is imminent, that it can occur at any time, and that the rapture could even happen today. Many more things need to take place before this age will come to an end.
3. Christians are exhorted to persevere “to the end” (Matthew 24:13). Many Christians living on earth in the end-times will experience great tribulation, and will need to endure to the end, to Christ’s coming, and then they will be saved, that is, be raptured.
4. The gospel will be “preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). A big part of serving God is to keep telling people about their need for Christ, right up to the end of this age and the rapture.
5. The specific and obvious sign that this age has come to an end is when the “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it’s light…” (Matthew 24:29). All believers living on earth will know this evil age is over when they see this heavenly sign, and immediately they will be raptured, be rapidly taken from this earth to be with Jesus Christ.
What does God want you to know? What does He want you to be looking for? The end of this age, the coming of Christ, and the rapture of the church (Matthew 24:29-31). Then after the end of this age and the rapture, God will pour out His wrath on earth, a great remnant of Jews will be saved, and Christ will begin His glorious thousand-year reign. That’s when the next age begins, and it will be a new and good age, a time when all believers will reign with Christ, a time when we will see the holiness, power, wisdom, love and dominion of God like never before. It will be a time when “God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him” (Psalm 67), and “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
I can’t say it strong enough - this present evil age is coming to an end, and soon!!! Now in these last years of this age, it's our time to serve the Lord, to work hard for Him, to help bring about the return of Christ and the rapture of the church! “Make disciples of all the nations… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
P.S. I encourage you to read The Return of the King, an article that helps us to see the big picture and how that relates to the end of this age.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #64 ~
Just think, there will be an enormous number of people living in the end times who won’t ever get married, won’t ever have children, won’t ever live to the age of 40, won’t ever get old, won’t ever retire, or won’t ever physically die. That’s because Jesus Christ will return to this world and bring this present age to an end, suddenly interrupting and stopping the plans and “normal” activities of billions of people living on this earth.
The first thing to take place at Christ’s return is the rapture of the church. At that time, all Christians will be physically and forcefully removed from the earth, and be immediately taken to be with Christ. The rapture of the church will be one of the most climactic and dramatic events ever, a major turning point in the history of our world. For those of us on earth at Christ’s coming, it will be the most life-altering, body-changing, soul-exciting and God-glorifying event we will ever experience. Why can we say that?
The word rapture, from the Greek “harpazo”, refers to what physically happens to Christians living on earth at the return of Christ, but so much more will be taking place:
- When Christ returns you will get immediate relief from the great tribulation and persecution you are going through. 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7
- When Christ returns you will be rescued from God’s punishing wrath, the devastating and deserved judgment of God to be poured out upon unbelievers. 1 Thessalonians 1:10
- When Christ returns you will finally rest from your work, from the blood, sweat and tears of living, laboring and lovingly sacrificing your life for the Lord. Revelation 14:13
- When Christ returns, your soul will be redeemed, quickly and safely delivered from this wicked world, and from your corrupt and sin prone body. Ephesians 1:14
- When Christ returns, you will perfectly and forever be glorified, for you will receive a brand new, powerful, immortal and spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
- When Christ returns, all believers from all time will be gathered together to Himself. How glorious this will be, for you will be joined with a great multitude of believers, and be shouting, celebrating and worshiping the Lord. Matthew 24:31
- When Christ returns, you will be joyfully reunited with loved ones and friends who have already died and gone on to heaven before you. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
- When Christ returns, you will be greatly rejoicing, pouring out praises to God for your salvation, for His gracious, infinite and eternal love for you. Revelation 7:9-10
- When Christ returns, you will be richly rewarded for your earthly service for God, for you will be given an imperishable and undefiled inheritance that you will have and enjoy forever and ever. 2 Timothy 4:8
- When Christ returns, you will be with Him! Can you imagine actually seeing and being with Jesus, your Lord, Savior and best Friend? How wonderful and exhilarating to finally see Him, “and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17, John 14:1-3
Raptured, relieved, rescued, resting, redeemed, glorified, gathered, reunited, rejoicing, rewarded, and with Jesus!! This is God’s promise and guarantee to you, what’s definitely going to happen when Christ returns. This is what God wants you to get excited about, to be looking forward to, and to be telling others. But the rapture, and all that goes with it, is just the very beginning. Right after the rapture, there’s the righteous wrath of God on earth, the salvation of some Jews, and Christ’s return to planet earth. Then begins the next age, a good age, a glorious 1000-year kingdom age when Christ will be personally ruling over the world, and you and I, with all the other glorified believers, will have the great honor and privilege of reigning with Him. Psalm 47; Revelation 5:10, 20:4
We now live in an evil age, a time when “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). But the evil one is like a dog on a leash, for he is reined in by God, the One who is sovereign over the devil and the entire world. Now in these last years of the end times, God is on the move, and every single day He is working with every single person, strategically and faithfully carrying out His eternal plan to bring His Son back to this earth. Don’t be sleeping or sinning. Be awake and alert, loving and trusting God, serving Him, making disciples, and waiting for your Savior. I hope you realize that Jesus is really looking forward to seeing you. Are you looking forward to seeing Him? The truth is that you will soon see Jesus - either you will physically die and see Him in heaven, or you will be alive on earth when He returns, and see Him triumphantly coming in the clouds.
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Job 19:25-27
P.S. For a more in depth look at the rapture I encourage you to read this article: 50 Truths God Wants You to Know About the Rapture.
P.P.S. You may have heard about someone predicting that Christ is coming back on April 23, 2018. That is not true!!! Please check out a previous post which clearly explains why this, and any date-setting teaching on the rapture, is false.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #65 ~
I picture a huge, cosmic stop sign, and it’s just a little way down the road. When we get to that stop sign, it means this age is over, that this world as we know it has come to a sudden end, to a screeching halt. When we get to that stop sign (“the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light" - Matthew 24:29), we know God has put on the brakes, and that everyone will be stopped in their tracks! But then what? To Christians on earth it means the rapture and going to heaven. To non-Christians, it means God’s wrath and “hell” on earth. For many Jews, it’s a sign that their promised redemption is right around the corner.
The first thing to take place at the end of this age is the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. All Christians living on earth will be caught up and gathered together with all the other believers, and meet Jesus, their Savior, in the air. For these raptured saints, this will be their most exciting moment ever, for they will immediately be rescued from the wrath to come, given relief from great tribulation, redeemed from this wicked world, glorified by God, reunited with friends and loved ones, rewarded for their labors, and most importantly, received by Jesus Christ. To His disciples, Jesus said, "I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Shortly after the rapture, God’s wrath will be poured out upon the non-Christians. This wrath is the Day of the Lord, that “hell” on earth I just mentioned. All over the world, unbelievers will be “fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). They will be running and trying to hide, but it’s no use, for they won't get away from God. Revelation 8-9, 16 speaks about this wrath, summarizing the catastrophic and deadly consequences for all the unrepentant unbelievers still on earth. These godless sinners deserve this judgment, for they persecuted Christians, and repeatedly rejected God and His offer of mercy. There will be unrelenting fire, scorching heat, tormenting locusts, utter darkness, billions of people killed, and the utter devastation of this planet. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty... who is to come." Revelation 4:8
Then there’s the salvation of a remnant of Jews, which God promised thousands of years ago, and will bring to pass. Ezekiel 36-37 describes the gathering of the Jews from the nations, how these dry bones of Israel are physically coming to life, which we have been seeing for the past 130 years. But they will spiritually come to life, for we read that “they will be My people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 37:23). Luke 21:24 tells us the timing of God’s miraculous redemption of His chosen people for “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." This great number of Jews will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:24). Romans 11:25-26 says it this way, "A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved.”
In the near future, there will be three major events, the rapture of the Christians, the wrath of God upon the unbelievers, and the redemption of the Jews. These will all occur after the end of this age, but before the start of the next age. Then Christ will begin His reign on earth, a reign which will last exactly one-thousand years. All the believers who have lived during this present age will be glorified at the time of the rapture, and will be joyfully reigning with Christ during this next age, this millennial kingdom age. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10
The rapture, wrath, and redemption are major prophesied events which will take place, and will dramatically, wonderfully and eternally affect you and this whole world. Let me also say:
- These God-ordained events, the rapture, the wrath and the redemption will take place, transitioning us from this present age to the next age.
- The book of Revelation focuses on this transition, with the main events being the rapture, the wrath and the redemption. Revelation 2-19 covers the end-times (2-6, 12-13), the rapture (7), God’s wrath (8-9, 15-18), the redemption of the Jews (7, 10-12), all leading to Christ’s millennial kingdom (20). Many details about this short transition time are given in these chapters, and will be looked at later; but for now, remember the big picture, God’s glorious working with the Christians, the Jews and the unbelievers.
- The total time for the rapture, wrath and redemption will be only a year or two or three (we don’t know the exact time). Therefore, all raptured Christians will only be in heaven a short time, and then return to earth with the other believers, to begin reigning with Jesus Christ over this world. Revelation 19:11-19, 20:4
Right now, we are all traveling down this road of life, heading straight to the end of this age, and soon we will see that huge stop sign in the sky. Be thankful that God is faithfully moving you along, that He is sovereignly working all things after the counsel of His will, “with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens, and things upon the earth… to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:9-12). Amen!
P.S. There have been many posts and articles about Jesus Christ coming back to earth. But specifically, why is He coming back? I encourage you to read this article, Why is Jesus Coming Back to Earth?, for it gives many Biblical reasons why Christ is returning, and needs to return.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #66 ~
There’s no doubt that God wants us to see the big picture, to know His overall purpose when it comes to the future of the world, to the end-times and the rapture, and to the next age, and the age after that. In the past three years, God has been opening up my eyes to many passages that give us this perspective, this mountaintop view of what God has in store for the Jews, the church, and for our own personal lives. It’s imperative that we see what God is now doing in the world, and realize that we are an important part of His perfect plans. The passage that best gives this big picture perspective is 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, for in these few verses God speaks about this age, and the two ages to come.
It was about 2000 years ago, during this present age, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, becoming the first person to ever receive a new, glorified body. But when will believers be made alive, when will our salvation be complete, when will we be glorified? Verses 22-23 tell us, “As in Adam all die, so also in Christ 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.” This clearly says it’s at Christ’s 2nd coming, at the time of the rapture, that all believers from all time, will be resurrected. And the fact that the Jews are back in their land means we now live in the end-times, in the very last part of this age, and so it won’t be long before Christ’s return, and our salvation will be complete and we will be glorified.
Then what? Verses 24-28 tell us about the next two ages. First, there’s the kingdom age, when Christ will be King and reign for 1000 years (Revelation 20:6). This will be a most magnificent age, for Christ will be ruling with a rod of iron, abolishing all other rule and authority. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth… that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations” (Psalm 47:2, 67:2). During this good age, all those glorified at Christ’s coming, along with a great multitude of Jewish believers, will be reigning with Him. Christ will perfectly rule over an imperfect and repopulated world. All people on earth will submit to Him, or else there will be just and immediate consequences. “Every knee will bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11
As you know, we now live in an evil age, on an earth controlled by the devil, in a world filled with wickedness and corruption. That’s why I truly long for the next age, this extra-long period of time when Christ is powerfully leading and wonderfully blessing, when many are getting saved, when there’s quick and perfect justice, and when there’s finally world peace. But there will still be death. Verses 25-26 say, “He (Christ) must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Revelation 20:7-10 describes the last battle against Satan and sinners on earth, one that takes place at the very end of this 1000-year kingdom age. “Fire came down from heaven and devoured them.” Finally, both the devil and death will be totally and forever defeated. “The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire… death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:13-14). Can you imagine being with all the other angels and saints, as we are joyfully shouting and celebrating the resounding and glorious victory of Jesus Christ over death and the devil? Hallelujah!!!
“Then comes the end” of this 1000 years, “when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” The transition, from this kingdom age to the next age, is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 15:24, 27-28. Picture this divine and loving scene between the Father and Son, “when all things are subjected to Christ, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.”
That brings us to the next age, the final era, the eternal kingdom age. Revelation 21:1 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” Our relationship with God in our new home is described in verse 3, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people and God Himself will be among them.” In verse 5, God joyfully tells us, “Behold, I am making all things new.” My soul is humbled and touched as I think of the great love God has for us, that we will be with Him and one another, forever and ever. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
I am so thankful God has chosen me to live for Him during the last years of this age. I am greatly motivated by the fact that now is my time to serve my Savior. “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” There’s only a few years left, and our life on earth will be over and we will wonderfully and quickly leave this earth. Remember our hope, that God “raised us up with Christ, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-10). Do you see it? There's this age, and two more ages to come, the millennial kingdom and then the eternal kingdom.
P.S. - Here is a message that I gave this past Sunday to our church, which I know many found very helpful: Encouraging the Discouraged.
P.P.S. As you know, there are many charts on this blog site, and these are specifically designed to help you see the big picture. One article in particular, Charting the Future with Prophecy Charts, has been written to help you see the importance of these charts, and how they will help you more clearly see the big picture perspective God wants you to have.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #67 ~
It’s so easy to get bogged down in the details of life. There are places to go and people to see. There are things, both big and small, and important too, that demand your attention, that you need to tend to. There are issues relating to jobs, children, parents, houses, yards, finances, health, church, etc. And yes, you need to be faithful in all these things, for this is what God instructs you to do. But God also wants you to keep in mind the big picture, to have perspective, to see the end from the beginning, to know where you are and where you are going. In the past two posts, we have looked at God’s overall plan for this age, the next age and the age after that. Today, I want to look at some verses that give you an overview of God’s plan for your life.
Psalm 23:6 - “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Your life is made up of two main parts. There’s your time on earth, when you’re walking with the Lord, and are personally experiencing His amazing goodness and love. After this life, you will live forever with the Lord, experiencing much, much more of His goodness and love, and His incredible glory.
Romans 8:30 - “And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” Four words summarize your salvation. First, we go back to eternity past and see that God predestined you to be saved. Second, there’s the time when you were called, when God worked in your heart, leading up to your salvation. Third, you were justified, you were born again and saved, becoming a child of God. Fourth and finally, you will be glorified, perfected in every way, referring to that time in the future when your salvation will be fully completed.
1 Corinthians 1:30 - “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.” With three important words, this one verse describes your Christian life. Righteousness refers to when you were born again and made righteous in God’s eyes. Sanctification describes your present life on earth, as you grow in holiness and live for the Lord. Redemption speaks of the future, that time when Christ returns, and those living on earth will be redeemed, delivered from their old body and glorified, and taken up to be with the Lord Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 - “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” God gives two key words describing your salvation, “began” and “perfect”. God “began” a good work in you, meaning there was a specific moment in the past when He saved you, starting His gracious and eternal work in you. In the future, on the day of Christ Jesus, at the time of the rapture, your life will be “perfect”, for your salvation will have been completed, for you will be glorified.
Colossians 3:3-4 - “You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory.” Again, we get God’s perspective, for we see His overall plan for your life. The phrase, “you have died”, refers to being justified, for you were crucified with Christ, and saved from your old life. “Your life is hidden with Christ”, talks of your present sanctification, for it’s not about you, but about Christ living in and through you. Then “Christ… is revealed,” speaking of Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, that time when all believers will be glorified. Finally, we see that we will “be revealed with Him in glory,” meaning that we will visibly reign with Jesus Christ during His glorious millennial kingdom.
What can we conclude from these verses?
1. They focus on the big picture, the totality of your salvation, your justification, sanctification, glorification, and your reign with Jesus Christ on earth. Revelation 1:4-6
2. They don’t speak about physical death because that’s no longer a problem, for now you have life, eternal life. Regardless of what happens during your time on earth, it is guaranteed that you will be glorified and forever be with Christ in glory. Romans 8:28-30
3. A great number of believers won’t physically die before the rapture. For these people, God’s plans for their lives (justification, sanctification and glorification) are converging and coinciding with God’s plans for the end-times, the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Revelation 6-7
4. Those who die before the rapture will go straight to heaven. But they won’t be there long, for this age is soon coming to an end, and then, with all the believers still on earth, they will be glorified. Shortly after that, the kingdom age will begin on earth. Psalm 47
5. Your salvation is an incredible and wonderful work of God. You can be most assured that God will fully finish His work in you, and that soon you will be with Jesus, glorified, in heaven, and with all the other believers. Philippians 3:20-21
6. Having this big picture perspective of your life gives you hope, encouraging you, and helping you to persevere to the end of your life, or the end of this age. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be given to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-13
P.S. "Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12). As Christians, we need to live for the Lord in light of the great future our Father has given us. This article talks about our amazing and glorious future: Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #68 ~
I think a lot about the timing of Christ’s return. Why shouldn’t I, and why shouldn’t you? Look at what the Bible tells us. Mark 13:23 says, “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance,” meaning that God has told you and I specific things that will take place before His Son’s return, and wants us to be anticipating them. Matthew 24:34 instructs us, “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place,” meaning that a very large number of people living in the end-times will be observing all these events predicting Christ’s coming. Hebrews 10:25 says we are to be “…encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near,” meaning that Christians alive in the years leading up to Christ’s coming, will be able to see, to sense and discern, that the day of Christ and the rapture are getting closer, and are to tell others.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 says, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief,” meaning that Christians on this earth are not to be caught off guard and surprised by Christ’s coming and the rapture, but they are to be expecting it and looking forward to it. Romans 13:11 warned the first century believers, “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed,” meaning that salvation, that is, glorification, was near, was not far off back then, and how much more so is it today, 2000 years later?
Luke 2:38 is describing godly first century believers when it speaks of “all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Aren’t they to be examples to us of how we are to be looking for Christ’s coming? Yes, yes they are. 1 Chronicles 12:32 speaks of the “men of Issachar who understood the times, and knew what Israel should do.” Their example is also instructive, for as we realize God’s prophetic word is coming true, then we should be telling others how they are to live in light of Christ’s return.
These verses fire up my heart, for God has ordained and planned that you and I would be alive at this time in history, in the end-times, and it won’t be long now before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. It is very, very near, for God is working with the Jews, prophesied events are coming true, we can see the day of Christ getting closer; and we are not to be surprised. Let me make some other observations about the timing of Christ’s coming.
1. The rapture is not imminent, meaning it cannot happen at any moment, at any time, for many God-predicted signs still need to happen before it takes place, and we’re taken up.
2. No one but God knows the exact time of Christ’s return, but we can know the general time. As we see these predicted events fulfilled, our hearts will be instructed and greatly stirred, for then we will realize that Christ’s coming is getting closer, and that we will soon see Him face to face.
3. God is working every day, divinely ordaining, powerfully orchestrating, and wisely overseeing people’s lives, bringing about all these events that need to occur, leading to that specific and climactic time when He sends Jesus Christ back to earth.
4. Many prophecy passages speak of these events, Matthew 24 being the best, for it tells us 20 different things that will take place before the rapture. Here are some of them: wars, earthquakes, famines, great tribulation, persecution, increasing sin, preaching the gospel to the world, betrayal, the Antichrist revealed, cosmic signs, etc.
5. Since the Jews are back in their land, then we know we live in the end-times, and therefore Christ’s coming is very, very soon. You may have recently heard that Jerusalem became the official capital of Israel. This may be a key event leading to the treaty between the Antichrist and the Jews (Daniel 9:27), another indication that Christ's return is at hand.
6. Christ is coming soon, and that’s because He says so: “Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7). But the fact that this age has been going on for thousands of years, and the fact that we now live in the end-times of this age means He is coming very, very soon. An NFL football game lasts for 60 minutes, but we know it’s about over when the two-minute warning sounds. That we live in the end-times is our two-minute warning.
7. I also believe Christ’s coming is still many years away, even though we know it’s very, very soon. The reason I say many years, is because I think it’s going to take some time for the events mentioned in point 4 to come to pass. I will explain this in more detail next week.
Let me close by giving you a personal perspective. In the early ‘70’s, about 45 years ago, I and many other Christians were convinced that Christ would come back in our lifetimes. But after studying the subject of prophecy for the past 25 years, and knowing all that still needs to be fulfilled, I just don’t believe I will be here on earth at Christ’s coming and the rapture. (I am 65). I sure wish I were here, but I can’t see it. Regardless of our age, let’s remember these words, “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37). “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I added a drop down menu for Archives, the purpose being to enable you to locate past posts by subject. Check this out, for it will greatly help you in your study of particular prophecy subjects.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #69 ~
I don’t know. You don’t know. “But of that day or hour no one knows… nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36). Whereas God does not tell us the specific time of His Son’s return, He does say we can know the general time. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door” (Matthew 24:34). In past posts, I have listed out “these things”, the signs, events and conditions that need to take place before Christ’s return. But in this post, I want to explain why I believe it will be many years before all “these things” come to pass, and then the church is raptured.
Birth pains: Matthew 24:5-8 tells us there will be false Christs, famines, earthquakes and wars occurring before Christ’s coming, and these are “the beginning of birth pains.” In referring to these birth pains, Luke 21:9 says, “the end does not follow immediately.” We are now “hearing” about these things happening in “various places” around the world, but they are only the beginning, for these signs will increase in intensity and frequency, and “then they will deliver you (Christians) to tribulation” (Matthew 24:9). It’s now 2018, and we need to know there’s still a ways to go before Christ’s return and the rapture.
Globalism: The trend in this world in the last 100 years has been towards regionalism and globalism, illustrated by different organizations, like the UN, NATO, EU, WTO and the IMF. This is all leading to that time when the people of this world will once again try to build a "tower of Babel" (Genesis 11). But now, there’s a strong current of nationalism, for many countries want to be more independent of others. For example, you see this in the United States, Great Britain and China. I believe this global landscape needs to change a whole lot more before countries subject their sovereignty to the Antichrist, before Revelation 13:4 comes true - “the whole earth was amazed and followed after the Beast.”
United States: The United States has to decline in power before the Antichrist and his kingdom can rule this world, and the way things look now, this could take some time. Without question, the United States is still the strongest nation in the world, and it doesn’t look like anyone will soon supplant her from her superior position. Barring a stock market collapse, a massive earthquake, a huge cyber or nuclear EMP attack, any of which could cause the U.S. to quickly collapse, I believe this country’s #1 position is secure for a while. It is Daniel 8:9-14, 9:26-27, 11:36-45 that explains why the Antichrist is from across the Atlantic, and not from the United States.
Increasing Sin: The moral condition of this world has declined rapidly in the past 50-60 years, but it needs to go downhill a lot more before the rapture of the church. In the time leading up to Christ’s coming, there will be rampant lawlessness, a corrupt culture, a sin-dominated society and the Antichrist, a “man of lawlessness,” ruling the world. There will be a clear polarization between believers and unbelievers, between a holy church and a wicked world, but we’re not there yet. Matthew 24:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Global Anti-Semitism. Zechariah 12:3, in speaking about the Jews in the end times, says “all the nations of the earth will be gathered against her.” At this time, most countries in the world are strongly opposed to the Jews, demonstrated by their anti-Semitic votes in the United Nations. But the United States and other countries aligned with her, are still supporting the Jews. Before Christ can come back, this country and others will have to join with the rest of the world in their utter hate for the Jews. We are not there yet - it’s going to take more time before “Jerusalem (is) a heavy stone for all the peoples.” Zechariah 12:3
The Image and Mark of the Beast. The Antichrist will need to have the technology, a sophisticated global system in place to be able to spiritually, militarily, and economically rule the world, to be able to communicate with everyone in the world, demand people to worship his image, and force people to take his mark. In this information age, with computers, the internet, smart phones, and many means of surveillance, it's obvious that we are getting closer to that time when the Antichrist will be able to control the world. But I believe we are still years away before one man (Antichrist) will be able to implement his one-world order, when people in the world will want him to rule, and accept his means to rule over them. Revelation 13:14-17
Put all these together, birth pains, growing globalism, decline of the U.S., increasing sin and anti-Semitism, technology for one-world rule. Add in the need for more wars, further realignment of nations, global gospel preaching, a peace treaty, a temple in Jerusalem, and great persecution, and you can see how it could take many years before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. I plan to share much more on this next week.
We are now at that stage, “the beginning of birth pains,” and as Luke 21:9 says, “the end does not follow immediately.” A lot more must happen before Christ comes back. In the years ahead, “those who have insight” (Daniel 11:33) will see prophecy being fulfilled, and therefore “see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25), and they are to instruct and strengthen other Christians. Always remember and be encouraged by Jesus’ last words in the Bible, “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I want to encourage you to read (or read again) this post, Does Anybody Know What Time It Is? It relates directly to this post, and really helps you understand more about the timing of Christ's return.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #70 ~
Many “things” need to take place before Christ returns to rapture the church. Matthew 24:33-34 says, “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Last week I described six of them: 1) Birth pains (wars, earthquakes, famines, economic distress) will be occurring all over the earth. 2) A one-world leader will be the desire of people from all over this planet. 3) The United States will fall from her #1 position, and then sooner or later, the Antichrist will begin ruling the world. 4) The technology needed by the Antichrist to control the world will be developed, and accepted by the masses. 5) The Jews will be hated by all the nations. 6) Lawlessness will increase significantly all over the world. But many more things need to happen before the coming of Christ:
7) Preaching the Gospel: There’s been considerable progress in reaching the world with the gospel, particularly in the past 200 years. But missiologists say there are many unreached people groups, many tribes and tongues that have not yet heard the gospel. I personally believe we have a ways to go in getting the gospel to all the nations. As for us, the end of this age is now in sight, and Christ is commanding us to be witnesses “to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8), and to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
8) Aligning the Nations: For the past 100 years, we have seen God sovereignly realigning the nations, redesigning the global map, so it’s in line with His plan for the end-times. I admit, this is a complex geography lesson that’s difficult for most Christians, including myself, to completely understand. But from Daniel 2:36-44, Daniel 7:1-8, 15-18, and Daniel 8, we know Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and the Roman empire will be kingdoms on earth before Christ’s return. From Ezekiel 38, we read about Magog, Tubal, Meshech and Gomer, allied with Persia, Ethiopia and Put, all against Israel. Then Daniel 7:7-8, 23-27 tells us about Antichrist’s 10-nation empire being established. We also know there’s little or no mention of the United States, Britain, Russia and China, as major players in the end-times. Now I can't predict when all this rearranging and realigning of nations will be completed, but as I look at what’s going on in the world, I am convinced that a lot more needs to happen before Christ’s return.
9) Wars: Along with the unspecified wars that are part of the birth pains, the prophesied wars of Psalm 46, Ezekiel 38 and Daniel 11:36-45 also need to occur before Christ’s return. From Daniel 7:7-8, we understand that the Antichrist will be conquering nations and consolidating his kingdom. And as you know, wars and nation-building don't happen overnight. But you and I will be hearing about these wars in the coming years, knowing they are leading to the return of the King. “He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth… cease striving and know that I am God… I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:8-10
These nine conditions are general, indefinite and nonspecific. Nevertheless, they are given by God so you can know what’s going to happen, and when they are taking place, you will be encouraged, for you know Christ’s coming is getting closer. God really wants you to “see the day drawing nearer” (Hebrews 10:25), and to know that you will soon see your Savior.
More prophesied events still need to happen that are specific, distinct and definitive in nature, and will occur at a point in time or in a narrow time frame:
10. A peace treaty will be signed between the Jews and other nations. Daniel 9:27
11. The temple will be rebuilt, and the Jews will offer sacrifices. 2 Thessalonians 2:4-5
12. The Antichrist will be revealed, desecrating the temple in Jerusalem. Matthew 24:15
13. Two witnesses will be preaching the gospel to the Jews. Revelation 11:3-11
14. The mark of the beast will be given to an unbelieving world. Revelation 13:14-17
15. Great persecution will be directed against Jews and Christians. Matthew 24:9, 21
16. Warning signs will appear in the heavens at the end of this age. Revelation 6:12-17.
All these things will be occurring in the not-too-distant future, during Daniel’s 70th week.
We live in the stage called the “beginning of birth pains.” For many Christians, life isn’t very difficult at this time, but these early labor pains will turn into hard labor pains. When we see all these events taking place, we will have increasing hope, for we know Christ’s coming is just around the corner. This hope will help us get through the pain of great tribulation. Can you imagine actually being alive during the 70th week? Yes, it will be hard, but we’ll also be hopeful, for we know it will only be a few short years before we see our Savior coming in the clouds to take us to be with Him. Luke 21:27
Can God super-accelerate these end-time events so that, in a matter of 5 to 6 years, He could send His Son to earth to rapture us, and take us to heaven? Of course He can. But when I look at these 16 different things all needing to happen, I can’t help but think that we are still years away from the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Whether it’s 10, 20, 30 years, or more, I don’t know, and no one knows, but God Himself. For now, let’s love our Lord, lay down our life and live for Him, and be looking for His return. “In a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:37
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #71 ~
As a Christian, you are journeying to the end of your physical life, when you will leave this earth and take off for heaven, or to the end of this age, when you will be raptured, and escorted to heaven by Jesus Christ. That the Jews are once again established in their land, tells us that we live in the end-times which means, that whether you die or are raptured, it won’t be long before you are glorified, and in heaven with Jesus.
I am motivated to write these posts because we live in the end-times, and because God has told us many things about these prophecy-filled years. If I lived 500 years ago, or even 150 years ago, I wouldn’t be that interested in studying prophecy and writing about it, like I do now. Why try to educate and encourage Christians, if Jews are still scattered all over the world? But 6.5 million Jews are presently living in Israel. Not only that, but over a thousand verses have been written about what will be taking place in the years leading up the rapture of the church, the wrath of God, the salvation of the Jews, and Christ’s reign on earth. And since these prophecy passages are no longer sealed and concealed, we can study and understand what God wants us to know. Daniel 12:4
Here you are, at this time in history, a follower of Jesus, a child of God, and a key part of His present and future plans; you should be excited and encouraged, working and waiting, loving God and looking for His Son’s soon return. But notice Proverbs 16:9, “Man plans his way, and the Lord directs his steps.” God wants you to plan your way, and work, carrying out your role in this end-times’ drama. But in a way that is mysterious to us, He is personally and purposely directing all the steps and details of your life. He loves you, and is wisely and strategically using you and every Christian in this world. Your life is not standing still. You are on a journey, and each day is important. You and everyone else are divinely destined, a part of God’s precise and perfect plans to help finish His work in this age, leading to that time when all believers will be in heaven with Jesus.
Do you see where you are, and where you are going? Do you see your life in light of the big picture? Do you see the birth pains taking place, that the U.S. is in decline, nations are being realigned, and that we are moving towards globalism? Can you see the anti-Semitism, the escalating sin, and that Christians are increasingly being hated? Can you see the incredible changes in technology, which make it easier to proclaim the gospel to people all over this planet, but will also make it possible for the Antichrist to force people to take his mark and worship him, and thereby, rule the world?
It’s 2018, and we are in the stage called the “beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8), and therefore, still many years away from the rapture. But as we journey on for Jesus, we will run right into Daniel’s 70th week, which is the most important and intense seven-year period in all of human history. At the beginning of this time, the desperate and deceived Jews will sign a peace treaty with the soon-to-be Antichrist, but this will be a deal with the devil. It will soon, and soberly so, be obvious that the 70th week has begun. That's because, along with this treaty, a Jewish temple will be built, there will be more wars, earthquakes and famines, as well as a need and a growing desire for a strong leader to rise up and solve the world’s increasingly complex problems. Revelation 13
Then comes one of the main events, when this Jewish temple is desolated, disgustingly laid waste by the Antichrist, and this devilish man will be revealed for who he really is. He will force people to worship his image, or else he will have them hunted down and killed. Believers will be betrayed, persecuted, and many will bravely die for Christ. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). But the Christians who aren’t martyred will know this is their time to serve the Lord Jesus. They will also have hope, for they know Christ’s return and the rapture is but one, two, or at the most, three years away. They will be looking and waiting for Him to appear in the sky, and rescue them from a most wicked world.
But back to the present, to 2018. God is laying the groundwork, setting the stage for Christ’s coming, and you and I need to get ready. I think of soldiers training for war, preparing for that time when they will be deployed, when they will be sent out to face the enemy. Yes, we are fighting the enemy now, but this end-times’ conflict with the devil’s forces will be the biggest battle we will ever encounter. “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13). We need to know what’s coming. “Let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). We are to be watchmen, and we must instruct and warn others as we see God's plan unfold before our eyes (Ezekiel 3:17, Daniel 11:33, Matthew 24:33). But for now, we journey on, knowing that our earthly pilgrimage will soon and gloriously come to an end, when we will finally and forever be with Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Hallelujah!
P.S. As you know, I am a pastor who teaches every Sunday morning. But this year, unlike the past 18, I am not teaching through a book of the Bible. I have been led by the Lord to teach on what I believe are single topics that are critically important and strategic for Christians. If you have time, I would encourage you to go to our Sermon Audio page, and ask the Lord to lead you as to what might be most needful and helpful for your life. Some of my recent messages have been on perseverance, fear, discouragement, walking with God, and good communication.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #72 ~
The Singapore Summit was a success, right? What if it eventually results in a treaty between North Korea and the United States? Will there really be a meaningful and lasting peace between the two countries, and between other countries in Southeast Asia? No, not at all! I’m not saying that what has transpired so far, or will transpire in the coming months or years, is insignificant, but it’s important for Christians to look at events like these in light of the big picture, in view of God’s end-time plans.
God has His goals, objectives and overall purposes firmly in mind. He knows exactly where He is going with this world, exactly what He wants to do, and exactly how long it's going to take to get there. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning… saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’… Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.” Isaiah 46:9-11
Not only does God know exactly what will happen, but He is sovereignly and intimately involved, micro-managing every step of the way. He is purposely and precisely making things happen. God knows all the people involved in this process, and is overseeing and working out all the duties and details of their lives. Christ is building the church, using her to preach the gospel and make disciples of all the nations. (Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19-20). God has been regathering the Jews to Israel, and is getting things in place with regards to all that needs to happen to them and through them, and particularly during Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27). He is reforming and rearranging nations, redesigning the global map so it is in line with His prophetic plans for the end-times. This is where God’s present work with North Korea and the United States fits in.
God is also preparing the way for the coming of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:6-9). He is perfectly sovereign over everything and everyone. Never forget that you are an important part of God’s plans to fulfill His eternal purposes (Ephesians 2:10). Nothing will be left to chance. There will be no accidents, mistakes or miscalculations. No activity of the devil nor work of man will ever deter, delay or defeat the plans of God. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands firm forever.” Psalm 33:10-11
Now we live in an imperfect world with imperfect leaders. As much as men may try to bring real peace, we have to realize it’s just not going to happen during this present age. They can’t do it, and that’s because “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:18). There’s injustice, wickedness, crime and corruption all over this planet. There are going to be more international conflicts and wars. There’s false teaching and phony politicians, liars and thieves, sin and Satan all seemingly having their way. Then that evil devil will bring the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness, onto the scene. People all over the world will be worshiping this man, this god; there will be sin and evil like never before; and Christians will be going through great tribulation. The ungodly will hate us, and want to hurt us and kill us like never before. Revelation 13
For this reason, we are to be patient. “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:8). For this reason, we are to keep praying, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). For this reason, we need to remember God’s word to us. “Come, behold the works of the Lord… He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth… Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us” (Psalm 46:8-11). “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne… He is highly exalted.” Psalm 47:7-9
Some of my favorite verses, with regards to God’s end-time work, are Ephesians 1:9-11. “God made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Christ with a view to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Do you see what this says? That God is in charge, that He is sovereign, that Christ is coming back, and then “every knee will bow… every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). This is God’s promise to you - this is your hope - this is your future. Jesus Christ is the Savior, Judge and King, and at the right time, He will return to earth to rapture the church, redeem the Jews, pour out His wrath, and reign over the world! Finally, there will be true peace on this earth!
P.S. If you have not read Post 31, entitled North Korea, Microchips and the Solar Eclipse, then I would encourage you to do so. Similar to this post, it explains how it is essential that we see current events in light of the big picture, in light of where God is directing things in the end times.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #73 ~
1. Every prophetic word regarding the return of Christ and the rapture of the church is true, and will be fulfilled. Jesus tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). He also says, “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). God has told us, ahead of time, everything He wants us to know about the end-times, and that's because He wants us to be instructed, to be ready, to be telling others, and to be excited about seeing His Son, Jesus.
2. Prophetically speaking, we live in the end-times, the last part of this present age before the rapture of the church. The fact that the Jews are firmly established back in their land is the reason we know we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37; Daniel 12:4, 9
3. Many things need to take place before Christ’s coming. In the years before Christ’s return and the rapture, there will be birth pains (false Christs, famines, earthquakes, and wars), the decline of the United States, the realignment of countries, a rebuilt Jewish, the coming of the Antichrist, apostasy, increasing lawlessness, great tribulation, the mark of the beast, preaching the gospel to all nations, heavenly signs, etc. Matthew 24
4. Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are not imminent. That’s because the Bible makes it clear that the aforementioned prophesied events and signs need to occur first. This means the rapture is not pre-tribulational, is not before Daniel’s 70th week, and cannot happen at any moment or time. Matthew 24:33-36, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10
5. We now live in an elongated stage called the “beginning of birth pains.” Matthew 24:4-8 tells us about these birth pains - false Christs, wars, earthquakes and famines. Luke 21:8-11 tells us about plagues occurring in various places around the world. A parallel passage, Revelation 6:1-8, also speaks about these birth pains, but includes financial problems and death. But we are only in stage one, with stage two, the latter and harder birth pains, still to come.
6. Christians are to be watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17). We are to “be alert and sober,” telling others what we know about the end-times and Christ’s coming (1 Thessalonians 5:6). We are to be “those who have insight among the people” and “give understanding to the many” (Daniel 11:33). We need to be discerning, looking for these prophesied signs, and recognizing them when they occur. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, that He is right at the door.” Matthew 24:33
7. As time goes on, it will be evident to Christians that Christ’s coming is getting closer. At this time (2018), Christ’s return and the rapture are still many years away, as many prophesied events still need to take place. Once the Antichrist is revealed (Daniel 9:27), it will be less than three years until the rapture. Hebrews 10:25 instructs you to be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
8. The rapture of the church will occur after the birth pains, after the revealing of the Antichrist, after great tribulation, after the sixth seal, after the heavenly signs, after the last trumpet, before the seventh seal, and during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, on a “day and hour no one knows.” We are to know the general time of the rapture, but we cannot know the specific time. Matthew 24:9-36, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Revelation 6-7
9. Christians alive on earth, in the years leading up to Christ’s coming, will go through great tribulation. This will be a most difficult and distressing time for Christians, for there will be increasing wickedness, worldwide apostasy, betrayal by family members, food shortages and persecution. But God will give us abundant grace, empower us to be His witnesses, and use us for His purposes and glory. Matthew 24:9-14, Luke 21:12-17
10. Christians will still be living on earth when the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. The Antichrist, possessed by the devil, will be the most evil and wicked man to ever live on the face of this earth. He will be worshiped by unbelievers, and be persecuting and killing Christians. But believers will be overcomers, victorious because of Jesus Christ and His word. Revelation 12:6-17, Revelation 13
11. Four major, life-changing, world-changing events will occur after the end of this age: the rapture of the church, God’s wrath upon the world, salvation of the Jews, and the defeat of the devil. Jesus Christ will then begin His glorious reign on earth. Revelation 6-19
12. God is sovereign over all prophesied events. Everything is going according to His perfect plans. He is working out all the details, working through Christians, rulers and countries, bringing everything and every person, to that point in time when He will send Jesus Christ back to earth. No person, no demon, and no devil, will thwart the purposes and plans of God. Isaiah 46:8-13, Psalm 33:10-12, Ephesians 1:9-11
13. Our purpose in the end-times is to be loving our Lord (Mark 12:30), loving others (John 15:17), praying (1 Peter 4:7), serving God (1 Thessalonians 1:9), encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25), preaching the gospel (Matthew 24:14), making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), and looking for Jesus’ soon return. Matthew 24:42
14. Our character in the end-times is to be holy (2 Peter 3:11), obedient (Revelation 2:26), wise (Revelation 13:18), loving (1 John 4:7), believing (Luke 18:8), persevering (Matthew 24:13), faithful (Matthew 25:23), patient (James 5:8), and waiting (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
In conclusion, be encouraged and excited by what God is doing in our time. “Do this, understanding the time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12). Be thankful that you can be part of God’s great and glorious work. Faithfully serve the Lord by using your gift. Tell believers what will be taking place in the years ahead. Warn unbelievers about the coming wrath, and share the gospel with them. Be hoping, praying, and looking for our Lord’s soon return. “‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I have just written, "Spiritual Survival Food for the Coming Tough Times," the first of a two-part article about how we can live for God, especially during Daniel's 70th week and the time of great tribulation. It focuses on the necessity of knowing, believing and obeying the word of God, with over 100 verses written out.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #74 ~
Immigration has been a huge subject in our country for quite a while now. But don’t worry, this is not a political post. I’m not going to talk about coyotes, MS-13 gangs, drug smugglers, children, human trafficking, a wall, and tell you what I think the government should do. As you know, people get way too heated, hung up, and emotionally embroiled in policy debates. I’m not saying we don’t need some good answers with regards to immigration. We do. But as Christians we need to have perspective, be calm, and stay focused on the work God wants us to do. “Do business until I come back.” Luke 19:13
Remember, you are a heavenly citizen, and are not to be worldly, but are to set your mind on things above, not on things earthly and temporary. The most important issue is not whether a person is legal or illegal in this country. It’s not what is physically happening on our border, but what is spiritually taking place in a person’s heart. The thing that matters most is that a person can be born again and enter into the kingdom of God, can cross the spiritual border and pass from death to life. John 3:1-8, John 3:16, John 5:24
So how is a person born again? How is a person forgiven of his or her sins? What is the port of entry? How does one enter a “better country”, the heavenly country? In John 10:7-9, Jesus tells us, “I say to you, I am the door of the sheep… if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,” meaning saved from sin, death and hell. This is very good news! This is what we really need to be talking about! Our #1 problem is sin and the only answer is Jesus Christ. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
Why Jesus Christ? Because either you forever pay for your own sins, or you believe Jesus did it for you when He died on the cross 2000 years ago. All you need to do is repent of your sins, and by faith, receive the provision of forgiveness offered to you by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not at all by your “good works”, but by what Christ did for you. If you have not yet turned to Christ, and trusted in Him alone for mercy, then now’s the time. “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31
But you still wonder and worry about our porous southern border. Okay, let me share some spiritual truths to help you know how God wants you to think about this:
1. Faith. You need to trust God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Know that God is sovereign, that He is in charge of this whole situation, and is working things out for all the people involved, both immigrants and citizens, both now and in the future. I think of a related story, the Islamification of most of Europe, a much bigger immigration problem than what we have here. Don’t you think God knows what He’s doing over there? This too, relates to having faith in Him and in His end-time purposes, and in particular, that He is presently remaking and realigning those countries. (Daniel 2:36-45). But no matter what happens in the years ahead, whether in this country or around the world, you need to be still, to trust God, and know that He “works all things after the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:9-11
2. Hope. “He was looking for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God… But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:10, 16). The main message of Hebrews 11 is hope, faith in God for the future, for the saints of old were desiring and looking forward to a better country. This heavenly country they were longing for, and that we ought to long for, is infinitely better than the United States ever was or ever will be. As Christians, “we are strangers and exiles on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Our real hope, and what we can be certain of, is that we will be in our heavenly home some day (John 14:1-3). Let’s pray for all people, including those wanting to come to this country, that God saves their souls, and gives them true hope, a deep longing to be with Jesus in a heavenly home. Hebrews 12:22-24, 1 Peter 1:3-5
3. Love. Your primary purpose in life is to love God and people. It’s not to persuade people with regards to political issues. Whether it’s people in your family, at work, or on the border, you need to see their souls, not their age, their sex, their skin color, their nationality, or their political party. People are distressed, discouraged, and hurting inside, and God wants you to have compassion on them, knowing their greatest need is forgiveness, is being a child of God, is having a heavenly Father. When I hear of close to 300 children crossing the border per day, then it makes sense that we pray for their safety, welfare, and salvation. “Do not hinder the children from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Faith, hope and love. That’s it. 1. Faith - trust God for this whole immigration problem. Pray for His kingdom to come, for people to be saved, and to enter into the “better country.” 2. Hope - look forward to being with Jesus and with one another in your heavenly home. 3. Love – have a heart of compassion, forgiveness and kindness for everyone, both saved and lost, people here and people there. This is how you will make a real difference in peoples’ lives, be blessed forever, and give glory to God. Psalm 104:47-48
P.S. This post, in essence, is about the gospel, the most important message of all. Two other posts that also talk about this saving message of Christ are "The Resurrection and Rapture of the Believers," and "The Most Important Thing for You."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #75 ~
People look forward to birthdays, weddings, graduations, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and that’s good. But as Christians, it’s most important that we look forward to being with Jesus, our Lord, Savior and Friend. And since the Jews are back in their land, we know it won’t be long before we will see Him come back in the clouds. What a day that will be, the best day of our lives, for this age will be over, and we will be rocketing off this planet to be with Him. Over 100 verses describe Christ’s second coming, which means it’s vital that we understand it, especially in these days (Mark 13:23). Here are some verses that will help you know what’s going to happen when Christ returns:
* Matthew 24:3, 33 – “When will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? …when you see all these things, recognize He is near, right at the door.” Many signs will take place before Christ’s coming and the rapture.
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” Jesus Christ will not come back secretly or quietly. The whole earth will know that He has returned.
* Luke 21:27 – “They will see the son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Christ’s return will be visible, demonstrating His great power and great glory.
* Mark 13:27 – “He will send forth His angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.” All believers from all time, past and present, will be gathered together to be with Jesus.
* John 14:3 – “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus Christ is coming to take you home.
* 1 Peter 1:13 – “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Put your hope in Jesus; be looking forward to seeing Him.
* 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17 – “… that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord… 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.” The rapture takes place at Christ’s coming, and is one of the first events to occur at His coming.
* 1 Corinthians 15:23, 51-52 – “…Christ, the first fruits, after that, those who are Christ’s at His coming… we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable.” All believers will be glorified, will be perfected at Christ’s coming.
* James 5:7-8 – “You too be patient, strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” It’s important to be patient while waiting for the return of our Lord.
* Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming soon.” Christ is coming back very, very soon.
* Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will perfect it on the day of Christ Jesus.” Your salvation will be completed at Christ’s coming, for then you will be glorified.
* 1 John 3:2 - "When He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is." How special and intimate this will be, for when Jesus returns, you will be with Him, and see Him face to face.
* Acts 16:32 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” If you are not yet saved, don’t wait, or it will be too late. Repent of your sins, and believe that Jesus Christ died for you, paying for your sins, and then rose again. John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9
* Psalm 98:8-9 – “The Lord is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity." God will pour out His wrath on the unbelievers and the nations of the world. This will be a most holy and sobering time.
* 2 Thessalonians 2:8 – “Then 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.” At His coming, Jesus Christ will soundly defeat and destroy the Antichrist.
* Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever.” Jesus Christ is coming back to rule the world.
It’s hard to believe the end of the age is almost here, and that Christ will return to earth, but it’s true. How then should you live? Do not be sleeping or sinning. Be awake and alert (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8). Be loving God (Mark 12:30). Be holy (2 Peter 3:11-13). Have faith. (Luke 18:8). Be working (Luke 19:13). Be encouraging the saints (Hebrews 10:25). Be sharing the gospel (Matthew 24:14). Be making disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20). Be praying for the coming of Christ’s kingdom (Matthew 6:9-10). Be excited about seeing Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:10). And soon enough you will see Jesus, and your life will dramatically, wonderfully, and eternally change, for you will be with Him, the enemy will be judged, the Jews will be saved, and He will begin His glorious reign on earth. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.” Revelation 22:20-21
P.S. Here are two other instructive and encouraging articles about the coming of Christ, Over 100 New Testament Verses on Christ's Second Coming, and Thirty Important Truths about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #76 ~
Some things about the future aren’t clear at all, and other things, like when the rapture takes place, are as plain as day. You see, God wants us to have clarity as to the timing of Christ’s coming and the rapture, and not be naïve, confused, or in error. As I have said before, we do not know the exact time of Christ’s coming and the rapture, but we are to know the general time (Matthew 24:32-36). That’s because the Father wants us to be excitedly looking forward to seeing and being with His Son.
There are two things we need to know to determine the timing of the rapture. The first is realizing that the rapture takes place at the coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 says, “we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord.” This means Christians will be alive on earth at the coming of Christ. Then verse 17, referring back to verse 15, says we “who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” By putting these two verses together, we understand that the Christians will be caught up, will be raptured (vs 17) at Christ’s coming (vs 15).
2 Thessalonians 2:1 confirms this point, for we read, “with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.” It is at the coming of Christ that believers are being caught up (raptured) from the earth, and will be gathered together with believers who have already gone to heaven, and will “meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 says, “those who are Christ’s at His coming” will be resurrected (glorified). Those who are glorified includes those who are raptured. Therefore, we must conclude that the rapture of the church takes place at the coming of Christ, and is, in fact, the first event to take place at His coming.
The second thing we need to know is when Christ’s coming and the rapture take place in the sequence of end-time events. By studying prophecy passages we find the answer to this question. When you examine Matthew 24, you discover that the coming of Christ is spoken of in verse 30 - “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky.” Then verse 31 speaks about the gathering of all the believers, which includes the rapture of the Christians. “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
Look at Luke 21. Verse 27 says, “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud…” That’s Christ’s coming, and in verse 28 we read that the Christians are redeemed, delivered from the earth which, of course, occurs at the rapture. 2 Thessalonians 2:1, as I have already said, is a rapture verse. Revelation 7 talks about a great multitude of believers who have just come out of the great tribulation on earth (vs 14), and they are assembled in heaven, standing and celebrating before the Lamb, before Christ Himself (vs 9). This multitude is, no doubt, speaking of the raptured believers.
Knowing where Christ’s coming and the rapture takes place in the context of Scripture enables us to see where they take place in the chronology of end time events. And what do we learn? Matthew 24:3-31 tells us that the rapture takes place after the birth pains, after the abomination of desolation, after great tribulation, after the gospel is preached to the world, and after the signs in the heavens. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 says the rapture occurs after the building of the temple, after the coming of the Antichrist, and after the apostasy. Revelation 6-7 substantiates this same order of events. The fact that the rapture is seen in Revelation 7, means believers are rescued from this earth before God’s wrath is poured out upon unbelievers, which is described in Revelation 8-9.
These prophecy passages clearly tell us where in the sequence of end time events that the rapture takes place. By looking at these passages, it’s obvious that the rapture is not imminent and cannot happen at any time, for many events still need to take place before we fly off this earth to be with Jesus Christ. There’s one more thing you need to know about the timing of the rapture. Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 says Christ’s coming occurs after he is revealed. Therefore, we must conclude that the rapture takes place sometime during the 2nd half of that week, that seven-year time period.
In the near future, millions and millions of Christians will be living at the time of Daniel’s 70th week, serving the Lord, and experiencing great tribulation. You and your family may be among them. That’s why it’s so important for you to know when the rapture takes place in the whole sequence of end-time events. As time goes on, you will be seeing and hearing that these prophesied events are taking place, giving you an even greater confidence that Christ’s return and the rapture are getting closer and closer. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door” (Matthew 24:33). Yes, life will be extremely difficult during those tribulation days, but remember that the Holy Spirit will be with you until the end of the age, and then you will, for the first time, see your loving Savior face to face. “Do not let your heart be troubled… I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be.” John 14:1-3
P.S. Over 2500 years ago there was this question in Daniel 12:6 - "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?" People are still asking this question today, and God gives us the answer, not specifically, but in general. That's why I have written other posts similar to this one, to help you know what God wants you to know, especially in these days of the end times. If you haven't already, I would encourage you to read these two related posts - The Timing of the Rapture, and The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #77 ~
Do you ever wonder what Jesus is thinking about, what’s on His mind? Millions of things I’m sure, but there is no doubt He is thinking about coming back to earth. There will come a time, not long from now, when Jesus Christ will suddenly return and interrupt all our earthly plans, and everything will gloriously change. I have recently written posts on when Christ is coming back, and what is going to happen when He does, but why is He coming back? Why will Jesus Christ soon leave heaven and come back to this world?
Why? The most important reason is that Jesus loves His Father, and wants to please Him by fully carrying out all His plans for this world. “The world must learn that I love the Father, and that I do exactly as the Father commanded me.” John 14:31
Why? For the church. Jesus Christ loves her and cannot wait to see her. She is His bride, and He wants to come and get her so she can be with Him, and can in a much greater way, see His glory and know His wonderful love. At the end of this age, Jesus Christ will return to rapture all the Christians on earth. Immediately they will be gathered together with believers who have already died, and then taken to be with Him. “I desire that they also… be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me.” John 17:24
Why? God’s character demands it. One of the primary themes in the book of Revelation is the holiness of God. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8). God’s holiness and justice cannot be ignored or compromised. God cannot just let evil go – it must be punished. Once the church is rescued from this earth, and is safe in heaven with Christ, then God will pour out His deserved and devastating wrath on this wicked world. Revelation 8-9, 16
Why? For the Jews. Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies tell us that God will bring the Jews back to the land of Israel, redeem a remnant of them, and then fulfill His promises to them during the millennial kingdom. With regards to the Jews, His chosen people, God will not go back on His promises, and they, along with the glorified believers, will be assisting Jesus Christ in His reign over the world. “The counsel of the Lord stands firm forever… Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12
Why? To defeat the Antichrist, and to silence Satan. At His first coming, Jesus Christ disarmed the devilish rulers and authorities, but the outworking of that victory has been seen throughout the years, and particularly so at His second coming when the Antichrist will be thrown into the lake of fire, and Satan will be imprisoned for 1000 years. “The beast was seized, and with him the false prophet… these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire” (Revelation 19:20). “He (the angel) laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:2
Why? To take this world back from Satan. Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, we have been living in a world that lies in the power of the evil one. The effects of his rule during this age, the wickedness and corruption covering this planet, has been clearly seen. But this evil will end, for Christ will come back, regain what is rightfully His, and begin His glorious reign. Then there will be peace on earth. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of he Lord.” Habakkuk 2:14
Why? So that you will be glorified, so your salvation will be made complete. Your present earthly body is sin-prone, weak and mortal, but at Christ’s return, you will receive a brand new and perfect body, one that is powerful, immortal and spiritual, one like His. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Jesus.” 1 John 3:2
Why? So God and Christ will be glorified. For the “summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:11). “So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Indeed, Jesus Christ will be “a great King over all the earth… God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:2, 8
I am so glad Jesus Christ is coming back to earth! I am excited He is coming back! I can’t wait to see Him! It will be the best thing for the world and the best thing for believers. But sadly, many people don’t even think about this. They are sleeping, and are loving this world, but are not loving God and looking forward to His Son’s return. But whether they know it or not, Christ is coming back. He has promised it, and He has planned it. His character demands it, and His word guarantees it. There is nothing in this whole world that can stop Christ from coming back, for you and for me, and for the purposes and glory of God. “‘Behold, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I have published a new article describing the special kind of person God wants us to be in the end times, Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Spiritual Forces. But I want to also encourage you to read an older article that expands on this present post, giving you many more details on why Jesus is coming back to earth.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #78 ~
The most wicked and evil man ever, one called the Antichrist, will soon be ruling this world. There’s a whole lot in the Bible about this godless man, which means he’s an important subject, especially for the church, for she will still be on earth during his devilish rule. What does the Bible tell us about this end-times’ “antichrist” (1 John 2:18), this “Beast” (Revelation 13:3-8), this “man of lawlessness?” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10
It tells us about his purpose. The desire of the Antichrist is to carry out the work of that murdering devil. This beast of a man will rule the world, bring a pseudo-peace, blaspheme God and Christ, persecute Jews and Christians, and be worshiped by unbelievers. The world will, being greatly deceived, will love this most hateful man. Revelation 13:4, 8
It tells us about his power. Revelation 13:2 says, “the dragon gave him his power and throne and great authority.” The Antichrist will seemingly be raised from the dead, and be possessed by Satan, whose goal is for him to usurp the rightful rule of Christ. Be assured that our sovereign God is in control, and will use the Antichrist to “execute His purpose… until the words of God will be fulfilled.” Revelation 19:17
It tells us about his authority. “Authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation was given to him” (Revelation 13:7). This evil impostor will be the head of a one-world religion, for “the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast” (Revelation 13:3). He will be commander of the military, for no one is able “to wage war with him” (Revelation 13:4). He will control the economy, for “no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark… of the beast.” Revelation 13:17
It tells us about his character. This Antichrist will be the most vile, lawless, corrupt, perverted and God-hating man this world has ever seen. He will be super-proud, boastful, smooth-talking and mesmerizing, a devil of a man. “He will be insolent and skilled in intrigue… and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree.” Daniel 8:23-24
It tells us about his partner. There’s another beast, another extremely wicked man, a false prophet who is teamed up with the Antichrist. This second beast will “exercise all the authority of the first beast,” and will make those who “dwell on the earth to worship the first beast.” He will “perform great signs,” and will cause most of the unbelievers to take the mark of the beast, the mark of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:11-17
It tells us about his persecution of the church. The rapture of the church occurs at Christ’s coming, which takes place after the coming of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8-9). Therefore, the church will be on earth during the rule of the Antichrist, and be greatly persecuted by this most powerful pawn of the devil. If you are alive at that time, you will know that he “makes war against the saints” (Revelation 13:7). The evil forces aligned with him “will deliver you (Christians) to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). But don’t be afraid, for “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). And remember, Jesus Christ will be “with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
It tells us about his time on earth. At the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27), this coming Antichrist will confirm a peace treaty with Israel. He will then take control of ten kingdoms, his power base by which he will rule the world. In Jerusalem, at the midpoint of this 70th week, he will be revealed to all as the Antichrist, the one “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, displaying himself as being God.” This is the “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15), for the Antichrist desecrates the very temple of God. There was given to him “authority to act for 42 months” (Revelation 13:5), the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week. But during that 70th week, at a time unknown to us, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, will return. He will rapture the Christians, and then pour out His wrath upon the world, resulting in the Antichrist’s authority being greatly diminished. Shortly after the end of Daniel’s 70th week, at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:20), the Antichrist and the other beast will be seized, and “thrown alive into the lake of fire.” They will get what they deserve, for they will forever be “tormented with fire and brimstone.” Revelation 14:10
I believe millions and millions of Christians will be alive on earth during this short reign of the Antichrist. If you are one of those chosen by God to be here at that time, see it as a great privilege and opportunity to be part of His special forces. Pray for Christ's kingdom to come. Share the gospel. Encourage the saints. Live for Him, and be willing to die for Him. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Yes, there will be this great struggle against the “world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness” but we have God's promise: “They (Christians) overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Finally, “be looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13
P.S. As you know, the subject of the Antichrist is a very important one for the Christian to understand. That's why I have already written a shorter post, The Antichrist is Coming Soon, and It's Before the Coming of Christ, and a longer and more comprehensive article, The Coming of the Antichrist, the Devil's Man on Earth. When you get time, I encourage you to sit down and read them.
P.S.S That "blood moon" taking place today (7/27/2018) has nothing to do with the signs in the heavens, spoken of in Matthew 24:29. That's because the cosmic disturbances described in that verse (also in Revelation 6:12-14), will be occurring after the Antichrist is revealed, which takes place at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week. Read What Needs to Happen Before Christ's Return (Post 70).
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #79 ~
As Christians, we need to study the subject of prophecy so we can learn what God is telling us about the future He has for us. Understanding what God’s word says about the end-times will enable us to more clearly see where things are going in the world, how everything is leading to the coming of the Antichrist, and to the coming of Christ. Know also that God’s work with the Jews in these days is in conjunction with His work with the church (Matthew 24:9-27). Let me explain.
Matthew 24:4-8 and Revelation 6:3-8 tell us that we will be hearing about these global “birth pains,” wars, earthquakes, famines and financial troubles, occurring in various parts of the world. As these “pains” get harder, people will be greatly distressed, wanting some relief, some peace, and yes, for some kind of a savior to help solve these problems.
What else will be happening? People will increasingly be rebelling against God and earthly authorities (parents, policemen, politicians and pastors). Sinners will be more depraved in their thinking, and therefore more evil, lawless and unloving. Their outright hate for truth, for righteousness and for Christians, will be obvious. The time will come when God will send a deluding influence upon these truth-rejecting sinners, and they will go from being bad to being wicked. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-13). There will be a marked polarization between Christians and non-Christians, and there will be persecution.
What about the Jews? For the past 140 years, God has been gathering them back to their land. Their present population is 6.5 million, and growing. But Antisemitism, this vehement hate for the Jews, is growing as well, and it won’t be long before they will be desperate for peace. Then at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, this coming Antichrist will help broker a peace treaty with Israel and other nations (Daniel 9:27). But these Jews will be deceived, for they will be making a deal with the devil.
During the first half of Daniel’s 70 week, these birth pains will be growing in intensity and frequency. Unbelievers will be united in their hate for both Jews and Christians. A Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem. People will be wanting a one-world order, and with that, a one-world leader to bring peace. Conditions will be ripe for someone sharp, smart, proven and strong, to rise up and become ruler of the world. This is all part of God’s predetermined plan, and He will make sure this coming leader, groomed by Satan himself, will be increasing in power and popularity. When he is seemingly raised from the dead, he will become more famous than ever. "The whole world was amazed and followed after the beast." Revelation 13:3
At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the 3½ year mark, this coming world ruler will be clearly revealed, for he will desecrate the temple in Jerusalem, and set himself up as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9). Unbelievers will acclaim him as their new leader, and greatly love him. Believers, sobered, but not surprised by what has taken place, will know he is the Antichrist, and pray for the coming of Christ. The Jews will see this God-hating man as their worst enemy, and run for the hills. Matthew 24:15-20
This Antichrist is so proud, for his devilish dream has come true, and he can finally rule the world. What else happens? This beast of a man, being possessed by Satan, has great power and authority. Satan then raises up another beast, the false prophet, who as the Antichrist’s partner and promoter, performs great signs, further deceiving the people on earth. This second beast also causes unbelievers to worship the Antichrist by having them worship his image. He makes them take the mark of the beast, which is the means by which they can do business and live (Revelation 13:11-18). The fact that the Antichrist also has super-advanced, communication and surveillance systems in place, helps to make it all possible. The result is that the Antichrist will control the world - he will be in charge of the military, religion and the economy (Revelation 13:7, 15, 18). This Antichrist, this most evil beast, this wicked and lawless dictator, loves having power, loves being worshiped by the world, but hates the Christians and the Jews.
The Antichrist will chase after a remnant of Jews, but they will escape (Revelation 12:13-16), and later be saved (Romans 11:26-27). Then he will pursue Christians, persecuting and killing them. “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9, 21). Some Christians will die or be martyred, but the rest will endure to the end of this age. Then Jesus Christ, our victorious Savior and King, will return in the clouds, and triumphantly rescue and rapture His bride. “Behold, a great multitude which no one could count… standing before the throne and before the Lamb… and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” Revelation 7:9-10
Jesus Christ will then punish this wicked world, and cast that devilish Antichrist and his evil partner into the lake of fire. “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. This post relates directly to last week's post on the Antichrist. If you haven't read that one, then you need to, for it will help give you a much better picture of the Antichrist to come. One other thing that is important for you to know and understand are the Key Terms, a glossary of 50 prophecy terms and their meanings.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #80 ~
In this day and age, the mark of the beast is a popular subject. It's talked about in movies and YouTube videos, and written about in prophecy publications. Sad to say, there’s a lot of confusion and error on this topic, but the Bible tells us the truth. The Antichrist will soon rule over the entire earth, his goal being a one-world order, a one-world religion, a one-world government, a one-world military, a one-world economy, and this “mark” will be one of the primary means by which he will control the world. Revelation 13:16-17 tells us, “He (the Antichrist) causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Here are a number of things you need to know about the mark of the beast:
1. Having the mark of the beast is the only way a person will be able to openly and publicly buy, sell and do business when the Antichrist is ruling this earth. Revelation 13:16-17
2. This mark could be a stamp, a seal, an image, a microchip or a transponder. It will be specifically related to the name or number (666) of the beast, the Antichrist. Revelation 13:18
3. People will be receiving this mark of the beast after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, when this beast, the Antichrist, and a second beast, are in power. Revelation 13:5, 11
4. A Christian cannot and will not take the mark of the beast, for he or she is a child of God, and the Holy Spirit will not let any believer take this mark of the devil. Ephesians 1:13-14
5. Only unbelievers will take the mark of this beast. Revelation 14:9-11
6. Not all unbelievers will receive the mark of the beast, for some of them will be saved during what is called the great tribulation. There will also be a remnant of Jews who will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Matthew 24:9-27, Revelation 12:13-17
7. People taking the mark of the beast won’t be making some naïve, unintended or careless decision. Though deceived, these unbelievers will know what they are doing, and will be agreeing with the Antichrist, his beliefs, his rule, and his purpose for this mark. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11
8. Taking the mark of the beast is not just a financial decision, but is also a spiritual one. The person receiving the mark is pledging allegiance to the Antichrist, and is putting his faith in this evil, despicable and devilish man. “They worshiped the beast.” Revelation 13:4
9. Unbelievers taking the mark of the beast cannot reverse their decision. Once marked, their future is set, for they will forever be punished in the lake of fire. “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wrath of God… and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9-11
We now live in the end-times, and when you look at the state of the world, you realize that we are rapidly moving towards that time when this mark of the beast will be a reality. For 100 years we have heard that leaders and countries are pushing for a one-world order and this global economy. You see it with the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and the International Money Fund. This desire for globalism, that the desires of the world supersede the desires of the nations, is only going to increase in the years ahead. There will be more open borders, less autonomy, and more interdependence with regards to the countries of the world. And on a personal level, people want their bank accounts to be more secure, and their financial transactions to be simpler and safer.
What in the world is going to happen? A sophisticated system will soon be in place for the Antichrist and his partner to manage this global economy, utilizing the mark of the beast. Governing the whole world, having a universal monetary system, and overseeing billions of financial transactions, will require an ingenious and complex technology. We now live in an electronic information age, with smart phones, supercomputers, massive servers, microchips, the internet, and the ability to store, process and transfer mega amounts of data. We are beginning to see how this mark of the beast will be a key component in tomorrow’s world. In fact, it is routine for pets to get implanted microchips, and now it’s beginning to happen with people. In Sweden, many individuals receive surgically inserted microchips for their business dealings and other activities (Washington Post – 4/4/2017). In the near future we will be a cashless and checkless society, our credit and debit cards will be gone, and the technology to implement the mark of the beast will be fully developed and operational.
Now is the time to tell unbelievers the truth about the mark of the beast, and more importantly, about salvation and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. As for you and your family, know that the Lord will take care of you. Be seeking His kingdom, and be praying, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:10-11). “This calls for perseverance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Him.” Revelation 14:12
P.S. There is no doubt that living during the time when the Antichrist is ruling the world will be extremely difficult. I encourage you to read this article, The Father's Love For His Children, for this is what you will need to know and remember more than anything else.
P.P.S. Just a reminder ~ if you would like to be notified, via email, of the latest blog post, just go to the top of the home page and put your email address in the "subscribe" area and click on the subscribe button!
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #81 ~
Life is not easy, and you know that. You have personal problems, job stresses, health issues, physical pain, relational conflicts, temptations, financial difficulties, pressures from the world, children to raise, trials, extreme trials, family disputes, church problems, concerns for others, the storms of life, and an adversary who hates you. Then you read this blog post about the end times, about birth pains, the Antichrist, persecution, and great difficulties in the days ahead, and you wonder how you are going to make it.
The answer is always God. As a Christian, you have the grace, power and strength of God; you have the love, kindness and mercy of Jesus Christ; and you have fellowship, a close relationship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14). You have a church family and good friends. You have a God-given future, His perfect plans for your life. You also have the promises of God, and this is what I want to talk about today. These promises are not just optional features, spiritual add-ons. They are essential - you need them so you can fully experience the glorious life God has for you.
God’s promises are in His Word, and they are personal, from God to you. These promises bring God into the picture, into your life, and speak of what He will do for you. “God has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them, you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” (2 Peter 1:4). Unbelievers lust after things that have no value, and are very harmful. But as a Christian, you are to trust God’s promises, for they are a primary means by which you can receive what is truly good. They are His guarantee of His grace for you, for today, for the near future, and for the far-distant future. Promises give you hope, a hope in your heart, a confidence of God’s gracious working in your life, in the church, in this age, and in the ages to come.
These promises help you to be holy, motivate you to do what is right, encourage you to endure, sustain you when you are tired, and enable you to get through the tough times of life. Hebrews 11 tells us that promises were one of the main ways the saints of old kept going for God. They believed what God said about His future plans for them. Consider Moses’ example: “By faith Moses… choosing rather to endure ill-treatment along with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). It was God’s promises that kept Moses going through that dangerous desert with those difficult Jews for those forty years. Psalm 136:16
What are some of God’s promises? Psalm 32:8 – “I will lead you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Romans 8:28 – “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 – “Momentary light affliction is producing for you an eternal weight of glory.” John 14:3 – “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be.” Psalm 23:6 – “Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 2 Timothy 4:18 – “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.” Philippians 4:19 – “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 27:5 – “In the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling.” Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me will find Me.” Jude 24-25 – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy.” Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming soon!” These are some of my favorite promises. Take these and find others, and get them in your head and in your heart. Believe them, and hang on to them, for they will help you to know God, and the love, joy, peace, and purpose that He has for you.
You can’t live without God, and you can’t live without His promises, these guarantees of God’s grace for your life. In all things and at all times, they will stir up your spirit, and strengthen your soul. They will enable you to keep going, to keep fighting until you die or are raptured, and are with the Lord in heaven. Unlike men, God will not fail you or forget you. He will be faithful to keep all His promises. 1 Corinthians 1:8 – “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
P.S. An article that directly relates to this post is "You Have to Have Hope," for without God's promises you can't have hope. As you probably know, I love lists of verses, and my all-time favorite one is found in the article, "Encouraging Verses that Express the Love, Grace and Peace of God." This last article contains over 100 different truths and promises that, I guarantee you, will help you live the life God has for you.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #82 ~
You have seen the movies and read the books where the bad guys appear to be winning. They have locked up the good guys, taken control of the city, or hijacked the airplane, and things aren’t looking good. But these are just stories. When the Antichrist appears and takes over the world, it won’t be just a story, it will really happen. Truly, this will be a dark time in history, for the devil and his people will seem to be winning. Let me tell you what you need to know about unrepentant unbelievers in the end-times. They will be:
Unloving. Matthew 24:12 - “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” In the end times, unbelievers will be increasingly lawless. They will be unloving, unholy, arrogant, lovers of self, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4). We live in an evil age, and it’s going to get a lot, lot worse in the last few years before the return of Christ. But as Christians, we will be the light of the world.
Worshiping Satan. Revelation 13:4 - “They worshiped the dragon (Satan), and they worshiped the beast (Antichrist).” Unbelievers will hear about this man rising from the dead; they will see this 2nd beast perform great signs; and they will be amazed, in awe, and worship this man, this 1st beast, and also worship the devil himself. But believers will be loving God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Mark 12:30
Taking the mark. Revelation 13:16 - “He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.” Most unbelievers will take this mark of the beast, with the result that they will be able to openly buy or sell, do business, go shopping, or go out to eat.
Deceived and deluded. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 – “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” Sinners will hate the truth, but will love their evil and wicked ways. Therefore, God will cause them to be deceived all the more, resulting in a rapid and dramatic increase in the depravity of the world.
Mocking Christians. 2 Peter 3:3-6 - “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’… But by His word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” During the Antichrist’s rule, unbelievers will be mocking, taunting, ridiculing, and making fun of the Christians.
Hating and killing. Matthew 24:9 - “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” After the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, most unbelievers will see the Christians as a terrible menace, a harmful blight to the world. Non-Christians will be emboldened and impassioned in their hate for Christians, so much so that they will want to kill them, to rid the earth of them. “An hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think he is offering service to God.” John 16:2
Betraying family members. Luke 21:16 - “You will be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” Many unbelievers will turn against their own family members, those who are Christians, and turn them in to the authorities, and some of these will be killed. Without a doubt, this will be one of the saddest and hardest things for Christians to go through in the end-times. “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37
Eating and drinking. Luke 17:28 - “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: They were eating and drinking, they were buying and selling, they were planting and building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.” There will be a pseudo-peace on earth during the Antichrist’s rule, and unbelievers will be happy, living like everything is just fine. But they will be so deceived, and will be shocked and scared when they see the sudden return of Christ.
Doomed. Revelation 6:12-17 - “There was a great earthquake… the stars of the sky fell to the earth… the sky was split apart like a scroll… and the kings… and the great men… and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves… for the great day of God’s wrath has come.” Great signs in the heavens and on the earth will signal the end of this age and the return of Christ. Just after the rapture, the day of the Lord will come, and unbelievers will be doomed, eternally damned by God.
Punished in hell. Revelation 14:9-10 - “He will be tormented with fire and brimstone… and the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.” Those who receive the mark of the beast will go to hell, and later be cast into the lake of fire, where they will be punished forever (Revelation 20:15). This will be the sad, but righteous, reality for the unrepentant, Christ-hating, Christian-hating unbeliever.
You need to know the truth about unrepentant unbelievers in the end-times, especially if you are alive during the rule of the Antichrist. These last few years before the coming of Christ will prove to be a great opportunity to serve the Lord, love your enemies, and share the gospel with them, with the result that some unbelievers will repent of their sins, and be saved. Don’t forget, God will give you all the grace and peace you need. And remember, God is completely in charge, for He is the sovereign Ruler. “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 2:20
P.S. Clearly, Christians will go through some very difficult trials in the end-times, and therefore, it is essential that we understand what God's word tells us about them. A very comprehensive summary of God's purposes for our trials is given in the article, A Biblical Perspective on the Trials of Life. I'll mention one more article that is very encouraging: Keep Yourself in the Love of God.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #83 ~
You can’t understand end-times’ prophecy unless you understand God’s working with the Jews. I believe you know their story, one that started about 4000 years ago with God promising Abraham a nation, land, and great blessing. This Jewish nation (Israel) was born in Egypt, and grew up and remained there for 400 years. Led by Moses, she miraculously escaped out of Egypt, and then was sovereignly stuck in the desert for 40 years. Finally, around 1400 BC, with Joshua leading the way, she entered and settled in the land God had promised her. Genesis 12:1-2, 13:14-17; Exodus; Joshua; Acts 7
Once in her land, instead of being a witness of God’s glory to the world, Israel began adopting the sinful customs of neighboring nations. Led by judges, God continued to show His mercy, but did not hesitate in disciplining her for her sin. Israel’s best years were from 1010 BC to 930 BC, when David and Solomon were kings, and the whole world saw how God wonderfully blessed her. But she quickly went downhill, seen in her sinful and shameful idolatry. The nation split into two parts, Israel and Judah, which were led by kings, both good and bad. From around 860 BC to 600 BC, God-appointed prophets preached repentance, judgment and hope to the proud Jewish people, and during this entire period, God was amazingly patient with them. The time came when God had no choice but to punish them, resulting in the death of many Jews, with most of the rest being exiled to godless nations. Judges, 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Ezekiel
During this time of exile, Daniel the prophet, who had been taken to Babylon, recorded some incredible God-given visions about the far-distant future of Israel, the end-times. Then after 70 years, the Jews began to return to Israel, resettling their land. But God’s promises to the Jews about their future glory were not fulfilled at that time. Daniel, Ezra, Haggai
God’s grand and glorious plans for His people were still unfolding. Most importantly, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. This was His first coming, when He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, raised up disciples, died on a cross to pay for sins, and then rose from the dead. On earth for only 33 years, Jesus’ work was finished, and He went back to His Father in heaven. This began the church age with large numbers of Jews and Gentiles were being saved. But it wasn’t long before God’s promised judgment of the Christ-rejecting Jews took place. Around 70 AD, Jerusalem was destroyed, and close to a million Jews were either killed or scattered around the world. God’s plans for the Jews were suspended for a long time, but His plans for the church were continually being carried out. Matthew, John, Luke 21:20-24, Ephesians
What happened to the Jews? Many people said the Jews, because they had killed Christ, had forfeited their God-given promises. But God doesn’t lie, and He didn’t change His mind. Over 1800 years later, in the late 1800’s, God began regathering the Jews. With their religion, culture and language still intact, they started returning, coming back from all over the world, and resettling in their land. In the 1940’s, through that mad-man Hitler, came Satan’s slaughter of close to 6 million Jews. But in 1948, God used that massive and senseless killing to move world leaders to allow the Jews to once again be recognized as a nation. Since then, there have been many more wars, increasing anti-Semitism, and treaties too. By God’s grace, the Jews have defended their land and continued to grow. In fact, in 1967, the Jews took control of Jerusalem, a dream come true. In the eyes of the world, Israel was becoming a very prosperous nation. Ezekiel 36-37
Now in 2018, with Jews numbering 6.5 million in Israel, God continues to carry out His end-time plans. Not long from now, at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, the Jews will sign a treaty, but it will be a bad deal, a deal with the devil. Yes, they will offer sacrifices in their newly-built temple, but these will come to a sudden stop when the Antichrist, showing his devilish colors, is revealed, and desolates the temple. This beast of a man, this enraged Antichrist, will go chasing after the Jews, but many will escape to a safe and God-protected place. The great tribulation affecting the Jews will then be directed at the Christians. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:9-26, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5
Soon there will be the second coming of Christ. The first event will be the rapture, the physical redemption of Christians, when they are suddenly taken from earth, gloriously transformed, and immediately brought to Christ. Right after that, the day of the Lord begins, God’s punishment of sinners still living on earth. This first phase of God’s wrath will be finished at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, at which time Christ returns to redeem the surviving remnant of Jews, this being a spiritual redemption, the salvation of their souls. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, Revelation 7-9, Isaiah 45:17, Romans 11:25-27
The second phase of God’s devastating and deserved wrath will then be poured out upon the Antichrist’s kingdom, the enemies of the Jews. Then begins the millennial kingdom, a time when the Jews will repopulate the world, and aided by glorified Christians, will help Jesus Christ reign over the world for 1000 years. A most glorious and magnificent period this will be, for God’s promises to the Jews will be fulfilled, Christ will be perfectly, lovingly and powerfully ruling, and there will be peace on earth. Psalm 67:3,4,7 - “Let the peoples praise You, O God... Let the nations be glad and sing for joy… God blesses us (Jews), that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” Psalm 47, Psalm 72
P.S. As I have said, understanding God's working with the Jews is so important for you to be able to clearly understand end-times prophecy and God's working with the church. I would encourage you to read or review Post 19, A Short Summary of God's Working with the Jews, as well as Article 8, 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 #84 ~
There is a God-promised, God-glorifying future for the Jews. Revelation 12 is a key passage confirming this, for it summarizes God’s work with the Jews throughout their history. This chapter takes us from the birth of the Jews to the birth of Jesus, skips the church age, and then focuses on the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. In spite of Satan’s continual attacks against the Jews for over 4,000 years, God has consistently enabled them to get the victory. When we see the big picture of God’s working with the Jews, we must conclude that they are not losers, but winners, for God has, and will, fulfill His wonderful plans for them. Psalm 33:10-12
Revelation 12 starts with signs, the first being that of a woman, and she is not Mary, nor the church, but rather, is representing Israel and her twelve tribes (Genesis 37:1-11). The woman’s primary purpose was to give birth to Jesus, to bring Him into the world, but it was hard labor, a long 2000-year battle with the forces of darkness.
These evil forces are described in the next sign, that of a dragon (Revelation 12:3-4), and this is the Jew-hating devil who, with the help of 1/3 of the spirits, does all he can to devour the woman’s child, to thwart the Jews and abort the birth of Jesus. We see that Satan works through eight beast empires, the crowns on 7 heads referring to 7 devilish kingdoms who, in the past, have been opposing and oppressing the Jews: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and I believe, Hitler’s third Reich. All this is leading to the future and final ten-horned 8th kingdom, one ruled by the Antichrist.
The 6th kingdom, the Roman empire, led by Herod and Satan, was not able to stop Israel from giving birth to Jesus, and also failed in her devilish scheme to kill Him by murdering little baby boys. The first 2000 years of Jewish history were extremely difficult, but by God’s grace, the woman persevered through the labor pains, and finally, Jesus was born. But nothing is said in Revelation 12:5 about Jesus being a Savior, about His sacrificial death and resurrection, and nothing is said about the church, just the fact that He will be the King ruling all the nations, and that, as we know, is at His 2nd coming. The church age is skipped over because the focus is on the Jews and on Jesus, and that He was taken to heaven, and that at the end of His 1st coming.
Revelation 12:6 summarizes God’s dealings with the Jews during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, with verses 7-16 expanding on verse 6, giving more details about the last 3½ years of that most important week. There will be a great heavenly battle (Revelation 12:7-9), with Michael and his angels soundly defeating the devil and his demons, who will forever be cast out of heaven. This divine drama is far bigger than you can imagine, for the outworking of Christ’s crushing defeat of Satan at the cross is seen in that this deceiver, this accuser, will be thrown down to earth. Heaven will be so happy, for she will finally be done with the devil. But “woe to the earth,” for the devil will literally be on this earth, and he will be mad, full of wrath, his utter hate for God now focused now focused on both Jews and Christians.
But you must know that Satan’s time on earth will be very short. You need not fear, for God’s promise is that you will defeat the devil. By the blood of Jesus, you are saved, and forever safe in the hands of God. By the truth of God, by Jesus’ love for you and your love for Jesus, you will overwhelmingly conquer in all these things. Revelation 12:10-12
Once on earth, the devil empowers his man, and he becomes a beast, a superman, this Antichrist who pursues a remnant of Jews. But again we see God’s victory, for somehow, they miraculously get away from the Antichrist and his forces of evil, and are then nourished, taken care of for 3½ years (Revelation 12:13-16). Then that evil devil, who couldn’t get to the Jews, goes after the church (Revelation 12:17). As we know, Christians will also be victorious, for whether by death or by rapture, they will be taken up to be with Jesus. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35
Over four thousand years ago, God’s plan for the Jews began, and they have been persecuted, murdered, and scattered throughout the earth. By the grace of God, they were successful in phase one, for 2000 years ago, they brought Jesus into the world. God’s plan for the Jews was then suspended, but has now been revived, for the Jews are back in their own land, and phase two is beginning, for now we live in the end-times.
It won’t be long before Daniel’s 70th week begins, and the Antichrist, that weakling, will again put up a fight. But at the end of that 7-year week, God will again get the victory for His people, the spiritual salvation of a Jewish remnant (Romans 11:25-27). That devilish Antichrist will finally be defeated, and cast forever into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). Then begins the millennial kingdom, when Jesus Christ will gloriously reign over the whole world with all the believing Jews and Gentiles. Hallelujah!!! Revelation 20, Psalm 47, Psalm 67, Psalm 72
P.S. Understanding God's working with the Jews is critically important when it comes to understanding prophecy. If you haven't read these already, I would encourage you to read A Jewish Reading Lesson and Charting God's Miraculous Work With the Jews .
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #85 ~
I have talked about the Jews in detail in many previous posts, and that’s because they are a central and important subject in prophecy. But many Christians say there’s no future, no God-promised plans for the ethnic Jews. They tell you that hundreds of Old Testament prophesies for the Jews have been cancelled, are null and void. But that’s not true, for God does not change His mind. Yes, His plans for the Jews were suspended, but they sure weren’t cancelled. You read the New Testament, which is about the church, and you can’t miss the many verses about the Jews, ones that prove there’s a future for Israel, but are also relevant to the church. Let’s look at some of these verses, and see why:
Matthew 24:15-27 takes us from the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. During this short time period, the Antichrist desecrates the temple in Jerusalem (“when you see the abomination of desolation… standing in the holy place”), chases after the Jews, and attempts to persecute them.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-6 further describes this end-times’ Jewish scene, when the Antichrist, “the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 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, displaying himself as being God.” This is a most abominable and blasphemous act of the Antichrist, for he is stopping Jews from sacrificing, and setting himself up as God. It’s written in this letter to the church, for when it occurs, it will be a signal to the Christians that Christ’s return and the rapture will soon be taking place.
Revelation 7:1-8 gives us more information about God’s end-time work with Israel, and that is the sealing of 144,000 Jews. “I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” (Revelation 7:4). Those sealed are not Gentiles, and are not saved during the church age, but are specially chosen Jews, ones who will be saved to worship and follow Jesus Christ. Revelation 14:1-5
Then there’s Luke 21:20-24, five verses that summarize the history of the Jews from the first century until the end of the still-future 70th week of Daniel. They describe the desolation of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and the death of many Jews. Those who don’t die are “led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Since the Jews are now back in their land, we know it won’t be long before the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the “times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” and a remnant of Jews will be saved.
These are just some New Testament verses about the future of the Jews, and here are some more: Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 1:31-33, 54-55; Acts 3:20-21; Romans 11:25-27; Hebrews 8:7-13, 11:10-16, 11:39-40; Revelation 11:1-16, 12:1-16. All the verses I have referenced in this post are about the Jews, for they talk about “Judea”, “temple”, “Jerusalem”, “Sabbath”, “Judah”, “holy city” and “Israel”. You can’t say these verses are no longer relevant, and you can’t spiritualize them, saying they are now for the church. There’s no doubt God wants to instruct and remind the church about His future plans for the Jews, as it also relates to her future, the plans He has for her.
Why is that? Why are these verses important for the church? Matthew 24:15, tucked in a key prophecy passage, says, “Let the reader understand.” What does the church need to understand?
1. That God is faithful, and is still working with the Jews and is, at this time, fulfilling His plans for them.
2. That Christ is not just coming back to carry out His plans for the church, but to also carry out His plans for the Jews.
3. That God’s work with the Jews in the end-times is in conjunction with His work with the church, and will be taking place in the same time frame. I say this because many New Testament passages about the future of the Jews are sitting right next to passages about the future of the church. Look at this: Matthew 24:9-14 (church) - Matthew 24:15-24 (Jews); Luke 21:12-19 (church) - Luke 21:20-24 (Jews); 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2a, 5-9 (church) - 2 Thessalonians 2:2b-4 (Jews); Revelation 7:1-8 (Jews) - Revelation 7:9-17 (church). These side-by-side passages about Jews and Christians make it clear that God’s end-times’ work with the church coincides with His end-times’ work with the Jews.
4. That the fulfillment of end-time prophesied events for the Jews are signals to the church, alerting her to the fact that Christ is coming soon to rapture her, and take her home to heaven.
Once we get to Daniel’s 70th week, God’s work with the Jews and the church really gets Revved up. Jewish events taking place, the peace treaty with Israel, the temple built in Jerusalem, and the Antichrist desolating the temple, will be siren-sounding signs to the church that Christ is returning soon, and that she will be raptured and heading to heaven. Soon after this, a remnant of Jews will be saved and the glorious kingdom age will begin. Then all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, will reign with Jesus Christ over this world. “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great… Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.” Revelation 19:5-6
P.S. Hurricane Florence: The Perfect Storm - I say that because our God is sovereign over this major storm that has been hitting the east coast of the United States, and He knows exactly what He is doing. Might we continue to pray for all the people affected, for their physical safety, but also for their spiritual safety in Christ, the salvation of their souls. I wrote a number of posts concerning hurricanes last year at this time, particularly relating them to the end-times and the coming of Christ. I encourage you to read them - "A Hurricane is Coming - Be Ready, Watching and Working", "The Alarm is Ringing - Wake Up America! The Storm is Coming", "A Big Storm is Coming and I Don't Mean Hurricane Irma", and one more to calm your soul, to give you peace, "When the Storms Come, Don't Be Afraid."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #86 ~
As a Christian living on this earth, you will either physically die and go to heaven, or you will be raptured and go to heaven. Either way, it will be very, very good, the best thing to ever happen to you. Since we live in the end-times, the rapture, this climactic, dramatic, power-packed, devil-stopping, Christ-glorifying event, may occur during your lifetime. God tells you a lot about it in His Word, and that’s because it’s such an important truth for Christians to understand, especially at this time in history. Let me share with you the main things God wants you to know about the rapture.
At the end of this age, Jesus Christ will be seen coming on the clouds of the sky. Our Savior’s return to earth will be a global event, visible to the entire world. As soon as Christ arrives, Christians will be raptured, suddenly and rapidly taken from this earth to be with Him. As they are caught up in the air, that is, raptured, they will be joined by believers from all of history, all those who have already died and gone to heaven. This gathering together the believers will happen in a split-second, in the twinkling of an eye, at which time they will be given a brand-new glorified body, one that is perfect, powerful, spiritual and immortal, one that is like the body of Jesus Christ Himself. Matthew 24:29-31, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:42-57, 1 John 3:2
When will Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of kings, the Savior of sinners, and the Judge of all the earth, return to rapture the believers living on earth? It will occur after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, not at the beginning, like many Christians mistakenly believe. It will take place after the coming of the Antichrist, after great tribulation and the persecution of Jews and Christians, and after great signs in the heavens, “when the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” (Matthew 24:29-31). “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
In the near future, Christians will be raptured, will be rapidly taken and transported from the earth to meet the Lord in the air, to be received by Christ Himself. But why else will Christians be raptured? To be given relief from tribulation! To be rescued from God’s wrath on earth! To be redeemed from their body! To be reunited with loved ones! To rest from their labors! Can you see why this is one of the most important events in all of history? I can’t wait!!! I’m telling you, this age will soon and suddenly come to an end, and Christians will be raptured, taken to Christ, and then taken up to heaven. 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-14; Luke 21:28; Revelation 14:13
Once Christians have made this two-leg journey, from earth to the clouds, and then from the clouds to heaven, they will literally stand before Jesus Christ and God the Father, excitedly, joyously and wholeheartedly, giving Them praise. “They cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’” Jesus’ promise to us will finally and wonderfully come true: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be.” John 14:3
Right after the rapture, once all the believers are in heaven, comes the Day of the Lord, God’s just punishment of unrepentant unbelievers living on earth (Revelation 8-9). I hope you see what’s coming, for the sake of the saved and the lost. As for the saved, tell them all about the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Remind them to be loving Christ, to be living for Christ, and to be looking for His return, “encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25, 37
As for the lost, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter” (Proverbs 24:11). Now is the time to tell the unsaved the good news about Christ’s 1st coming. Tell them that they need to repent of their sins before it’s too late. Tell them to believe that Jesus Christ died for them, so they can be forgiven of their sins, become children of God, and receive eternal life. Warn them that it won’t be long before Christ’s 2nd coming, and if they don’t get saved, they will miss the rapture, be left behind and severely punished on earth during the day of the Lord, and then punished forever in hell. Matthew 25:30,41,46
As for you, look forward to the end of this age, when Jesus Christ returns for His church, His bride, rapturing her, and you, into heaven. Your heart should be so happy, and deeply moved, as you think of that moment when you will first see Jesus, who loves you so much more than anyone else in the world, who can’t wait to see you, and be with you forever. “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels and gather His elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:26-27). “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth… I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
P.S. The rapture of the church - what an important and heart-warming subject for you and me, and for all believers. Here is an encouraging post that talks about our relationship with Jesus, The Rapture, A Love Story. Also here is a very detailed and instructive article about the rapture, 50 Truths God Wants You to Know About the Rapture.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #87 ~
No matter what country you live in, there’s sin and evil, liars and thieves, hate and racism, and corrupt politicians. That’s the way it has been for this entire evil age, and the way it’s going to be, right up until the return of Jesus Christ. That’s why you need hope, why you need to be “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10), and for that time when “the Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9
But for now, we look around the world and we see sin and Satan in every place – in Russia, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, North Korea, Haiti, China, and in every country and, yes, in the United States. What’s this world coming to? Is not your soul grieved by the sin that affects every square inch of this planet, and yes, still remains in your own life? I have to admit, I get tired of it, for this evil flesh and wicked world weigh heavy on my soul. I think of Lot, who was “oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men,” and who “felt his righteous soul tormented day after day” (2 Peter 2:7-9). What are we to think? What are we to do about it? What does God’s Word say?
1. God is sovereign. Yes, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), but God is ultimately in charge, in control. Don’t forget, the devil is like a dog on a leash, and he can only do what God allows him to do. Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:17
2. God leaves you in this sinful world to teach you to be holy, to “let your light shine before men” (Matthew 5:16). He is also teaching you to be a soldier, a warrior, to stand firm against the devil’s schemes, to fight “against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness.” Judges 3:2, Nehemiah 4, Ephesians 6:10-18
3. Don’t focus on the evil things going on around you, whether it’s in your family, your city, or the world. You are going to get very discouraged if you keep thinking about the corruption that’s out there. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2
4. Focus on the work you are to do. When you play sports, you don’t stare at your opponent, you play your position and do your part. God has given you a job to do, so do it. And when your work is done, Christ will take you home to heaven. Luke 19:13, Acts 13:36
5. Don’t put your hope in this world, or in people, and that means leaders, too. A prime minister, a president, or a king, isn’t God. I hope you know by now that you can't trust human leaders to make this world a truly better place. Trust in God, not in man. Psalm 146:3-5
6. As a Christian, your goal should never be a political objective, but a spiritual objective. It’s not to win elections, to get your person in power, but to win souls, to preach the gospel to all the nations. Our gospel is the only real answer, and it has no borders and no bounds, “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
7. Pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Pray for Christ to return, to begin His righteous reign over the world, and to establish His glorious kingdom on earth. Habakkuk 2:14, Revelation 11:15
Don’t you get tired of your sin-prone flesh and this sinful, saint-hating world? Don’t you wish you could leave it? I know I do, but I have to remind myself that this is my time, my one opportunity on this earth, to be a worker and a warrior for the Lord. Just think, God has planned out your entire life, placing you on this planet at this time in history. It’s by the grace He gives you now, and the hope of future grace that you can live for the Lord. Think about this hope you have, that Christ is coming, that you will be raptured and glorified, that Satan will be defeated, and that the kingdom age will begin. “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us – that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2
One of the main ways I am motivated to live for God during this present evil age is thinking about the future kingdom of Christ. It will be a good age, a great age, a glorious age, when God will brighten up and beautify this old earth, when there will be true justice, love, mercy, peace on earth, and good will toward men. I encourage you to think about being in your glorified body, living on this newly renovated planet, fellow-shipping with dear friends, and serving Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King. This is the truth, this is your hope, and it is this hope that will help you to live strong for the Lord during your short time on earth. Soon you will be gone from here, and after a short stay in heaven, you will head back to earth, where you will serve and reign with Christ your King for 1000 glorious years (Revelation 20:6). “Let the peoples praise You, O God… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.” Psalm 67:3-4
P.S. We must know the Bible says will be taking place on this earth. I encourage you to read my posts on the present Ukraine situation - "Russia at War Against Ukraine", "God, You, and the War in Ukraine", "Death and Life in the End-Times". And read this article on hope - "You Have to Have Hope."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #88 ~
For those of us in the United States, it’s obvious that we are living in a super-charged political climate. When you watch the news on TV or on the internet, you cannot miss what’s going on – this hot, hyped-up and turbulent atmosphere. There’s the President, Congressmen and women, Judges, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, the media, and who’s right? In the upcoming elections, who’s going to win? People get so emotional and passionate about all this, and for many, it’s because politics is their religion. But for Christians, what does our “religion”, what does our Bible say? “Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
First, let me share a little bit of my story, for it has greatly affected how I think about politics, prophecy and God’s will for my life. In August of 1976, I was attending a church conference in Kansas City, and for part of the time, we marched around Kemper Arena, carrying signs and promoting a Presidential candidate. In 1980, our association of churches was in New York City during the Democratic National Convention, encouraging everyone to “Vote Morality.” Three months later, on the Sunday morning before the national election, my church passed out 40,000 flyers supporting a senatorial candidate. Five years later, our association of churches started “Americans for Biblical Government,” for some believed that the Bible, not the Constitution, was the book delineating the laws by which we were to govern this country. You can clearly see that I was involved with churches that felt strongly about trying to influence the course of this country.
Those were the “Moral Majority” years, which for many churches meant persuading people to be moral, for we thought if we had a moral majority, we could win elections, and change the country. This thinking was partially based on Amillennialism, a belief which states that there’s no future millennial kingdom, no 1000-year period when Christ is ruling the world. This erroneous belief says that Christ will return after the Christians, during this church age, have made this world to be a more loving and just world.
As time went on, I learned that my thinking with regard to these areas was wrong. The problem was not the President, the government or the culture, but the sin in a person’s heart. Yes, my church understood the problem of sin, and the solution to be the gospel of Christ, but we had gotten way off track. When Jesus was on earth, He could have easily routed the Romans and began ruling the world. But He didn’t do that, for that was not His purpose at that time. God’s will and vision, then and now, is to build the church, to preach the gospel and make disciples of all the nations. Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19-20
As Christians, this is our purpose - to build the church. We are not to seek the kingdoms of men, but the kingdom of God, a kingdom that is now seen in the church and is spiritual in nature (Matthew 6:10, 33). We are to pray for the souls of men, not for seats in Congress. We are to put our hope and trust in God, not in rulers (Psalm 146:3-6). Even if we elected a Christian president, and passed many new laws, it wouldn’t make a difference. It’s not new laws we need, but new hearts, not new political leaders but godly preachers.
Our country is on the downgrade, for she’s not so moral anymore, but she’s becoming more immoral. There’s pride, greed, hate, anger, selfishness, injustice and disrespect. There are corrupt politicians and corrupt people. In fact, the entire world is increasingly becoming lawless. But as Christians, we must stay the course that Christ gave us, to build the church, preach the gospel, and make disciples of all the nations. The Jews are now back in their land, Jerusalem is her capitol, a peace treaty will soon be signed, and Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, and the salvation of a remnant of Jews, is at hand. Now is the time to remember that it’s more important to win souls than to win elections, and to raise up pastors than to raise up politicians. Luke 12:32-53
What about your role in politics? It’s alright to be involved, but it shouldn’t be your top priority, and you shouldn’t get mad if a bad law is passed, or an unrighteous person wins an election. Yes, you should vote. Yes, you should pray for your leaders. Yes, you can help in some election. In fact, I still write letters to the Senator our church helped elect in 1980, for he is a Christian, and I want to encourage him to keep doing what is right.
Here we are, living in the end times and in a country that’s going downhill. There are two things you need to do. First, do your part, use your gifts, and serve the Lord, right up to the return of Christ. Second, remember the hope you have from God. “Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:9). Abraham “was looking for the city with foundations” (Hebrews 11:10). You should be super-excited about that future time when Jesus Christ, the perfect King, will rule this imperfect world with a heart of gold and a rod of iron. Then there will be perfect justice, abounding love, great glory, and world peace! “Clap your hands, all you nations… God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:1, 8). “… Your salvation among all nations… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy… You will guide the nations of the earth.” Psalm 67:1-4
P.S. In the midst of all this political passion, we need to be reminded of our real purpose, and with that, I encourage you to read the article, "What Does God Want Me to Do in the End Times?" I mentioned in this article why A-millennialism is not true. To understand why, I would suggest you start with "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part One," the first of five articles on this subject.
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.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #90 ~
Without a doubt, Daniel is one of the most important books on prophecy in the entire Bible. It talks about the kingdoms of man and the kingdom of God. Specifically, it tells us about the times of the Gentiles, starting with Israel’s defeat in Jerusalem in 586 BC, going through the church age, and finishing at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. The purpose for this book of Daniel was to encourage exiled Jews by revealing God’s long-range plans for them, from the rule of Gentile kings to the return of Jesus Christ, the Jewish king.
For centuries, the Jews had been living in Israel, and rebelling against God, and finally, in 605 BC, His punishment of them began. Many Jews were exiled to Babylon, including young, innocent Daniel and his three friends. Daniel lived for another 65 years, serving God through the reigns of four kings, and writing down a number of visions about the kingdoms of man and the future kingdom of God. Just before his death, God told Daniel, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time” (Daniel 12:9). After another and longer exile, the Jews are again back in their land, and now we are blessed to be living in the “end-time.” That means these words of Daniel are no longer sealed up. They are for Christians, for you and me in this “end-time”, to read, understand, and believe.
Many valuable and relevant truths are contained in this prophetic book of Daniel:
1. God’s sovereignty. Clearly seen in the book of Daniel is God’s sovereign control over the affairs of rulers, nations and all people. Even during the times of the Gentiles, God is still in charge, carrying out His eternal plans. “His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.” Daniel 4:35, Daniel 2:20-21
2. God’s work with people. You observe God’s work with countries, but you can also see and be encouraged by how He works with and through individual people, like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and even Arioch. Daniel 1:8-17, 2:14-25, 3:12-27, 6:1-23
3. God works through leaders. In ways we cannot see, God works through leaders and kings, even if, at times, they are proud and are unrighteously governing a country. The book of Daniel gives us confidence and hope, for we see God carrying out His plans through a number of rulers: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius (Daniel 2, 4, 5, 6).
4. God works through the Antichrist. There is more said in the book of Daniel about the Antichrist than any other book in the Bible. This means that God wants us to know some of the details about his devilish life, and his evil influence over the world in the end-times. Daniel 7:8, 11, 20-22, 24-26; 8:23-25; 9:26-27; 11:32-45
5. The kingdom chronology: God gives us a divine time frame, Daniel’s 70 weeks, which helps us to more clearly understand His prophetic schedule (Daniel 9:24-27). These 70 weeks are 490 years. The first 69 weeks, 483 years, take us from the rebuilding of the temple (445 BC) to the crucifixion of Christ. Then there’s a long gap of time between the 69th and 70th weeks, and for the most part, this is the church age. This 70th week will soon begin, for we now live in the end-times. In the middle of this week, the Antichrist is revealed, and at the end of the week, Christ is reigning, for “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.” Revelation 11:15
6. Spiritual warfare. In the book of Daniel, God pulls back the curtain, letting us know that the forces of God and of the devil are battling it out, fighting for control of countries and kingdoms. Revelation 12:7 also speaks about this spiritual warfare: "There was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon (devil). And the dragon and his angels waged war." More than we realize, spiritual battles between invisible forces have been and will be taking place. Daniel 10:13, 20; Ephesians 6:10-13
7. God’s plans for the Jews. During the times of the Gentiles, there will be no divinely appointed king reigning over Israel, but instead, she will be ruled by kings from Gentile nations: Babylon (605-539 BC), Medo-Persia (539-331 BC), Greece (331-146 BC), Rome (146 BC-476 AD) … Rome (end-times). But in the end, God prevails: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed… it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Daniel 2:44
8. The coming of Christ the King. After this evil age is over, when Daniel’s 70th week comes to a close, then Jesus Christ will return and establish His glorious kingdom on earth. This is our hope, and what we must look for and long for, seeing Jesus, our Lord and King, reigning on this earth. “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27, Philippians 2:9-11
9. Christians need insight. “Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many” (Daniel 11:33). The prophet Daniel predicted what would be taking place in the end-times. And now, over 2500 years later, we are actually beginning to see his prophecies come true. What a privilege to be alive at this time in history, and be used by God to tell others about Jesus, our blessed Savior and King.
This is only a brief summary of the book of Daniel, which are some of God’s end-time instructions for us. I encourage you to read and study this book yourself, and pass on to others the truths you learn from it. “He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed; His dominion will never end.” Daniel 6:26
P.S. I just finished a needed article about the difficulties of life during the time of great tribulation and the Antichrist. It's something you, your family, and your friends need to know: "A Little Suffering and a Lot of Glory." There are two other posts I want to encourage you to read that relate directly to this post on the book of Daniel: "The Divine Timetable, Daniel's 70 Weeks", and "Daniel's 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End-Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #91 ~
The primary, overarching theme of the Bible is God’s kingdom and glory. From Genesis to Revelation, this is the message God wants you to understand and be passionate about. In this post, I will focus on 3 different aspects of the kingdom of God: 1st, the broad and comprehensive view of God’s kingdom; 2nd, the invisible, internal and spiritual aspect of God’s kingdom; and 3rd, the visible, external and physical aspect of God’s kingdom.
1. A long, long time ago, God created the heavens, the earth, and people. Since He is the Creator, since He made everything and everyone, then He was, and is, and will always be the King! He is the King over the stars and planets. He is the King over people, angels, the devil and demons. He is the King over the land and sea, over animals, birds, and fish. He is the King over cities and countries. He is the King over the kings. He is the King over all that is physical and all that is spiritual. He has absolute authority, power and sovereignty over all of His creation. He has perfect knowledge and wisdom, doing exactly what He wants, when He wants, and where He wants! No one can ever stop Him, for He is the King!
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Psalm 145:13). “The Lord shall reign forever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). These and many other verses (1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 9:7, Psalm 22:8, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 66:7, Psalm 90:2, Psalm 103:19) give us the big picture, the broad perspective of God’s kingdom, that He is a sovereign King, and rules over His kingdom, the entire universe, and all people and things in it. But what about His spiritual kingdom?
2. After the creation, Adam and Eve began to rule the world. They were perfect for a while, but then there was a problem. They rebelled against the King, and they spiritually died, becoming spiritually and relationally separated from Him. Because of sin, all creation was cursed, all mankind was cursed, and people became sinners, resulting in their physical death. What was the King going to do? His answer to this problem of sin is given in Genesis 3:15, where it was prophesied that a future Savior and King would crush the head of the devil, and redeem man from this curse of sin. This would result in the King’s spiritual rule in the heart of man, and eventually His physical rule over the entire earth. This Savior-King is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only One who could and would defeat sin, death, and the devil. This is very good news, the gospel of the kingdom! Matthew 4:23
Since the sin of Adam and Eve, God has been building His invisible and spiritual kingdom. Those living before Christ’s coming would look ahead and believe that He would live on earth, and die and pay for their sins. Those living after Christ’s coming would look back, and believe that He did die and pay for their sins. In either case, the person who repents of his sin and believes Christ paid for his sin, is made righteous in God’s sight, and spiritually speaking, becomes a member of His kingdom. Christ the King then lives in his heart, and freely gives him His love, joy and peace. Romans 13:17
For the past 2000 years, God’s spiritual kingdom has continued to grow. Sinners are being born again, and are entering into His kingdom (John 3:5). They are being rescued from the domain of the devil, and transferred to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). All who repent of their sins and receive Christ as Savior and King become members of the church, this spiritual kingdom that He is building. Here is Jesus’ promise to us, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, Psalm 2
3. Now that we live in the end-times, we know this church age will soon come to an end, and Jesus Christ will return and gather all the believers to Himself. Then during the Day of the Lord, the unbelievers will be rightfully punished. Then it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Jesus Christ will take control of the earth, and for 1000 years, He will establish His visible and physical kingdom over the entire world. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). During these wonderful years, God’s spiritual kingdom will still be growing. People will be getting saved, and Christ will be ruling in their hearts, and at the same time, ruling over the world. Psalm 67 prophesied this, “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all peoples... Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the people's with uprightness, and guide the nations of the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God."
After Christ’s glorious, 1000-year reign on earth, “then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24). This millennial kingdom will merge into the eternal kingdom. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, and all that is physical and spiritual will be perfect. This good news should fill you with great joy, for it will finally and forever be seen that there’s one perfect Kingdom and God is the King, “so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17
P.S. There are two previous posts that directly relate to this one about the kingdom of God: "The Glory of God - The Most Important Thing of All!!!, and "More On the Glory of God, The Most Important Thing of All!!"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #92 ~
What’s most important to you, the right king to rule over your country, or the real King to rule in your heart? Both questions are valid, and both are answered in the Bible. But what is first, and foundational, is being right in your heart with God. For many people, their religion is outward, visible, and temporal, and oftentimes, is governmental and political. But real religion, being forgiven of your sins, possessing eternal life, and knowing Jesus as your Savior and King, needs to start in your heart. Romans 10:9-13
Back in the Old Testament days, most Jews knew the prophesies about the coming King and His kingdom. (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Psalm 47, Isaiah 9:6-7, Ezekiel 37:21-22; Micah 5:2-4, etc.). Year after year they went to the synagogue and heard about this Messiah, this coming King. What most Jews really wanted was for this King to rule over their country, defeat their enemies, and bring peace to their land. But they were looking at things outwardly and physically, and not inwardly and spiritually.
Then, in the fullness of time, the angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her that she’d be the mother of this Messiah, this Jesus. She learned that her son “will be called the Son of the Most High… and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Mary, being a righteous Jew, knew that God, spiritually speaking, was her Savior (Luke 1:46-47). But she also understood Gabriel’s message, that her son would physically reign as the King over Israel and the entire world.
Thirty years later, John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah, was proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Not long after that, Jesus, the Messiah, came preaching, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). The kingdom was at hand, for the King was at hand. Right away, Jesus showed that He was more than just a man, for He was healing people, casting out demons, raising the dead, and feeding the multitudes. Not only that, but He was the best teacher they had ever heard. But many Jews weren’t satisfied with Jesus, for they really wanted Him to conquer the Romans, and establish Himself as their King. They rightly believed that God would keep His promise about the Messiah being the King, but they were missing a foundational and prerequisite truth.
The Jews didn’t see their sin and their need for a Savior. They didn't understand and believe in the gospel. They didn’t understand Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, which vividly describes Jesus’ death, physically and spiritually speaking. They didn’t realize that the only way to be forgiven and be made right with God, was for Jesus to die on the cross to pay for their sins. They didn’t realize the need to be saved, of Jesus, the Savior, dying for them, and Jesus, the Lord, living in their hearts. They wanted a King to rule over them, not a King to rule in them.
For three years, Jesus perfectly carried out the work of His Father, people were being forgiven, and lives were being changed. But in spite of all that Jesus was doing, most Jews still rejected Him as their Savior, and therefore rejected Him as their King. John 1:8 sums up this sad reality, “Jesus came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” But God was sovereign, for the Jews’ rejection of Jesus resulted in Christ’s death and resurrection, in His payment for peoples' sins, and in a person’s salvation, that is, for all those who would repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
When the Jews rejected Christ, God had to reject them, at least for a while. He repeatedly warned them that they’d be judged. (Luke 19:41-44, Luke 21:20-24, Luke 23:27-31). He told them that the Jews would “fall by the edge of the sword, and… be led captive into all the nations” which took place in the 1st century (Luke 21:24). Yet God would keep His Word, His Old Testament promises to the Jews; and in fact, Jesus went on to say that the Jews would “be led captive into all the nations… until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Many other times, Jesus reminded the Jews that God’s promise about a future and physical kingdom would be fulfilled. (Luke 13:34-35, Luke 22:28-30, Acts 1:6-7). Then in Luke 21:28, Jesus tells us, “your redemption is drawing near,” a promise to the church about being raptured at His return. In Luke 21:31, Jesus goes on to say, “the kingdom of God is near,” which is His promise to both the Jews and the church about His coming visible kingdom, which would begin shortly after the rapture. This will be Christ's 1000-year kingdom, that time when believing Jews and Gentiles will together reign with Him over this world. Luke 22:28-30
Now we are living in the last years of this church age, and these promises from Jesus will soon be fulfilled. I hope you see that the King is coming, and that “the kingdom of God is near.” What should you do? How are you to live? 1) You are to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). 2) You are to proclaim the “gospel of the kingdom… and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). 3) You are to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
P.S. If you have regularly been reading these posts, you can see that we are on a "kingdom" theme. It is important for you to see the big picture, that you are a member of God's kingdom, that you are royalty, and that God will continue to build His kingdom, this age, and then in the next age. For the next two weeks, we will continue on this relevant subject.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #93 ~
You need to understand the kingdom of God to fully grasp what it means to be a Christian, to really know how you are to live on earth, and to be genuinely excited about the future God has for you. Jesus came to this earth as Savior, Lord and King. He told the Jews, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). But how could they be a part of His kingdom? Jesus told them how, for He was “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). The key to the kingdom is the gospel, for it is the salvation message, the means by which people can enter God’s kingdom. But a person needs to see his sin, and his need for Jesus to be his Savior. He needs to “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15), this good news that Jesus died on a cross to pay for his sins, and then was raised from the dead.
Yes, some of the Jews repented and believed in Jesus. But most of them didn’t repent; they didn’t want Jesus to be King in their hearts; they just wanted Him to be King over their country. For their rejection of Him, Jesus had no choice but to reject them. He couldn’t be their King, at least at that time, and consequently, His Father’s plans for the Jews were suspended and put on hold. But Jesus gave His disciples hope about His coming kingdom. At the Passover meal, He told them, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes… I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom.” Luke 22:18, 28-30
Jesus had already told the disciples, “I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). The church would be God’s new plan to build His kingdom on earth, and for the past 2000 years, that’s exactly what has been happening. People are spiritually being born again, and are entering into the kingdom of God (John 3:3-8). But God's kingdom during this church age is not physical and external, but spiritual and internal, that which exists in the hearts of those who belong to Christ the King.
What is the purpose of the Christian on earth? To work with Christ and the church, and build the kingdom of God, the most important, noble, and satisfying work in the world. But what specifically are you to do?
1. You are to seek the kingdom of God. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). This is to be your work, your purpose, your ambition, your life. You are not to be seeking what you want, building your own little kingdom, and worrying about what you will eat, drink or wear. You are to spend your time, energy and money, seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, doing that which builds His church, and therefore, that which builds His kingdom.
2. You are to preach the gospel of the kingdom. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom. Paul preached the gospel of the kingdom, for he “declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:23, 31). You, too, are to preach the gospel of the kingdom. It’s important for you to see that your life is not just about building the church - it’s much bigger than that, for you are to work with Jesus in building God’s kingdom, a kingdom that started way back with Adam and Eve, continues now, and goes on forever and ever.
3. You are to preach the word: “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Yes, this is for pastors, but in a larger sense, it applies to all of us. In view of the fact that Christ will appear and rapture the church, judge the unbelievers, and then set up His kingdom on earth, we are to preach the word of God. We must see that God’s word needs to be preached in the context of Christ’s coming. Proper and powerful preaching must be connected and related to the fact that our Savior and King is returning to establish His kingdom on earth.
4. You are to pray: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10). You are to pray for Christ’s kingdom to come, for Christ to come back and physically and spiritually rule over His kingdom on earth. Of course, you should pray for people to be saved, for the church to grow, but it’s more than that - it’s seeing the connection between the growth of the church and the return of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth. You don’t want to be short-sighted, you need to see the church in the context of the entire kingdom of God, and that the church age leads to Christ’s coming and the millennial kingdom age.
Just think, you are a royal priesthood, a kingdom and priests to our God! (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:10). Understanding who you are, and knowing the real truth about the kingdom of God, and your part in it, will motivate you to live for the King, and to look forward to that time when you will see Him, and say, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #94 ~
What was the main message preached by Jesus and the apostles in the first century? It was the gospel! This gospel, this good news, explains that people are sinners, but that Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of man, died on the cross to pay for peoples’ sins, and all those who repent and believe in Him, are justified, forgiven, and will go to heaven (Romans 1:18-32, 3:21-25, 4:4-8, 5:6-10, 6:23, 10:9-13). But it wasn’t just the gospel they preached, it was the gospel of the kingdom of God! Now I am not saying that you need to do more than repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ to be saved. What I am saying is that believing the gospel results in being forgiven of your sins and going to heaven, and also becoming a member of the kingdom of God!
Look at all these verses that talk about the gospel and the kingdom of God:
* Matthew 4:23 - “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee… proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.”
* Matthew 24:14 - “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
* Mark 1:14-15 - “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’”
* Luke 4:43 - “But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.’”
* John 3:5 - “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
* Acts 8:12 - “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized.”
* Acts 19:8 - “He continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”
* Acts 20:24-25 - “to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God… I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.”
* Acts 28:23 - “He was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus...” Acts 28:31
* Colossians 1:13 - “He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
What was being preached in the first century? It was the gospel of the kingdom of God! Clearly, the emphasis of gospel preaching is being saved, and becoming a member, not just of the church, but also of the kingdom of God. And this kingdom goes on forever, including all future ages, as well as incredible blessings and benefits. When we talk to people about Jesus Christ and salvation, we need to also share with them God’s kingdom perspective, for God wants them to see the big picture. People need to know that once they are born again, they enter into God’s kingdom, a spiritual kingdom, where Christ inwardly rules in their hearts. (Luke 17:21). Then when Christ returns, He will rapture the believers, pour out His wrath, redeem a remnant of Jews, and set up His physical kingdom on earth, at which time He will still be ruling in believers' lives, but also, outwardly ruling over the entire world.
But now, close to 2000 years after Christ’s first coming, I sense that many believers think this church age will just keep going, failing to realize that it will soon come to an end, and that the next phase of God’s kingdom will then be established on earth. That’s why it’s critical to understand what God’s word is telling us about the kingdom of God. At this time, we are living in the church age, what I call, Phase one. At the end of this age, there’s a short transition time (Revelation 7-10, 15-19), then there’s Phase two, when we will reign with Christ for 1000 years (Revelation 20). “Then comes the end (of the millennial kingdom), when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Corinthians 15:24), which begins Phase three, the eternal kingdom. Revelation 21-22
I hope you are beginning to understand God’s kingdom plans, that He’s faithfully carrying them out, that He is now leading you, together with the entire world, to that point when He will send His Son back to establish His kingdom on earth. So what does God want you to do?
- You are to be praying: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
- You are to be “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God.” Matthew 4:23, 24:14
- You are to serve Him: “Do business with this until I come back.” Luke 19:11-27
- You are to preach rightly: “In view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). To have real purpose and power in your preaching, you need to connect it to Christ’s return and His coming kingdom on earth.
I must say, I get very excited and encouraged when I think of who God has made us to be, and what He has in store for us: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). In conclusion, “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God (church age). When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (kingdom ages). Colossians 3:3-4
P.S. Being Thankful - The Character of a Christian. Thanksgiving Day will be here soon, but as you know, we are to be thankful every day of the year. Here is an article that I believe will help you to see the value and blessing of being thankful.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #95 ~
God’s primary work is kingdom work! It’s what He’s been doing since the creation of the world. Starting with Adam and Eve, then through the Jews, now through the church, and then during the next age, God has been, is, and will be, building His kingdom.
To understand the history of God’s most important work, we have to go back to the Old Testament, where we find many prophecies and promises that God gave to the Jews about the coming King and His kingdom. Zechariah 14:9 tells us, “The Lord will be King over the earth.” In 2 Samuel 7:8-17, David is told, “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever.” Daniel 7:27 says, “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom.” Isaiah 9:6-7 predicts, “There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom… from then on and forevermore.” Psalm 2:6 clearly states, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 47 tells us the truth, “For God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 98:6 exhorts us, “Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.”
God also promised the Jews, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). You see, God wanted the Jews to be members of His kingdom, and part of the process in establishing this kingdom, both spiritually and physically. Some of the Jews were righteous and serving Him, but for the most part, they were rebellious. The majority of them were looking at things outwardly and worshiping idols they had made, but weren’t loving God, the One who had made them. In spite of all their sins, God was very gracious, for many Jews, and Gentiles too, repented and received God’s mercy, thereby becoming members of His glorious and growing kingdom.
God’s kingdom work continued, wonderfully and dramatically so, when His Son, the King, came to earth. It was about 2,000 years ago that Jesus entered this world as a little baby, then grew up and became a man. Jesus was perfect, the most loving person, an incredible teacher, and a healer of diseases, but the Jews still rejected Him. They didn’t see their need for Jesus to save them from their sins. Their rejection of Him as their Savior led to their rejection of Him as their King. Yet, Jesus assured His disciples that He would come back and set up His kingdom on earth. In fact, right before He ascended into heaven, He was talking to His apostles about the kingdom, “… appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Jesus’ disciples were excited about the coming physical kingdom, but they knew it had to be spiritual at its core, for Jesus first needed to be King in their hearts. He had already told them, “Behold, the kingdom of God is in you.” Luke 17:21
Since that time, Christ has been building His church, and God’s kingdom is continuing to grow, for a great number of people are being born again, and are entering into His kingdom (John 3:5). Millions, if not billions, have been delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13). 1 Peter 2:9 also speaks of this kingdom, telling us that the church is a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” language reminding us of God’s promises and plans for the Jews.
During this church age, God has commanded us to work with Him, to seek His kingdom, to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). We know it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth. That’s because the Jews are back in their land, a clear indicator from God that we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 37; Daniel 12:4, 9
This church age is now drawing to a close, and Jesus Christ will be coming back soon. He will return as a Savior to rapture the believers, as a Judge to punish the unbelievers, as a Redeemer to save a Jewish remnant, and as a King to set up His kingdom on earth. At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). What a momentous time that will be, for Christ will take control of the world, and finally, be her King! Then for the next thousand years, we and all believers will be working with our King, helping Him rule and guide the nations. Multitudes more will be saved, and God’s kingdom will continue to grow during the entirety of Christ’s glorious reign on earth.
It is during this time that God’s millennial promise will be true for all believers, “God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” Our prayer will be, “Let all the peoples praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You” (Psalm 67:5, 7). People all over the world will be praising our King. “O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2). “Then (after 1000 years) comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” 1 Corinthians 15:24
P.S. Here is a good article to read, one that will help you to more clearly understand this post: A Summary of the Prophetic Work of God, from the Time of Abraham to Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #96 ~
This present church age and the future kingdom age are two distinct time periods in the history of mankind. Ephesians 1:21 tells us, “… not only in this age, but also in the one to come…” Now we live in the church age, but it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church, and shortly thereafter, sets up His kingdom on earth. But what will this kingdom age be like? One way to find out is to compare these two ages, and see how they are alike and how they are different. Let's look at some areas so you can better understand the fantastic future God has for you and for all believers:
Who is the ruler? The devil is the ruler of the world during this present church age, but Jesus Christ is the ruler of the world during the kingdom age. John 12:31, 1 John 5:19, Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 11:15
How long are the ages? No one knows precisely how long this present church age will last, but we do know that the kingdom age will last for exactly 1000 years, which is why it is often called the millennial kingdom. Matthew 24:36, Revelation 20:1-7
How long will people live? People will live a lot longer during the millennial kingdom age than during this present church age. At this time, on average, people live to be about 80 years or so, but during the next age, a person who lives only to be 100 years “will be thought accursed.” Isaiah 65:20, Psalm 90:10
The kings versus the King: During this church age, Jesus Christ is in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, while kings on earth are taking their stand against Him, counseling together, and contending with Him. But during the millennial kingdom, these kings will be powerless, for Christ will be the only true King, sitting on His throne in Jerusalem, and ruling over the earth. Psalm 2, Zechariah 14:9, Matthew 26:64
The evil age and the good age: This present age is an evil age, and a big reason is because the devil is the ruler of the world. The coming millennial kingdom age will be a good age, for Jesus Christ will be perfectly ruling the world. But this 1000-year kingdom age won’t be a perfect age, and that’s because sin and death will still exist on this earth. Galatians 1:4, Psalm 72:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, Revelation 21:4
Injustice or justice: During this present age, there’s a great deal of injustice and unrighteousness on earth. Wickedness is flourishing at this time, but not so during the millennial kingdom, for then Christ will rule with a rod of iron, bringing justice, mercy, and peace to this world. Psalm 2:9, Psalm 37, Psalm 72, Philippians 2:10-11
Satan’s influence: Satan continually tempts people to sin during this church age. But he will be imprisoned and incapacitated during the millennial kingdom, and therefore, unable to tempt anyone, believer or unbeliever. His only evil influence will come at the very end of this kingdom age, when he will be let loose for a short time, and gather unbelievers to fight against God, but unsuccessfully so. Revelation 20:1-10
Judging the sinners: God will deal decisively with unbelievers at the end of this present age, and at the end of the age to come. He will punish the unbelievers living on earth (except those Jews chosen to be saved) at the end of this church age, during the Day of the Lord (Revelation 8-9, 16). At the end of the millennial kingdom age, Jesus Christ, sitting on His great white throne, will judge all unbelievers, all the ungodly, and then cast them into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15
The earth’s physical condition: During this church age, the earth is in a corrupted state, but it will be renovated at the start of the millennial kingdom, and therefore, greatly improved. Only after this 1000-year kingdom age, during the eternal kingdom age, will the earth be completely brand new, perfectly holy in every way, entirely and forever free from sin, death, and the devil. Romans 8:18-24, Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelation 21:1-4
God’s kingdom is growing: The kingdom of God continues to grow in size during the church age and the millennial kingdom age, for people will be getting saved during both time periods. Numerically speaking, God’s kingdom will be fully grown at the end of the millennial kingdom. Matthew 13:30-33
Spiritual and physical growth of the kingdom: During the church age, Christ’s focus is on the spiritual growth of God’s kingdom. People are being born again, and are being transferred from the domain of the devil to the kingdom of God. During the next age, Christ’s focus is on both the spiritual and physical growth of God’s kingdom, on both her internal and external growth. Matthew 16:18, Colossians 1:13; Luke 17:21; Psalm 47, Psalm 67
Glorified or not? During this church age, all believers, those now in heaven and those still on earth, are not yet glorified. But at the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church, they will be glorified, and remain glorified during the millennial kingdom age, and forevermore. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Well known or not? During this church age, our lives are hidden with Christ, meaning we are not well known in the world. But in the millennial kingdom, we will be revealed with Christ and be reigning with Him, and it will be obvious to all that we are God’s children, and are very special to Him. 1 Corinthians 4:8-13, Colossians 3:3-4, Revelation 1:6
Greater glory for God: More glory will be given to God during the millennial kingdom than during this present age. That’s because: a) More of God’s glory will be evident in the world, thereby resulting in more glory being given to Him. b) There will be a greater number of believers living during the millennial kingdom than at any other time in history, resulting in more people giving glory to God. c) All the believers who have lived during this present age will be glorified, and therefore are able to give God much more glory. Habakkuk 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Revelation 19:1-6
Peace on earth: During this present church age, there are many conflicts between people, many wars between nations, and there is not peace on earth. During the millennial kingdom, there will, in general, be peace on earth. Psalm 72:3, Isaiah 9:6
What a blessing to be living for Jesus Christ during this church age! Now is our time to be using our gifts and talents to serve Him. But I must say, I am really looking forward to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, and shortly after that, being with Him on earth during the millennial kingdom age. What an incredible time that will be, for we will be fully saved, glorified and perfect, and fully able to love our Savior and King, and live for Him like never before! Hallelujah!!! “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10
P. S. Here are two short and encouraging posts that go along with what you have just read: Everything on this Earth is Going to Change, and More on the Glory of God, the Most Important Thing of All.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #97 ~
I cannot think of a more relevant book to read at this time in history than the book of Revelation. It takes us from the end-times, which we are now living in, to the end of this age, to the rapture of the church, to the Day of the Lord, to the salvation of the Jews, to Christ’s takeover of the world, to the millennial kingdom, and finally, to the eternal kingdom. It’s about the Christians, the Jews, the unbelievers, Satan, the Antichrist, but most importantly it’s about Jesus Christ, for it is The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1 gives us an awesome and powerful description of the main character, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Priest and King. Revelation 2-3 records Jesus’ letters to seven churches, vital instructions for those churches, and for all churches since that time, including those now existing in these end-times. Then there’s Revelation 4, the heavenly chapter, for it speaks about our Creator God and His glorious holiness, that which is foundational and central to this entire end-times book, to all God is, and to all He will do.
Revelation 5 is about our Savior God, Jesus Christ, and His epic victory over sin and death, His key to taking back the world from that most-evil devil. On to Revelation 6, where we see Christ breaking six seals, the first four resulting in a series of end-time conditions, fake religion, wars, famine and death (Matthew 24:4-8). It won’t be long now before the fifth seal is broken, resulting in the great persecution of Christians. That time of suffering, and yes, serving the Lord, will suddenly be stopped by the sixth seal, the signs in the heavens, dramatically marking the end of this church age. What then?
Revelation 7 speaks about the sealing of 144,000 Jews, a sign to us that God’s plans for them are being fulfilled. This chapter is also about Christians, their rapture from the earth, their appearance before God, along with a multitude of other believers, and they are all crying out, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” This is followed by 30 minutes of pure silence in heaven, for the holy Day of the Lord is about to begin. Revelation 8-9 vividly describes this “Day,” these trumpet judgments, God’s devastating wrath being poured out upon a wicked and deserving world.
Revelation 10-11 tells us much more about God’s plans for the Jews. There's talk about the temple, two wonder-working witnesses, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet, at which time the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of Christ. This is one of the most critical and climactic moments in all of history, for Jesus Christ, as Lord and King, takes back control of this world from Satan, and mercifully saves a remnant of Jews.
What about Satan and the Antichrist, our worst enemies? Revelation 12-13 is a two-chapter interlude, where we see that diabolical Satan trying to stop Christ, the Antichrist being worshiped by the world, Jews and Christians being persecuted, and unbelievers taking the mark of the beast. This spiritual warfare may seem to be “scary stuff,” but what you must see is that Satan gets beat, for he is the loser, and Christ is the King of the world, the Winner, the reigning Champion. Revelation 14 gives many more details, telling us about these 144,000 Jews, Babylon the great, global evangelism, the rapture, and the punishing wrath of God.
Revelation 15-16 focuses on the second phase of the Day of the Lord, God’s judgment of His evil enemies, specifically that of the Antichrist’s kingdoms. Seven bowls of wrath are rapidly poured out upon the earth, lasting for 30 merciless days. Finally, there’s the great battle of Armageddon, at which time, Jesus Christ crushes the wicked kingdoms of the world. Revelation 17-18, another two-chapter interlude, tells us more about the Antichrist’s 10-nation devilish empire. It also talks about Babylon the Great, which is Satan’s counterfeit religious system and seductive economic system, his deceptive means of controlling the world. But God’s righteous wrath cleanses the world from all such contaminants, so that Christ, with a clean slate, can establish His kingdom on earth.
Revelation 19 describes this huge victory celebration in heaven, for Satan is defeated, and the Antichrist is cast into the lake of fire. Most importantly, there’s the magnificent and beautiful marriage supper of the Lamb. Just imagine being gloriously perfect, inside and out, and being with Jesus Christ, your wonderful Husband, and with all the other believers! Revelation 20 tells us about Christ’s 1000-year kingdom, as well as the most sobering scene of all, when all sinners are judged and cast into the lake of fire, where they will remain forever. Finally, we come to Revelation 21-22 and the new heavens and new earth, our beautiful, brand new home, and the eternal kingdom of God.
I have mentioned many important details about the future, but I hope you see the big picture, that Revelation is a bridge that takes us from the end-times of this church age to the kingdom ages. Revelation may be the end of the book, but it’s surely not the end of the story, but is what God gives us so we can know what takes place between this age and the next age. Might God give you the grace to understand it, and to share it with your family, friends and fellow church members. “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7
P.S. Here is a post, Matthew 24 - A Road Map of the End Times, and an article, An Introduction to the Book of Revelation, that go along with this post, and which I am convinced will be most helpful in understanding what God has in store for you and this world.
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?
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.
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 is 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.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #101 ~
At this time of the year, people make predictions about what they think will happen in 2019. But you know how it goes? Nobody gets it all right, for no man or woman can accurately forecast the future. Only God can perfectly predict what will be taking place, and that’s because He makes the future. He knows exactly what He is going to do, He has it all planned out, and then at the right time, He brings it to pass. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Isaiah 46:9-10
What amazes me is that such a large portion of the Bible is prophetic, precisely predicting events that occur in the future. Maybe you have read some of the Old Testament verses that tell us about Christ’s first coming (Psalm 22:1-21; Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9, etc.) But this blog site focuses on the many verses from both the Old and New Testaments that predict and describe Christ’s second coming.
God didn’t have to tell us about the future, and about Christ’s return, but He did, for He wants us to know His plans for planet earth, and for the Jewish people and the church. He doesn’t want us to be surprised or afraid when calamitous events take place. He wants us to be anticipating Christ’s second coming, and to be excited about being with Him. God also knows we need hope, especially in this world of evil and increasing darkness. God’s prophetic word gives us hope, for it helps us see the future that God has planned and prepared for us. “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart.” 2 Peter 1:19
At this time in history, as we are getting closer to the end of this age, might we realize our vantage point, the incredible view we have of God’s end-time's working. I am not talking about a physical vantage point, but a geo-prophetical one, a perspective informed by God’s word that helps us to rightly understand events taking place on our earth. By looking at God’s prophetic word and the world around us, we can clearly see that Christ’s return is drawing near. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
What about this year? What is going to happen? I can’t say for sure, and no person can specifically know what will be happening, but God gives us a general idea of what will be taking place. There will be the preaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:14), the making of disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), and the growth of the church (Matthew 16:18). Wickedness will increase (Matthew 24:12). There will be a growing need for globalism and a world ruler (Revelation 13). There will be more wars, famines, economic problems and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:4-8). Countries will be reshaped and realigned, leading to that final, God-planned configuration of nations. Ezekiel 38:1-6, Daniel 2:36-45
But there are also very specific, identifiable, God-predicted prophecies that will be fulfilled in the years ahead. What are some of these?
1. A treaty between Israel and a number of other nations will be signed or confirmed. This event, whether actually observed by us or not, will occur at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, a prophetically strategic seven-year time frame. Daniel 9:27
2. The Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
3. A great, global persecution of Jewish people and Christians will take place after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, but will then be cut short. Matthew 24:9, 21-22
4. The rapture of the church will occur at the end of this age, during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, at an unknown time to us. Matthew 24:31-36, Revelation 7:9-14
5. A remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:24
6. The kingdom of the world will be transferred from the control of Satan to the control of Jesus Christ at the end of this 70th week. Revelation 11:15
7. A new and glorious kingdom, with Jesus Christ ruling and believers reigning with Him, will begin, and continue on for 1000 years. 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, Revelation 20:1-6
All these things are guaranteed to take place, because God has told us so, and because He, Himself, will make sure they are carried out. The Lord God of heaven and earth is on the move, and nothing will stop, thwart or derail His purposes, prophecies, and plans. He is continually and faithfully working out all the steps, all the details, all the events that need to take place to bring this present age to a close.
As for this year, there won’t be a wasted second, a wasted day, or a wasted week, for every single thing that will happen is part of God’s eternal, sovereign, and perfect plan to bring about the return of Christ, the rapture of the church, and the reign of Christ over the world. Be humble and holy, pray and work, and wait and see! “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.” Matthew 24:30-31
P.S. We must understand Bible prophecy in general before we can understand it in specific. These two previous posts, together with this present one, will enable you to have a better grasp on Bible prophecy - Prophecy is Predicting the Future, and What You Need to Know About Prophecy.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #102 ~
When I became a Christian back in 1972, Christ’s second coming was a hot subject, and on the hearts of many in the church. Hal Lindsey’s popular book on Bible prophecy, “The Late Great Planet Earth”, was being read by many believers. Larry Norman, referring to the rapture of the church, was singing, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” Since the Jewish people were back in their land, the thinking was that the rapture would take place very soon, sometime in the next 10 to 20 years. But we were mistaken.
Fast forward to 1993. At that time, someone gave me Marv Rosenthal’s book, the “Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church.” Reading it with great interest, I quickly realized that Marv’s position on the timing of the rapture was different than what I had been taught. His arguments made sense, and most importantly, were Biblical. My wife and I then attended two of his prophecy conferences, in 1994 and again in 1995. We were both very excited about learning as much as we could about end-times prophecy, and I remember going up to Marv and asking him lots of questions. Not long after that, I read "The Sign," by Robert Van Kampen, another very instructive book on prophecy.
It was good to learn from others, but I knew I needed to go to God’s word and get my own convictions. I can’t tell you how motivated I was, and still am, to study Bible prophecy, and that’s because God has put that desire in my heart. At first, I wanted to find out when, in general, the rapture was going to take place. Was it really at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week? Was it before the great tribulation, or after it? After many hours of poring over prophecy passages, I became convinced that Christians will go through great tribulation, then be raptured and rescued before God’s wrath, the Day of the Lord. I concluded that the rapture of the church was a pre-wrath rapture.
My interest in Bible prophecy kept growing, and I continued to read and re-read, and study and re-study passages that spoke about Christ’s return, examining them carefully to find out what God wanted me to learn about His Son’s second coming. There was Daniel, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, and the book of Revelation. I talked to a few church friends about what I was learning, and then began to teach it. There was a lot of interest, many questions, and some opposition.
About ten years later, I began to see how Israel fit into the prophecy picture. In my experience, there had always been a focus on the future of the church, but not much was said about the future of the Jewish people. But God kept showing me all these Old Testament verses describing His purposes and plans for His chosen people. What I also discovered was that God’s work with the Jewish people was in conjunction and coinciding with His work with the church. My heart was so excited, for God kept revealing to me more truth about His future plans, resulting in a greater understanding of end-times prophecy.
Then I started a monthly, Wednesday night Bible study on the end-times, Christ’s second coming, and the future kingdom ages. Continually teaching about a Christian's future and hope has proven to be a tremendous blessing for me and my church. The preparation needed for these prophecy studies helped me to put all the pieces together, enabling me to see the big picture. First, there was the perfect age with Adam and Eve (Genesis 1-2). This was followed by the present evil age, starting with Adam’s sin, continuing through God’s work with Israel and the church, and ending with the rapture, the wrath of God, and the redemption of a Jewish remnant (Genesis 3 - Revelation 19). Then comes the millennial kingdom, a time when Jesus Christ, with believing Jews and Christians, will reign over the world for 1000 years (Revelation 20). At the end of that time, sin will be gone, death will be defeated, and Satan and all unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire. Finally, there will be the eternal kingdom, with the new heavens and new earth, and everything will be, absolutely and forever, perfect and glorious. Revelation 21-22
But what strikes me, what wakes me up at night, what really motivates me, is that this is our time to live. We are now living in the last years of this present evil age, and are so very close to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be alive, and to be able to live for God at this time in history! What a great honor, privilege and opportunity He has given each one of us!
For over 25 years, I’ve been pastoring a local church, first in Maryland and now in Florida. My primary purpose is to feed and care for the church, which I love to do. But since we live in the end-times, I also see it as my responsibility to prepare my church for the return of Christ, and to help them see the incredible hope we have from God. I want them, and you too (which is why I started this blog), to know Him, but to also know all about the future, to be excited about seeing Him, and to be telling others what will surely and soon take place, the coming of Jesus Christ. My strong desire is that we all do business until He comes, be praying, “Thy kingdom come,” be preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and be looking for our Savior to return to earth and take us home to heaven. Luke 19:13; Matthew 6:9, 24:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
P.S. Another short history of my journey in learning about end-times Bible prophecy is at our About tab. I would also encourage you to check out Zion's Hope's website - there's lots and lots of excellent teaching and information found on that site.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #103 ~
Jesus Christ is coming to judge the world (Psalm 98:9), and you don’t want to be here when it happens, for it will be a fierce and fiery world-wide devastation. This is the great and holy wrath of God, often called the day of the Lord, and it will be directed at unbelievers who are on earth at the return of Christ. But Christians living on earth at that time will be supernaturally rescued from this wrath to come.
Now that we are in end-times, we can see this day of the Lord drawing near (Hebrews 10:25). It won’t be long before “there will be signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:19-20). These dramatic signs will get everyone’s attention! With a huge exclamation point, they mark the end of this age, letting us know that God’s wrath will soon be poured out upon this sin-infected planet.
But the good news of salvation means Jesus will rescue all Christians from this coming world-wide wrath. “To wait for His Son from heaven, …, Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). The means of this miraculous rescue is the rapture, for Jesus will return in the clouds, and Christians will suddenly and safely be taken from this earth to be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This rapture is also the means of relief, of being delivered from great tribulation. Some of you may not believe what I am saying, or want to hear what I am saying, but it’s true. Christians alive in the end-times, specifically during the rule of the Antichrist, will go through great tribulation for awhile, and then it will be cut short by the signs on earth and in the heavens. Matthew 24:21-22, 29-30
This teaching that Christians won’t be here when the Antichrist is dictator of the world, and are therefore exempt from great tribulation, is wrong, is error, and actually very harmful. You see, many Christians have heard that great tribulation is God’s wrath, but that’s not true. You see, tribulation can’t be God’s wrath, for tribulation is defined as pressure, distress, suffering or persecution, and is what the Bible says all Christians go through. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33), and Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Now great tribulation just means great pressure, great distress, great suffering, great persecution, and will affect Christians still on earth in that last couple of years or so before Christ’s coming.
This great tribulation is great because of its severity, for Christians will be killed for their faith, and because of its scope, for it will occur all over the world. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). But who of us should not be willing to suffer and die for Jesus in view of the fact that He suffered and died for us? This great tribulation is nothing compared to the eternal life and love that God has given us, and which we will forever experience and enjoy with Jesus and other believers. “Momentary, light tribulation is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
What does Revelation 6-9 say about all this? Revelation 6 talks about great tribulation (verse 9), and signs on earth and in the heavens telling us that it’s the end of the age (verses 12-14). Unbelievers are scared to death, for they know God’s wrath is coming, that they are damned and doomed, and that there’s no escape (verses 15-17). Revelation 7 then tells us about a great multitude suddenly appearing in heaven, and worshiping God and Christ (verses 9-10). The angel says these believers “are the ones who come out of great tribulation” (verse 14), that is, were just raptured from the earth. Finally, Revelation 8-9 describes God’s punishing wrath on earth. This is the sequence of coming events: great tribulation, end of the age, rapture, and wrath. It’s can’t be any clearer.
This means the rapture of the church is after the great tribulation, persecution brought on by the Antichrist, but before the wrath, punishment brought on by Jesus Christ. Again we see that believers will be rescued from this cataclysmic, torturing and deadly wrath. But woe to those who reject Christ and the gospel, who don’t get saved, who are left behind on earth, and who are justly tormented by this, the righteous wrath of God.
Judgment is coming for unbelievers, except for those Jews and some others who are protected by God. But the rapture, the greatest rescue operation this world has ever seen, is coming for believers. God only knows, but you might be alive on earth when Christ returns to rapture the church. Be thankful that you will be rescued, not only from this earthly wrath, but also from the eternal wrath, that very painful, everlasting lake of fire. “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). As a Christian, be glad that Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection, saved your soul and, at the rapture, will give you a new body. Now is your time to live for Him, share His gospel with the lost, and use your gifts for the good of the church and the glory of God.
P.S. Here are three other posts that go along with this post, giving you more understanding about the tribulation Christians experience, and the wrath of God that unbelievers will go through. The Day of the Lord: The Wrath of God on Earth, Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation, The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teaching is False.
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 Colossians 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.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #105 ~
For the past two years, I have been writing blog posts about the end-times and the second coming of Christ. On one hand, it’s a simple subject, for Christ is coming again. On the other hand, there are a great many details about God’s plans for the years leading up to Christ’s return and the years following. That’s because our heavenly Father wants us to be both informed and excited about His future plans for us. Today’s post is a summary of many of the major themes on this most important and relevant subject.
* Jesus Christ is returning to earth. Luke 21:27, Acts 1:9-11, Hebrews 10:37
* Jesus Christ is coming back as Lord, Redeemer, Judge and King. Zechariah 12:10, 14:9
* Jesus Christ is coming back soon, for we now live in the end-times. Daniel 12:4,9; Matthew 24:4-36
* The fact that Jewish people have returned to their land and re-formed the nation of Israel is the main reason we know we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37, Luke 21:20-24
* God’s end-time work with the Jewish people coincides with, and is in conjunction with, His end-time work with the Christians. Matthew 24:9-27, Luke 21:9-24, Revelation 7
* Sin, evil, and wickedness will be plaguing the world, and increasingly so, in the years leading up to the coming of Christ. Matthew 24:12, 2 Timothy 3:1-4
* “Birth pains” will be occurring in various parts of the world with increasing intensity before Christ’s coming. These will consist of false Christs, wars, earthquakes, plagues, famines and economic distress. Matthew 24:4-8, Luke 21:9-11, Revelation 6:1-8
* There will be a great, global apostasy, for people will be abandoning their faith and their religion before Christ’s return. These defectors will turn against Christians, betraying them and turning them into the authorities. Matthew 24:10, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
* The breaking of the first six seals results in events that need to occur, and conditions that need to be in place, before the end of the age and the rapture of the church. Revelation 6-7
* Daniel’s 70th week, the last of Daniel’s 70 weeks, is a seven-year, divine time frame, given to us by God to help us know the sequence of key end-time events. Daniel 9:27, Revelation 12-13
* A treaty between Israel and other nations, attended by the future Antichrist, will be signed or confirmed at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
* The United States will decline from her position as a global super-power, and after that, at a time unknown to us, the Antichrist and his kingdom will rise up and begin to rule the world. Daniel 7:19-27; Revelation 13:3-8, 17:9-13
* At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, Satan will be cast down to the world, and empower an evil man, that wicked and diabolical Antichrist. Revelation 12:7-13
* The Antichrist will form a ten-nation coalition, a military power base, enabling him to rule the entire world. Daniel 7:23-27; Revelation 13:3-8, 17:9-13
* Having unbelievers receive his mark is one of the primary means by which the Antichrist (the beast) will control the economy, people, and the world. Revelation 13:16-17
* Christians living on earth during the time of the Antichrist’s rule will undergo great tribulation. This tribulation is not God’s wrath, but refers to the distress, difficulties and persecution believers will experience. Matthew 24:9, 21-22; Revelation 12:17, 13:5-7
* Once the gospel is preached to all the nations, this age will end, and Jesus Christ will return to rapture the Christians living on earth. Matthew 24:14, 31; Matthew 28:19-20
* Christians are to know the general time of Christ’s return, but only God knows the specific time, the exact day of His return. Matthew 24:32-36, Hebrews 10:24-25
* This present age will end when heavenly signs are seen in the skies above us, and a great earthquake is felt all over the earth. Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12-14
* Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, will be with each Christian to the end, whether that be the end of his life, or the end of this age. John 14:16-17, Matthew 28:20
* The coming and revealing of Christ is after the coming and revealing of the Antichrist. Matthew 24:15-31, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9
* The rapture of the church is the first event to occur at Christ’s coming, and will take place sometime during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9
* Christians will be raptured after great tribulation is cut off, but before God’s wrath is poured out on the earth. Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Revelation 6-8
* All believers, those already in heaven and those still living on earth, will receive brand new bodies at the time of the rapture. These bodies will be perfect, powerful, immortal, spiritual and glorious. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, Philippians 3:20-21
* A believer’s salvation is completed at the rapture, at which time, he or she is glorified, and made perfect forever. Romans 8:30; Philippians 1:6, 3:20-21
* Jesus Christ is coming back to rapture the Christians because He wants to physically be with them, take them to their heavenly home, and show them His glory. 1 Thessalonians 4:17; John 14:1-3, 17:24
* A large remnant of Jewish people physically living on earth at the end of Daniel's 70th week, will spiritually be saved. Romans 11:25-26, Isaiah 45:17
* At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, the kingdom of the world, which had been controlled by Satan, will become the kingdom of the Lord. 1 John 5:19, Revelation 11:15
* God’s Old Testament promises to the Jews will be fulfilled, in the end-times, at Christ’s coming, and during the kingdom ages. Genesis 12:1-3; Psalms 47, 67, 72, etc.
* God is continually, purposefully, powerfully and sovereignly working in people’s lives, and working out events on the earth, bringing all things to that point when His Son will return, rapture the Christians, and begin His reign over the world. Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:9-11
* The fact that we are now living in the end-times means we are in the last years of this present age, which will be followed by the millennial kingdom age, and then the eternal kingdom age. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:21, 2:7; Revelation 19-21
* During the millennial kingdom age, believers will be reigning and ruling with Jesus Christ over the entire world. Daniel 7:27; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 2:26-27, 5:10
* A major reason for Christ’s return is to punish the world, which is described in detail by the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. Psalm 98:9; Revelation 8-9, 15-16
* The four major events taking place at Christ’s coming are the rapture of the church, the wrath of God upon the unbelievers, the redemption of a remnant of Jewish people, and the establishment of His kingdom over the world. Revelation 7-20
* That devilish Satan, along with all the unrepentant unbelievers who have ever lived, will be cast into the lake of fire at the end of the millennial kingdom. Revelation 20:10, 15
* In the years leading up to Christ’s coming, you are to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and serve Him by using your gifts, talents and money. Luke 10:27, 12:35-48, 19:11-27
* Being a faithful and fruitful Christian during the end-times requires faith, hope, love, holiness, and perseverance. Luke 18:8, 2 Peter 3:11-13, John 13:34-35, Matthew 24:13
* Your job as a Christian is to work for Christ, pray for His kingdom to come, proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, tell others about His second coming, and be waiting and looking for His return. Matthew 3:3, 6:9-10, 24:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
* Being in a good Bible-teaching church, and having fellowship with other believers, is essential if you are to be a godly, growing and God-glorifying Christian in these days, and in the years leading up to Christ’s return. Acts 2:42, Ephesians 4:11-6, 2 Timothy 4:18, Hebrews 10:25
* Bringing glory to God is the ultimate purpose of your life, now and forever. Jude 24-25
I encourage you to go over these summary statements, read the verses and look at the links. Take the time to study the primary prophecy passages, learning all that God wants you to know about the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ (Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Romans 11, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, and Revelation). Then tell your family, friends and fellow church members the truth about the end-times and the return of Christ. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7). “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
P.S. A good article that goes along with this post is Thirty Important Truths About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Like this one, it summarizes some of the major points about the future God has for us.
P.S. I will not be writing blog posts for the next two weeks, but will be sharing a few thoughts on my perspective about the end-times and the coming of Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Special Post ~
I am taking a break from writing a prophecy post this week and
next week, but I did want to share a few thoughts:
1. You can now download the English posts. I would suggest that
you put them in a file so you can easily retrieve them, and print them out.
2. If you have only been recently reading the blog post, I would recommend going to the Archives, and read them from the very beginning. There are many foundational truths and a lot of good information you need to understand about the end-times, the second coming of Christ, and the ages to come.
3. I have been putting up weekly Facebook ads, with the result that thousands of people from all over the world have been viewing the blog posts, for which I am very thankful. These people, from over 50 different countries, are primarily from Africa and Latin America. Pray that God would use these posts in the lives of all these viewers, particularly, that they would be learning about the coming of Christ and the hope He has given us.
4. I often talk about Christ coming back soon. I say that because the Jewish people are back in their land, and therefore we live in the end-times, in the last years leading up to Christ’s return. But many things still need to take place before His return. Consequently, I believe that Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are still many years away; but in view of all of human history, we can say that it is soon, in fact, very soon. And whether it occurs 10, 20 or 50 years from now, or even longer, no one but God knows.
5. This past Sunday, our church was blessed to have a guest speaker, Mike Ufferman, from Zion’s Hope. He gave a very encouraging message about what it was like in the Days of Noah, and how that relates to how we should view the coming of Christ. You can listen to it at Sermon Audio.
May God continue to bless you in these last days leading up to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church, and be using you for His eternal purposes and glory. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Special Post ~
“But
as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end
time” (Daniel 12:4,9). Seeing that the Jewish people are back in their
land is God’s clear signal to us that His end-time plans are being carried out.
Therefore, I believe these prophetic words of Daniel, as well as all end-time prophecies,
are no longer sealed and concealed. This means Christians are to study them,
and can now understand them, and now need to understand them. What a privilege
and blessing to be alive at this moment in history!
I am taking a break from writing a post this week, but plan to
start again next week with one that is entitled, “God Is In Charge of Everything.” In the meantime, here are a few
thoughts I want to pass on to you:
1. I will continue to write weekly posts on prophecy related
subjects, but am planning to focus more on specific passages and chapters, such
as Daniel 7, Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel 12, Mark 13, Luke 17:22-37, Luke 21:7-36,
Acts 3:17-21, Romans 11, Romans 15:4-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1
Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation
2-3, Revelation 11, Revelation 13, Revelation 17, Revelation 18.
2. Zion’s Hope has one of the best prophecy websites in the world, with many good articles to read, and instructive videos to watch. I really encourage you to check it out – www.ZionsHope.org
3. Many people put off learning about the end-times and the
coming of Christ, thinking that not much is happening now, and so why study the
subject. But don’t procrastinate, and think you will learn later, for now is
the time, in the calm before the storm, to learn what God wants you to know
about the future He has for us and for the entire world.
4. You can download the English posts. I would suggest that you put
them in a file so you can easily retrieve them, and then print them out, for
yourself and others. You never know when sites like this will be shut down by
the authorities.
5. Remember to tell others about Christ’s first coming, His
coming as Savior, and about Christ’s second coming, His coming as Judge and
King. Here is God’s instruction to you, along with a promise from Him: “Those who have insight among the people
will give understanding to the many… Those who have insight will shine brightly
like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to
righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 11:33, 12:3
For our wonderful Lord, loving Savior and glorious King – Steven
Hogan. Jude 24-25
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #106 ~
Do you believe God is sovereign, that He does what He wants, when He wants, where He wants, how He wants, and that no one can thwart His plans? I pray you do. This is a critically important truth, for God is God, and He is in charge of all things. Nothing happens that God does not expressly command or permit. Not only does God know what is going to take place, but He orders it or allows it to take place. God is never surprised. There are no accidents. Nothing happens by chance. With perfect knowledge, power, love and wisdom, God directs and oversees everything, in accordance with His eternal purposes, and for His eternal glory. “He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’” Daniel 4:35
The sovereignty of God relates directly to your own life. He planned your birth and He caused it to happen. He knows the day you will die (or be raptured) and He will bring it about. “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). He planned when you would live and where you would live. “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and boundaries” (Acts 17:26). “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). God’s sovereignty is a strategic, comprehensive and powerful truth, one that will humble, comfort and encourage you, and bring great glory to God.
What about the world? Yes, God is sovereign over the entire world - every country, city, nation, person, relationship, animal, event and atom. “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?” (Lamentations 3:37-38). God is sovereign over rulers (Isaiah 40:23), over Israel (Psalm 33:10-12), over the church (Matthew 16:18), over your job (James 4:13-15), and over the devil (Job 1:6-12). God is always sovereign, “declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure… truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.’” Isaiah 46:10-11
God’s sovereignty also has a direct bearing on Bible prophecy being fulfilled. Think of the prophecies about Christ’s first coming, and how they all were perfectly carried out: that Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), where He was born (Micah 5:2), that He rode on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9), how Jesus died (Psalm 22), and so forth. The fact that all Bible prophecy comes true is one of the clearest and strongest proofs that God is sovereign.
What about Christ’s 2nd coming? Of course, God is sovereign, for He will do what He has decided to do. Every day, from now until Christ’s return, has been carefully planned out by God. We now live in the end-times, and God is directing all things and all people to that point when Christ will return and rapture the church. As the days and years go by, we will literally see His prophetic word being carried out. All of His plans related to Israel, the nations, the true church, false religion, birth pains, the Jewish temple, the Antichrist, the preaching of the gospel, great tribulation, Christ’s 2nd coming, and Satan’s defeat, will be fully carried out. Might you be assured and encouraged by the faithful, powerful, wise, and glorious working of God, resulting in Christ’s return as King.
You may wonder what will happen in your own life, and to your family and church. You may worry about whether you will live or die, whether you will be martyred or raptured. You need to trust God and be at peace, for God is sovereign, and “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” This “good” is that your salvation will be completed, that you will be glorified, that you will be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Romans 8:28-29
The fact that God is sovereign doesn’t mean you are to sit around and do nothing, that you are to just wait and see. You are to work and wait and see. You are responsible for your words and actions, all the time knowing that God is sovereign, that “man plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps” (Proverbs 16:9), that “the steps of man are ordained by the Lord” (Proverbs 20:24). “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). “Go, make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20), knowing that Christ will build His church.
Finally, it’s all about Jesus Christ. Love Jesus, live for Jesus, and look forward to seeing Him come in the clouds. Remember, “we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of times, that is, the summing up all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” Ephesians 1:9-12
P.S. If you have not looked at and read the Key Terms, listed on one of the tabs, I would encourage you to do so. Knowing the definitions of key prophecy terms, and related subjects, is essential in understanding prophecy. One area that is related to this subject of God's sovereignty, that is found in the Key Terms, is the "Purposes of God."
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
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.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #109 ~
Forty years ago, this month, I was recognized as a pastor. Looking back, I have to say that it has been by God’s grace and sovereign will that I have been able to serve Him all these years. What a privilege and blessing it has been to be a pastor and do the work of the Lord. Now in 2019, knowing we are living in the end-times, I look ahead to these last years before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. And at this time in history, I believe it's necessary to summarize God’s plans for the lives of pastors and preachers.
Jesus is to be our first love. We are to regularly be seeking Him, and be daily satisfied, strengthened and led by Him. We are to be filled with God’s Word and Spirit, resulting in faith, wisdom and courage. We are not to be worldly, but holy and zealous for His purposes and glory. We are to be working and fighting hard for God, for truth, humility and justice. Might we not be weak, but strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, so we can stand firm against the evil schemes of the devil. Being a pastor means possessing godly character, and having godly conduct. It’s who we are, and what we do.
But what is our job description, what are we to do? We are to be
fully committed to God and His work. We are not hired men, 9 to 5 workers, but
are slaves of God, and are to be laboring 24/7 for Him. We are to pray to God
for people, for only He can truly change individual lives, as well as entire
churches. We are to be examples in speech, conduct, faith, love and purity.
Otherwise, we are hypocrites, and discredit God’s name and undermine His work
in the church. We are not to be selfish, but are to genuinely shepherd the
saints, loving them, encouraging them, tending to their spiritual needs, and
protecting them from spiritual danger, from lies, errors and enemies.
One of our primary duties is to preach the gospel, to tell the lost the truth about Christ’s first coming, His sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection from the dead. We are to tell the unsaved that forgiveness of sins and eternal life are for all those who repent of their sins and believe that Christ died for them, paying the penalty for all their sins. We must also remember that we are in the greatest war of all time, a spiritual war against the devil himself. But by taking up the full armor of God, we and our churches can resist the enemy in these increasingly anti-Christian days leading up to Christ’s coming.
What else are we to do? It is imperative that we study and preach God’s word, so the saints can understand it, be nourished by it and apply it to their lives. We are to clearly and passionately teach the truth about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, man, salvation and the church. We are to teach the saints that they are children of God and new creatures in Christ. We are to encourage them to live for God, to be holy, loving, and truth-filled, witnessing to both the saved and the lost. We are to teach them to be devoted to the saints, and to use their gifts for the good of the church and the glory of God. But might we never preach weak, worldly, feel-good, ear-tickling messages. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 is my most motivating preaching verse - “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word.” Do you see how relevant this is? We are to preach the word in the context of Christ’s coming, the judgment of the world, and the establishment of His kingdom on earth. Our preaching needs to relate to the return of Christ. It must be forward-looking and hope-filled, motivating us to live godly lives during this church age, and especially now that we are living in the end-times.
This subject of eschatology, of unfulfilled prophecy, is not founded on a few verses, like baptism (which is a correct doctrine), but is based on hundreds of verses from both Old and New Testaments. Don’t be negligent, ignorant, or confused, for we are commanded to teach the whole purpose and plan of God, which includes Christ’s coming and the future kingdom ages. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of God.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Teach Daniel, Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, 2 Peter 3, Revelation, along with many other prophecy passages. Tell the saints what we will be facing in the years to come. Be honest with them about the birth pains, the coming of the Antichrist and great tribulation. Tell them about Daniel’s 70th week, God’s plans for the Jews, the church, and Christ’s coming. Instruct them to be godly saints and good soldiers, to be sacrificing their lives for Jesus, and to be making disciples to the end of this age. Make sure you tell them about their hope, about being glorified, being with Jesus, being with fellow saints, being rewarded, and reigning over the world with Him.
Men of God, I hope you see “that our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:11-12). Be excited about the fact that this is our time to live, at the end of this church age, in these years leading up to Christ’s return to earth. Then everything will change, and Christ will be the perfect King and Lord over the entire earth. But for now, be awake, be alert, do your job in leading, building and protecting the saints, especially in light of the grand and glorious coming of Christ!
Fellow pastors and preachers, we have an important job to do! Let me say it this way: Ezekiel 3:17 – “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 – “… men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Daniel 11:32-33, 12:4 – “The people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many… and shine like the brightness of the heavens.” Luke 3:4 – “Prepare the way for the Lord.”
P.S. - Here are two articles that I believe will be very helpful to you pastors in learning more about eschatological prophecy: Over 100 New Testament Verses on Christ's Second Coming and Charting the Future With Prophecy Charts.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #110 ~
You weren’t alive during the life of Noah, the life of Moses, the life of David, the life of Daniel, the life of Jesus, the life of Luther, the life of Edwards, or the life of Spurgeon. You weren’t born 5,000 years ago, 3,000 years ago, 2,000 years ago, 1,000 years ago, or even 100 years ago. What I’m saying is relevant to you, for realizing when you weren’t alive magnifies the fact that this is the time God wants you to be alive. I say this to point out the plain and simple truth that now, in the 21st century, is your time to live on this earth.
It’s not by chance that you are alive at this time in history, for God Himself planned out your life way ahead of time. Psalm 139:13-17 says, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me.” Not only did God create you exactly the way He wanted, but He also planned out when you would live, and how long you would live (Acts 17:26). Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” That God planned out your life long before this world was ever made should raise this question in your mind: “Why does God want me to be living on this earth at this time?” That God determined the details of your life way back in eternity past should not just intrigue you, but motivate you to want to know why you are alive at this time in history. As for myself, I can’t tell you how excited I am, for I know this is my time to be living on this earth so I can do what God wants me to do.
The era we live in is called the “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4), an age that began with the sin of Adam and Eve, and will end with the signs in the heavens and Christ’s 2nd coming. But now we’re living during the last part of this “present evil age,” what is called the church age, the time between Christ’s 1st and 2nd comings. More than that, we are now living during the end-times, the last part of this church age, the last years leading up to Christ’s return. It’s like the final minute of a basketball game or soccer match.
I hope you realize this present age is almost over, and that Christ is coming soon! But how do we know that we are living during the last years of this present age, and that Christ is coming soon? The main reason is because the Jewish people are back in their land. In 1880, there were about 25,000 Jews in Palestine, but since then, year after year, both sporadically and in waves, they have been gathering back to their homeland, returning by the power and will of God. At present, there are 6.6 million Jews living in what’s once again called Israel. God promised over 2,500 years ago that the Jewish people would return to their land, and now it is true, an amazing miracle, the strongest evidence that we are living in the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37, Daniel 12:9, Luke 21:24
Now that we are living in the end-times, God wants us to know what will be taking place. Remember what Jesus said about these years, “Behold, I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:23). What a blessing that Bible prophecy is no longer sealed and concealed (Daniel 12:4), and that we can understand it. Not only can we understand it, but more and more, we’ll be seeing it come to pass in the years ahead. I must say, I’m really driven to find out what God wants us to know about our future. And it’s all in His word: Matthew 24, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-2, Revelation
Where are we now? We know that Daniel’s 70th week, that prophecy-packed, 7-year time frame, hasn’t started yet (Daniel 9:24-27). Before it does, there will be a further aligning of nations, an increasing desire for globalism, growing antisemitism, a continued push for peace in the Mideast, birth pains (wars, famines, and earthquakes occurring around the world), and the development of super-sophisticated technology enabling the Antichrist to control the world. All these events are part of God’s plans, propelling us to the end of the age, the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, the salvation of a remnant of Jews, and the establishment of His kingdom over this world.
At this time, March of 2019, you need to step back and see the big picture, that God has chosen you to be alive at this time in history, in the last years of this church age, an age that is soon coming to an end. Knowing this should motivate you to live all out for God, be informed about world events, use your gifts and talents to be working for Christ, and be joined with the church in carrying out God’s plans for planet earth. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come… Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20
P.S. Here are two other past posts I would encourage you to read that will help you have the right perspective for your one life on this earth - God's Time Frame For Your Life and Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?
By Steven J. Hogan
A Saturday Morning Post #111 ~
Our real problem, our #1 problem, is sin, and it severely
sickens every single person in this world. Like a spiritual cancer, it is a
global plague that is spiritually and physically deadly. The only answer is
Jesus Christ, for He has dealt with it, and will deal with it, “one way” or the other, and that’s the
good news, the best news there is. “The
wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus, our Lord.” Romans 6:23
When I think about the spiritual condition of our world, I think of Ephesians 4:17-19, which says unbelievers are “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God… and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.” Similarly, Psalm 82:4 says, “They do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are being shaken.” Since the sin of Adam and Eve, the world has continually been hating God and trampling on His truth. At this time, in the beginning years of the 21st century, it's obvious that the majority of the people living on this planet are sinners who don’t love God, don’t know God and don’t understand His truth. Our spiritual foundations are crumbling around us, resulting in damaged and destroyed lives, morals, families, schools, cultures, businesses, governments, and yes, churches too.
For close to 50 years now, I’ve been watching our sinful world get worse and worse. I am spiritually sickened as I see this world flooded with sin. There’s love of self, love of money, and love of pleasure. There’s an increased lack of respect for those in authority, whether it’s parents, teachers, policemen, or government leaders. There’s a growing disregard for the young, the old, and the unborn. There’s a sharp increase in sexual sin, in unmarried people living together, and in divorce. All kinds of people are liars, in big ways and little ways. Personal and public speech is more crude, filthy, obscene and hateful. All over the world, there are lawbreakers, many who have no conscience, and many who receive no consequences. Much of our music, movies and video games is unholy. People say things are good when they are evil, and say things are evil when they are good. People do what is right in their own eyes, but not in the eyes of God. There’s crime, theft, corruption, murder and all kinds of devilish deeds. There are many people whose thinking is depraved, who are out of their minds, don’t make sense, and aren’t rational. The bottom line is that people don’t fear God, don’t love God, and therefore, reject His truth. Mark 7:20-21; John 8:31-47; Romans 1:18-32; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5
And it’s going to get a lot worse. That’s what Matthew 24, the end-times prophecy chapter tells us: “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” God is saying that lawlessness will increase in the years leading up to Christ’s return. Paul substantiates this sad truth when he talks about the Antichrist, this “man of lawlessness… the son of destruction… the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). The unrestrained sinful flesh of man, along with Satan and his devilish Antichrist inciting them to sin against God, will result in this world becoming more lawless and corrupt the closer we get to the end of this age. Now that we live in the end-times, it’s clear that our sinful world is on an irreversible collision course with the Day of the Lord, the dreadful wrath of God. Nothing can stop God from carrying out His predetermined plan to judge sinful people and this sinful world. Psalm 98:9
It’s sobering and somewhat depressing talking about all this sin in the world, but always remember that God is sovereign (Daniel 4:35), God is merciful, and God is holy.
* God is merciful, for Jesus Christ, at His 1st coming, died to pay for the sins of people, and then rose again. If you aren’t saved, if you don’t know Christ, then now’s the time to repent of your sins, and ask God for mercy, for forgiveness, for eternal life. Then expect to be perfected, to be glorified at Christ’s 2nd coming, during the rapture. Hebrews 9:28
* God is holy, which is seen in 3 ways. 1) Individual sinners who reject Christ’s offer of mercy, will perish, will be cast into hell and punished forever. 2) Jesus Christ will defeat the Antichrist: “that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearing of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). 3) This sinful world will be judged by Christ after the end of this age, during the Day of the Lord, but not before He raptures the church, rescuing the Christians who live on this earth from the wrath He will pour out upon this wicked world. Revelation 8-9, 16
Let’s go back to Matthew 24, which instructs us how we are to live in the end-times.
* Verse 12 warns us, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” It's important for you to know that this world will spiritually and morally get worse and worse.
- Verse 13 says, “The one who endures to the end will get saved.” There will be increasing lawlessness, but Christians need to endure. Some will die and go to heaven, and others will persevere to the end of the age and be saved, that is, be raptured and go to heaven.
- Verse 14 tells us to preach the gospel “to all the nations, and then the end will come.” No matter how difficult it gets, remember to tell people about Christ and how they can be forgiven of their sins and escape God’s wrath. What a great privilege to be alive for Christ in these last years before His return to rapture the church. “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). “Go make disciples of all the nations… surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
P.S. The increasing sin of the world is such an important subject to understand. I encourage you to read two other posts related to this one: "It's Going To Get Worse Before It Gets Better," and "How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #112 ~
Every person has challenges, difficulties and pressures. Life is not easy. It can be hard, extremely hard, and at times, seem impossible! That’s why you need hope! A person can only keep going if he has hope. People who are sick look forward to getting better. People who are hungry are anticipating their next meal. People who work hard all week can’t wait for the weekend. To be honest, you can’t live without hope. But for you, as a Christian, I’m talking about godly hope; and God knows you need it, otherwise, you will become discouraged, lose heart, and want to give up and quit.
But what is hope? It’s a reason to live. It’s a present
certainty about a future reality. It’s what you don’t have now but are
convinced you will receive in the future. It’s the promise of the gospel that
speaks about your life after this life. It is the confident expectation of
God’s future love for you. It’s a present faith in God’s promises resulting in
a sure realization of His future blessing upon your life. But more than
anything else, it’s longing to be with Jesus, knowing that you will soon see
Him in heaven.
My fear is that many Christians don’t have this godly hope in their heart. Focused on this present life, they are thinking about this world, but are not setting their hearts on things above. A believer cannot live rightly for God in the present if he is not longing for the future, for that time when Christ is revealed, and he will be with Him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4). You need hope, for it helps you to be holy, strengthens you during trials, and anchors your soul when you are in troubled waters (1 John 3:3, Psalm 62:5-6, Hebrews 6:10). To have hope, you need to meditate on God’s promises. Think about Psalm 23:6 (“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”), and God will give you hope.
All godly believers who have gone on before us have lived with hope in their hearts. They had an assurance, a “conviction of things not seen.” Abraham “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God… all these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance” (Hebrews 11:1, 10-13). But now that we live in the end-times, we are seeing prophesied signs being fulfilled, which means it won’t be long before the coming of Christ. More than any other generation, we ought to be “looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13
This Titus verse, as some wrongly think, does not imply there won’t be great tribulation before Christ’s coming. The Bible makes it clear that before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, there will be birth pains, economic difficulties, food shortages, family members hating us, great persecution, and the Antichrist ruling the world. Some of the most difficult days for the church still lie ahead, which means that the way to heaven will be a rough road for many of us. I am not saying we are to be looking for the tough times, but we do need to hear and heed Christ’s warning: “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9
This is when “looking for the blessed hope…”, will not just be a nice idea, but a necessity. This is when hope will be essential, when we cannot, at least in a godly way, make it without it. When life gets real hard, we need to know that Christ is coming soon, and be “fixing our eyes on Jesus… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God.” The greatest example of One who had hope is Jesus. “Consider Him who endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Are you abounding and overflowing with hope? Are you excited that you have a God-planned future, an amazing and perfect future in the ages to come? No matter what happens in the present, your future will be infinitely better. It’s well worth it to live and suffer for Christ on earth, for yours “is the kingdom of heaven… your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 5:10, 12
What is this hope God wants you to be looking forward to? You will be with Jesus, your Lord, Savior and King (John 14:3). You will be in a heavenly home, a place prepared by Jesus just for you (John 14:2-3). You will receive an immortal, glorified, spiritual, powerful body, perfectly suited to love and serve God forever (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). You will be with all the saints, including loved ones who have passed away before you (1 Thessalonians 4:14). You will obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled (1 Peter 1:5). Finally, there will always be fullness of joy, along with eternal pleasures. Psalm 16:11
Godly hope is greatly encouraging and extremely motivating, and will energize you to keep persevering to the end of your short stay on this earth. Look forward to being with Jesus, and to the fulfillment and realization of all your hopes. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
P.S. I encourage you to read this article, "You Have to Have Hope," for it greatly expands on this important and needed subject.
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."
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.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #115 ~
WHO has true hope? The Christian, the believer, the child of God, the one who has been born again. God knows you can’t live without it. You have to have it, for this is how He made you, how you are spiritually wired. You need to know that God has good things in store for you. You need to know there’s a reason for living, that He will reward you in the future for your work in the present. Having hope for the next age helps you to persevere in the present age, and successfully make it through this life. Now I’m not talking about worldly hopes, I’m talking about godly hope, a God-promised future, what He clearly tells us in His Word.
WHAT
is this hope? What are these things God wants you to be excited about? It’s
being with Jesus (John 14:3). It’s
being in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-24).
It’s being with fellow Christians (1
Thessalonians 4:13-17). It’s having a new
body (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). It’s experiencing no pain or sadness (Revelation 21:4). It’s reigning with Christ (Revelation 5:10). It’s eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11). It’s being greatly rewarded (Matthew 5:12). But more than
anything else, it’s being able to wholeheartedly worship God (Psalm 84:4). I can’t wait! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared
for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
WHEN will this hope be realized? When will you begin to see all these good things take place? At the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “… in Christ all will be made alive… those who are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:22-23
HOW do you get hope? First, you need to be saved. As soon as you are made right with God and are forgiven of your sins, you have hope. That’s when you know you are going to heaven to forever be with Jesus and all the saints. 1 Peter 1:3-4 says that God “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance … reserved in heaven for you.” Once you are born again, you have hope, this present certainty that you will receive a heavenly inheritance, this confidence that you will be incredibly and eternally blessed.
Second, you need to know what God’s word says about hope. Romans
15:5 tells us, “through … the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The Scriptures
describe your hope. I just mentioned nine different aspects of your glorious
hope, all explained in God’s word. But it’s not just knowing what God says,
it’s also believing it. It does you no good to know your future if you don’t
believe it to be true. The saints of old had faith-based hope, for they
believed what God told them about the future He had planned for them. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped
for.” Hebrews 11:1
Third, God gives you trials to increase your hope. Now God gives present grace to get you through these trying situations. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). But God also gives you the hope of future grace. “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13). This hope of a perfect future helps you get through your present trials, for you know that God will greatly bless you in the ages to come. Your momentary light afflictions are producing for you “an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Fourth, it’s good to ask God for hope. Here is Paul’s prayer: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 2:18). It’s a work of God in the heart of a Christian that enables him or her to have hope. We can easily set our minds on earthly things, but it’s a God-given hope that sets our minds on heavenly things, on a wonderful future He has already prepared for us. So how do you get hope? By being saved, by reading God’s word, by learning through trials, and by prayer.
WHY do I say all this? Why do I keep writing about hope? Because it’s vitally important for your life, a quality that is lacking in the lives of many Christians. Think of the five essential nutrients for the growth and health of the physical body - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Each of these are critically needed, or else your body won’t function properly, will get weak and sick. So too, hope is needed for you to be a spiritually healthy Christian. When you have hope, you’ll be able to persevere (1 Thessalonians 1:3), you’ll grieve rightly (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), you’ll have a godly perspective (1 Thessalonians 5:9), you’ll be more holy (1 John 3:3), you’ll be spiritually anchored (Hebrews 6:19), and most importantly, you’ll be more excited about seeing and being with Christ (1 Timothy 1:1). Indeed, the gospel message is hope-full, for it is good news, not just now, but forever. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
P.S. I strongly encourage you to read my two recent posts on hope, for they go along with this one. "You Need Hope to Get Through Life" and "Your Great Hope and Most Glorious Future." I cannot emphasize enough the importance of godly hope for your life, and for all Christians.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #116 ~
What a great, glorious and perfect future that God has planned out for all believers! Now you might live 80 to 90 years on this earth, but the best is yet to come, a continual, heart-rejoicing and God-glorifying eternity. As a Christian, one of your greatest needs is to know, understand, and be excited about this hope God has for you. But what exactly is it God wants you to be looking forward to? Here is what He tells you in His word:
1. You will be with Jesus! “We shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The primary focus of your hope is not a place, not things to do, nor people to see, but the person of “Christ Jesus, who is our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). The centerpiece of your hope is that you will literally be with Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. This Jesus, who is your Savior, Lord, Redeemer, King, Husband and Friend, loves you so much more than anyone else. You can’t imagine what it will be like to be with Jesus, who lived, died and rose again, is now seated next to God the Father, and “can’t wait” to come back to be with you, and with all the believers. Jesus prayed, “Father, I desire that they… be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me” John 17:24). Then, like never before, you will be loved by Him, learn from Him, serve Him and worship Him!
2. You will have no more problems! “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17). “There will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). You will have no more sinful thoughts, words or actions. You will have no more anger, pride, hate, selfishness, impurity, fear, anxiety or jealousy. You will have no more aches, ailments, tiredness, trials or conflicts. You will be perfect, your life will be perfect, and all your relationships will be perfect!
3.
You will be with all the believers! “Who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even
you in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”
(1 Thessalonians 2:18). Just think, you will be with all the believers who have
ever lived, those who have already gone to heaven, and those still living on
earth. This means you will be with all your loved ones. What a joy to be with believing
family members and friends you knew on earth, as well as other believers you
heard about, or didn’t hear about, and will then meet for the very first time.
Oh, what divine fellowship and friendships we will have in the future!
4. You will be in heaven, the house of God! “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). Heaven, a breathtakingly brilliant and magnificent place, will be inhabited by Jesus our mediator, God the judge, myriads of angels, righteous spirits and the church (Hebrews 12:22-24). Heaven, the most holy place of all, is also referred to as “The courts of the Lord… Your dwelling places… the house of my God… Zion.” Psalm 84!
5. You will have a new home! “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-3). “They will receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). Yes, you will be in heaven, but Jesus will have also prepared a special dwelling place for you, which will be located in the new Jerusalem, that glorious city (Revelation 21:10-21). I believe you will have your own spotless, delightful, and perfectly-suited place, a place you can call home, and be at home, where you can wonderfully worship the Lord and sweetly fellowship with others!
6. You will be given a new body! It will be “an imperishable body… raised in glory… raised in power… a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). At Christ’s coming, you will receive an imperishable body, one that cannot die or be destroyed, but is immortal and eternal. It will be glorious, perfect inside and out, altogether beautiful, and like Jesus’ body, a display of God’s glory. It will be powerful, always energized, much stronger than anyone in this present world, and able to go anyplace and do anything God wants you to do. It will be a spiritual body, perfect in character, speech and actions, and perfectly able to always worship and serve the Lord, and to fully love and be fully loved!
7. You will receive an inheritance! This is “an inheritance
which is imperishable” (1 Peter 1:3-4). “Blessed
are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:3, Psalm 37). We
are not just talking about silver, gold and precious gems, but the entire world
and all it contains - birds, flowers, fish, seas, animals, mountains, forests,
clouds, cities and much more. As co-heirs with Christ, He will possess and
share the world with us!
8. You will be greatly rewarded! “Each will receive his own reward for his
own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8, Revelation 22:12). God
is not cheap, but One who will richly reward you in heaven for all your labor
on earth. This reward, I believe, relates to your relationship with Christ, the
nature of your heavenly dwelling place, and the work God will give you to do. I
hope you realize that it’s supremely and eternally worth it to serve the Lord!
9. You will see Jesus Christ reign over the world! “God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:8). When Christ comes back, He will perfectly reign over this world. His truth will be proclaimed; He will judge the people; He will guide the nations; His mercy will be shown to the poor; and many will be saved. (Psalms 67, 72, 96). Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Your prayer will be answered: “Our Father… Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10!
10. You will reign with Jesus Christ! “They will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for one thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). “His master said to Him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things - I will put you in charge of many things’” (Matthew 25:21). As a priest of God, you will be reigning with Christ, serving and helping Him rule over this world. Having a glorified body will enable you to happily, heartily and successfully do all the work He wants you to do!
11. You will experience an abundant and eternal life! “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11). In the coming ages, you will always be experiencing the wonderful love and goodness of God. You will never, not for a second, be sad or worried, but will continually be filled with abundant joy and peace. You will experience innumerable pleasures, always enjoying and being encouraged by your relationship with Jesus, your relationships with saints and angels, and sharing in the everlasting glory of God!
12. You will be worshiping God all the time! “I will praise Your name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:2). In your entire eternal existence, your number one purpose is to love and worship God, and that is what you will perfectly and joyfully do. Without question, your favorite, soul-satisfying experience will be when you are wholeheartedly praising God, and giving Him all the glory. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise… the Lord is good, and His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 100:4-5!
This is a limited description of your hope, your awesome, fantastic,
spectacular and heavenly future! This God-given hope is an incredible, unbelievable and undeserved gift, a personal and
perfectly planned out future. Be excited about it, be longing for it, and be
looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s guaranteed and glorious plans for
you. They are supremely and infinitely better than anything you have ever
experienced on earth!
Take the time to really think about what God has in store for you, and be thankful that He will be so loving, kind and generous to you. God has only given you one life on this earth, and that for a very short while, and then He will set in motion the rest of your eternal life, the most wonderful life you could ever imagine. Now that we live in the end-times, it won’t be long before your hopes will be realized, when you will finally and fully be saved, when you will perfectly and forever be worshiping and serving your great God and Father, and your Lord Jesus Christ. “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever… Amen.” Revelation 5:13-14!
P.S. My desire is to help you see the extreme value of hope for your life and for the entire church. If you have not yet read the previous posts on hope, Post 112, Post 113, and Post 115, I would encourage you to do so. I really believe reading them will make a big difference in your life.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #117 ~
When we look back through history, we see that Jewish believers had hope for the future. Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Job stated, “at the last He (my Redeemer) will take His stand on the earth” (Job 19:25). Hannah knew that “the Lord will judge the ends of the earth” (1 Samuel 2:10). David said confidently, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). When writing about the Son of Man, Daniel knew “His kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27). These Jewish saints all had hope, for they were looking ahead, and looking forward, to God’s purposes being fulfilled. But they had an incomplete picture, for God had not revealed to them all that He was planning to do in the future.
What about the saints in the early church? It’s obvious that they learned much more about this hope, the glorious plans God had in store for His people. Peter (1 Peter 1:3-5, 10-13), John (Revelation), Matthew (Matthew 24), Luke (Luke 21:7-36), Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9), and James (James 5:7-9), all wrote about the coming of Jesus Christ. This divine revelation, in addition to what the Old Testament saints had written, gave them a much clearer picture of Christ’s return and specific events preceding it. Like the believers before them, these 1st century Christians also had hope, for they were anticipating the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. But it wasn’t clear to them when all these prophesied events would take place. In fact, Jesus told the apostles, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). As we look back, we can see that they didn’t need to know when, for God knew it would be a long, long time until the end of the age and the coming of Christ.
Here we are in the 21st century, and close to two thousand years have come and gone since the start of the church age, and Christ still has not returned. Millions and millions of believers from the past, both Jews and Gentiles, have gone on to heaven before us. Their passing away, their departure from this earth, was a good thing, for their hope was partially fulfilled - they immediately were taken to be with Christ, met many loving saints, and were blessed to be in a sinless and perfect state. And they passed the baton on to other believers, and now it’s our turn to run the race.
But it won’t be thousands of years before Christ comes back, and it won’t be hundreds of years either. That the Jews are back in their land, that Israel has been reestablished as a nation is proof, evidence, and God’s sign to us that it won’t be long before He sends His Son back to earth. No one but God knows the exact time of Christ’s return, but we can know the general time, for God’s prophetic word is being fulfilled in the world around us, and we can see that the day of Christ is drawing near. Matthew 24:3-36
What a privilege to be living at this time in history, in these years leading up to Christ’s return. Shouldn’t we be more excited about His coming than other believers who lived in the past? Shouldn’t we see that our “salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed” (Romans 14:11)? Shouldn’t we be like the “sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, and knew what they should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32)? Shouldn’t we “give understanding to the many” (Daniel 11:33)? Shouldn’t we “make ready the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4)? Shouldn’t we be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12)? Shouldn’t we tell others all we know about what lies ahead, and Who will soon appear in the clouds above us (Mark 13:23, 26)? Yes, yes, yes!
For thousands of years, believers have been hoping, waiting, looking, longing for that time when the Messiah, the Christ, will set up His kingdom on this earth. But to think He could come in our lifetime is a thrilling thought, a most encouraging possibility. Might we then “run with endurance the race that is set before us,” the last leg of this race, this race to the end of the age, this race to see Jesus. Might we fix our eyes on Jesus, and fix our hope on the grace to be brought to us when He is revealed (Hebrews 11:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13), for it is at His coming that we will begin to see the realization of all our hopes, the fulfillment of God’s promises to all His people. Then we will be given new bodies, meet up with loved ones we knew on earth, see God’s judgment of the world, be revealed with Christ in glory, and soon after that, begin to reign over the earth with Him.
Then we will see His plans for the Jews coincide with His plans for the church (Hebrews 11:39-40). His promise to the Jews, “the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:29), will be fulfilled in conjunction with His promise to the church, “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Romans 15:10 confirms this when it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people,” His people being the Jewish believers. Then we read, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Might you see that God wants all believers, Jews and Gentiles, Old Testament saints and church-age believers, to be abounding in hope! Might you be excitedly looking forward to what God will be doing for all His people, and all for His glory. “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.” Romans 15:11
P.S. This post spoke about the future of both Jewish and Gentile believers. I have written quite a bit about the Jews in past posts. Here are three I would strongly encourage you to read: A Jewish Reading Lesson, Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church, Clear New Testament Confirmation of God's Plans for the Jews.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #118 ~
An essential and critical passage to understand with regards to Christ’s coming, the resurrection and the rapture of believers is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Here is what it says:
Verse 13: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” Paul wrote this passage because of confusion in the Thessalonian church as to what would happen to fellow believers who had physically died, or as was said, had fallen asleep. He didn’t want anyone to be uninformed or in error with regard to the truth of the resurrection, and how it related to their own lives, and the lives of loved ones who had already died.
Verse 14: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” To clear up their confusion, Paul begins by declaring the foundational truth of Christ’s death and resurrection, which is the basis for the resurrection of all believers. Paul links the resurrection of Christ with the future resurrection of those who had already died, which would include both Old Testament and church-age saints. God’s plan is for all these believers to be resurrected, and return with Christ when He comes back to heaven, which is further explained in verses 15-16.
Verse 15a: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord...” Before Paul continues, he emphasizes the truthfulness and extreme importance of this passage by saying that what he was sharing was not his or any man’s idea, but rather “the word of the Lord,” the actual word of God.
Verse 15b: “that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord…” Paul is stating that the resurrection of believers occurs at the coming of the Lord, which he also says in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep… after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.” This word “coming,” from the Greek “parousia,” is the most common word used in the New Testament when speaking about Christ's return, appearing over 20 times. It is a noun which means presence, and therefore speaks of the presence of the Lord.
By saying, “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord,” it’s obvious that Paul thought he might be alive on earth at Christ’s coming. But it’s about 2000 years later, and we are now living in the end-times, which means the truth of His coming is more relevant and applicable to our generation. I am both amazed and excited to think Christ’s coming could take place in our lifetime. I believe many Christians now living on earth will remain, that is, be ones who survive great tribulation, and are here when Christ returns. And that Paul says these believers will “remain until” means the resurrection of the believers is the very first event to occur at “the coming of the Lord.”
Verse
15c. “will not precede those
who have fallen asleep.” The believers who have already died, and are now
in heaven, will be resurrected before the resurrection of those still living on
earth. I believe there will be only a split second or two between their
resurrections, but nevertheless, all believers who have died will have the honor
of being glorified, of getting their new bodies, before those on earth.
Verse 16: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” God tells us what will be taking place just before the resurrection of all the believers:
1) The Lord Jesus Himself descends from heaven. Luke 21:27
2) As Jesus descends, He gives out a loud shout, a loud command heard round the earth. Jesus is not just announcing His coming, but is commanding believers to come to Him.
3) The archangel’s voice is clearly heard, joyfully proclaiming the coming of Christ.
4) The trumpet of God is also signaling the coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:52
5) The dead in Christ, as stated in verse 14, will arise, that is, be resurrected, and as stated in verse 15, will arise first, before the Christians who are still living on earth.
Verse 17: “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.” Paul goes on to tell us God’s plan for the resurrection of the believers living on earth:
6) The believers who are alive and remain on earth at Christ’s coming will be caught up. This phrase, “caught up”, from the Greek “harpazo”, means to be forcibly taken, to be seized, and is also translated as raptured. At Christ’s coming, all believers who are on earth will suddenly be lifted off the earth, be raptured, and immediately be resurrected.
7) All the Christians being taken from the earth will be gathered together with the believers who had just been resurrected. Mark 13:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
8) All the resurrected believers, those who were in heaven, and those who were on earth, will meet the Lord in the air. How wonderful this will be, for all believers from all time will now be with the Lord, and be with Him forever! The coming of Christ, the glorification of all believers, and that they are finally with Christ, is the great climax and conclusion of this age, and the beginning of God’s glorious plans for the rest of eternity.
Verse 18: “Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” Now that we know these things, what should we do? We are to comfort and encourage other Christians by telling them that they will be resurrected, glorified, and fully saved, at Christ’s coming. We are to tell them that they will be reunited with all believers who have ever lived, but most importantly, will be with the Lord forever. Should we not be excited about this, and looking forward to this, and “encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near?” Hebrews 10:25
Simply stated, all believers from Old Testament times and from the church age, will be resurrected, will be glorified, at the coming of Jesus Christ, and will be with Him forever. This is great news, wonderful news, magnificent news! Amen!
P.S. The Resurrection and the Rapture are two very important and related subjects. Here are two posts and an article which will give you further understanding: The Rapture of the Christians at the Second Coming of Christ, The Resurrection and Rapture of the Believers, and The Rapture of the Church.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #119 ~
The young church at Thessalonica had a great interest in learning about Christ’s return and the future God had for them. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul taught that at Christ’s coming, all believers who had died throughout history would be resurrected, and all believers still living on earth would be raptured, and then together they would meet the Lord in the air. But Paul had much more to say about God’s end-time plans for the believers and the unbelievers, and so he continues to teach them.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Paul knew they did not need to know about times and seasons, about dates and events, for he had already taught them these things. “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” Right after the Christians are raptured, this day of the Lord, God’s cataclysmic judgment, will devastate this evil world. And “they”, the unsuspecting unbelievers, will be totally caught off guard. With the Antichrist ruling the world, “they” will be saying “peace and safety,” and be “eating and drinking” (Matthew 24:38). But “they” will be deceived, for it’s a pseudo peace. Suddenly the skies will darken and there will be a great earthquake, and “they” will try to run and hide, but there will be no escaping “the wrath of the Lamb.” “Then destruction will come upon them.” Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 8-9
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5. “But you brethren are not in darkness...” Paul makes a clear and marked contrast between the Christians and the unbelievers who are living in the end-times, for “they” refers to the unbelievers, but “you” refers to the believers. “You” are not in darkness. “You” will escape God’s judgment. The day of the Lord won’t overtake “you.” This day of the Lord will not be like a “thief in the night” to “you.” And why won’t Christians be caught off guard and surprised by the sudden coming of Christ? Because they are children of God, “are sons of light and sons of day,” and know all about the “times and seasons” leading up to Christ’s coming. Not only that, but they love Christ and are serving Christ, and are looking forward to His return. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 11. What Paul communicates in these verses are clear, concise instructions as to how Christians should live at all times and, particularly, in the end-times. It is the 21st century and “salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). I’m convinced God is now raising up an army of godly Christians who have insight, and know what they should do in these last years before Christ’s return.
* We should not be asleep, we should be awake and alert in both mind and heart. We should not be unaware of, nor indifferent to, what God’s word says about the events associated with Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. We should be watchful and discerning Christians, ones who are rightly assessing what is happening in the world around us. And we should be excitedly living for Christ and looking for His return.
* We should be sober, and not be drunk. We should not be wrongly influenced by worldly indulgences and sensual pleasures that dull our mind and soul, and our love for God. We should be serious, self-controlled Christians, living all out for God by diligently doing all the work He wants us to do. 1 Peter 4:7-11
* We should put on the breastplate of faith and love, for this is our spiritual protection, our means of standing firm against the schemes of the devil. We should trust God by trusting in His word, in His promises, and in His power. We should love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and love our neighbors. Ephesians 6:10-18, Mark 12:30
* We should put on our spiritual helmet, which is the hope of salvation, for hope motivates us and helps us to endure for the Lord. We should know all about our future, being glorified, with Jesus, with other believers, and reigning with Christ in the millennial kingdom. We need to know that the best is yet to come. Psalm 84
* We should encourage one another, and all the more as the day of Christ draws near. We are tempted, we sin, we get weary, we get discouraged, and we need one another and need to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24-25
* We should build one another up. By both word and example, we are to disciple others, care for others, and help others spiritually grow up and make progress in their lives, character, and work for God. Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 4:11-16
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10. “God has not destined us for wrath…” How incredibly merciful and amazing that God enables us to escape His punishing wrath. Oh, we may go through momentary, light tribulation, but we will experience no “day of the Lord” at the end of this age, and no painful “lake of fire” that lasts forever. We will experience just the opposite, a perfect, wonderful, glorious and eternal future, with God our Father, Jesus Christ, and all the saints. Whether we are awake (alive when Christ returns), or asleep, (have died before His return), we will obtain “salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.” As Christians, we will soon be glorified, and then forever live together with Jesus. “Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18
P.S. A post that helps you understand what God wants Christians to do in the end-times is "How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?" A post that tells you more about what happens to the non-Christians in the end-times is "The Day of the LORD: The Wrath of God on Earth."
By Steven J.Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #120 ~
Ever since the start of the church, Christians have been
persecuted. But this should not be a surprise to us, for the Bible told us this
would happen. Jesus said to His disciples, “If
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). In his
epistle, Peter wrote, “For you have been
called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example to follow” (1 Peter 2:21). The apostle Paul said to fellow Christians,
“Through many tribulations we must enter
the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
Paul, who suffered greatly himself, was involved with many churches who were being persecuted, one of which was at Thessalonica. He was there for only a few weeks, but after leaving and hearing this church was enduring much tribulation, he writes a letter to encourage them. “Grace to you and peace from God the Father… we ought always to give thanks to God for you… we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:2-4). Now God had this chapter written with the big picture in mind, taking us from the time of the Thessalonian church clear up to Christ’s return, which means these verses are for all believers living during this church age, but are particularly relevant to those living in the end-times.
What Paul says to the Thessalonian believers is instructive to 21st century saints who live in the midst of persecution. We are to keep trusting the Lord. We are to love one another. We are to persevere, to bear up under unjust suffering. We are to know that suffering is proof that we are true Christians, and are worthy of God’s kingdom. And we are to also have hope - we are to know there will be permanent “relief” from this suffering. Close to 2000 years have gone by since the church began, which means relief and rest has already come to millions of believers who have died, and are now in heaven with Jesus. But since we live in the end-times, there is a good possibility many of us won’t die, but will continue to live on, and suffer for Jesus, and then be raptured and given relief.
There is something else God wants us to know. As Christians we sometimes complain when we suffer. We may even look at unbelievers with an envious eye, wishing to have the comfort and ease which they seem to have. Yes, they may be eating, drinking and being merry, but don’t forget, if they don’t turn to Jesus, then God “will cast them down to destruction” (Psalm 73:18, Luke 12:4-21). God wants us to know that unrepentant unbelievers may afflict us for a short while on earth, but they will be eternally afflicted in hell. It is imperative that we have this perspective, and realize that “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17), and that the unrepentant unbeliever will receive eternal retribution, God’s holy vengeance.
God goes on to explain the who, what and when of His vengeance,
His righteous wrath:
* Who receives this wrath? All people who don’t know God, who have rejected the gospel, God’s offer of mercy, will be judged and suffer His eternal wrath.
* What is this wrath? It is eternal destruction. This does not mean God annihilates sinners, that He wipes them out of existence. It means they will be “away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His power.” It means they will never experience any bit of love, joy, peace, mercy or pleasure. But it’s not just the absence of that which is good, it’s the presence of eternal pain. Jesus says, “these will go away into eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46). But always remember, when God brings retribution, He is completely righteous, for His wrath is based on His perfect and holy justice.
* When does this wrath, this eternal destruction begin? First, know that all unrepentant unbelievers who die before the return of Christ are cast into Hades (Luke 12:5, 16:19-23). Second, know that 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 has particular reference to the end-time unbelievers who are on earth at Christ’s return. Their judgment starts when Christ is revealed from heaven, on that very day when He comes to be glorified in His saints, which is at Christ’s coming. The first event to occur at His coming is the rapture of the church, and right after that begins this eternal destruction, which has three stages to it. First, these unbelievers suffer during the day of the Lord (Revelation 8-9, 16). Second, they are cast into Hades, where they will remain for one thousand years. Third, they are thrown into the lake of fire, where they will be eternally punished. Revelation 20:11-15
This last section about the unbelievers is true, and very sad, and most sobering. How then does Paul conclude this chapter? With a prayer, “that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.” Jude 21-25 tells you what to do: “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire… to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority.”
P.S. 2 Thessalonians 1 tells us that Christians go through tribulation from the beginning of the church age to the end of the church age. We also know that Christians all over the world will go through great tribulation in the time leading up to Christ's return. Two posts that speak about this are: Christians Go Through Tribulation and Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #121 ~
The apostle Paul had written one letter to the Thessalonian church, and much of that focused on the future, on details about the coming of Christ. But it wasn’t long before Paul became very concerned about them, for he heard that many in this young church were alarmed and troubled. They received a letter, heard some message, or somehow got the impression that the day of the Lord had already started, which worried them, and made them wonder if they were even saved, and therefore, had missed the rapture.
Paul dearly loved these Christians and knew he needed to write another letter to clear up any confusion, to answer any questions they had. In 2 Thessalonians 1, he tells them that the rapture, and the relief that comes with it, would occur before God’s retribution, before the day of the Lord, before God’s punishment of unrepentant sinners. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Paul reminds them that at the coming of the Lord, all believers would be gathered to Him. Then in verse two, Paul referred to the day of the Lord.
But before we go any further, you need to see how the coming of the Lord and the day of the Lord relate to each other. First, let me define this word coming. It is a noun and means arrival and continuing presence, and in this case, the arrival and presence of the Lord. It is not referring to a simple, instantaneous event, but to a comprehensive whole, which includes many events directed by Christ. The 1st event to occur at His coming will be the rapture of the church, immediately followed by the 2nd event, the day of the Lord. I say immediately because of what Luke 17:29-30 says: “On the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” What this tells us is that the day of the Lord starts on the same day as the rapture of the church. At the coming of Christ, the church is raptured, and after that, on that same day, the day of the Lord begins.
Now let’s go back to 2 Thessalonians 2. In verse one Paul speaks of the coming of the Lord. In verse 2 he mentions the Day of the Lord. In verse 3 he tells us about two identifiable events that will occur before the day of the Lord, and also before the coming of the Lord. He says there's the apostasy, and that the man of lawlessness needs to be revealed. This word apostasy means rebellion, defiance or defection; and I believe part of this apostasy relates to the revealing of this lawless man, the Antichrist, which occurs at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, a seven-year time-frame. Daniel 9:27
Let me explain the connection between the apostasy and the revealing of the Antichrist. Sometime in the first half of Daniel’s 70th week, the Jews will be permitted to build a temple and offer sacrifices to God, for which they will be very happy. Then along comes the most arrogant and evil man ever, the Antichrist, and in total defiance of God, he desecrates their temple. Verse 4 tells us that he “opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15
This shocking display of pride and power, along with other signs, will cause many Jews, and many so-called religious people around the world to be deceived, to defect, and to turn away from God (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). The result will be that most of them will begin to worship this lawless man, this beast, this Antichrist. (Revelation 13:3-17). What Paul is saying is that the apostasy and the revealing of the Antichrist will occur before the day of the Lord. These two events did not take place back then, and still have not taken place today, close to 2000 years later. In particular, we have not seen the Antichrist on earth, at least not yet. Therefore, we know that the day of the Lord has not yet started, and we know that the Lord has not yet come in the clouds and raptured the church, but He will, and it will not be long from now.
In the near future, the Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and after that, at some unknown time to us, the coming of the Lord and the day of the Lord will begin. Since the rapture of the church is the first event to occur at the coming of the Lord, we know the rapture will take place sometime after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, after the Antichrist is revealed, sometime during the last half of that 7-year period. This means Christians will be living on earth when the Antichrist is revealed, and is ruling over the world.
Let me go back to the first word in this passage. It is the word request and is translated as beg, plead or beseech. In verse 3, Paul says, “Let no one in any way deceive you.” Paul, a concerned pastor, was strongly pleading with these young Christians, warning them not to be tricked, lied to, nor led astray by anyone, in any way. I have the same concern, that you know the truth about the end-times and the coming of Christ, and are not at all deceived, confused, or in error. God wants you to know about these events that will be taking place before the coming of the Lord, and also have a clear grasp as to where they fit in, that is, understand the sequence of these end-time events. When you understand these things, you will realize that you may go through some short-lived tribulation brought on by the Antichrist, but you will not go through the eternal wrath brought on by God. This is very good news, for “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ… we will live together with Him.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
P.S. What I am talking about in this post relates to the sequence, the chronology of end-time events, something all good students and teachers of Bible prophecy need to understand. The best chapter that covers this subject is Matthew 24. I encourage you to read my article, entitled, Matthew 24 - The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible.
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 2nd 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 70th 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 70th 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 21st 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 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 70th 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 70th 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 70th 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 #124 ~
I have grown to love these two little letters, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. They contain so much relevant and needed truth about Christ’s second coming, and the Christian life.
* 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is about how all believers from all time will be glorified, be fully saved at Christ’s coming. Those already in heaven will join up with Christians being raptured from the earth, and together they will meet Jesus Christ in the air.
* 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 tells us that unbelievers will be totally caught off guard by the coming of the Lord and the day of the Lord. But believers on earth will not be surprised and, in fact, filled with faith, hope and love, they will be looking forward to His coming.
* 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 says that Christians will be suffering, but be given relief and be glorified when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. This is in sharp contrast with unbelievers who will be punished, who “will pay the penalty of eternal destruction.”
* 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 informs us that the apostasy, and the coming of that proud and devilish Antichrist, must take place before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. It is true - the church will be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed.
These are great passages, for they tell us basic end-times truths that every Christian should know. Study them, understand them, never forget them, and don’t let anyone deceive or mislead you about Christ’s coming. But there’s something else you need to understand. What I have seen over the years is that many Christians know all about prophecy and what God says about our future - they share verses and discuss topics that relate to Christ’s return and the rapture, but many of them miss the larger picture.
Here’s the point: you don’t want to focus only on what Paul says about Christ’s coming in these two epistles. You don’t want to separate what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4-5 and 2 Thessalonians 1-2 about the end-times from the rest of 1-2 Thessalonians. You don’t want to take these prophecy passages out of context. It’s not just what you know about prophecy, but it’s how you live, and the rest of these epistles give needed instructions as to how you are to live for the Lord. Now that we are in the end-times, don’t you think all the truths in 1-2 Thessalonians are specifically and especially relevant to what God wants us to be doing at this time in history? God gives us these two epistles so we can know what He wants us to know about the end-times, but also so we can learn how to live for Him in view of Christ’s coming.
Of course, God gives us all the epistles, as well as the entire Bible, so we can rightly live for Him. But we are looking at 1-2 Thessalonians, and so let me summarize what an end-time church should look like, what pastors and individual Christians need to know and do.
* First, you see Paul’s great love for these believers - “We proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, having so fond an affection for you” (1 Thess. 2:7-12, 2:19, 3:12). Might we all love like this!
* Second, he repeatedly talked about the importance of having faith in God, hope for the future, and love for the Lord and the Christians. 1 Thess. 1:3, 3:6-13, 5:8
* Third, he commended the Christians for believing God’s word, for suffering for the Lord, for serving Him, for their perseverance in the midst of persecution, and for sharing their faith - “in every place your faith in God has gone forth.” 1 Thess. 1:8, 2:13; 2 Thess. 1:4
* Fourth, he exhorted them to stand firm, to live holy lives, to love one another, to pray, to rejoice, to be thankful, to be discerning, and to “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His kingdom and glory.” 1 Thess. 1:12, 3:8, 4:1-10, 5:16-18, 5:21
* Fifth, he instructed them to not be lazy, undisciplined, or in need, but to be good workers, and eat their own bread. 1 Thess. 4:11-12, 2 Thess. 3:6-13
* Sixth, he reminded them that God had chosen them and called them, and that He would be faithful and fulfill His purposes for them. 1 Thess. 5:24, 2 Thess. 2:13-14
* Seventh, Paul prayed for them, with the primary goal that Christ would be glorified (2 Thess. 1:11-12). And there are many more end-time lessons in these epistles.
My favorite verses in these two epistles are the five benedictions.
This is when Paul tells you what God will do, that He Himself will keep you
blameless, will sanctify you, will enable you to know His love, will cause you
to love one another, will give you peace, and will glorify you. 1 Thessalonians
3:11-13, 5:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 3:5, 3:16
As you know, my strong desire is for you to understand end-time’s prophecy, but you need to understand it in the context of the church. Your value and usefulness to God is seen when you are a holy, loving and serving member of the church, and it’s the epistles that teach you to live like this during this church age. And this Thessalonian epistle, written to instruct a church about the end-times, will instruct you how to live your life in view of Christ’s coming. In these final years I pray there will be Thessalonian-type churches all over the world, ones loving the Lord, living for the Lord, and looking forward to His soon return. “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He will bring it to pass.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
P.S. Here is a short read, a blog post, and a longer read, an article, about how to live for the Lord in the end-times: How Then Should We Live in the End-Times? and What Does God Want Me to Do in the End Times?
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #125 ~
Bible prophecy tells us what will happen in the future, not every single detail, but what God wants us to know. This foretelling of coming events is an amazing and encouraging part of His word. You should be extremely excited by the fact that you can know what will be taking place in the years leading up to Christ’s return to earth. But God doesn’t just tell you what events will be taking place, He also tells you when they will take place. By saying “when”, I don’t mean the exact date when they will take place, but rather, the chronology of these upcoming events. To really understand Christ’s coming, and to fully live for Him in these end-times, you need to know the order of these future events.
But how can you know the order, the sequence of future events? How will you be able to see that Christ’s return is getting closer and closer? By understanding this timing tool, this time-frame called Daniel’s 70th week. Here’s what you need to know about this 70th week. It’s still future. It’s exactly seven years long. It bridges this present age with the next age. It’s a time period during which many major prophesied events will occur:
* At the beginning of this 70th week, this man, who will be known as the Antichrist, will make or confirm a covenant, a treaty, between Israel and other nations. Daniel 9:27
* At the 3½ year mark of this 7-year week, the Antichrist will be revealed and seen by Christians and Jews for who he really is, the most devilish man to ever live. Daniel 9:27
* Sometime during the second half of this 7-year period, Christ will come and rapture the church, and gather all believers to Himself. Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
* During the last part of Daniel’s 70th week, just after the rapture of the church, God’s righteous wrath will be poured out upon this most sinful earth. Revelation 8-9, 16
* At the end of this 70th week, Jesus Christ will return, save a large remnant of Jews, establish Himself as King, and shortly thereafter, begin His 1000-year reign over the earth. Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 11:15
It’s 2019, and Daniel’s 70th week is still future. This coming "week" will be one very long "week," a destructive and deadly seven years, a time when there will be spiritual warfare between God and Satan like never before. For many of you, this will be your time to live for the Lord, to serve, fight and suffer for your King. God wants you to be ready for this prophecy-packed 70th week, to know what events will be taking place and when they will be taking place. Now this 70th week, this 7-year divine calendar, doesn’t give you all the details, but it will help you know what and when future events will be happening.
There’s something else that will enable you to understand the order, the chronology of coming events, and that’s timing words and phrases. Here’s a list of them from Matthew 24:4-40: “beginning, then, at that time, end, when, then, then, then, immediately after, then, then, when, when, before, until, then.” The word “then” is a timing word which means, “soon after that, next in order of time” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). “When” means, “at or during which time” (M.W.D). “Until” means, “up to the time that” (M.W.D.) You have to see and understand these timing words if you are going to know when prophetic events take place, that is, the order they will occur in the time leading up to the return of Christ.
Most prophecy passages contain timing words and phrases. In 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, there’s “in his own order, after that, then, when, when, until, last, when, when, then.” In Luke 21:7-33, we find “when, when, when, take place first, follow immediately, before, when, then, then, in those days, until, then, when, drawing near, is now near, when, is near.” When you study prophecy, you need to be looking for these words and phrases. Recognizing these timing words, and knowing the timing tool, Daniel’s 70th week, are two important keys to understanding the order, the sequence of end-time events.
In these end-times, God wants you to be a watchman (Psalm 130:6, Ezekiel 3:17). This means knowing what His word says about prophetic events, and then waiting and looking for them to happen. To be a good watchman, you must know the chronology of end-time events. Then when you see these events taking place:
* you will have more faith in God because you can see that He is keeping His word;
* you will have more peace because you see that all is going according to God’s word;
* you will be all the more convinced and excited that Jesus Christ is coming back;
* you will have greater joy and hope, for you know you will soon see your Savior;
* you will be more motivated to share the gospel with the lost; and
* you will want to tell other Christians what God is doing, how He’s carrying out His plans for the return of His Son, and that it won’t be long.
I encourage you to study all the New Testament prophecy passages. Grow in your convictions about the end-times, the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, and all of God’s plans for the ages to come. And be a watchman. Then you will be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
P.S. Here are two more posts that will add to your understanding about the timing of future end-time events: Daniel's 70th week, One of the Keys to Understanding the End Times and The Timing of the Rapture.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #126 ~
“O my God! O my God! O my God! O my God! O my God! O my God! This is bad!” That was the initial and terrified reaction of a person who had just experienced that recent 7.1 earthquake in southern California. She was scared to death, and understandably so. When I first heard about this earthquake, I immediately thought about the end-times and Matthew 24. In verse 3, we see that the disciples asked Jesus for a sign about His coming and the end of the age. He then gives them the perfect answer, telling them about many signs and events that will take place before His coming, including earthquakes.
Matthew 24:6-8 are the verses that speak about these earthquakes, wars and famines. For those of us living in the end-times, it’s imperative that we understand these verses, or we’ll be in error. What then do we learn about earthquakes and the end-times?
* Jesus says earthquakes will be taking place in the years leading up to His 2nd coming. Earthquakes, along with wars and famines, are events that are part of His alarm system to awaken and alert us to the fact that His return is getting closer. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
* These earthquakes will be great earthquakes (Luke 21:11). As Christ’s return draws near, there won’t be just baby earthquakes, these little quakes and tremors - there will be the big ones, the 7’s, 8’s, and 9’s on the Richter scale.
* These earthquakes, wars and famines are called birth pains. Those of you familiar with babies being born know that a mother has birth pains which increase in intensity and frequency the closer she gets to her child’s birth. As these birth pains continue, the mother knows she will soon see her baby. As these earthquakes get stronger and closer together, you will be able to sense in your spirit that Jesus Christ is coming soon.
* The earthquakes and famines occur in “various places” (verse 7). The vast majority of people in the world won’t be affected by these earthquakes, for they aren’t occurring in every city and country, but only in some places, in “various places.” We also read, “you will be hearing of wars,” which means most people won’t be experiencing the wars (verse 6).
* These earthquakes, wars and famines are the beginning of birth pains (verse 8). Mothers know that beginning birth pains are just the beginning. “Those things must take place, but that is not yet the end” (verse 6). That is, there are later, ending birth pains which are much more painful. And so too, Christians will experience increasingly difficult birth pains as Christ’s return gets closer. The next verse (verse 9) tells you about this: “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated…”
* Both Christians and non-Christians will experience these birth pains, as shown by the context and order of end-time events. Christians are referred to in verses 9-14, and therefore, must be on the earth for these beginning birth pains spoken of in verse 8.
* These earthquakes, wars and famines are not part of the “day of the Lord”, that part of God’s wrath that begins after the rapture of the church. That's because we know God’s wrath is not poured out upon the Christians. We also know this because earthquakes, famines and wars are spoken of in verses 6-8, and God’s wrath does not begin until after the heavenly signs, which are described in verse 29. The same order of events is described in Revelation 6. Seals 1-4 describe these birth pains, and they occur before seal 6, the heavenly signs that signal God’s wrath is imminent (Revelation 6:1-8, 12-17). The rapture is described in Revelation 7:9-14, which makes it evident that it takes place between the seals (birth pains) of Revelation 6, and the trumpets (wrath) of Revelation 8-9.
* These birth pains start before the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, that 7-year time-frame. Some people believe these birth pains start at the beginning of this 70th week, but that means you would have to cram these wars and famines, all these elongated events, along with these quick-strike earthquakes, into one 3½ year time period. I don’t believe it’s possible for all these beginning birth pains to fit into those few years. I also think these earthquakes, wars and famines, have already started, and will continue to increase in intensity and frequency the closer we get to the coming of Christ.
* We live in that stage of the end-times called the beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:8). Matthew 24:9-14 goes on to describe the role and experience of Christians before the end of the age and the rapture of the church. Matthew 24:15-27 tells us about the experience of the Jews before the coming of the Lord. Matthew 24:28 talks about corpses, which means many people will die during this time. Then Matthew 24:29-31 gives us more information about the end of the age, Christ’s return, and the rapture.
* I believe there are still many years to go before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church, which takes place sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. There will be many more wars, famines, earthquakes, along with plagues (Luke 21:11), and financial problems (Revelation 6:5-6). And yes, there will be one last great earthquake before the end of the age (Revelation 6:12). It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better, before Christ comes back. But God is sovereign and good, and you can trust Him.
On this subject of earthquakes and the end-times, it’s very instructive and encouraging to read Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea…though the mountains quake at its swelling pride… Come, behold the works of the Lord… He makes wars cease to the end of the earth… Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us…” Don’t ever be afraid. Just remember that God is with you and will take care of you, and that ultimately, it’s about His purposes and glory.
P.S. Here are two instructive posts related to this subject about the end-times and Christ's return: When Is Christ Coming Back? and When Does the Rapture Take Place?
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 70th 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 70th 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 70th week is not seven years of tribulation. Some people believe the entire 70th week is tribulation, and therefore, is all God’s wrath, but that’s error. Let me give you an overview of Daniel’s 70th week to help you see what will be happening. First, tribulation will occur during the first 3½ years of the 70th 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 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th 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 70th week. This 70th 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 70th 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 70th week. That the rapture happens at the beginning of this 70th 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 70th 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 70th 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 #128 ~
We live in a world that lies in the power of the devil, and with that, in a world filled with humanists, those who believe that humans, and not God, have the answers to life and life’s problems (Humanist Manifesto II). The majority of people, including many leaders, scientists, educators, business men and women, have rejected God and His plan for the world. They are proud, boasting of their achievements. They want power, they want to be in control and run their own lives and the world. They want fame, they want to be recognized, applauded and awarded. They want fortune, they want money, property, nice homes and nice cars. They are lovers of pleasure, desiring to “take life easy, eat, drink and be merry.” 1 John 5:18; Luke 6:24-26, 12:19; 2 Timothy 3:2-4
They want freedom to do whatever they want, but not freedom from sin. They want peace, but it’s man’s peace, based on guns, sanctions, and signatures on a piece of paper, not a God-given peace in their hearts. They want the physical salvation of a planet, but they don’t see that they are separated from God, and that their primary need is for the spiritual salvation of their soul. They look for saviors, ones who can save the nation, the economy, the environment, and can give them jobs, security, and healthcare, but they shake their fists at God. And God laughs and scoffs at them; and He warns them of coming wrath, and their need to worship His Son, the true Savior and King, the One who will reign over the world. Judges 21:25, Romans 6:15-19, Ephesians 2:1-3, Jeremiah 6:14, Psalm 2
Then there is the church, you and me, and all Christians, and God wants us to be lights in this dark world, and to be fighting for the truth. We are not here for fame, fortune, power, position, and personal glory. We are not to be worldly and set our minds on the things of earth. We are not to get too comfortable, with plans to live long and self-satisfying lives. We are not to be fixated on the political process, thinking that the answer is in secular leaders, for the government cannot do what only God can do. We are to put our hope in God, and not in men. Ephesians 5:8-14, Luke 6:20-23, Colossians 3:1-3, Psalm 146:3-5
We are here for God’s glory, and we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We are to proclaim and praise His name, and make Him famous. We are to sacrifice our lives for Jesus Christ, and be willing to suffer for Him. We are to preach the gospel, telling people that to enter the kingdom of God, they need to be born again. Our purpose is to build the church, a spiritual kingdom, where Christ is King in believers’ hearts. Our purpose is to be seeking God’s kingdom, and to be praying for Christ’s kingdom to be established on earth. Doing this will bring glory to God, intimacy with Christ, and blessing to your own life. Mark 12:30; Matthew 6:10,33; Luke 6:20-23; John 3:3, 14:21
Jesus Christ, the King of kings, is coming soon. We know this because we live in the end-times, which means it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and take over the world. But this is an evil age, and it’s hard to live in this wicked world, in the midst of lawlessness and the stench of sin. But this is our time, the time God has chosen for us to be alive. And it will get tougher, for the pseudo-savior, that deceptive and devilish Antichrist, will be ruling this earth and making life difficult and distressing for God’s people. But once Christ finishes building the church, He will rapture the Christians on earth, and gather all believers from all time to Himself. Then He will pour out His wrath, righteously punishing the unbelievers on earth. And finally, He will seize that evil Antichrist and cast him into the lake of fire. Matthew 24:9,31; Revelation 8-9,16,19
At the end of Daniel’s 70th week, we will be excitedly saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). At that time, a large remnant of Jews will be saved, and they, along with all glorified believers, will help Christ rule over the world. This will be a very good age, a most glorious time, a 1000-year period called the millennial kingdom. But for now, let’s be doing the work God wants us to do, and be looking forward to this future time when Christ the King will bring true peace and prosperity to this earth. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Romans 11:25-27, Revelation 20:1-6
Jesus Christ is coming to reign over this earth, and we will reign with Him. This is our hope, and it will surely come to pass (Revelation 2:26-27, 5:10). Be encouraged by the following verses that speak about our coming King, and the magnificent future we will have with Him. “The Lord will be King over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only One” - Zechariah 14:9. “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 9:6-7. “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne” - Psalm 47:7-8. “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the people with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth” - Psalm 67:4. “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” Psalm 72:18-19
P.S. Two previous posts will help you in your understanding of God's past, present, and future kingdom work on earth, "The Kingdom of God," and "Kingdom Instructions for the Church."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #129 ~
How you think about your future dramatically affects how you live your life in the present. Some people don’t think much at all, with the result that their minds are empty, or are filled with worthless things. (Psalm 119:36-37). Others think in sinful and worldly ways, in ways that aren’t pleasing to God (Ephesians 4:17-19). There are those who live in the past, proud about what they did, or mad about some real or supposed injustice, but we are to forget what lies behind (Philippians 3:13). There are those who are worried, fearful and anxious about what might lie ahead. They have the “what ifs”. (Matthew 6:34). Then there are some so focused on the future that they are not living in the present. Many of these are dreamers (Ecclesiastes 11:4), people who have not learned how to live today in light of the future, their life on earth and life in heaven.
That last sentence gives the key as to how we are to think about our lives, that we need hope, that we need to live today in view of the future God has for us. Thinking like this gives us the big picture with the right mindset. And only God’s word can give us this perspective, this overview of our life. There’s the soul-soothing, 2-part perspective of Psalm 23:6 - “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” There’s the eternal perspective of Romans 8:30 - “These whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Many other verses summarize our lives, and in particular, express the hope that God has for us: Philippians 1:6, 3:12-21; 1 Corinthians 1:30, 15:20-28
Then there’s Colossians 3:1-4, one of my favorites. It instructs you to set your mind on things above, on things of God, on things talked about in His Word. You are not to set your mind on things of this world, and be worldly. You are to live for Christ, and you are to think about the future, when Christ will be revealed, and you will be raptured. You are to also think about being revealed with Him in glory, when you will reign with Him during the millennial kingdom. This is the right perspective, a godly perspective, living for Christ today, and looking forward to living for Him in the future.
The reason I write about hope is because Christians need hope. As you know, all successful people have hope. A person working at a job looks forward to getting paid. A student studies hard and expects to get good grades. An athlete practices with a view of winning the next game. A Christian serves the Lord, knowing it will result in blessing in this age and in the ages to come. As a child of God, you have to have hope, which means you need to know and be convinced of what your Father tells you in His Word about your future.
What is this hope? Well it’s not just thinking about the rapture, and the events leading up to it. That thinking is incomplete, and sadly, many Christians have this short-sighted mindset. It’s also knowing you will see Jesus for the first time, and be with Him forever. It’s knowing you will be glorified, and receive a brand new body. It’s knowing you will never be sinful, sad, sick, tired, or in pain again. It’s knowing you will be with believers, especially with loved ones you knew on earth. It’s knowing you will be in heaven, in a perfect place, and in a perfect home. It’s knowing you will be perfectly serving Christ during the kingdom age. It’s knowing that you will love God like never before, praising Him and singing to Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
I think about these things. Now I don’t think about them all the
time, but they are on my mind every day. I have to say, I really look forward
to this wonderful future; I get excited about what God has in store for me; and
I long for that time when my hope will become reality, when I will leave this
earth and this evil age, and be in heaven with Jesus.
I want to say a few more things about the future, specifically the time between now, 2019, and the age to come, that magnificent millennial kingdom age.
* I think about how we now live in the end-times, which means it won’t be long before the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. In my opinion, it’s not a few years from now, and not centuries from now, but decades from now. Matthew 24:33
* I think about the upward call, meaning I will either die and be with Jesus in heaven, or be raptured and then be with Jesus in heaven. Philippians 3:14
* Throughout history, believers have been dying and going to heaven, and a great many have already been there hundreds and even thousands of years, but that won’t be true for us. The fact that we live in the end-times means we won’t be staying in heaven very long before we come back to earth with Jesus Christ and the other believers, and begin our 1000-year reign with Him. Reigning with Him will be glorious! Isaiah 6:3
We should be thrilled and thankful that now is our time to live. Might we be thinking and living like Paul, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead… toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
P.S. This post, like many others, is about hope. In conjunction with this post, it would be helpful for you to read the post, "You Need Hope To Get Through Life," and the article, "You Have To Have Hope!"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #130 ~
Life can be hard, very hard, sometimes seemingly impossible. There can be personal struggles, family conflicts, work difficulties, church problems, physical ailments, and even great persecution. What can encourage you and help keep you going is knowing and experiencing the love of God. In this post, my primary focus is how God will show you His love in the future, what we call hope. I’ve talked a lot about this hope, because far too many Christians don’t know much about it. Hope for your life is essential. It’s like flour for a cake, for if you don’t have flour, you are not going to have a cake. And if you don’t have hope, your Christian life will be flat, without the purpose, direction, drive and energy God wants you to have. Today I want to look at a major part of this hope, the millennial kingdom. What does God want you to know about it?
* The millennial kingdom will last exactly one thousand years, a fact which Revelation 20 repeats six times. Compared to the length of your present life on earth, this next age will last a very, very long time. To illustrate - if you live to the age of 80, your life during the millennial kingdom will be 12.5 times longer than your present life on earth. Or think about it this way - 80 years is only 8% of 1000 years. Revelation 20:1-7
* Jesus Christ will reign as King over the earth during the millennial kingdom. When you think about many of the bad leaders in today’s world, this is extremely good news, for we will soon have a perfect Ruler, one who is holy, powerful, loving and sovereign over all things and all people. Yes, Christ is King now, but He’s behind the scenes. But then, He will be King in a visible, personal, direct, and most glorious way. Zechariah 14:9, Psalm 2:7-9
* Satan, that most evil devil, will be gone from the earth, locked up for the entire 1000 years, which means he will have absolutely no influence on this earth. He won’t be prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He won’t tempt anyone to sin. He won’t have his forces of darkness on earth, and therefore, won’t be able to unleash his demons with all their sinful schemes and false teaching. Revelation 20:1-3
* All believers from this present age will possess brand new bodies, like that of Jesus Christ, Himself. These will be powerful bodies, immortal bodies, glorified bodies, and spiritual bodies. Completely free from sin and all manners of corruption, these perfect and magnificent bodies will enable you to be and do all that God wants. 1 Corinthians 15:40-42, Philippians 3:20-21
* All glorified believers will be perfectly worshiping Jesus Christ. Can you imagine being able to always love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? Think what it will be like to worship the Lord, to sing to Him and give Him all the honor, praise and glory that He deserves. Think about being part of a heavenly choir that is perfectly and harmoniously singing praises to our Lord, Savior and King. “Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth.” Psalm 47:6-7, Revelation 5:13
* All glorified believers will be perfectly serving Jesus Christ. You will be able to serve Christ during this kingdom age in much greater and more productive ways than you are doing now. “You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:21) “You will be in authority over ten cities” (Luke 19:17). “He who keeps my deeds to the end, to Him will I give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:26). I am really looking forward to this time when we will, effortlessly and wholeheartedly, be working for Christ, fulfilling His purposes, and bringing Him glory. Ephesians 2:7-10
* This kingdom age will be a good age. Now we live in an evil age, which is the way it has been since Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin. During this entire age, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). But once Jesus Christ begins ruling, it will be a good age, for Satan will be gone, and the work, holiness, goodness and glory of Christ will be profoundly seen, dramatically affecting the whole world. Not only that, but you, I, and a great number of glorified believers will be assisting Christ, reigning with Him, serving Him, and fulfilling His purposes. Galatians 1:4, Revelation 5:10
* There’s this present age, the coming millennial kingdom age, and then the eternal kingdom age. Do you see that we are getting close to the end of this age, and will soon be living during the millennial kingdom age? Be encouraged and very thankful that God “has raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7). Let’s pray: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven… For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:10, 13
P.S. This post is for everyone, for we all need godly hope. But in particular, I am thinking of those who are hurting, who are ill, who have chronic ailments, who need present grace, but also, need the hope of future grace. Might we live for the Lord today, but be looking ahead to the glorious future that He has for all who believe in Him. There is more on this next week.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #131 ~
I
hope you aren’t sleeping. I pray you are wide awake, spiritually speaking, and
know that this present age will soon and suddenly end, that Jesus Christ will
rapture the Christians, pour out His wrath, redeem a remnant of Jews, and then
reign over this earth. In other words, Christ is coming back to take up the
saints, take out the enemy, and take over the world. In last week’s post, I
focused on the millennial kingdom, when Christ will be reigning over this world,
and you, being glorified, will be worshiping Him, serving Him and reigning with
Him. But much more needs to be said:
* You will be serving God on a renovated earth, one much better than this sin-cursed world. Romans 8:21 says, “The creation itself will be set free from its corruption into the freedom of the glory of God’s children.” Acts 3:21 talks about the “period of restoration of all things.” Psalm 98:8 says, “Let the mountains sing together for joy.” Isaiah 65:25 tells us, “The wolf and the lamb will feed together.” Not only that, but non-glorified people will live a lot longer on this restored earth, for Isaiah 65:20 says, “The one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed.” This means there will still be sin and death. Nevertheless, how wonderful it will be during this magnificent kingdom age, for we will serve God in a more glorified place, witness peace on earth, and hear great multitudes of people praising our King (Psalm 67:3-4). Then it will get even better, far better, for after this 1000-year kingdom age (Revelation 20:1-6) comes the eternal kingdom, a perfect and most glorious age, when there will be “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away.” Revelation 21:1
* You will be with your loved ones who knew the Lord. The Thessalonian believers were sad, for they feared they would never see deceased fellow believers again. But Paul told them not to grieve like the world (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Yes, you can be sad when a Christian friend or family member dies, but don’t be too sad. Whether by death or by rapture, you will soon see them again. You must understand that relationships continue from earth to heaven, from this age to the next age. Why would God place you with certain Christians on earth, but then never, or rarely ever, want you to see them in the coming ages? Your hope is that you will have heart-satisfying and God-glorifying fellowship with Christians you knew on earth, and a great number of others.
* You will have a home in your Father’s house. Jesus tells us that He will come again and receive us to Himself, and then take us to our heavenly home (John 14:1-3), one that will be infinitely better than any of our earthly homes. It will be perfect, immaculate, beautiful and relaxing, personally prepared for you, and ideally suited for worship and fellowship. You see, during the millennial kingdom age, we will be glorified and need no sleep. That being true, it may mean we will serve Christ on the earth during the daytime (being “in charge of many things” - Matthew 25:21), and then jet off to worship God and fellowship with saints in our heavenly home during the rest of that 24-hour day.
* You will be with newly saved Jewish believers during the millennial kingdom. With all that has been said about Christians being with Christ during the millennial kingdom, it must be remembered that a large remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, and these believers, along with 144,000 more, will be with Christ in the city of Jerusalem, and in the nation of Israel (Romans 11:26-27, Revelation 7:4-8). Hundreds of Old Testament verses speak about the future of these Jewish people (Ezekiel 37:21-28). How all the glorified believers will interact and work with these Jewish believers during the millennial kingdom is not completely known. But it has to relate to the wonderful future God has for you, part of this described in Romans 15:10, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people (Jewish believers).”
The New Testament epistles are about the church, about our present and future lives. Ephesians 1:10-11 speaks about our future, “He made known to us the mystery of His will… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and the earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Do you see this, that God has revealed to us the mystery of His will, that all things will be summed up in Christ, and that we will receive a glorious inheritance? Our future will be very, very good, incredibly and perfectly good.
Ephesians 1:20-21 tells us about the authority of Christ “in this age but also in the one to come.” Now this age to come is the millennial kingdom age. Then Ephesians 2:7 sums up our future by saying, “so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” “The ages to come” is referring to the millennial and eternal ages. What God has planned out for us is unbelievable, beyond comprehension. I hope you see that you are a very rich kid, blessed way beyond anything you could ever imagine. Our heavenly Father is so loving, so kind, and so generous. Be praying that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18). And make sure you love Him and live for Him during this age, and be looking forward to worshiping and serving Him in the coming kingdom ages.
P.S. We are looking at our future, a most wonderful subject for each Christian to understand and be excited about. When you get time, read the article, "Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body", and the post, "Unfinished Business." You will find them very instructive and very encouraging.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #132 ~
It’s all about God’s kingdom and God’s glory, right? Of course it is! That’s the way it always has been and that’s the way it will always be. “The Lord is King forever and ever… I will praise Your name forever and ever… Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Psalm 10:16; 145:2,13). From Genesis to Revelation this is what we need to know and be excited about. Since the beginning, God has been building His kingdom, and everything is going precisely according to His plans. “His kingdom endures from generation to generation… He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.” Daniel 4:34-35, Psalm 33:10-12
Most of the Old Testament is about God building His kingdom through Abraham and his descendants, through the Israelites. They had some success, and a lot of failure, but God was sovereign, working all things according to the purpose of His will - and His kingdom kept growing. We know that God also had the future in mind, for an important aspect of the Old Testament are the promises He made to His people about the coming Messiah, the coming King, and His coming kingdom on earth. Now this Messiah and King refer to the same person, to the Son of God, the One we call Jesus. Psalm 47, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 53
At the perfect time, this Jesus, this Messiah, was born, the Son of God also becoming the Son of Man. When Jesus was grown up, He announced that the kingdom of God was at hand, and that’s because He was the King. But His primary purpose at that time was not to establish His kingdom on earth, but to die to pay for the sins of ones God had chosen to save. And that’s what Jesus did, fully satisfying God’s justice, enabling God to have mercy on sinners. All people who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus suffered and died for them, thereby paying the penalty for their sins, are born again, forgiven, and spiritually enter into the kingdom of God. Mark 1:15, John 3:3
Sadly, most of the Jews rejected Jesus, for they didn’t want Him to be their Savior, they just wanted Him to be their King. But this rejection of Jesus was all part of God’s divine plan, for the church then became His means to build His kingdom. Since that time and up to the present day, this gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached all over the world (Acts 1:8). Might we be like Paul, who was “solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus” (Acts 28:23). It’s now close to 2000 years after Christ’s 1st coming, and we should be thrilled that hundreds of millions of people have experienced the gracious love of God, having been rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the Kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). During this entire church age, Jesus Christ has been faithfully building His church, thereby, building God’s kingdom, not in a physical way, but in a spiritual way. Jesus said it this way, “The kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
But this is not just a church age, it’s also an evil age, for there’s calamity, deception, distress and hate all around the world. Godless people are fighting against God, wanting power and control for their own glory, but not for His glory. They are not seeking God’s kingdom, they want their own little kingdom. But God has purposed and planned to send His own Son, the King of kings, to establish His kingdom on earth, and He will not be thwarted, He will not be stopped. Psalm 2, Revelation 11:15
Since we live in the end-times, we know we will soon “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). The first thing to happen at Christ’s coming is that Christians will be raptured, safely and quickly taken up from the earth to be with Him. Immediately after that, God will pour out His wrath, justly punishing the unbelievers still living on earth. Then a remnant of Jews will be redeemed, at which time Christ the King will return. “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… the Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:4, 14
What God promised again and again, will finally come true. We need to wake up and be excited about what God is doing, for it won’t be long before we see Him fulfilling His promises. This evil age that’s been going on since the time of Adam and Eve, along with this church age, will soon and suddenly come to an end. Not long after that, we will see our King wisely, lovingly, justly and perfectly ruling over the earth. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Philippians 2:10-11, Habakkuk 2:14
During the millennial kingdom age, this earth will be dramatically, wonderfully, beautifully and magnificently different than now. Everything, spiritually, physically, relationally, and socially, is going to change for the better. That’s because Jesus Christ will be completely in charge of His earthly kingdom for 1000 glorious years, and we, being perfect, will be perfectly ruling with Him. Might we be seeking God’s spiritual kingdom, praying for His visible kingdom to come, waiting for the return of the King, and saying, “Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:10, 14, 33
P.S. Your understanding of God's kingdom is very helpful for you being able to see the big picture, and your role in God's work in the world. Therefore, I would encourage you to read two previous posts about God's kingdom, The Kingdom of God and Kingdom Instructions for the Church.
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.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #134 ~
You have been to celebrations, birthday parties, weddings and graduations. They are joyous and exciting events, giving recognition and honor to a particular person or two. But they cannot compare to the millennial kingdom, when Christ will be King over all the earth, and when you will be part of the greatest celebration ever. Psalm 47 describes this most important aspect of the coming age, the glorious praise that will be given to our great God and King, and the reasons why He will be receiving this praise.
Verse 1 starts off with a command given to the entire earth, “O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy.” The whole world, every single person, is to be greatly rejoicing, celebrating, giving wholehearted praise to God. Verse 2 tells us why, “For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.” It will be clearly evident that God is the Lord is the King, and in fact, the greatest King; and finally, He is on earth, ruling over the world, over every square inch, and over every living creature. In all the earth, He is the Most High, the One to be feared, respected, and given glory and praise. Not only is He God, but He is Jesus Christ, the One who was victorious over sin and Satan and, therefore, has the right to rule over the world. Revelation 5:1-9
Verses 3-4 give us another reason why Jesus Christ is to be honored and praised. It is that He, the great King, the Lord Most High “subdues people under us.” And who is “us”? It’s the Jewish believers living in Israel during this kingdom age. Because of God’s special love for Israel, God subdues peoples and nations, choosing them to be Israel’s inheritance, that is, the glory of Jacob. The privileged prominence and place of the Jewish people will be obvious during this kingdom age, for during this time, Israel, along with glorified believers, will be ruling over the world (Revelation 5:10). And like the Jews and the believers, these people and nations, are to praise the Lord. Psalm 117 also tells us this: “Praise the Lord, all nations; laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us.” Romans 15:10 repeats this truth: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
Psalm 47:5 continues with the exaltation of Christ, telling us, “God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of the trumpet.” Christ the King will have ascended to His throne, most likely, at the beginning of this kingdom age. Psalm 48:1-2 gives us more details: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” You see, Jesus is in the city of Jerusalem and, as the King, has triumphantly gone up to His throne, for everyone in the world to see. There’s also the trumpet blast, the "shofar" having sounded forth for everyone in the world to hear.
Then what happens? Five times, I am telling you, five different
times it says, “Sing praises.” “Sing praises
to God… sing praises… sing praises to our King… sing praises… sing praises with
a skillful Psalm” (verses 6-7).
One of the themes of this Psalm is that we are to worship the King, to glorify
Him, and here, the people are instructed to sing to Him. Can you imagine what
this will be like? I don’t believe we know for sure who will be singing. But
nevertheless, it will be an awesome experience, a most majestic and glorious
time, as we sing to the King. It says with a skillful psalm, which means the music
and words of this praise song will be wonderfully and perfectly suited for our
King.
The main theme of this Psalm is stated again: “God is the King of all the earth.” Yes, God is presently the King of the whole universe (Daniel 4:34-35). But during this millennial kingdom age, Jesus Christ will be King in a direct, visible, powerful and more glorious way, and the whole world will know that He is the King. Christ will be sitting on His throne in Jerusalem and, with absolute authority, He will be reigning, making loving, righteous and wise decisions, sovereignly working through His people, which includes the Jewish believers, and us, and all the glorified believers. Psalm 47:7-8
Some of these people Christ is ruling with are described in verse 9. They are “princes,” the noble ones, the willing servants of God, gathered together in Jerusalem. They are “shields,” God’s royal guard, some of the King’s armed forces, and they are attending and assisting the King (perhaps these are the 144,000 Jews spoken of in Revelation 7:4-8). This Psalm fittingly concludes, “He is highly exalted.” Indeed, Christ will be exalted on His throne and exalted in people’s hearts, for He is the “great King over all the earth.”
Might this picture of our future, of this most exhilarating and Christ-exalting celebration, fire up your heart, and fill you with extreme joy and hope, knowing that you will be on the earth at this time, worshiping and serving our Savior, Lord, and King. And remember, it’s all about the King and His glory, and even now, during this age, He is “greatly to be praised.” “Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised.” Psalm 145:2-3
P.S. I just finished a two-part sermon series on how you are to love God: "Loving God" and "Loving God With All You've Got." When you get time, I would strongly encourage you to listen to them, for it is the Great Commandment. And here's a previous post that relates directly to this theme of Jesus Christ receiving all the praise and glory: "The Glory of God - The Most Important Thing of All."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #135 ~
I love Psalm 67, another promising passage that speaks about the future. As Christians, we can apply parts of this Psalm to our lives, but the main focus is on the Jewish people, and God affecting the world through them, especially during the millennial kingdom. But you ask, was this not applicable to the Jews during the Old Testament times? Of course, God’s desire for the Jews was to be a witness to the Gentiles so they too would worship Him, but that happened in a very limited way (2 Chronicles 9:8). This Psalm is primarily speaking of the coming kingdom age when Jesus Christ is King, and ruling and reigning over the world.
Psalm 47, which we looked at last week, was a command to the peoples of the world to praise God, but Psalm 67 is a prayer for the peoples of the world to praise God. Verse 1 starts out as a prayer for God’s mercy and grace, for His face to shine upon “us”, the Jewish people. “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.” God wanted to bless the Jews, to give them what they didn’t deserve. But why? Verse two gives an awesome, far-reaching answer. “That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.” It’s so God’s way and purpose would be made known around the world, with the result that salvation, mercy and deliverance from sin, would be experienced by the Gentiles, by unbelievers in all the nations.
Psalm 96:3-4 amplifies on what will be taking place during this kingdom age: “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” With Christ ruling the world, and a large number of Jews and glorified believers proclaiming His gospel message, I am convinced we will have the greatest evangelistic effort ever, with great multitudes turning to Christ and being saved.
What else is being prayed? Verse 3 says, “Let all the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.” This too will be answered, for the result of people repenting of their sins and receiving God’s mercy is that they will be praising Him. Isn’t that God’s primary purpose in life, for people to praise Him? Yes, yes, people are to love, worship and praise God with all their heart. “Sing praises to our King, sing praises” (Psalm 47:6). This will definitely take place during the millennial kingdom, for it will be a good and glorious age when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (Habakkuk 2:14), and people all over the world will be worshiping the Lord like never before.
The glory God receives from His people goes hand in hand with the blessing they receive, which is what verse 4 tells us: “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.” This again is a prayer, a prayer that God will answer. All over the earth, people will be glad-hearted and singing for joy, joy springing from the fact that they know God’s mercy and soul-satisfying love. Not only that, but they are seeing and experiencing God’s righteous rule on earth, “For You will judge the world with uprightness.” Christ will be completely in charge, and through His servants, He will be leading and judging the nations. Lawlessness will not be the way of the world anymore, for Christ will be quickly executing true justice. Just think what it will be like to be serving our Savior and King during this time. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
The prayer continues with verse 5, which repeats verse 3, and for good reason, to emphasize God’s main purpose, that He be whole-heartedly praised by all the people. “Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.” With this verse, the prayer is completed, and during this millennial kingdom it will finally, and fully, be answered, and we will witness Christ’s wonderful and God-glorifying work.
Psalm 67:6 gives another result of Christ’s amazing and perfect work, that “the earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.” Now we’re talking about agriculture, for the blessings during this kingdom age are not just spiritual but also physical. Psalm 65:9-13 tells us, “You visit the earth and cause it to overflow… You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth… The meadows are clothed with flocks.” The creation, being freed from its slavery to corruption (Romans 8:19-22), will be both picturesque and productive, a beautiful display of God’s work, a glory to God and a blessing to us. “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the fields exult, and all that is in it.” Psalm 96:10-12
The last verse assures us that this prayer will be answered, for “God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” God will bless both Jewish people and glorified saints, for their good, and so the world will fear Him and give Him glory. Can you imagine being with Jesus Christ and fellow believers for one thousand years? Wow! What a great, God-glorifying time this will be! “Every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11
P.S. I cannot say it enough, that as Christians, we need to have perspective if we are to rightly live for our Lord and Savior. Here are two previous posts that will help you see the big picture of your life, and of God's working: "Jesus Christ, the Savior, Judge, Redeemer and King," and "This Age is Coming to an End, and Then a New Age Will Begin."
~ A Saturday Morning Post #136 ~
Introduction by Steven J. Hogan
One of my favorite authors on Bible prophecy is J.C. Ryle, a well-known and well-respected Christian pastor, teacher and writer. Serving the Lord Jesus in England during the 19th century, his insight into this important area of prophecy is both amazing and instructive. The book that he wrote on prophecy, “Are You Ready for the End of Time?”, is a collection of eight of his sermons on this subject, and were given over 150 years ago. I have wondered what he would think today, with so many Bible-predicted events taking place, and particularly that the Jews are now back in their land. Knowing that Jesus Christ will soon come back to earth, I can’t help but think that he would be passionately and excitedly preaching and teaching on His glorious return. What is written below is J.C. Ryle’s prophetic creed (from his preface to his book). Might our Lord encourage and motivate you as you read it.
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From J.C.
Ryle’s book, “Are You Ready for the End
of Time?”
The
following, then, are the chief articles of my prophetical creed:
1. I believe
that the world will never be completely converted to Christianity by any
existing agency before the end comes. In spite of all that can be done by
ministers, churches, schools and missions, the wheat and tares will grow
together until the harvest; and when the end comes, it will find the earth in
much the same state that it was when the flood came in the days of Noah
(Matthew 13:24-30, 24:37-39).
2. I believe
that the widespread unbelief, indifference, formalism and wickedness, which are
to be seen throughout Christendom, are only what we are taught to expect in
God’s word. Troublous times, departures from the faith, evil men waxing worse
and worse, love waxing cold, are things distinctly predicted. So far from
making me doubt the truth of Christianity, they help to confirm my faith.
Melancholy and sorrowful as the sight is, if I did not see it I should think
the Bible was not true (Matthew 24:12; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1, 4, 13).
3. I believe
that the grand purpose of the present dispensation is to gather out of the
world an elect people, and not to convert all mankind. It does not surprise me
at all to hear that the heathen are not all converted when missionaries preach,
and that believers are but a little flock in any congregation in my own land.
It is precisely the state of things which I expect to find. The gospel is to be
preached ‘as a witness’, and then shall the end come. This is the dispensation
of election, and not of universal conversion (Acts 15:14, Matthew 24:14).
4. I believe
the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is the great event which will wind
up the present dispensation, and for which we ought daily to long and pray.
‘Thy kingdom come’, ‘Come Lord Jesus’, should be our daily prayer. We look
backward, if we have faith, to Christ dying on the cross, and we ought to look
forward no less, if we have hope, to Christ coming again (John 14:3, 2 Timothy
4:8, 2 Peter 3:12).
5. I believe
the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will be a real, literal, personal,
bodily coming; and that as He went away in the clouds of heaven with His body,
before the eyes of men, so in like manner He will return (Acts 1:11).
6. I believe
that after our Lord Jesus Christ comes again, the earth shall be renewed, and
the curse removed; the devil shall be bound, the godly shall be rewarded, the
wicked shall be punished; and that before He comes there shall be neither
resurrection, judgment, nor millennium, and that not till after He comes shall
the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord (Acts 3:21,
Isaiah 25:6-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, Revelation 20:1, etc.).
7. I believe that the Jews shall ultimately be gathered again as a separate nation, restored to their own land, and converted to the faith of Christ, after going through great tribulation (Jeremiah 30:10-11, Jeremiah 31:10, Romans 11:25-26, Daniel 12:1, Zechariah 13:8-9).
8. I believe
that the literal sense of the Old Testament prophecies has been far too much
neglected by the Churches, and is far too much neglected at the present day,
and that under the mistaken system of spiritualizing and accommodating Bible
language, Christians have too often completely missed its meaning (Luke
24:25-26).
9. I do not
believe that the preterist scheme of interpreting the Apocalypse, which regards
the book as almost entirely fulfilled,
or the futurist scheme, which regards it as almost entirely unfulfilled, are either of them to be
implicitly followed. The truth, I expect, will be found to lie between the two.
10. I
believe that the Roman Catholic church is the great predicted apostasy from the
faith, and is Babylon and antichrist, although I think it highly probable that
a more complete development of antichrist will yet be exhibited in the world (2
Thessalonians 2:3-11, 1 Timothy 4:1-3).
11. Finally, I believe that it is for the safety, happiness and comfort of all true Christians, to expect as little as possible from churches or governments under the present dispensation, to hold themselves ready for tremendous convulsions, and changes of all things established, and to expect their good things only from Christ’s second advent.
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Steve's P.S. "What the Bible Says About the Future" lists 40 specific statements that describe our future and how we are to live in the time leading up to the return of our Lord, Savior and King. I encourage you to read this previous post so that you know what our Lord has in store for you.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #137 ~
In Mark 13:23, right in the middle of Jesus' message about the future, He tells us, “But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (NAS). This is one of the most motivating prophecy verses I know, a verse to stir us to study the subject of prophecy, and find out what Jesus wants us to know. To help you understand this verse, here are some other translations: “Be on your guard; I have told you all things beforehand” (ESV). “Take ye heed; behold I have foretold you all things” (KJV). “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (NIV). “See! I have told you about these things before they happen” (NLV). “But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand” (RSV). And here’s the parallel verse from Matthew 24:25, “Behold, I have told you in advance” (NAS).
Let me walk you through Mark 13:23, using the NAS version as our text:
* “But take heed…” Jesus wants us to sit up and take notice of what He’s going to say, to see the importance of His next statement. Jesus is telling us to listen up, to pay attention, and realize that He has told us all the things we need to know about the years leading up to His return and the rapture of the church.
* “behold, I…” Jesus is speaking to His disciples, and to us too. And if it’s Jesus talking, then it’s God talking, which means it’s God’s word, what God Himself has to say to us. Might we listen to Him, knowing that what He has to say is far more important and necessary than anything man can say to us. Lots of people share their thoughts on prophecy, and what they believe to be true, but what Jesus says, what God says, is eternally true and vitally relevant for each one of our lives.
* “have told…” Jesus said this, not just a few decades or a few centuries ago, but close to 2000 years ago. The fact that it was spoken before the church age even began means it’s for Christians living during this entire church age. Since the Jews are now back in their land, we know we are living in the end-times, which means that what Jesus told us is now more critical for Christians to understand than at any other time in history.
* “you…” Yes, Jesus is talking to His disciples, but we are His disciples too, and so He is talking to us. The “you” in this verse is plural, which means this is for the entire church, not just for pastors, and not just for some Christians. All believers need to know and believe what Jesus is telling us about the future. Because it is for all Christians, then it is for you individually. Therefore, you need to personally take heed to what Jesus said, especially in these years leading up to the end of this age and the coming of Christ.
* “everything…” Has God really told you everything about the future, and everything there is to know about prophecy? Of course not. Otherwise, you would be God, for only God knows everything. When Jesus says He has told you everything, it means He has told you all things He wants you to know about the future. It’s this part of the verse that fires me up, that inspires me to study prophecy like nothing else in the world. If Jesus has told me everything He wants me to know about the future, then I want to know everything He wants me to know. Let me say that again: if Jesus has told me everything He wants me to know about the future, then I want to know everything He wants me to know. How about you? Don’t you want to know? Doesn’t this verse motivate you to study God’s prophetic word, and learn everything Jesus wants you to know about the end-times and His return to earth?
* “in advance.” When you look at the original Greek, you see that the verb in this verse is most accurately translated as “have foretold,” which means Jesus told us what was going to happen in advance, beforehand, before it happens. Jesus wants us to know ahead of time what will be happening in the future. Now He didn’t have to tell us anything, He could have left us completely in the dark, or He could have told us just a few things. But He told us quite a bit about the future, all things we need to know, and He told us way in advance. God loves us so much, and wants us, His children, and Jesus’ bride, to not be afraid of or be surprised by the future, but to know from Him what will surely be taking place.
Now when Jesus says “everything”, what specifically does He mean? Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 1-2 Thessalonians and Revelation, describe in detail what will be taking place before Christ’s coming. In Mark 13 alone, we read about false Christs, false prophets, wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, the Jews, abomination of desolation, tribulation, betrayal, preaching the gospel, signs in the heavens, Christ’s coming, and the gathering of the saints. Then in Mark 13:30, a companion verse to Mark 13:23, Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place”, confirming that “everything” Jesus predicted will come to pass.
How loving and wise of Jesus to tell us ahead of time what will be occurring in the future. He really wants you to know what will be taking place on this earth before His return. Might you be thankful to Him, and love Him all the more. While you serve Him on earth, be looking and longing for that time when He will take you from here to heaven so you can be with Him forever. Might we all say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
P.S. I hope and pray you are excited about studying prophecy passages so you can have strong convictions on this subject, and so you can clearly tell others God's plans for the future. Relating to this post, here is another good post - "Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future" and this important article, "Matthew 24 - The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #138 ~
Suffering isn’t a subject most Christians want to hear about, and that’s understandable, for who wants to suffer? Who wants to be persecuted? Who wants to go through hard times? But it’s also sad, for Christians need to know what God says about suffering, for it really is a source of blessing, a means of grace, and a way to give glory to Him. To suffer for Jesus is a great privilege, as well as an opportunity to trust Him, and show Him our love.
Examples of believers suffering for the Lord are found throughout the Bible. In Hebrews 11:24-25, we read about Moses “choosing rather to endure ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” It was no walk in the park for Moses, but rather 40 years of putting up with grumbling, rebellious Israelites in that hot, barren desert. Then there’s David, who testified time and time again about being persecuted, and how God delivered and comforted him. (Psalms 28, 31, 35, 55, 59, 142, 143). And don’t forget Jeremiah and the suffering he went through (Jeremiah 26:11, 32:2, 38:6). But it wasn’t just physical, it was also mental, emotional and spiritual suffering that Jeremiah patiently endured all those years, especially at the end, when Jerusalem was being destroyed, and fellow Jews were dying right before his eyes. Lamentations 1-5
In the New Testament, Jesus is our prime example of one who
suffered, but it’s the Old Testament prophecy in Psalm 22 that best describes His
extreme pain and sorrow, and how He sacrificed His life for us. None of us can
comprehend how hard it was for Jesus to be persecuted by the Jewish leaders - “They spat in His face and beat Him with
their fists and slapped Him” (Matthew 26:67), or by the Roman soldiers - “having Jesus scourged… they mocked Him…
they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head” (Matthew
27:26-31). More than that, none of us can fathom the torment brought on by His
Father, who caused Him to suffer the hellish wrath we should have received - “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27:46
Then there’s Paul, who willingly and joyfully suffered for the Lord. 2 Corinthians 1, 4 and 6, all talk about his sufferings, but it’s that long litany in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 that best illustrates what he went through for God and for people - “… beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked…”
This subject of suffering is an untaught topic in most churches today, especially in the United States. But it needs to be taught, for many Christians are worldly and soft, not holy and strong. Many believers don’t know what the Bible teaches about suffering, and therefore, won’t be expecting it and be able to joyfully endure it when it comes - and it will come.
But what is it that God wants you to know about suffering?
* Suffering is part of God’s plan for Christians. Acts 14:22, 1 Peter 2:21
* God is sovereign over your suffering. He plans it out ahead of time, knowing it will be for your good, and for His purposes and glory. Romans 8:28-35, 1 Peter 3:17
* Suffering is momentary, lasting only a little while. 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6, 5:10
* To patiently endure suffering, God gives you both present grace and the hope of future grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11, 1 Peter 1:13
* “If the world hates you, you know it has hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18
* To get through suffering, you need God’s promises. Psalm 119:50, 154; 2 Peter 1:2-4
* God wants to use your suffering for the gospel. Luke 21:12-15, Philippians 1:12-14
* Suffering is one of God’s ways for you to grow in faith and love. James 1:2-3, 12
* The more you live for Christ, the more you’ll be persecuted for Christ. 2 Timothy 3:12
* To suffer in a godly way, you need to submit and entrust yourself to God. 1 Peter 4:19
* “Consider Him who endured such suffering by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
* You find favor (grace) with God when you suffer. 1 Peter 2:19-20
* Never be surprised when you are faced with the fiery ordeal of suffering. 1 Peter 4:12
* When you are persecuted, your faith is being tested. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10, James 1:3
* When you suffer, be thankful that you can share in Christ’s sufferings. 1 Peter 2:10
* Remember, many other Christians around the world are also suffering. 1 Peter 5:9
* Those who suffer on earth will be greatly rewarded in heaven. Matthew 5:12
* To endure suffering, you need to “see” Jesus. Daniel 3:16-27, Hebrews 11:27
* The primary purpose of your suffering is to bring glory to God. 1 Peter 4:12-16
If you are going to rightly suffer for Jesus, you need to know these truths. Not only that, but we are living in the end-times, which means it won’t be long before we experience great tribulation - “they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9). Immediately after that, we will all be with Jesus in heaven, never to suffer again (Matthew 24:29-31). In the meantime, learn the above truths, knowing that you will need them in the years ahead. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 5:11-12
P.S. This is such an important subject to understand. Here are two other things I would encourage you to read that relate directly to this post: "The Persecution of the Church Before the Coming of Christ," and "A Biblical Perspective on the Trials of Life."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #139 ~
When you study the major prophecy passages, one thing that stands out is that God talks about suffering in every single one of them. Why is that? Because God wants us to know about this suffering, this end-time’s persecution of the saints. Because Christians will be going through a lot more suffering the closer we get to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. Because God wants us to be ready, and not be caught off guard. In this post I will summarize what these passages have to say about suffering:
Matthew 24:3-41 (Suffering - Matthew 24:9-11, 15-22, 28, 29)
* The suffering spoken of here begins at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (when the Antichrist is revealed), and continues until the end of the age. Matthew 24:15-29
* This suffering starts with the Jewish people in Jerusalem, and then spreads out and affects Christians all over the world. Matthew 24:9-22, Revelation 12:13-17
* This suffering is related to great tribulation. It is great in scope in that it is worldwide, and in severity, for a great number of believers will be martyred. Matthew 24:9, 21, 29
* Our primary purpose during this time is to be preaching the gospel. Matthew 24:14
* Christians enduring to the end will be saved (raptured and glorified). Matthew 24:13, 31, 40-41
Luke 21:5-36 (Suffering - Luke 21:12-19, 20-24)
* The suffering that affects Christians starts at the beginning of the church age, and continues on until the redemption (rapture) of the church. Luke 21:12, 27-28
* The Jewish people will be greatly persecuted, starting around 70 AD and continuing on until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled at the end of the age. Luke 21:20-24, 19:43-44, 23:28-31
* The enemies of the Christians are religious and governmental in nature. Luke 21:12
* One of the most difficult aspects of this persecution is that Christians will be betrayed by their own parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends. Luke 21:16
* This persecution will lead to opportunities for Christians to share their testimony and proclaim the gospel. God will “give you utterance and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” Luke 21:13-15
* Remember, it’s all about Jesus, and it’s for His name’s sake that you suffer. Luke 21:12
Mark 13:1-37 (Suffering - Mark 13:9-13, 14-20)
* This prophecy passage is very similar to what we read in Matthew 24, but also contains elements from the Luke 21 passage.
* The suffering focuses on the end-times, particularly that which starts at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and which affects both Jews and Christians. Mark 13:9-20
* A whole world of unbelievers will hate the Christians, wanting to put them to death (Mark 13:13). We learn, like in Luke 21, that believers will be betrayed by their own family members - brother against brother, parents against children, and children against parents. Mark 13:12
* “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). God tells us this ahead of time, for He doesn’t want us to be surprised that we will suffer greatly in the end-times, and that many will be martyred.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 (Suffering - 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7)
* This persecution, this affliction (tribulation), is what the early churches experienced and what all Christians will go through - and it will continue right up until the end of the age, when Christ is revealed and the church is raptured and glorified. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10; Acts 14:22
* This end-time's persecution and suffering will last only a short time, for Jesus, your Savior and King, will return and give you relief, and eternal rest. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Revelation 14:13
* These verses keep things in perspective, for you realize that you may suffer a little while on earth, but the unsaved will suffer forever in hell, paying “the penalty of eternal destruction.” Because of the love of God and the sacrifice of Christ, you will not receive the punishment you deserve, but instead, you will be blessed forever. Revelation 21-22
Revelation 6:1-17 (Suffering – Revelation 6:8-11)
* The fifth seal speaks about martyrdom, the climax and conclusion of suffering for some, for their suffering is over, and then they go to heaven to be with Jesus.
* End-times’ martyrs will be wondering how long it will be before those who murdered them will get justice. The sixth seal signals that this suffering is all over, and that it’s time for God’s wrath to be poured out upon the unbelievers still on earth. Revelation 6:12-17
* God is sovereign over suffering. He already knows who will be killed, who will die for Him. You need not worry, for your heavenly Father is in charge, and He knows what He is doing, for your eternal good, and for His eternal purposes and glory. Revelation 6:11
Revelation 13 (Suffering – Revelation 13:7, 10, 17)
* The beast, the Antichrist, will “make war with the saints,” and overcome many of them. This may sound sad and tragic, but it is God’s will, and in the end, God will crush the Antichrist, getting a complete and decisive victory over him. Revelation 13:7, 19:19-21
* Christians need to persevere, and trust in God, knowing that He is good and holy, and that Christ will return to rescue them, and then be greatly glorified. Revelation 13:10, 7:9-14, 19:1-7
What God tells you about this end-time's suffering is the truth, what He wants you to know, and what you need to know. Remember Jesus' words: “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 5:10-12
P.S. As Christians, we must not sugar coat the truth. Here is what God tells us, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." Here are two more must reads on suffering: "Christians Go Through Tribulation" and "Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #140 ~
Do you see where you are going, where you are headed? Do you know the future God has planned for you? I am not just talking about going to heaven. If you are a Christian, it’s true that you are heading to heaven, but that’s too simplistic, for there’s much more than that. Here’s your future - you’ll be on earth until you die or are raptured, and then you will be in heaven, but only for a short while, for then you will come back to earth to reign with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom age. Let me explain this further:
We now live on this earth, but it’s not for long. That’s because we live in the end-times which means it won’t be that many years before the end of this age and the rapture of the church. We couldn’t say this 1000 years ago or even 200 years ago, but the fact that the Jews are back in their land gives us a whole new perspective on what God is now doing on this earth, where things are headed, and His timing in all this. No one knows exactly when Christ will come back, but with all that’s happening in the world, it’s not going to be centuries, but more like decades, whether that’s 10, 20, 30 or 50 years or so. That we live in the end-times means you may not have a normal life-span of 70-80-90 years. You may even suffer a martyr’s death or be one of the raptured saints.
God-prophesied events will be taking place, and increasingly so, and this means the Day (of Christ) is drawing near (Hebrews 10:25), and with that, the rapture and the age to come. In the meantime, there’s work for you to do, God-ordained work, eternal work, which relates to the lost, the church, and Christ’s return. And remember, you will not die, or be raptured, until all the work God wants you to do is completely done. Acts 13:22, 36
Then we will be in heaven, which will be so wonderful, being with Jesus and all the saints who have gone on before us; but we won’t be there for long. If you’re raptured, you will be in heaven for less than four years. That’s because the rapture of the church occurs sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year period. One half of 7 years is 3½ years, and that plus the 75 days (Daniel 12:11-12), is less than four years. I couldn’t figure in the length of the great tribulation, for it's duration is unknown to us, but it will make it much less than four years. (This tribulation time starts soon after the midpoint of this 70th week.) What I am saying is that raptured Christians will have a very short stay in heaven before they head back to earth for the start of Christ’s kingdom age.
The other possibility is that you will die and go to heaven before the rapture ever takes place. Because we live in the end times, you won’t be in heaven very long before this age comes to an end and the church is raptured. But you will come down to the skies above the earth for the rapture, and then immediately head back to heaven with Christ and the raptured believers, staying there for a few more years until the start of the kingdom age. But whether you die or are raptured, the fact that you live in the end-times forces you to conclude that you won’t be in heaven that long before you head back to earth to begin reigning with Christ. Think of it this way: you are not going to be in heaven that many years compared to Martin Luther (473 years as of now), Paul (~ 1950 years as of now), Abraham (~ 3900 years as of now), and billions of other believers.
Then we will be back on earth. Revelation 3:26-27, 5:10, 20:6 all tell us that we will be reigning and ruling with Christ on earth. This doesn’t mean you won’t ever head back to heaven for visits, for I believe you will. But your life during the millennial kingdom, that glorious 1000-year period, is focused on earth, worshiping Christ, and helping Him fulfill His purposes. It will be like nothing you have ever seen or imagined, having a brand-new body, enjoying fellowship with saints, perfectly doing the work God wants you to do, and seeing His plans for the Jewish people being carried out. What an amazing and incredible time that will be!
That’s your future, and a future, for many of you, that will come sooner than you think. That’s because the length of time between now and when you get to heaven, plus the length of time you will be in heaven before you head back to earth, is not as long as you may think. Let me say it this way: the time between now and the end of this age, plus the time between the end of this age and the start of the next age, is a relatively short period of time. Daniel 9:24-27 (Daniel’s 70th week) and the book of Revelation help us to understand when all this will take place. Revelation 6:1-11 tells us what happens in the years leading up to the end of the age; Revelation 6:12-17 describes the signs that will occur immediately before the end of the age; Revelation 7:9-14 is in reference to the rapture, which takes place immediately after the end of the age; Revelation 8-9, 16, 19 tells us about the interval between the ages; and Revelation 20 gives us some information about the next age, the millennial kingdom age.
In conclusion, you need to be thinking about Christ’s coming, and being in heaven, and being back on earth, and that it won’t be long before all this takes place. A whole lot needs to happen from now to the start of the next age - wars, famines, earthquakes, global gospel preaching, the Antichrist ruling, great persecution, apostasy, abomination of desolation, the rapture, the Day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews - and it’s all going to take place in a short time-frame. But for now, God has important work He wants you to do before Jesus Christ returns, and begins His reign over this world. “Behold, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:7, 12, 20
P.S. I don't know if you have taken the opportunity to look at all the charts, but there's much there that will help you better understand the timing of future prophetic events. I want to encourage you to go over them, for I am convinced they will give you more clarity about the future God has for you. The position of the person in each of the charts is to help you see that there isn't much time left before the end of this age and the coming of Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #141 ~
You look out at the world and, at times, it seems like a big mess. You may wonder what is going on, and what God is up to. But do not wonder or worry or fear, for our God is in complete control. He is sovereign over every person, every activity, every accident, every calamity, every fish, bird, animal and plant, every speck of dust, every drop of water, and every single atom in the entire universe. That’s the way it has been, and that’s the way it will always be. We see God’s sovereignty from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses to David to Esther to Mary to Jesus to Peter to Paul, during this church age, now at this present hour, and to the end of this age, and in the ages to come. Without question, God is sovereign over everyone, everything, and every event.
Here are some examples from the Bible: God is sovereign over the earth (Psalm 93:1-2), over the nations (Psalm 33:10-11), over rulers (Isaiah 40:23), over childbirth (Genesis 18:14), over animals (Isaiah 34:11-17), over the weather (Psalm 135:6), over prosperity and disaster (Isaiah 45:7), over war (Psalm 46:9-10), over sin (2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1), over Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-7), over Joseph (Genesis 50:19-20), over Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1-13), over Jonah (Jonah 1:4, 4:6-7), over Christ’s birth (Matthew 1:1-25), over Christ’s death (Acts 2:23, 4:27-28), over Paul (Acts 9:15), over angels and people (Daniel 4:34-35), over His word (Isaiah 55:11), over judgment (Isaiah 14:24-27), over evangelism (Acts 18:9-10), over a person’s salvation (Acts 13:48, Ephesians 1:4), over your time and place of birth (Acts 17:26), over the length of your life (Psalm 139:16), over your plans, (Proverbs 16:9, 20:24), over your job (James 4:13-15), over your spiritual growth (Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13), over your spiritual work (Ephesians 2:10), and over physical death (Acts 12:21-23, 13:36). This is amazing, and impossible for the human mind to comprehend how God can be sovereign over all these things, and much more besides.
The fact that God is sovereign means He is God, and that He reigns, He rules, He plans, He decrees, He chooses, He ordains, He predicts, He predestines, He commands, He leads, He initiates, He decides, He directs, He controls, He governs, He works, He acts, He manages, He guides, He constrains, and He restrains. Amen!
God’s sovereignty is personal for it affects every aspect, every day of our lives. Not only that, it's one of the most heart-changing, peace-giving, joy-producing, and God-glorifying truths there is. I think I’d go crazy if I knew I had to be in control, that life was completely up to me, but thankfully I am not. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” Psalm 97:1
In all this, I’m not saying we are not responsible for our actions, that we are to sit around and watch God do all the work. Philippians 2:12-13 tells us, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you to will and to work for your good pleasure.” Yes, we are to work, but God is also working, and how His sovereignty influences our desires and efforts is truly a mystery way beyond us. We cannot figure out how God works in our lives, our families, our churches, in countries, and all over the world, but He does, and He is doing it all the time.
Now that we live in the end-times, we must realize that this world is not sitting still, but that it’s on a God-given course, traveling towards a God-planned destination. Every single day there is God-inspired direction, activity, and movement, all leading to that one point in time when Christ will appear in the clouds above us, take us to heaven, and then take over the world. Every single day is part of God’s predetermined plan to bring about the return of His Son, and not one single second, not one single minute is wasted, for it is all part of His eternal, end-time plans.
Always remember that God is sovereignly working. You need to know that –
* God’s work is global in scope, involving every person in the world, saved and unsaved.
* You are part of God’s work, and your work is a small but important part of His work.
* God’s work is described in the Bible, and specifically, that Jesus Christ is building His church. And in these end times, it directly relates to Christ’s return to rapture the church.
* The devil has a great and evil influence in the world, but God is still sovereign over him.
Don’t get discouraged by the devil’s work, for no devil or demon will ever hinder or thwart God’s work, for what He has planned to do will surely come to pass. Always be encouraged for God is faithfully working out all the details, leading this particular world to that time when it will reach its final destination. Each day brings us one day closer to that divinely-ordained time when Christ will come to take us home to heaven. How glorious that will be, to be perfect, to forever be with Christ, and to be with loved ones, as well as with other believers from all time, and from all over the world.
I pray that you know that God is purposely and wonderfully sovereign, “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), and that “He made known to us the mystery of His will… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:9-11
P.S. This subject of God's sovereignty is so important for you to understand, which is why this is not the first time I have written on this subject. To really get this truth in your heart, I would encourage you to read the first one I wrote - God Is In Charge of Everything.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #142 ~
From Iowa to Arizona to Nevada to Iowa to Maryland to Florida - geographically speaking, this sums up my life for the past 66 years. Much has happened through all that time - growing up in a family of 8, my father dying when I was 7, going to Catholic schools for 13 years, becoming a Christian in college, serving in the church, finding an excellent wife, helping raise 4 children, teaching God’s word, and having many good friends. There have been personal struggles, spiritual battles, many victories, untold blessings, and with that, God-given patience, perseverance, grace and mercy. In all this, the foundational factor and force has been my relationship with God, and consistently experiencing His unconditional love. Without God, I wouldn’t have made it, which leads to the main point of this blogpost, God’s sovereignty in my life.
That God is sovereign is an absolute truth, but to see it be true in my own life has been miraculous and encouraging. Since I am older, I have the advantage of being able to look back over all the years, and see a great many examples of His divine working in my life. In many ways, situations and relationships, God has been purposely and strategically sovereign - when I was born, where I lived, what people I was with, being born again, and so much more. Knowing that God has been lovingly, wisely, and faithfully sovereign, has been extremely humbling and comforting. Now more than ever, it’s obvious to me that God is God, and I am but a man, and that all the credit goes to Him for all the good and wonderful things that have happened in my life.
That God is sovereign has come to mean many things to me:
* God is in charge of my life, and I am glad that I am not. Daniel 4:35
* I am still responsible for my actions, which means my sin is all my fault. Yet, God has been working it all out for my growth, my good, and for His glory. Ephesians 1:9-14
* I can’t do whatever I want, for God is my Lord and He is in charge. James 4:13-15
* There have been no accidents in my life, even when I broke my arm. Lamentations 3:38
* God is working in me and through me so as to fulfill His purposes. Acts 13:22, 36
* That God has work for me to do motivates me to pray and look for His leading, confident that He will show me what He wants me to do. Ephesians 2:10
* I am not going to sit still and watch God do the work. I will make plans every day, knowing that He can change them, and then redirect my steps. Proverbs 16:9
* Sometimes, life is confusing to me, but not to God, for being sovereign means He knows exactly what He is doing, and why He is doing it. Proverbs 20:24
* My life is a puzzle piece. All the people in the world make up the puzzle pieces, and God is purposefully and wisely fitting us together in just the way that He wants. As a puzzle piece, my life is closely connected, interlocking with a few other puzzle pieces, a few other people. This puzzle will be fully put together and finished when Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church. Only then will we be able to see the big picture, what our holy God has been doing throughout HisStory. “The whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” Ephesians 2:19-22
Here’s one way I refresh myself with the truth of God’s sovereignty: about every month, I take 20-30 minutes to mentally and spiritually review my life, going over all the decades from the 1950’s to the present. As I think about some of the big things God has done for me, I get very encouraged and thankful, and am even more fired up to live for Him. I strongly recommend that you do the same, that you regularly take the time to look back over your years, or even your past week or month. “I will meditate on all your work and muse on all your deeds. Your way, O God, is holy” (Psalm 77:11-13). When you see God’s work in your life, then you will see God’s ways (sovereignty and holiness) in your life (Psalm 103:7). The truth of God’s sovereignty needs to be real to you, embedded in your heart. I cannot stress enough how necessary it is for you to know and believe that God is sovereign in your life, especially at this time in history.
That the Jews are back in their land means we’re getting close to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. But Christ can only come back if God continues to be completely sovereign over everyone and everything in this world. And yes, God is faithfully putting every puzzle piece in its proper place. He is personally working in all the people, cities and countries in this world. He will be sovereign over all the wars, famines, diseases, earthquakes, and the coming Antichrist, too. At times, you may think this world is off course, but from God’s point of view and by His providence, it is racing in a straight line to the finish line, to the return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Matthew 24:4-32
I get excited knowing that my time to live is in these end-times, and I hope you feel the same. God has important work for you to do, work that is directly related to what He needs to accomplish in the years leading up to Christ’s coming. I encourage you to read God’s word, be praying, and be doing your part, remembering that God is sovereignly working all things together for your good and for His glory (Romans 8:28-30). I pray that you continue to “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
P.S. I have a new article, and it is about this subject, The Sovereignty of God. There are a great number of verses listed, ones that I believe will be very helpful to you in learning more about this most important topic.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #143 ~
When I talk to Christians, I often ask them whether the subject of the end-times and Christ’s 2nd coming is taught in their church, and most of the time they say it’s not. And when they say it’s not, it’s either that they don’t teach it all, or they don’t teach it accurately. But why is that? Why don’t churches teach on prophecy, or if they do, not in the way God would want them to? Let me list some of the reasons:
1. They say, “Christ’s 2nd coming is not going to happen for a long time, and therefore, we don’t need to teach it.” They look out at the world, and it seems everything is going along as it always has been. Their thinking is similar to the mockers of 2 Peter 3:4 who say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” They fail to see that the Jews are back in their land, the number one sign that we are in the end-times. But Jesus and the apostles taught about prophecy way back in the 1st century, and here we are, about 2,000 years later, and “the night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:12). It’s time to teach on prophecy because it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church.
2. They say, “Prophecy is confusing, hard to understand.” It is true that there is some complexity when it comes to comparing prophecy passages, seeing how the Jews fit in, learning what will be happening, and understanding the sequence of end-time events. That’s why Christians need to ask God for wisdom, and take the time to study this relevant subject. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells pastors, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” When you diligently study the word, God will show you vital truths regarding His Son’s return. In fact, Daniel 12:9 says that God’s prophetic word will be unsealed in the end-times, meaning God will supernaturally be opening our minds and revealing His truth about Christ’s return. I am convinced God will give us insight and clarity when it comes to learning what will be taking place in the years leading up to Christ’s coming.
3. They say, “In the church there are many views on prophecy, and to teach on one position will cause problems and it’s not worth it.” A pastor may fear that if he teaches one particular position, then some who have a differing opinion will be critical, unhappy, and may even leave the church. Some Christian leaders have told me, “It’s not a hill worth dying on.” But teaching the truth before God and before man is the right thing, the only thing to do. My experience over the years is that when you prayerfully and humbly study God’s word, you will discover the singular and primary prophetic truths you need to know. The truth must be taught, and as we carefully study the subject of prophecy, we will gain convictions, and be able to properly teach our families and churches.
4. They say, “Prophecy is not that important of a subject. The truths about the gospel, salvation, the church and spiritual growth are much more important.” Many suggest that truths about Christ’s return are not essential or relevant, but are electives, just 2nd tier topics. Yes, I agree that the gospel is the primary subject, but now that we live in the end-times, prophecy is also a primary subject, for Christ’s coming, which is right around the corner, will affect every Christian in the world. The many truths about Christ’s return must be required learning for every Christian. What are you going do to do when you are experiencing birth pains, and are going through great tribulation? We are living in the calm before the storm, and now is the time to study God’s word so we can be ready for the rough road ahead. For you pastors, it is your duty to teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Do you remember that Paul taught young Thessalonian church about Christ’s 2nd coming, and even wrote two follow-up letters to them? Bible prophecy is an incredibly important subject, and God wants to teach it to you, and you don’t want to fail, for you are to teach it to others.
5. They say, “Christ already came the 2nd time, around 70 AD, and that most prophetic truth has already been fulfilled, and therefore, it doesn’t need to be taught.” People and pastors who think this way are not properly interpreting God’s prophetic word, but instead are allegorizing, spiritualizing, and saying words mean something when they don’t. I won’t take time here to refute their false claims (read my Replacement Theology articles). Take God at His word, and study Matthew 24, Luke 21, 1 Thessalonians 4, Revelation 6-22, and then you will know that Christ has not yet come. There are 100’s of verses about Christ’s 2nd coming that will be literally fulfilled, some stating how He will actually appear in the skies above us, and then take us home to heaven. Jesus Christ has not yet come, but He will, and very soon.
It greatly concerns me that this important subject of end-times prophecy is rarely taught in our churches. This should not be, for more than any other time in history, this is when we need to understand it. A world of Christians need to know what God says about it, and be looking forward to seeing Him and being with Him forever. I am praying for pastors all over the world to wake up, and be motivated to study and teach the subject of Christ’s coming (Ezra 7:10). Here are some instructive verses, and notice how they directly relate to our future, to prophecy: “I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:1-2
P.S. This post is about the present-day importance of learning about prophecy. Two men who have greatly helped me understand God's word as it speaks about prophecy are Marv Rosenthal and Alan Kurschner. I encourage you to check out their websites.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #144 ~
One of my favorite prophecy passages is Luke 21:5-36. Similar to Matthew 24, it gives a great deal of information about the end-times and Christ’s coming. But there’s one thing you need to know before you can understand this key prophetic portion of Scripture, and that’s the sequence, the order of end-time events. What you need to realize is that the last phrase of Luke 21:11 and the first phrase of Luke 21:25 are both talking about the same thing, these signs in the heavens. Knowing that, plus seeing that Luke 21:12 starts with “But before all these things…” means that verses 12-24 is a parenthetical, telling us related and important information that takes place before these end-of-the-age signs. With that in mind, here’s a summary of Luke 21:5-36.
Luke 21:5-8. The disciples are happily talking to Jesus about the magnificent Jewish temple, but surprisingly, He informs them that it will be destroyed. Surely in shock, the disciples want to know when it’s going to happen. Jesus then gives a long and thorough answer to their question, instructing them about the future, that which is especially relevant and useful to us Christians who are now living in the end-times.
Luke 21:9-11. First and foremost, the true Christ warns them about false Christs. Then He mentions the birth pains - the wars, plagues, famines and great earthquakes, events which take place over a long period of time (Matthew 24:4-8, Revelation 6:1-8). Next He tells them about these aforementioned signs in the heavens, these heart-stopping cosmic disturbances signaling the end of the age and the return of Christ (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 6:12-14). That leads to this important parenthetical, two distinct passages between verse 11 and verse 25. And what do they say?
Luke 21:12-19. This parenthetical tells us what begins before all the things spoken of in verses 9-11. Right away we realize this passage is about Christians being persecuted. From history, we know this persecution started at the beginning of the church age, has continued since that time, and will keep going until the end of this age. This persecution, fueled by extreme hate, is religious and political in nature but, sadly, is also brought on by a person’s own family members. This end-times’ great suffering will be extremely difficult for Christians, but Jesus says it “will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.” And as He tells us in Matthew 24:14, this “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Luke 21:20-24. This parenthetical continues by summing up Jewish history during this church age. It starts with Jesus’ prediction about God’s punishing wrath upon the Jews, which historians tell us took place around 70 AD. Jesus then predicts that the Jews would be “led captive into all the nations,” and this happened, for Jews were scattered all over the world. But about 140 years ago they miraculously began returning to their homeland, to Israel. From 1880 to the present, the Jewish population has grown from about 10,000 to 6.6 million people, thus fulfilling God’s promise to regather the Jews. That the Jews are now back in their land is the number one reason we can say we are living in the end-times. This is relevant for the church, shown by the fact that these passages about Christians (Luke 21:12-19) and Jews (Luke 21:20-24) sit side by side, which means that God’s work with the Jews is in conjunction with His work with the Christians. This great work of God is leading us to the end of this age when Christ will return to rapture the Christians, and then set up His earthly kingdom for the Jews.
Luke 21:25-28. The first phrase in this passage speaks about these signs in the heavens, picking up from where we left off in verse 11. But notice, there’s a great earthquake, for we read about “the roaring of the sea.” What a terrifying event for unbelievers - they are scared to death, “fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the earth” (Revelation 6:16-17). But what a glorious time for Christians, for they see their Savior coming to rescue them from the earth, bring them to Himself, and then to heaven. This rapture event results in their redemption, a word that means deliverance, for believers will be completely delivered from sin, Satan and an evil world.
Luke 21:29-33. Jesus tells the disciples a parable, but clearly it’s for Christians living in the end-times, that whoever sees all the things He had just talked about will be part of that generation who will witness Christ’s return. How exciting for Christians living on earth at that time, for they will suddenly be snatched off the earth to be with Jesus! But there’s something else, for just as the redemption is near (verse 28), so too the kingdom of God is near (verse 31), referring to when Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth, of special interest to Jews, and also to Christians, for we too will be reigning with Christ for 1000 glorious years. Jesus emphatically proclaims that this passage is true, for He says that His words, which are God’s words, will not pass away, which means all that He had just talked about is surely going to happen!
Luke 21:34. Christ concludes with instructions for Christians. We are to guard and watch our hearts, and not be worried, worldly and fleshly in these end-time years. We are to be awake and alert, aware of what’s going on in the world around us. Now is the time to have faith, to be praying and serving, and looking for our Lord’s soon return, to that time when we will literally “stand before the Son of Man.” How sweet and satisfying to finally see and be with our Lord and Savior. “Come, Lord Jesus.”
P.S. Luke 21 and Matthew 24 are my two most favorite chapters on prophecy. I have a blog post on Matthew 24 (Matthew 24 - A Road Map of the End Times), a short but good summary, and a longer, much more detailed article (Matthew 24 - The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible). I would encourage you to read Matthew 24, and then read what I have written, for I believe it will help you understand what God has in store for the future.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #145 ~
The entire book of Revelation is important for Christians to understand, but chapters 2-3 are essential, and that’s because Jesus Christ is giving instructions to the churches. Much of Revelation describes events and details God wants us to know, but these two chapters tell the churches how they are to live for Him, what they need to believe and do. Revelation 2-3 are seven letters written to seven churches existing in the 1st century, but they have been instructive to churches throughout the years, and now that we live in the end-times, they are especially relevant to us, “for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). What do we learn from these end-times’ chapters?
There is a striking, powerful and glorious description of Jesus, our Savior, Lord and King, and the coming Judge, given in Revelation 1:12-17. We see that He is walking (spiritually speaking) among the lampstands, which are the churches. That He is walking means He actively loves us, cares for us, and is building each church, which is what He promised to Peter (Matthew 16:18). Jesus knows our deeds, He knows how we are doing, both the good and the bad. He commends the churches when they are doing what is right, but corrects them when they are doing what is wrong. Jesus also promises the overcomers, the victorious Christians, that He will greatly and eternally bless them.
There are seven churches, similar to those that have existed throughout history, and to ones in our own cities and towns today. There are small churches and big churches, holy churches and unholy churches, strong churches and weak churches, live churches and dead churches, victorious churches and struggling churches, persecuted churches and worldly churches, and truth-full churches and error-filled churches.
There
are the angels, super-strong helpers of Jesus who
carry out His work in the churches (Revelation 1:20, 2:1, 2:8, 2:12, 2:18, 3:1,
3:7, 3:14). These angels are “ministering
spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit
salvation” (Hebrews 1:14, Psalm 103:20). This should greatly encourage us, knowing
that Jesus is working with the angels, His secret-service agents whose faithful
obedience to Him is seen in their divine assistance for us, and their protection
of us.
There is the Holy Spirit, working with Jesus in every church and in every way, filling us, teaching us, reminding us, sanctifying us, leading us, empowering us, and blessing us. How wonderful it is to have Jesus’ Supreme Helper indwell us and be with us, ensuring that we will make it off this earth, arrive safely in heaven, and live forever and ever. Notice the final instruction to each church, that we are to listen to the Spirit, to hear what He has to say to us, for what He tells us is extremely important. Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22
There are many lessons Jesus wants us to learn and apply to our lives:
* to persevere and endure (Rev. 2:3, 2:19, 2:26),
* to love Jesus (Rev. 2:4),
* to repent of any sin (Rev. 2:5, 2:16, 2:21, 3:3, 3:19),
* to hate evil, and not tolerate evil people who are in the church (Rev. 2:2, 2:6),
* to not be afraid of persecution, imprisonment, and suffering (Rev. 2:10),
* to be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10, 2:13),
* to not deny the faith, and not deny Jesus (Rev. 2:13, 3:8),
* to correct error and false teaching (Rev. 2:14-15, 2:20, 2:24),
* to love, to have faith, and to serve (Rev. 2:19),
* to be growing, to be making progress (Rev. 2:19),
* to not be impure or immoral (Rev. 2:14, 2:20-21),
* to know and fight against Satan’s schemes (Rev. 2:9, 2:13, 2:24, 3:9),
* to complete the work God gives you to do (Rev. 3:2, 3:8),
* to remember what you have learned from Jesus (Rev. 3:3),
* to keep and obey God’s word (Rev. 3:3, 3:8),
* to be holy (Rev. 3:4, 3:15-19),
* to know God’s love (Rev. 3:9),
* to believe that Jesus is coming, and coming soon (Rev. 2:25, 3:11),
* to not be lukewarm, to not be worldly (Rev. 3:15-16),
* to not trust in your riches and be deceived (Rev. 3:17),
* to be an overcomer, to be victorious, and to believe all the promises (Rev. 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:12, 3:21)
* to have fellowship, to have a close relationship with Jesus (Rev. 3:20).
* These are the truths Jesus wants you to know and apply to your life today, and all the way to the end of your life on earth, whether that happens by death or by rapture.
What Christ cares for most on this earth is His church, His bride, the children of God. I pray that you are in a good church, a truth-teaching, God-loving, Christ-following, Spirit-led, disciple-making, Christ-is-coming church. How exciting it is, and how privileged to be living in the end times, knowing that we are part of Christ’s church, and that it won’t be long before He returns to rapture the church and set up His kingdom on earth. Remember Jesus’ last words, repeated three times in Revelation 22, “Behold, I am coming soon.” Might we heartily and lovingly say to Him, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
P.S. Here are two other past posts that directly relate to this one - "How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?" and "Kingdom Instructions for the Church." One more thing - have a blessed Thanksgiving. Psalm 136
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #146 ~
I have a friend who is a food scientist, which means he understands nutrition, what’s good for the body - the proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals that we need to stay healthy. But how do we keep our soul healthy? We need the truth of God’s word, and one particular and important aspect of His truth are His promises. Let me share some thoughts about these promises, followed up by many of my personal favorites.
1. God’s promises are all true, for God tells the truth, and He does not lie.
2. God’s promises are based on His word and character and, therefore, will never fail.
3. God’s promises are essential, for you cannot truly and fully live for God without them.
4. God’s promises are about your future, your time here on earth, and / or in heaven.
5. God’s promises are forward looking, and keep you from living in the past.
6. God’s promises tell you what God will do for you, not what you will do for Him.
7. God’s promises motivate you to persevere, to press on to the end.
8. God’s promises spiritually energize you to keep going for God.
9. God’s promises, though spiritual in nature, can also physically energize you.
10. God’s promises give hope, not worldly hope, but a godly hope.
11. God’s promises speak of how you will be eternally rewarded for your earthly service.
12. God’s promises are all about experiencing His grace in the future.
13. God’s promises encourage you today because they give you hope for tomorrow.
14. God’s promises will help you understand His purpose for your life.
15. God’s promises are a means to living a holy and God-pleasing life.
16. God’s promises are activated by faith, by believing what God is saying.
17. God’s promises must be personalized, for they speak of what God wants for your life.
18. God’s promises are either conditional or unconditional.
19. God’s promises give you confidence and assurance about your future.
20. God’s promises help you to live rightly today for you know you have a God-blessed tomorrow.
21. God’s promises are needed during stormy times, for they are forecasting a sunny future.
22. God’s promises are often prophetic, predicting His plans for both the church and the world.
23. God’s promises are precious, magnificent, incredible and wonderful.
24. God’s promises speak of how God will show you His great love in the future.
25. God’s promises should be shared with other Christians.
Here are a number of my favorite promises:
* 2 Chronicles 15:7 – “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
* Job 23:10 – “God knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
* Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
* Psalm 27:1 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"
* Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
* Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
* Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.”
* Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
* Psalm 84:11 - "The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
* Psalm 91:14-16 – “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”
* Psalm 119:1 – “How blessed is he whose way is blameless, who walks in the law of the Lord.”
* Psalm 119:50 - "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."
* Psalm 136 – “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
* Proverbs 2:3-5 – “If you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom…”
* Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
* Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love me, and those who seek Me find Me.”
* Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”
* Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
* Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear for I am with you; do not be anxious for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
* Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
* Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
* Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
* Matthew 5:11-12 – “Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.”
* Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
* Matthew 11:28-29 – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
* Matthew 24:31 – “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.”
* Matthew 28:19-20 – “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
* Mark 1:17 – “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
* Luke 12:32 – “Do not be afraid little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
* John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
* John 5:24 – “He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”
* John 8:12 - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
* John 11:25-26 – “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if He dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
* John 14:3 – “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
* John 14:13-14 – “I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it.”
* John 15:5 – “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit.”
* Romans 8:28 – “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.”
* Romans 8:32 - "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"
* 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 – “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful…”
* 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
* 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
* 2 Corinthians 2:14 – “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him.”
* 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 – “Though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
* 2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, you will have an abundancefor every good deed.”
* 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
* Galatians 5:16 – “Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”
* Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”
* Ephesians 2:10 – “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
* Ephesians 3:20-21 – “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
* Ephesians 6:2 – “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”
* Philippians 2:9-11 – “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
* Philippians 3:21 – “… the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
* Philippians 4:19 – “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
* Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.”
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 –“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
* 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – “May the God of peace sanctify you entirely; may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you and He will bring it to pass.”
* 2 Timothy 4:18 – “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
* Titus 2:10-11 - "If we died with Him, we will also live with Him. If we endure, we will also reign with Him."
* James 4:10 – “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
* Hebrews 10:37 – “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
* Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.”
* 1 Peter 5:10 – “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
* 2 Peter 1:4 – “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”
* 1 John 1:7 – “If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”
* Jude 24-25 – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
* Revelation 3:5 - "The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and His angels."
* Revelation 5:10 – “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
* Revelation 21:3-4 – “God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.”
* Revelation 21:7 – “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son.”
* Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming soon.”
All these promises, and many more besides, are wonderful and needed gifts from God. Don’t miss out on the blessing, the grace, hope, peace, strength and encouragement they bring to your soul, your life, and your future. I want to remind you of what Elizabeth said to Mary for, in principle, it applies to us: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her” (Luke 1:45). And remember these words that describe some of the saints of old: “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were exiles and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Sometime in the future, as Joshua said to the Jews, you will be able to say to others, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” Joshua 23:14
The closer we get to Christ’s coming, the more difficult it will be, and the more you will see that you need these promises, and cannot live without them. Through God’s promises, you will experience His amazing grace, and a special closeness with Him, until that time when, for the first time, you will see His face. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
P.S. I love God's promises, and I trust that you will learn to love them and see and experience their supreme and eternal worth. Here is a previous post that I believe will help you learn more about the value of these precious truths from God's word - "Promises from a Loving Father to His Children."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #147 ~
God wants you to see the end from the beginning, from that time when you were saved until that time when you see Jesus Christ and are glorified and in heaven. It’s so easy to get stuck in our own little world, in the here and now, and that’s why it’s imperative for you to see where you have come from and where you are going. A passage that explains this better than any I know is 1 Peter 1:3-13. What you see is that the future is spoken of in 8 of these 11 verses, using words like “living hope” (3), “inheritance” (4), “heaven” (4), “last time” (5), “revelation of Jesus Christ” (7, 13), “salvation” (5, 9, 10), “grace” (10, 13), and “glories to follow” (11). What God is telling you is clear and convincing, that the only way to live today is in view of the future that He has already planned out for you.
1 Peter 1:3-5 sums up your Christian life, the past, present and future, from when you were born again to your life today to that time when you will receive your heavenly inheritance. There’s direction and movement in these verses, for they are not just focused on being born again, but on the fact that you now have a living hope, that which is to excite you and point you to your future in heaven. Your life isn’t just sitting still, but is going someplace, and God Himself is moving you along and taking you to glory, to a “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” And God’s power will keep protecting you until that time when you will be fully saved, when you will be glorified. Jude 24-25
1 Peter 1:6-9 talks about your present life, but again in light of the future. Right away you read about trials, and it tells you there are various kinds of them, they last only a little while, they are distressing, and they only happen if God says they are necessary. And these trials are for your faith, which is extremely valuable, for it is a means to know God, to experience His grace, and to spiritual growth. Most importantly, it results in “praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” At the end of this age, there will be one grand celebration, for all believers will be gathered together to see Jesus, and will be excitedly and wholeheartedly worshiping Him. Revelation 7:9-12
These verses also instruct us how to live at this present time. First, we are to love God, and with all our heart. And we are to have faith in this One we cannot see, but soon will see, trusting Him, believing His word, knowing that He is fulfilling His plans for us. And we are to greatly rejoice, for we know what’s coming, “the salvation of our souls” and the glorification of our bodies. Do you see this, that your faith, hope, love and joy in the present are in light of the future, in view of that time when this age will come to an end, and Jesus Christ will be revealed for the entire world to see? 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8
1 Peter 1:10-12 is an encouraging and motivating parenthetical. It tells us about the Old Testament prophets, men writing about 2400-2900 years ago, and they wanted to know more about the Messiah to come. They knew He would suffer, and that His glory would be revealed to the whole world, but they didn’t know the specifics, they didn’t know when, and they really wanted to find out, and so they “made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time…” And these prophets did this for us - they were searching and seeking and writing for Christians, for those of us living in this church age. I must say, I get very excited, knowing that what the prophets wrote, along with the New Testament writers, is for us, especially since we now live in the end times.
Here we are, thousands of years later, and we can look back and see that part of what the prophets predicted has already taken place. We all know that Jesus Christ came to earth, and that He suffered, died, rose again, ascended into heaven, and that He will soon come back to fulfill the 2nd part of these predictions. But unlike the prophets, we now know there’s a 2nd coming, at which time Christ will return to earth with “great glory” (Luke 21:27), and then glorify us, and after that, the world will be full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3). Another amazing truth is that the angels long to look into these matters about Christ’s 1st and 2nd comings. Just think, if the prophets wrote this for us, and the angels are looking into these things, shouldn’t we be super-motivated to study and learn and tell others what God wants us to know about our glorious future? Mark 13:23
1 Peter 1:13 starts with “therefore,” which means it’s the conclusion to this prophetic passage for Christians. In view of Christ being revealed, in view of being glorified and being in heaven, in view of receiving an incredible inheritance, how should you live on earth? You are to prepare your mind for action. You are to be spiritually awake, aware of what God’s word says, alert to what He’s doing in the world, and actively working for Christ, helping to carry out His end-time plans for the church. And you are to “fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Don’t get distracted by worldly things, but be focused on the fact that Christ is coming soon, and be looking forward to seeing Him, knowing that He will then “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Philippians 3:21
You can’t miss the future in this present day, 1 Peter passage for Christians. Don’t skip over it, make light of it, or think it’s not relevant for your life, and especially at this time in history, with the return of Jesus Christ right around the corner. Might 1 Peter 1:3-13, this big-picture passage, help you to love Jesus all the more, and to live today in light of the fantastic future that God has “reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:4
P.S. I love this subject, the big picture of our lives. Having this perspective is a must if we are to be able to rightly and wholeheartedly live for the Lord. Here are two previous posts that address this same subject: "God's Time Frame for Your Life," and "An Overview of Your Christian Life."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #148 ~
I love the prophets, the
God-exalting, Spirit-filled, sin-declaring, judgment-speaking, future-telling, hope-inspiring
prophets. What a blessing that God raised them up, godly men for their day, for
our day, and for our future. Their writings are not outdated; they are not to
be allegorized; they are not too hard to understand; they are not to be skipped
over and ignored; and they are for both the Jewish people and the church.
Micah, like many of the prophets, focused on the sin and judgment of the Jews, but he also spoke about the coming Messiah, the Christ, and the hope He would bring. We see in this short book, like diamonds shining in the dark, a number of verses speaking about the Christ, one predicting that He would be born in that little town of Bethlehem. “As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you, One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2). This comprehensive, 1st coming - 2nd coming prophecy does not talk about this eternal One being the Savior, but points to Him being the King, the ruler in Israel. And that Christ will be ruling over the Jews and the world in the kingdom ages to come is a major theme in the rest of Micah’s 2nd coming prophecies. Here is what we learn from Micah:
* Micah 2:12-13 predicts, “I will surely assemble all of you Jacob, I will surely gather the
remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep… so their King goes on
before them, and the Lord at their head.” In the future, Jesus will visibly
be the King of the Jews.
* Micah 4:1 tells us, “It will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as chief among the mountains… and the peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways, and that we may walk in His paths.’ For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Christ the King will reign from Jerusalem, but He will also be a Teacher, declaring to people from all over the world the truth they need to know and live by.
* Micah 4:5 declares, “He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares… nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war.” In this rebellious and war-torn world, there is no real peace, but rejoice, for Jesus Christ will come and be the Judge, and bring true peace. Micah 4:6-8 gives more valuable information about Christ’s coming kingdom and, in particular, that it will be an eternal kingdom. “The Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever.”
* Micah 5:3-4 goes on to say, “He will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has born a Child. Then the remainder of His brethren will return to the sons of Israel, and He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God… at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth.” This prophesy, that the Jews would be given up, also stated in Luke 21:20-24, means they would be scattered all over the world, and this happened around 70 AD. But since 1880 AD, over 6 million Jews have returned to their land, and now Israel is in labor, for her birth pains are taking place. (Matthew 24:4-8, Revelation 12:1-5). That the Jews are back in their land means we are living in the end times, and so it won’t be long before we see Christ coming in a cloud to rapture the church from the earth, pour out His wrath on this world, and then be a Shepherd over this remnant of newly-saved Jews.
* Micah 7:18-20 concludes, “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity… He will again have compassion on us… You will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham, which You swore to our forefathers from the days of old.” Here is God, the Christ, being a Savior, showing love, forgiveness and compassion. And we are reminded of His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that they would have a great multitude of descendants, a large portion of land, and world-wide blessing. Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 17:1-8
The Messiah, the Christ is coming, and He will be a King, a Teacher, a Judge, a Shepherd, and a Savior. You can only fully understand God’s plans for the church if you understand the prophets, and their description of His plans for the Jews. God’s work with the church is now coinciding with His work with the Jews. What an honor to be living in the last years of this church age, for we read the prophets and look back and see what has been fulfilled, and look forward to see plans of His that will be fulfilled. Christ will soon return, and then we will see these Micah prophecies, along with many more, all come true. And these prophecies for the Jews will directly affect the church, for Christ will be our King, and we will reign with Him, and with Jewish believers, forever and ever.
I encourage you to read the prophets, and find the verses that speak of the future of the Jews, for they now relate to Christians. Hebrews 11:39-40 explains it this way, “All these (Old Testament believers), having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us (church age Christians), so that apart from us they (Old Testament believers) should not be made be perfect.” God’s work with the Jews and the Christians will come together, converging in the age to come. The conclusion is given at the end of Romans 11, that chapter to the church that tells us about the salvation of the Jewish remnant, “To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
P.S. During this Christmas season, it's good to be reminded of the Old Testament prophets, for they told us so much about Christ's first coming, and birth, and His second coming. Here are two posts that will help you understand how God's past working relates to the future God has for us. "Why the Jews Are Important for You and the Church" and "Prophecy Predicts the Future."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #149 ~
Many people do not understand the true meaning of Christmas. Indeed,
it’s a special day of the year, but it’s not really about family, food and
presents. In its simplest sense, Christmas is about Jesus, that as God’s only
Son, He became a man, and is now both God and man. We should be thrilled and
thankful for what is called the “incarnation,”
that Jesus came to earth to be God in human flesh. But more than that, Jesus
actually came to live with us, for He is called “Immanuel,” meaning “God with
us.” Matthew 1:23
Living on earth that first time was an extremely humbling experience for Jesus. He was perfectly holy, yet dwelt among sinful people, with those who were worldly, with those who were ignorant of the truth, and with those who hated the truth, which meant they hated Him and His Father. But Jesus wasn’t looking for praise and honor, for He wanted to be a servant, and He was the servant of all. Multitudes of people from all over Israel saw and heard Jesus, this perfect man, the best teacher, a fighter for truth, a healer of diseases, One who drove out demons, and One who loved everyone, even His enemies.
For three years, Jesus ministered to the Jews, and to some Gentiles. Then the time came for Him to do His most important work, to suffer, die and be raised again. Jesus’ death was purposeful, for it meant being punished by His Father for people’s sins, so as to defeat the devil and destroy his work, and to pay for the sins of those who would repent of their sins and believe in Him. Justice and love met when Jesus died on the cross, for He satisfied God’s justice, resulting in God being able to forgive sinners and show them His love. This forgiveness and salvation is only by God’s grace, by Christ’s death and the Spirit’s work in a person’s heart, and not by their own works. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:5-6
Jesus was born. Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus ascended into heaven. That sums up Christ’s 1st coming. Now we live in the church age, that period of time between Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, when He is building the church, redeeming a bride for Himself, and awaiting the end of this age when He will come back to earth. That the Jewish people have returned to Israel and reclaimed their land is God’s clear signal to us that we are now living in the last years of this church age.
It won’t be long before Jesus, with “power and great glory,” will come back in the clouds (Luke 21:27), and rapture the church still on earth, gathering her to Himself along with all believers who have already died and gone to heaven. Jesus will then punish this wicked world (Revelation 8-9, 16), redeem a remnant of Jews, and begin His long-awaited and prayed-for reign over the earth (Matthew 6:9-10). Then those famous Christmas verses (Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2-5a), along with many others from God’s word, will be completely fulfilled. “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
At this time in history, we can look back and see exactly which prophecies Christ fulfilled at His 1st coming, and look ahead, knowing that He will fulfill the rest of them at His 2nd coming. Believers living at the time of Jesus’ birth (e.g. Mary, Simeon, and Anna) didn’t have 20/20 vision like we do. They did understand that what happened was not just about a baby being born, but about the Messiah being both a Savior and a King - they just didn’t know there would be a 1st coming and a 2nd coming. But we can see clearly now, knowing there needs to be a 2nd coming, and that Christ Himself told us so (Matthew 24:3-44). It's a God-guaranteed fact that Christ will return to earth, and once again will be called, “Immanuel,” for God, will literally be with us.
At this special time of the year, remember these words about Jesus, the Messiah: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:31-33). “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). If you don’t know Jesus and His love for you, I encourage you to pray these words from that Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” “O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel.”
P.S. I have written two previous posts about Christmas, ones I would encourage you to look at - "First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming" and "The Christmas Story and Christ's Second Coming." Have a blessed Christmas season as you are with family and friends and celebrate the birth of our Savior and King.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #150 ~
What is the most important thing you are to do on earth, and in heaven, now and forever? You are to love God! Jesus tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). With your entire being, with every bit of feeling, and every bit of strength, you are to love God! You are to love Him during the day, at night, and on the weekend. You are to love Him when you are at home, at work, at church, doing errands, or out seeing friends. You are to love God all the time, today, tomorrow, and forever!
Why should you love God? Because God created you and you are His, and you are to love the One who made you. But most importantly, because God loves you - and Oh, how He loves you! If Jesus Christ suffered and died for you, if He saved you from sin, death, Satan and hell, then you are truly and greatly loved by God, and nothing will ever change that. Romans 5:8
Let’s look more closely at how God has loved you, and will love you. God has placed His Holy Spirit in you and, therefore, He is with you forever! You have been forgiven of all your sins, and are perfectly holy in His sight! You have been redeemed, rescued from the devil’s dark domain! God has adopted you into His family which means you are forever His child. God has given you eternal life which results in you knowing Him, and having this special, soul-satisfying relationship with Him. God’s love for you is specific and personal, in that He is good to you, kind to you, merciful to you, patient with you, gentle with you, and compassionate towards you. Psalm 86:15
That’s not all! God has also given you His Word, His eternal truth which results in all the wisdom, security, direction, peace, and hope that you need! God has made you a brand new creature in Christ! God gives you an eternal purpose, a real reason to live! God gives you a spiritual family, the church, friends to be with forever. God gives you an incredible future, a heavenly inheritance, resulting in eternal blessings and pleasures. And nothing in this world, no person, no devil, no problem, no time or distance, will ever separate you from this continual and incredible love God has for you. Romans 8:31-39
There is no doubt that God has greatly loved you, but have you
come to know and believe this amazing and wonderful love He has for you? Many
Christians are weak and worldly because they don’t truly know God’s love. For
if you really know it, you will be a holy and strong Christian, one who loves
God and is living for Him. This God-awesome love is powerful and passionate,
and when experienced, will control you, and compel you to love Him with all
your heart. Without question, God’s love for you will fuel and fire your love
for Him. “We love because He loved us.” 1
John 4:19
But what should this love for God look like? How are you to express your love to the One who has loved you so much? Your love will be seen in that you will think about God, and be excited about Him, and tell Him that you love Him. Your love will be personal and relational, for you will talk to Him, listen to Him, and enjoy spending time with Him. You will faithfully worship, praise and exalt Him. You will be thankful to God for who He is, and for what He does for you. You will love His word and desire to learn from Him. Psalm 119:97
That’s not all! You will pray to God, pour out your heart to Him, and ask Him for His help. You will love all the saints, those in your church, and others you know or meet. You will obey God, and carry out the work He wants you to do. You will hate sin, evil, and every false way. You will love your enemies, even those who persecute you. You will share the gospel with the lost, with those who don’t know God’s love. And you will be looking forward to being with Jesus, and seeing Him face to face. Job 19:25-27
In view of who God is, and all that He has done for you and will do for you, you ought to love God. It’s the right thing, the logical thing to do, and it’s foundational, practical, purposeful, prioritizing, and without question, the most important thing to do. And it gives glory to God, which is the most important thing of all. Loving God should be an overriding constant in your life, that which will affect what you do, where you go, who you see, and how you spend your time and money. Make it your goal to love God every day of this new year. As you go through life, through the coming weeks, months and years, whether in good times or bad, sickness or health, prosperity or poverty, joy or sorrow, remember to keep loving God, knowing that He keeps loving you. Psalm 136
As you know, we live in the end-times, the last years of this present age, and the closer we get to Christ’s return, the tougher it will get. Some of you may even be on earth when the Antichrist comes, which means you will likely experience extreme hate and great tribulation. But whatever happens, remember that God loves you, and you are to keep loving Him. Doing this will help you stay on track, and keep you going down that straight and narrow road until you meet up with Jesus. Psalm 84:1-7
Your life of loving God on earth is only the beginning - never forget that you will be loving Him forever, which means in the kingdom ages to come. Can you imagine what it will be like to be glorified and in heaven with Jesus, when your love for Him will always be perfect, heartfelt, and God-glorifying? While in these fleshly bodies, your love for God is inconsistent, up and down, daily punctuated by sin and worldliness. But someday and very soon, you will be in heaven, and you will literally see Jesus, and you will love Him like you have never loved Him before. “Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. Knowing God's love is not an option for your life. If you are to be encouraged, obedient, and exciting about living for God, you must know His great and amazing love for you. Here are two past articles that will help you comprehend His wonderful love for you: "The Father's Love for His Children" and "Keep Yourself in the Love of God."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #151 ~
Meteorologists forecast the weather, predicting temperatures, precipitation, humidity, highs, lows, etc., but rarely do they get it all right. And forecasting the weather is what people have been doing for thousands of years. In fact, Jesus said, “You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?” (Luke 12:56). With these words, Jesus was rebuking unbelievers for they didn’t believe He was the Christ, the Messiah and, therefore, didn’t understand His 1st coming. And sad to say, most people today, including many Christians, don’t understand the times we now live in, and that Christ’s 2nd coming is drawing near.
In these days, God wants Christians to know all about Christ’s 2nd coming and events preceding it, and be accurately forecasting it. But what does God say that enables us to forecast, to predict the future, and with 100% certainty? And why do we know that Christ will be coming back soon? Here is what God’s word says:
* Jesus Christ is coming again. Luke 21:27; Hebrews 10:37; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20
* Jesus Christ is returning soon, for we now live in the end-times, the last years of this church age, that time period during which the Jewish people are once again living in Israel. Ezekiel 36-37, Daniel 12:4, Matthew 24:15-27, Revelation 10-12
* In the coming years, there will be a seven-year period called Daniel’s 70th week, a God-ordained time during which many prophesied events will take place. Daniel 9:24-27
* In the years leading up to Daniel’s 70th week, there will be “birth pains” (earthquakes, wars, plagues, famines and poverty) occurring in various parts of the world, signaling Christ’s return is getting closer. Matthew 24:4-8, Hebrews 10:25, Revelation 6:1-8
* Lawlessness will be increasing in the world before Christ’s return. Matthew 24:12, 37
* There will be a growing persecution of both Christians and Jews before Christ’s 2nd coming. Matthew 24:9, Revelation 12:17; Zechariah 14:2, Matthew 24:15-22
* The Antichrist will be revealed at the 3½ year mark of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15
* People will be saved and disciples will be raised up, and Christ’s work in building the church will be completed at the end of this age. Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19-20
* There will be great disturbances in the heavens and a great earthquake on the earth, signs indicating that this age has come to an end. Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12-14
* At a time unknown to us, after the Antichrist is revealed and at the end of this age, Christ will return to rapture the church. Matthew 24:15-36, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9
* God will pour out His righteous wrath on a wicked world. Psalm 98:9; Revelation 8-9, 16
* God will redeem a large remnant of Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Ezekiel 27:23, Daniel 9:24-27, Romans 11:25-27
* Jesus Christ will begin His 1000-year reign over the earth. Psalm 67, Revelation 20
This is amazing! This is so encouraging that God tells us what will be taking place in the future! And because it’s God’s word, it’s guaranteed to happen. To emphasize this point, Jesus, in the middle of a great prophecy passage, says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Jesus wants us to be completely convinced that His prophetic word is an accurate forecast of the future. He gives us a perfect outline, not all the details, but just what He wants us to know.
Now how does God want you to live in these last, important years of this church age?
* He wants you to study and believe His prophetic word so you can tell others what God wants them to know about Christ’s 2nd coming. Luke 24:25-26, 44-45; 2 Timothy 2:15
* He wants you to be a holy vessel who is useful to Himself, the Master. 2 Timothy 2:21
* He wants you to pray for Christ’s kingdom to be established on earth. Matthew 6:9-10
* He wants you to do His work, using the grace and gifts He gives you. 1 Peter 4:10-11
* He wants you to know that He is sovereign and faithful, and will fully accomplish His work in you and in the church. Romans 8:28-30, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. Ephesians 1:9-12
* He does not want you to be asleep or worldly, but to be awake, alert, and aware of what God is doing in the world around you. Matthew 16:2-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
* He wants you to love Him, and love one another. Mark 12:30-31, John 15:7
* He wants you to have faith, to depend on Him and be trusting His word. Luke 18:8
* He wants you to have hope - that you will be glorified, in heaven, and with Jesus and other believers. John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 14:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
* He wants you to share the gospel with the lost, explaining to them the purpose of Christ’s 1st coming, and how they can be forgiven of their sins and receive eternal life. Luke 21:12-15
* He wants you to be in a church with a good pastor, and with people who love God, love His word, and love one another. Acts 2:42, Ephesians, Revelation 2-3
* He wants you to be excited about His Son’s return, to be looking forward to seeing Jesus, and being with Him. Job 19:25-27, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Revelation 22:20
What a time to be alive! This subject of prophecy shouldn’t be cloudy, but clear to us, for God has told us everything we need to know about Christ’s 2nd coming, the events preceding it, and how to live. Make it your goal this year to know the future He has planned for us. Be like the sons of Issachar, who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32), like Ezekiel who was a “watchman” (Ezekiel 3:17), and like John the Baptist who made “ready the way of the Lord.” Luke 3:4
P.S. Here is a post that gives a short but good explanation of prophecy - "Prophecy Is Predicting the Future." This article is most appropriate and instructive as you think about time, your life, and the new year - "The Time of My Life."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #152 ~
Living for God must be by faith, and a great place to learn about this is in Hebrews 11. Called the hall of faith, it describes the lives of godly people who were living by faith. These holy men and women had faith in God for the present and for the future, for today and for eternity. Faith in God for the future is what we call hope, that which is based on God’s promises. These Old Testament saints had both faith and hope, which is exactly what Christians in this church age need to have. But what specifically does God want us to learn from Hebrews 11, this faith and hope-focused chapter?
The way to have a relationship with God is by faith. By faith, Enoch “walked with God” (Genesis 5:24) which means he was close to Him. By faith, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). By faith, Abraham was a friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7). By faith, Moses saw “Him who is unseen” (Hebrews 11:27). All the saints in Hebrews 11 had a relationship with God as they were sinners who, by faith, experienced His grace, mercy and love. This resulted in them loving God, seeking God, and obeying God.
The way to please God is by faith. Whether it was Noah building an ark, Abraham leaving his homeland, or Sarah believing she would have a child, it was by faith. This phrase “by faith” is repeated 19 times, example after example being given of believers trusting God, waiting on Him, and doing what He said. And God was pleased by their faith, by their obedience, and this is the only way you and I can please God and gain His approval.
The way to be rewarded is by faith. God wants to bless our lives now and forever. But it’s not by our works, not by what we do, but by believing what God wants to graciously do for us, and through us. This chapter illustrates that God blesses His people, and the key is to have faith in Him, to believe He wants to bless us. By faith Noah constructed the ark, a huge building project that took 60-70 years, and God blessed his obedience, hard work and perseverance, saving him from the flood and His wrath. And by faith, Enoch was taken to heaven, Abraham was given a child, and Moses escaped Egypt.
The way to be resurrected, and live forever, is by faith. Abraham believed that God could raise his son from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Women received back their dead by resurrection (Hebrews 11:35), and these who were raised from the dead died again. But there is a “better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35), and this is still future, a “resurrection of life” (John 5:29) when we “will be made alive… at His coming,” when we will all be given glorified bodies, when we will be made perfect. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 42-44, 51-53
The way to persevere is by faith, and by hope. Life was extremely difficult for these saints of God. Noah, no doubt, was harassed and laughed at as he built the ark. Abraham lived in tents, and admitted he was a stranger on this earth. Moses gave up the riches of Egypt and the passing pleasures of sin. Some “experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, chains and imprisonments…” Others were “wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:36-38). How did they endure and keep going? Why were they willing to suffer? It was by faith in God’s promises, faith that gave them hope, a confidence about a wonderful future. Enoch wanted to be with God in heaven. Abraham was “looking for the city which has foundations” (Hebrews 11:10). Moses was “looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26). All these Jewish believers were hope-filled and forward-looking - “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and aliens on this earth… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11:13, 16
The way we live for God is by faith. By faith, we walk with God, we serve, we obey, we sacrifice, and we fellowship. And we persevere because we have hope, for we believe it’s worth it to live for God in the present because we know He will reward us in the future. This hope-based perseverance, a major theme in Hebrews 11, is what everyone of us need. God is kind to us for He gives us His word, His glorious promises, and we can only endure and keep going for Him because we are looking forward to when they will be fulfilled. (Note: there are short-term promises, those fulfilled during this life, and long-term promises, those fulfilled after we have gone to heaven).
It all comes together in the last two verses, the conclusion of Hebrews 11. “All these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us (Christians) they (saints of old) would not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40). Do you see this? The saints of old did not then and, nor have even today, received all that was promised them, and neither have Christians. But these verses mean that many of God’s promises for Old Testament believers and for Christians, will be fulfilled at the same time. For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 says that all believers from all time will be glorified at Christ's coming, when the church is raptured. At that moment, God’s work with the saints of old will be coinciding with His work with the church, and all of us will be glorified, be made perfect.
We live in the end-times and it won’t be long before God’s work with the saints of old and the saints of this age will converge and climax at Christ’s coming. At that time and in the ages to come, all God’s promises for His people will be fulfilled. For now, let’s be like Abraham who “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Know that “God is not ashamed to be called their (our) God; for He has prepared a city for them (us)” (Hebrews 11:16, John 14:1-3). Think about when you go to heaven - “You have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21. Amen!!!
P.S. I can't overstate the importance of having hope, godly hope. There is a previous post and a previous article I encourage you to to read - "You Need Hope to Get Through Life," and "You Have to Have Hope!" One more thing: just last Sunday I taught on Hebrews 11 at my church - if you get time, I would encourage you to listen to it.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Special Post ~
Indeed, God is good, faithful, and full of truth. I am very thankful for God helping me these past three years to make this blog site available to you. I am also thankful for the many people who have had the opportunity to view the posts and articles. In fact, just two weeks ago there were English and Spanish readers from 68 countries and territories!
If you have recently started looking at this blog site, I want to encourage you to take the time to read all the blog posts. I suggest starting with the first ones, for they contain a great deal of basic, foundational truths about Christ’s coming and related events. I also recommend reading the Prophecy Terms and studying the charts.
If you are a regular reader, you may have noticed that the subjects don’t always follow the same theme from week to week. One reason I do this is so that you learn where to place specific subjects / posts in the big scheme of things. There are posts about Jesus Christ and His 1st coming. There are posts about the Jews, and about the Christians. There are posts about what occurs before Christ’s 2nd coming, what happens at His 2nd coming, what occurs right after His 2nd coming, and what will be taking place in the kingdom ages to come. In all this, God wants you to know when, in light of the big picture, prophetic events occur, whether it’s in the past, present, near future, or far future.
My plan in the coming year, as God wills, is to continue to write blog posts, with an emphasis on specific prophecy passages. I want to share from Luke 17, Romans 8, Romans 11, Romans 15, Revelation 4-5, Revelation 13, Psalm 2, Psalm 22, Daniel 7 and others. If you have other suggestions, whether it be topics or Bible passages, just email me and let me know.
Do tell your family, friends and fellow church members about the blog site. I do have blog promo cards that I can send you that you can then give to others. If you want any, just email me your address, and I will get them to you as soon as I can.
May the Lord continue to encourage you, use you, and teach you about this important subject. Think about what Jesus told His disciples, which is applicable to us: “He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). Might we pray, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” Psalm 119:18
P.S. As you may know, I am a pastor, and have been regularly teaching from the Bible for over 25 years. If you are interested in listening to any of my Sunday messages, I would direct you to my Sermon Audio home page, where you can listen to the messages, and download my detailed sermon outlines. May God bless you in your learning, believing and applying His word to your life.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Special Post ~
I am thankful that God has given me a love for His word and wants me to share it with others. What people need more than anything else is God’s word, His truth; and now that we are in the end times, it’s critical that we also learn His prophetic word, what God tells us about the end-times, the return of Christ, and the ages to come. There’s no doubt that God's plans for the church and for this world will surely and soon come to pass. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.'” Isaiah 46:9-10
Here are a few thoughts to think about:
* Jesus Christ is coming soon. We don’t know exactly when, that is, the day or hour, but we do know the general time, and that’s because God’s word tells us many events that will occur before Christ's coming and the rapture of the church. (Matthew 24:32-36). In fact, the timing of the rapture is the subject of next week’s post, entitled, “When Is Christ Returning to Rapture the Church?”
* My purpose in writing these blog posts is to help people prepare for the future. Down in Florida, where I live, we have hurricanes. In recent years, meteorologists’ forecasts have become more accurate, usually giving us many days notice as to when and where a hurricane will be coming; and they do this because they want us to prepare. Most people take heed, not waiting until they hear the wind howling and the rain pouring down, for then it would be too late. And so too, in the calm before the “storm,” you need to be prepared and ready. Don’t wait, don’t procrastinate. Now’s the time to know what God says about His plans for you, this world, and the return of His Son. Learn from these posts, and from others who have studied this important and relevant subject. I personally believe Christ’s coming is quite a few years away, and whether that’s 10, 20, 30 years or more, I don’t know. I encourage you, while the “world’s weather” is not too stormy, to read and study prophecy, for you need to be ready. “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Luke 12:35-40
* When you read these posts you may think all I do is teach on prophecy, but that is far from the truth. As a pastor in a local church, my main job is caring for the church, and feeding her the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). I teach God’s word every Sunday, sometimes topically, but usually from a book. And teaching on prophecy is a part of that, what I do in two different ways. First, I teach God’s word Sunday after Sunday in the context of Christ’s coming. This is what God tells all pastors to do: “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and kingdom, I solemnly charge you, preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). In fact, this Sunday I am teaching 1 Peter 1, which is all about how to live in the present in view of the future. God’s word is not to be taught void of prophetic truth but in view of it. Second, once a month on a Wednesday evening, I teach on prophecy, covering passages like Matthew 24, Luke 21, Revelation, and other related end-time’s subjects.
* When you look at Christianity today, you realize that most people rarely think about prophecy, let alone study it. But don’t be negatively affected by their neglect, lack of interest or unbelief. Do what God wants you to do, not what man is doing, for you will give an account to Him of how you handled His prophetic word at this time in history. Learn about Christ’s coming for your own life, but also for your family, friends and fellow church members. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23
* Everything on this blog site is for you to read, give to
others, and use in your church or Bible study. Remember, you can download the
posts, articles and charts, and print them out, or put them on a flash drive.
And don’t wait, for there may come a time when, for whatever reason, they may
not be available on the internet.
* You have probably seen that the posts are also in Spanish, thanks to a good friend who has faithfully been translating them. Tell your Spanish friends, near and far, about this site. It’s interesting and encouraging to note that a recent analysis of the blog post data revealed that about 70% of all viewers are from Spanish-speaking countries. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Keep praying!
I am very thankful to be alive at this time in history, in the last years leading up to Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. It won’t be long before, one way or another, we will have all left this planet and are up in heaven with Jesus. But for now, let’s be loving Him, living for Him, and looking for His soon return. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I mentioned learning from others. I encourage you to check out Eschatos Ministries (Alan Kurschner). Alan is a godly scholar, one who has a good understanding of the end times and the coming of Christ.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #153 ~
This is an important question, one not to be ignored, but one that needs to be answered. Some might say this question should not even be asked. But the prophets wanted to know (1 Peter 1:11). The angels wanted to know (1 Peter 1:12). Jesus’ disciples wanted to know (Matthew 24:3). And all Christians, especially at this time in history, should want to know. The truth is, God wants you to know, and gives you all the information you need so you can know when Christ will be coming back to rapture the church. What does God tell us?
* We live in the end times (Daniel 12:4, 9), that time during which the rapture will occur. That the Jewish people have regathered to their land means that God is, once again, actively carrying out His plans for them, and is proof that we live in the end times. Daniel 7-12 describes many conditions that need to be in place before Christ comes and fulfills His promises to the Jews. Then Matthew 24:4-27, Luke 21:8-33, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 and Revelation 6-7, show us that what happens to the church in the end times corresponds and / or coincides with what happens to the Jews in the end times. Therefore, in these last years before Christ’s return, it's imperative to know what God says about Jews and Christians, for His work with both groups culminates in Christ’s coming, resulting in the church being raptured, a Jewish remnant being saved, and His kingdom being set up on earth.
* The rapture of the church takes place at Christ’s coming, and is the first event to occur at His coming. There are not two comings. There is not the rapture, and later on, Christ’s coming. There is only one coming of Christ, at which time there’s the rapture of the church, God’s wrath, and many Jews being saved. Matthew 24:27-31, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
* Christ's coming is not imminent, cannot happen at any time, and does not happen without God giving us advance notice. Some people believe no prophesied signs or events need to occur before Christ’s coming, but that is not true. God tells us many things that need to take place before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church (Matthew 24:4-30, Luke 21:4-28, Revelation 6). Matthew 24:33 makes this point very clear: “When you see all these things (events listed in Matthew 24:4-30), recognize that He is near, right at the door.”
* We do not know the specific time of Christ’s return. Anyone
who says they know exactly when Christ is coming back is wrong. Jesus said it
best, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,
nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Matthew 24:36
* We know the general time of Christ’s coming. As was previously stated, many events will occur before Christ’s coming and the rapture. The last generation of Christians living in the end times will see these things taking place and realize Christ’s return is at hand (Matthew 24:32-34). God wants us to know that His Son’s return is getting closer. He wants to give us hope, and to be looking forward to Christ’s coming, and to be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
* Understanding Daniel’s 70th week is key to knowing when Christ will return to rapture the church. At the beginning of this 70th week, a peace treaty between the Jews and the Antichrist will be signed; at the midpoint of this week, the Antichrist is revealed; and at the end of this 7-year time frame, a Jewish remnant is saved (Daniel 9:24-27). Then we learn, as we will see next, that the rapture occurs sometime during the last half of this 70th week.
* The church is raptured after the Antichrist is revealed. Daniel 9:27 informs us that the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Matthew 24:15-31, Mark 13:14-27, and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 each give a chronology of end-time events, making it clear that Christ’s coming occurs after the Antichrist’s coming. Therefore, the rapture, the 1st event at Christ’s coming, takes place after the Antichrist is revealed, which means it happens sometime during the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week, at a time unknown to us.
* The last signs taking place before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church are a great earthquake, the sun turning dark, and the powers of heaven being shaken. These earth-shocking events mark the end of this age! Immediately after this, the skies light up - “as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27-31). “The Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first.” The Christians still on earth, seeing, feeling and hearing all these things, will know their Savior has come to take them home to heaven. “We who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
* God gives us a list of events that need to occur before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church. There will be false Christs, birth pains (earthquakes, famines, plagues, wars), increasing lawlessness, the signing of a treaty by the Jews, a great apostasy, the building of a temple in Jerusalem, the desolation of the temple by the Antichrist, the preaching of the gospel to the entire world, great persecution against Jews and Christians, the forming of a ten-nation kingdom led by the Antichrist, the forcing of people to worship the Antichrist and take his mark, a great earthquake, and the celestial lights going dark. Then the whole world “will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:3-31; Luke 21:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9; Revelation 6, 13, 17
* What God says about Christ’s return and the timing of His return is 100% true, and that's because God’s word is 100% true. That is, the reason we know the “what” and the “when” about Christ’s coming is because God tells us, and God never lies - He always tells the truth. To drive that point home, in the middle of five verses that actually speak about the timing of His return, Christ says this about God’s prophetic word - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). With absolute certainty, God is telling you that His Son, Jesus Christ, is coming again, and that He is coming soon, sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
P.S. Another post that helps you understand when the rapture will occur is "The Timing of the Rapture." As most of you know, the Super Bowl is this Sunday night, but here's a previous post that tells you what's most important: "Super Events Are Coming Soon."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #154 ~
When we speak of the rapture, we are talking about a most spectacular, life-changing, and God-glorifying event! It's when Jesus Christ comes back in the clouds and powerfully and lovingly snatches all the Christians from the earth and brings them to Himself. The rapture is a specific event occurring at a specific time, but many believers use this term in a general way, referring to it as more than Christ coming and taking the Christians from the earth. Today, we will look at some verses in this general sense, helping you see that your life will immediately, dramatically and wonderfully be changed when Christ returns.
* 1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “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.” This is the classic “rapture” verse. Now the words “caught up” are from the Greek “harpagisometha”, which was translated as “rapiemur” in the Latin Vulgate, from which we get the English word “rapture.” This phrase caught up, or rapture, means to snatch, seize, carry off, or take by force. When Christ returns, Christians will be suddenly, quickly and forcefully taken from the earth to forever be with their Savior. That it says “caught up together” means Christians will be jetted off the earth to be instantly united with all believers from all of history, and then together be taken to the Lord.
* Matthew 24:29-31 – “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Jesus Christ will come from heaven with His angels and dispatch them to the world below and the skies above, gathering to Himself all the believers, those still living on earth, and those who have already died. This glorious “rapture” event will occur at the end of this age, after the skies are suddenly darkened, and then immediately lit up by Christ’s coming.
* 2 Thessalonians 2:1 – “We request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.” Again, we read that the believers will be gathered together to be with Jesus Christ. This gathering takes place at Christ’s coming, and is, in fact, the first event to occur at His coming. Verses 2-9 tell us that the rapture and the gathering take place after the apostasy, and after the “man of lawlessness” is revealed, which happens at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week. This most evil man is the Antichrist, a devilish man who desecrates the Jewish temple.
* Luke 17:34, 36 – “On that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left… Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.” When the rapture occurs, believers and unbelievers will suddenly be separated, for Christ, with “lightning speed” quickness, will lovingly take His bride from the earth. For some Christians the rapture happens at night, and for others it's during the day. For the saved, it means immediate perfection, and for the unsaved, it means wrath on earth and wrath in hell.
* Luke 21:8 – “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” The “redemption” takes place at the rapture. One result of the rapture is that earth-dwelling believers will be redeemed, delivered, rescued, and quickly escape from a wicked world and their sinful body, and be taken to Jesus.
* John 14:3 – “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus comforts His troubled disciples by telling them that He is coming back to bring believers to Himself, and to a special place in heaven that He has prepared for them. That you now live in the end-times means there is a strong possibility that the rapture may happen in your lifetime.
* 1 Corinthians 15:52 – “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” This verse tells us many things that take place at the rapture. First, it will happen quickly, “in a moment,” in a split second. Second, it will occur at the loud blast of the last trumpet. Third, the believers who have already died will, at that time, be resurrected, be glorified. Fourth, immediately after the resurrection of these heavenly believers, the Christians who were living on earth will be changed, be glorified, be given brand new bodies!
* 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 – “To give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire.” Throughout history, Christians have suffered and been persecuted, and so too in the end times. God will give rest and relief to His children who are greatly suffering on earth. This happens when the rapture takes place, when Christ is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. What a relief the rapture will be for the Christians, but not for the unsaved unbelievers.
* Matthew 24:13 – “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Jesus had just mentioned four difficult things affecting the believers - great tribulation, being betrayed, false prophets, and increasing lawlessness. So He tells us to endure, to persevere, with the result that we will be saved. This word “saved” is not referring to spiritual salvation, but physical salvation that occurs at the rapture, when we are suddenly and safely taken from the earth and miraculously glorified, and are then with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
* 1 Thessalonians 1:10 - “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” Judgment and wrath are coming, for Christ is coming to judge the world. Thanks be to God that He is sending His Son down to earth to rescue us from this world-deserving, world-devastating wrath.
* 1 John 3:2 – “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” At Christ’s coming, He appears, and we will see Him, and be like Him, meaning we will be given a glorified soul, mind and body. That we will have a Christ-like body shows God’s incredible mercy and kindness, for then we will finally be with Jesus, have fellowship with Him, be greatly loved by Him, and be able to greatly love Him.
* How do we respond to this good news, this most glorious news? 1 Peter 1:13 – “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 – “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Matthew 24:42 – “Be on the alert, for you do not know what day your Lord is coming.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – “Encourage one another with these words.”
P.S. The rapture is a most important subject which is why I write so much about it. Here is a list of many of my rapture posts: "The Rapture, a Love Story", "The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ", "When Does the Rapture Take Place?", "The Return of Christ and the Rapture of the Church", "The Resurrection and Rapture - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18", "The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church".
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 #156 ~
I am concerned that millions of Christians are mistaken about the timing of the rapture. I fear they will be completely caught off guard when various prophesied events begin to happen, for they thought they’d already be gone from the earth. They are ones who believe the rapture is imminent, that no signs or prophesied events need to occur before Christ returns to take us home to heaven. In fact, they think the rapture could even happen today, this week, or this year, that Christ could suddenly speed down from heaven, and snatch us from the earth. But this is error, and must be corrected, for Christians need to know the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Last week, I explained why the rapture isn’t imminent, and can’t happen at any moment. We know this for two reasons: First, the Bible says the rapture takes place at His coming and not at some other distinct time (Matt. 24:27-31, 1 Cor. 15:23, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 2 Thess. 2:1). Second, the Bible specifically points out many prophesied events that will occur before Christ’s coming and, therefore, before the rapture. An extensive list of these events is found in Matthew 24:4-31 and 2 Thess. 2:1-12 - earthquakes, wars, plagues, the coming of the Antichrist, the desolation of the temple, great tribulation, deception, apostasy, and the skies going dark. Knowing that the rapture occurs at Christ’s coming, and that prophesied events take place before His coming, is conclusive proof that the rapture is not imminent.
But I need to continue with this theme, and in particular, explain why many people believe the rapture is imminent. Here’s how they think:
1. They correctly say that Christians are rescued from God’s wrath. John 3:36, 5:24; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9
2. They incorrectly believe that the tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24 is God’s wrath.
3. They incorrectly say the entire 70th week of Daniel is tribulation and great tribulation, leading them to believe that this 70th week, this entire 7-year period, is God’s wrath.
4. Their correct understanding (point 1), along with their two incorrect assumptions (points 2 and 3), lead them to incorrectly conclude that the rapture takes place before this tribulation, this so-called wrath, which they believe occurs during the entire 70th week. This is called the pre-tribulation rapture view.
5. Since many major prophesied events occur during Daniel’s 70th week, they also incorrectly conclude that the rapture happens before all these events and, therefore, is imminent, can happen at any time, and without notice.
Let me elaborate on why points 2 and 3 are incorrect, and lead to a wrong conclusion. With regards to point 2, we know tribulation is not God’s wrath because no place in the Bible says tribulation is God’s wrath. What we do know is that this wrath is God punishing unbelievers, but tribulation is what believers experience during the church age. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul said, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Paul said, “Momentary, light tribulation is producing for us an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). These verses and others clearly communicate that Christians go through tribulation during their time on earth. Rom. 8:35, 1 Thess. 3:1-4, Rev. 7:14
Prophecy passages also talk about this tribulation. 2 Thess. 1:4-10 says Christians will suffer tribulation right up to the end of the age, when Christ is revealed and gives us relief from it by rapturing us to heaven. Then in Matt. 24:9, Jesus says, “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Notice that the “you” in these verses refers to Christians. Then in Matt. 24:21-22, Jesus talks about “great tribulation” affecting the Jews, and then greatly affecting the Christians, which we just read about in Matt. 24:9, and which is also described in Rev. 12:13-17. What you need to know is that tribulation and great tribulation refer to the persecution and suffering that Christians will go through until the end of the age, when Christ raptures the church.
Let’s now talk about point 3, that oft believed assumption that the entire 70th week of Daniel is tribulation and great tribulation. This point is easy to answer, for the Bible never says the entire 70th week of Daniel, this 7-year period, is tribulation and great tribulation, which is wrongly assumed to be wrath. What the Bible tells us is that there will be tribulation and great tribulation affecting the Christians, and wrath affecting the non-Christians.
Let me explain this further: Daniel 9:27 says the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week and then desolates the temple, a point Jesus refers to in Matt. 24:15. Shortly after that, in the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, great tribulation begins, starting with the Jews and then spreading to the Christians. Both Jews and Christians had been experiencing tribulation before this time, but now it intensifies becoming great tribulation. This great tribulation continues for a short while, but is suddenly cut short. The skies are darkened, then immediately lit up by Christ’s coming, and the church is raptured, Christ suddenly taking her from the earth. After the rapture, God’s wrath is poured out on an unbelieving world. This divine chain of events is also described in Rev. 6-9 - there’s persecution (Rev. 6:9-11), signs in the heavens (Rev. 6:12-14), rapture (Rev. 7:9-14), and wrath (Rev. 8-9).
The main point of this post is to help you understand that the rapture is not imminent, that many prophesied events must happen before the rapture. In summary, Christians alive on earth during Daniel's 70th week, having undergone tribulation and great tribulation, will be raptured, not at the beginning of that week, but sometime during the 2nd half of it, a time known only to God. Because God loves us, He gives us advance notice about the upcoming tough times, and when we see these prophesied events happen, we know we will see Him soon. Of course, we don’t know the exact day and hour, but we will know that Christ’s return and the rapture is getting closer (Hebrews 10:25). By God’s grace and with hope in our heart, we will persevere, and those alive during that time will all see Jesus, some by being martyred, and some by being raptured. Either way, it will be glorious for us, and a great glory to God.
P.S. God wants Christians to know the general timing of Christ's return and the rapture, and that's why I continue to write posts related to this subject. Here are three previous posts that will help you understand this: "The Timing of the Rapture", "Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation", and "The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teaching is False."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #157 ~
I assume you have heard of the coronavirus, the contagious flu virus that started in China and has been spreading to other countries. This respiratory ailment, also called COVID-19, can be deadly, particularly with the elderly, and the sick. This can be frightening, especially when you hear about quarantines, lock-downs, social distancing, cancellations, and see people wearing masks and, worst of all, that many are dying. As of today (3/11/20), reports (worldometers.info) are that 125,810 people have been infected, and that 4,607 have died, most of these in China. On one hand, there's reason to be afraid, for there's presently no proven cure, and we don’t know where it will spread, and how many more will die before scientists develop a vaccine.
That being said, some say this virus is being hyped-up, that it is not now and will not in the future be as deadly as plagues in the past. At “cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index”, we read, “CDC estimates that influenza (in the U.S.) has resulted in between 12,000 - 61,000 deaths annually since 2010.” Those are huge numbers of people dying just because of the flu. Then there’s the 1918 influenza pandemic with an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide ("cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources), a number that dwarfs the now known deaths from COVID-19. But to be honest, there are too many unknowns to predict what is going to happen with this particular virus.
Regardless of how many will die from what has just been declared to be a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, there have always been contagious diseases (plagues), and they will continue in the future. One reason we know this is because the Bible says so. Now only one verse in the New Testament talks about plagues and, interestingly, it is found in a passage that describes the end-times and Christ’s coming. What does it say? “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). Jesus is talking, among other things, about plagues. Vine’s dictionary defines it as “a pestilence, and deadly infectious malady, (it) is used in the plural in Luke 21:11.” A plague is a pestilence, an infectious disease which can be deadly and is usually widespread.
What does God want us to learn about plagues in the end-times?
1. Jesus tells His disciples many things that will be occurring in the end-times before His 2nd coming, and one of these is plagues. He gives us advance notice so we aren't afraid, and so we are alerted to the fact that He will soon be returning to rapture the church.
2. The immediate context lists other things that will be taking place: wars, famines, great earthquakes, terrors and great signs from heaven. In addition to these, Matt. 24:4-26, 2 Thess. 2:1-8, and Rev. 6:1-14 describe conditions and different events occurring on the earth before Christ’s return. There will be increasing lawlessness, financial meltdowns, persecution, deception, apostasy, the Antichrist on earth, and the desolation of the temple. Therefore, the rapture of the church is not imminent, and cannot happen at any time.
3. These plagues, along with wars, famines and earthquakes, will be occurring in “various places” around the world. This means none of these particular events are happening all over the world, just in “various places.” With regards to these plagues, this seems to say that there will never be a global pandemic. For example, as of now, only a handful of people in the United States have been diagnosed as having this coronavirus, which means the vast majority are just hearing about it, but are not experiencing it. Matthew 24:6
4. Matthew 24:8, in reference to these plagues and other end-time signs, says, “All these things are… birth pangs.” Before a woman gives birth, she experiences birth pains, which increase in both intensity and frequency, and likewise, these plagues and other events will increase in both intensity and frequency. In context of the larger picture, it must be seen that this present plague, COVID-19, is one of many birth pains. The accumulated effect of these birth pains will be deteriorating conditions around the world, which will result in people wanting a “savior.” Sadly, billions of people will be deceived when this "savior", this evil, devilish man, the Antichrist, begins ruling the earth. But always remember, these birth pains are pointing to that time when Jesus Christ will come back to rapture the church and defeat the Antichrist.
5. With regards to these signs and events, Jesus says, “these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately” (Luke 21:9). In Matt. 24:8, Jesus tells us, “All these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” As you probably know, a pregnant woman has beginning birth pains, which are not extremely painful, but her pain intensifies the closer she is to giving birth. So too, the plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars are just beginning signs indicating that Christ’s return is drawing near. As time goes on, these prophesied events will continue to take place, and increasingly so. When I look at God’s word, and look out at what’s happening in the world, I believe we are now at this beginning stage, that we are living in the last years of this church age. But many more things still need to happen before Christ comes backs to take His bride to heaven, particularly, events related to Daniel’s 70th week and the Jewish people.
6. These plagues and other events taking place are wake-up calls for the Christians, are to alert us and make us aware that it won’t be long before our Savior returns to rapture the church. Luke 21:28 says it this way, “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Romans 13:11 tells us, “Do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation now is nearer than when we first believed.”
7. These events, like loud-sounding sirens warning of danger, are also for the unsaved. It is not physical death that is to be feared, not a plague, an earthquake or a war, but Christ Himself, the Judge of all the earth. Might unbelievers be terrified by these events, so they turn from their sin and turn to Christ. The greatest disease is not a physical disease, but the spiritual disease called sin, a spiritual cancer that kills the soul - and the only cure is Jesus Christ. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but receive eternal life” (John 3:16). If Jesus Christ has not saved your soul, if you have not yet been forgiven of your sins, then now’s the time to turn to Him and receive eternal life. Do this before it’s too late, before Christ returns to rapture the church, before you are left on earth fearfully trying to hide from Him, knowing you will be judged forever by the Holy and Mighty One. But “whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
P.S. It's important that we are not afraid during difficult times like these. Here's a post that I believe will help you to have the peace God wants you to have - "The Coronavirus - Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace." And here is another post that will help you understand what God wants you to know about the end-times. "Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #158 ~
God has lovingly and wisely given us His prophetic word, His plans for the future. Now that we are in the closing years of this church age, it’s imperative that we read “and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3). But we also need to be watchmen, ones who 1) study God’s word to find out what He wants us to know about the future; 2) teach this prophetic truth to other Christians; 3) see these prophecies fulfilled in the world around us; and 4) tell others they are being fulfilled, thereby encouraging one another that Christ is coming soon to rapture the church. Study, teach, see and tell - this is what it means to be a watchman. But what should you do to become a watchman for the church in the end times?
*
Ask God to
give you understanding. God is your Teacher and, through the Holy Spirit, will reveal His truth
to you as you seek Him and study His word. Prov. 2:3-7, Luke 24:44-45
* Study the primary prophecy passages. God told us ahead of time what will be taking place in the coming years, and we need to study His word to find out what He wants us to know. Here are the main subjects: end-time events, Christ’s coming, the rapture, the day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and the age to come. To learn about these things, study Dan. 7-12, Matt. 24, Luke 21, Romans 11, 1 Thess. 4:13-18 - 5:11, 2 Thess. 1-2, and Revelation.
* Understand the chronology, the order of end-time events. God knows exactly what He is going to do and when He is going to do it. He has not told us all the details, but He has given us a general plan, a good outline of the end-times. There is a lot of confusion as to what and when things will happen, and this should not be. Be a teacher and a watchman so you can help others clearly understand the chronology, the divine sequence of end-time events.
* Learn the timing words and look for them, for they help you see the overall chronology of end-time events. Frequently used ones are “then, before, after, immediately, at that time, until, when, end.” For example, when you study Matthew 24, you will notice these timing words, which help you to know what happens when, and how one event leads to another and to another, until that time when Christ returns to rapture the church.
* Study the prophecy terms. When you study a subject, there are particular terms that need to be understood, and so too with prophecy. Here are some examples: end-times, birth pains, apostasy, Daniel’s 70 weeks, Daniel’s 70th week, Antichrist, seals, trumpets, bowls, abomination of desolation, Day of the Lord, Christ’s coming, rapture, and millennium. I encourage you to study the list of Key Terms, for that will help you understand them.
* Know that we are now living in the end-times. That millions of Jewish people have gathered back to their land, to Israel, is the main reason we know we are living in the end-times. When you study prophecy, you realize it cannot be fulfilled unless the Jews are back in their land. Not only that, but during these end-times, God’s work with the church coincides with His work with the Jews, leading to Christ returning to rapture the church and save a remnant of Jews. Ezekiel 36-37; Dan. 12:4, 9; Rom. 11:25-27
*
At this time in history, we are at that stage called the “beginning of birth
pangs” (Matt. 24:8). Many events
characterize this stage of the end-times - wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues,
and financial distress. It must be noted that these events aren’t occurring in
every country but are happening in various places around the world. Now some
say these “birth pangs” only occur during Daniel’s 70th week,
but I believe they have been going on for over 100 years and will continue into
this still future 70th week. As these things take place, the
watchman needs to reassure fearful Christians that “those things must take
place, but that is not yet the end” (Matt. 24:6). These “birth pangs”
are signs from God that we are in the end-times, that Christ’s coming is drawing
near, but will not happen right away.
* Know the other signs and prophesied events, and how they fit in with the end-times. There will be a peace treaty, apostasy, increasing lawlessness, great persecution of Jews and Christians, the revealing of the Antichrist, the desolation of the temple, the mark of the Beast, and world-wide preaching of the gospel (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:9-14, 2 Thess. 2:1-9, Rev. 13). As a watchman, it’s important for you to see the pre-conditions, things leading up to these aforementioned events. Here are some examples: that the Antichrist will rule this entire earth means the United States will decline from her position as the world’s #1 super-power; that the temple will be desolated means it first has to be built; that there will be apostasy means we will see the continued downgrade of the visible church, the so-called church; that the gospel will be preached to all the nations means we will continue to see this happen in the years ahead. The end-times’ watchman is a God-loving, truth-studying, clear-thinking saint who understands the times (1 Chron. 12:32). He sees what is taking place around the world, connects it to God’s prophetic word, and then tells others how it relates to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church.
* Learn about Daniel’s 70th week, a future, seven-year time-frame packed with prophetic activity. Know the main events taking place during this week, the peace-treaty at the beginning of the week, the revealing of the Antichrist at its midpoint, the rapture taking place sometime during the last half of this week, and the salvation of the Jews at the end of the week. Once we are at the midpoint, then we know with certainty that it’s only a matter of time (less than 37 months) before Christ comes back to take us home to heaven.
*
The final sign to occur before Christ’s coming is the heavenly lights being
darkened. At this time the rapture is both
imminent and immediate, for in a matter of seconds, you will see your Savior in
the clouds, be suddenly snatched off the earth, be joyfully reunited with other
believers, be perfectly glorified, and then forever be in Jesus’ glorious
presence.
* “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34). One generation of people, a select and special number of Christians on earth, will see all these things spoken of in Matthew 24. It might be you, your family, your friends. For God’s sake, be a good student and know these things written in Matthew 24 and other prophecy passages. Be a watchman and be looking for God’s word to be fulfilled, and when it does, tell others what it means, and that it won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church. Be “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
P.S. When the Coronavirus and other major calamitous events take place, it's important to know clearly what God says about the future. God does not want you to be afraid, but to be confidently and excitedly looking ahead to Christ's coming. Here are two posts that will help you understand what God wants you to know: "What Needs to Happen Before Christ Returns?" and "What the Bible Says About the Future?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #159 ~
At this time in history, what the Bible calls the end-times, we need watchmen, people who know what God has prophesied about the present and the future (e.g. the Coronavirus) and are then looking for these things to take place. A watchman for the church needs to know three things:
# 1, that Jesus Christ is coming back to rapture the church,
# 2, that God has prophesied specific events and general conditions that need to take place in the world before Christ returns to rapture the church, and
# 3, that regardless of whether it’s specific events or general conditions, there are usually steps leading to their fulfillment, what I call pre-conditions. As watchmen, God wants us to be seeing these pre-conditions (#3), knowing they are leading to the fulfillment of these prophecies about the end-times (#2), prophecies that are pointing to the soon return of Jesus Christ (#1). Let me share some examples that will help you understand this.
First, there are prophesies regarding specific events:
The peace treaty. This prophecy is that there will be the signing or confirming of a treaty between Israel and other nations at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, made possible by the coming Antichrist. (Dan. 9:27). Ever since Israel became a nation, we have been hearing about peace treaties, but so far, no treaty has really worked. Someday, and I believe soon, this Dan. 9:27 treaty will be passed, fulfilling God’s prophecy. Once it is signed and we know it’s signed, then we will realize that Daniel’s 70th week has begun, and that it won’t be long before the church is raptured, and we see Jesus.
The Antichrist. This prophecy is that the Antichrist will be revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:27). Before we see this prophecy fulfilled, people will be rejecting nationalism and be open to the idea of globalism. That’s because they will be looking for a “savior” who they hope can solve the world’s problems and bring peace. Then we will see a person (probably from the Mideast) growing in power and forming a 10-nation kingdom, and he will be the Antichrist. Once the Antichrist is revealed, discerning Christians will know that the rapture of the church is less than a few years away. Dan. 7:7-8, Rev. 17:17
The temple. This prophecy is that the Jewish temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). Obviously, the pre-condition necessary for the fulfillment of this prophecy is that the temple needs to be built. When you see that this temple has been built in Jerusalem and that sacrifices are being offered by Jewish priests, then you know it won’t be long before this desolation occurs, before the Antichrist sets himself up as “God” in this temple.
The mark of the beast. This prophecy is that people, to openly buy and sell, must take the mark of the beast, the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-17). Before this prophecy is fulfilled, people will be wanting their identity and personal information to be more protected, so much so that they are willing to take this mark. There will also need to be a massive, super-secure system that can hold all this information and make all these transactions. As you know, sophisticated technological advances are being made in this area, like the implantation of chips in animals and people. For the first time in history, we are realizing that it is feasible for this prophecy to be fulfilled.
Second, there are prophecies regarding general conditions:
Increasing lawlessness. This prophecy is that lawlessness will increase in the end-times. (Matt. 24:12). It’s obvious to me and everyone I talk to that lawlessness is getting worse, that there’s more corruption, crime, lying, disrespect, and immorality than 50-60 years ago. It’s true that there’s always been evil in the world, but now that we live in the end-times, we know this prophecy will be fulfilled. Wickedness will get worse and worse, and then the “man of lawlessness,” the Antichrist, will take over the world. 2 Tim. 3:1-5
Apostasy. This prophecy says there will be a great apostasy before Christ’s coming (Matt. 24:10, 2 Thess. 2:3). Most people my age (66) are aware that there are far less churchgoers than there were 60 years ago. It’s quite clear that churches are getting weaker, that God and the gospel are not popular, false teaching is spreading, and the religion of secularism is growing. When we get closer to Christ’s coming, God will send a delusion resulting in most unbelievers being deceived and rapidly falling away from their religions and so-called churches. This apostasy, this falling away of people from fake churches and false religions, will pave the way for the Antichrist to be worshiped all over the world. Rev. 13:3-4
Great persecution. This prophecy says great tribulation and persecution will be directed against Christians in the end-times (Matthew 24:9, 21). Ever since the church started, for close to 2000 years now, she has been persecuted. At this time, our society, academia, media, culture and the government are increasingly anti-God and anti-gospel. It won’t be long before laws will be passed with the sole purpose of silencing gospel-preaching Christians. Then, when the apostasy takes place and the Antichrist is in charge, hate for Christians will suddenly and dramatically increase, and there will be great persecution, and many Christians will be martyred, but many will live to be raptured. Rev. 12:17, 13:7
Realignment of countries. God prophesied that there will be a ten-nation, Antichrist-led kingdom in the end-times. This means we will see the decline of the United States resulting in her no longer being a world super-power. Coinciding with that, there’ll be the realigning and reforming of countries in Europe and the Mideast, fulfilling God’s geographical plan for the end-times, leading to the Antichrist’s takeover of the world. Daniel 2, 7; Ezekiel 38:1-6
Preaching the gospel. This prophecy is that the gospel will be preached to all the nations, and then the end (of the age) will come (Matt 24:14, 28:19-20). At this time, we are all aware that the gospel is being preached and that disciples are being made in nations all over the world, "even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Indeed, Jesus Christ is building His church, and once His work is fully completed, then this age is over, and He will immediately return to earth to take God’s children home to heaven. (A positive and related note is that people from 117 different countries and territories have viewed posts on this blog site in the last year.)
There are three important things
watchmen need to know about the future: #1, Christ is coming back to rapture
the church. #2, God prophesied that many specific and non-specific things would
happen before Christ’s return. #3, Observant Christians will see the
pre-conditions, the step by step working of God, leading to the fulfillment of
these prophesies.
Might you be seeing these pre-conditions as they are happening, realizing that they are part of God’s purposeful and providential working in the world, leading to the fulfillment of His end-time’s prophesies. I have no doubt that God wants you to see this divine process, and the continual progress He is making in bringing about Christ’s return to rapture the church. Mark 13:23, Hebrews 10:25
P.S. My continued desire and prayer is that you have a good understanding of what needs to take place before Christ comes back. Here are two other posts that will help you learn what needs to happen before the return of Christ - "Bible Prophecy Enables Us To See the Future" and "What the Bible Says About the Future."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #160 ~
Most of you have been following the Coronavirus crisis which has now affected more than 150 countries in the world. For many people, it has been extremely frightening to see this epidemic so quickly become a pandemic, to see more and more people getting sick and dying. Coupled with that, many are concerned, and rightly so, about their families, jobs, financial situation, and future. But as Christians, God doesn’t want us to be afraid, to panic, but to have faith, to be trusting Him, knowing that He will give us all the grace and peace we need. For those of you who don't know Christ, I encourage you to turn from sin and turn to Him, believing that He died to pay for your sins so you could be forgiven and be given eternal life. "For Christ also died fir sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18
Because of the present distress, I have been studying faith and fear, and it’s a big subject in the Bible. My purpose in these next two posts is to share some lessons I have learned about this. I have also written out a number of verses for your personal encouragement and study.
Here are some lessons:
1. God does not want you to be afraid. God is your heavenly Father and knows it's not good for you when you are afraid. He wants you to see that you are His child and that you are to go to Him when you are fearful. His desire is for you to be filled with His perfect peace, which is not a natural or human emotion, but a spiritual and godly experience. This peace is a fruit of the Spirit, what God freely and abundantly gives to you and every one of His children. Gal. 5:22, John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
2. Everyone has fears, no person is immune from them. But for the Christian, God doesn’t want us to try to resolve our fears in a fleshly or worldly way, but in the way He tells us in His Word. Yes, there are human ways of dealing with fears, but they do not solve the real problem. Without God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly get rid of our fears, for only God has written out the right prescription for us. “He who abides in Me and I in Him, he bears much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
3. What’s ultimately important is fearing God. This is a major theme in the Bible, for if you are not fearing God, you will be fearing people and things. Fearing God means you are in awe of Him, that you revere and respect Him, that you know He is holy, all powerful, and sovereign. If you are seeing God for who He really is, and you know He loves you, then there is nothing and no one to be afraid of. When God is first and central in your life, then you won't be an anxious, worried and a fearful person. Isaiah 8:12-13, Luke 12:4-5 – “My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast you into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
4. God allows fearful situations to test you, to teach you to trust Him, to believe in Him, to be close to Him so you experience and are encouraged by His peace, comfort and power. John 14:1, 2 Cor. 1:3-11, James 1:2 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
5. This present Coronavirus pandemic is a test, a trial for you and all Christians. How are you doing during this crisis? Are you trusting God and depending on Him? God wants you to learn this lesson of not being afraid, but of trusting Him with your life, family, job, finances, and future. By His grace, might you not just pass this test, but ace it. Psalm 56:4, 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
6. God’s love drives out all human fear. If you are afraid, worried, or scared, then you are not experiencing the love of God like you ought. You are like a little child who is crying and distressed because he cannot see His mother or father. And so, when you are afraid and feel alone and helpless, look to God, knowing that He is with you, and that He is gentle, loving and kind. Let Him hold you and help you, and then you will find peace. 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
7. God does not want you to be afraid like the unbelievers in the world, but instead to be at peace, and to be confident and courageous. Then you will be a light to the lost, a witness to the worriers, and seen as one who knows God the Father, and Jesus, His Son. Matt. 5:16, Acts 4:13 – “As they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”
8. Now that we are in the end times, there will be more and more “birth pains.” Plagues, (e.g. this Coronavirus) are but one of them, along with wars, earthquakes, famines, and financial problems (Matt. 24:4-8, Rev. 6:1-8). Now is the time, in this calm before the big storms, to learn this lesson of trusting Him, for these global calamities will continue to occur, and increasingly so, in these last years before Christ returns to rapture the church. I cannot help but believe that God is getting His people ready now for what lies ahead, when things become even more difficult, especially when there is great tribulation. Luke 21:11 - “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines.”
9. God tells us how to overcome fear. First, know that you are exceedingly valuable in God’s eyes, that you are His precious child, and He doesn't want you to be afraid. Second, trust God, believe in Him. And to trust Him, you need to know Him and His character of love, power, wisdom, goodness, sovereignty, etc. Third, seek Him, asking Him to take away your fears, and instead give you peace, the tranquil spirit of knowing that everything is all right, for your Father is much stronger and much smarter than everyone else, and He will let nothing hurt you. Matt. 10:31, Psalm 34:4, Phil. 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
10. Do not be afraid of the future, of tomorrow, next week, next year, of the unknown. God knows your future, has wisely planned out your future, and will carefully carry out His plans for you, leading you in the way you should go. You see, God has gone ahead of you, and will then go with you, and be with you every step of the way. Learn to take one day at a time and, like Enoch, walk with God. You need not fear the future, but be like the godly woman of whom it is said, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future." Prov. 31:25, Gen. 6:22, Psalm 32:8, Matt. 6:34, Deut. 31:7-8 – “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land… The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Here are some verses about fear, faith, the future and the work and glory of God.
* Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.’”
* Exodus 14:13-14 – “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today… the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
* Exodus 20:20 – “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
* Numbers 14:9 – “Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”
* Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is fighting for you.”
* Deuteronomy 20:3 – “Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic or tremble before them.”
* Deuteronomy 31:7-8 – “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land… The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
* Joshua 1:7-9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
* Judges 6:23-24 – “The Lord said to Gideon, ‘Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die. Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it the Lord is Peace.”
* 2 Kings 6:15,16 – “Behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’”
* 2 Chronicles 20:3,17 – “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord… ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf… Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’”
* Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with Me.”
* Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?”
* Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
* Psalm 46:1-2, 10 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea… Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
* Psalm 56:4 – “In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid... What can mere man do to me?”
* Psalm 112:5-7 – “It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
* Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
* Isaiah 8:12-13 – “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy,’ in regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.”
* Isaiah 26:3 – “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.”
P.S. So many people are wondering what is happening with COVID-19, and we really need to know how it relates to prophecy and the end-times. If you haven't already, I would encourage you to read my posts titled, "The Coronavirus, Plagues and the End-Times," and "When the Storms Come, Don't be Afraid."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #161 ~
This plague, the Coronavirus Epidemic, is one of God’s way of telling Christians that our world is experiencing “birth pains,” defined as wars, famines, earthquakes and plagues (Matt. 24 and Luke 21). These signs, occurring in various parts of the world, are to wake us up, to alert us to the fact that we are living in the end-times, and that it won’t be long before the coming of Christ to rapture the church. But many people, seeing what is happening with regards to this epidemic, and not understanding God’s overall purposes, are afraid, even panicking. In my last post I talked about this fear, but more needs to be said, for God doesn’t want you to ever be afraid, but to know Him and what He’s doing. Let’s continue, and learn some more important lessons:
1.
God is sovereign over the coronavirus, and the Coronavirus Pandemic. “I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One
forming darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity.” (Isaiah 45:6-7). God is the First Cause, the One who
decreed this virus, and allowed it to spread to over 150 countries, and infect
hundreds of thousands of people. It’s imperative that you see this pandemic as
part of God’s divine purposes, part of His grand plan for you, the church and
the whole world. Knowing that God ordained it, that He is in charge, should
humble you. That, along with the fact that God is wise, good and loving, should
alleviate your fears, and give you peace. Indeed, “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
2. When you are afraid, go to God’s word. “In God, whose word I praise, in God, I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Ps. 56:4). Not having God’s word in your heart will cause you to lose your footing and direction in life. When you are fearful, remember God’s truth, for it is foundational - it anchors your soul. Remember God’s commands, for they give clear direction to your life, paving the way so you can walk and not get weary and run and not get tired. Remember God’s promises for they speak of hope, a much better time and place when all is perfect. In times of a crisis and fear, God’s word, coupled with the Spirit’s work, will strengthen, guide and encourage you, enabling you to be useful to Him. God’s word is always the answer to every problem that is spiritual in nature. Matt. 24:35, 2 Tim. 3:16-17
3. Get quality time with God. You can easily be overwhelmed by the things you think you need to do. If you are worried and bothered by the details of life, it may mean that you are not getting the time with God that you need. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Psalm 73:23-26). The single most important thing you can do in life is to spend time with God, for when you do, you will be comforted by His love, strengthened by His truth, and fearless when facing problems. “Only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42
4. Do not to be afraid when global calamities take place. Psalm 46 is about the end-times when wars and earthquakes are happening, and people are fearful. We are told four things: 1. Go to God for He is your refuge and strength, the One who is with you and can really help you (vss 1-4, 7, 11). 2. Put your hope in God, for He has a great and perfect future for you (vss 4-7). 3. Know that God will put a stop to earthquakes and wars (plagues too) and bring peace to this earth (vss 6, 8-9). 4. Stop worrying, stop trying to be in control - “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (vs 10). God uses these calamities to humble us, to remind us that He is God, and that His ultimate purpose is to be glorified in all the earth. Hab. 2:14, Phil. 2:9-11
5. Seek God’s kingdom instead of worrying about your own needs being met. Many people worry about food, drink, and the necessities of life, but you are not to be anxious, even when the store shelves are empty. You are to trust your heavenly Father to provide your needs. I am not saying you are not to work or shop for food, but you are not to worry about these things. Don’t waste your time and energy pursuing earthly things but set your mind on heavenly things. Get your priorities right. Your purpose in life is not getting lots of earthly goods but doing your part in helping to build God’s heavenly kingdom. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt. 6:33, Luke 12:13-33
6. Do not be afraid when attempting the Lord’s work. When you want to do God’s work, don’t be surprised if you start feeling fearful. In the Bible we read about God giving His people work to do, and He would often command them, “Do not be afraid,” and that’s because they had this fleshly tendency to be afraid (Josh. 1:7). And so too with us. No Christian can do what God wants him to do if he is filled with fear. We must learn to overcome our fear(s). Look to your Father and be filled with His Word and Spirit, and you will be Christ-like, filled with peace, as well as the power to carry out God’s work. Now that we are in the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church, I cannot stress enough the importance of being fearless, of being a strong-and-courageous Christian who is serving his Commander in Chief. Josh. 1:7-9
7. Let your light shine. One reason for this pandemic is for the gospel to be preached. What people need most during this difficult time is not masks for their face or food for their body, but salvation for their soul. Don’t be afraid to share with people the good news. You are a child of God, and this is your time to boldly and lovingly tell the lost about their sin and about the Savior, Jesus Christ. Tell them their need to repent, and to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins, and rose again, with the result that they will be born again, be forgiven, receive eternal life, and become a child of God whose permanent home is in heaven. “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14-18
8.
Be strong in the Lord. As
Christians, we are in a spiritual war, and when the battles come, don’t be
afraid. Yes, it is true that the devil and his forces will come at you with all
they’ve got, and that they are too strong and clever for you. But go to God and
be humble and be filled with His word and Spirit, and then you will be strong
in the Lord, and “you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having
done everything, to stand firm.” Eph. 6:10-13
9. Do not be fearful of death. Many people are afraid to die, but as Christians, what may seem to be the worst thing that could happen is actually the best thing that could happen. Death should not be feared, but looked forward to, for “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). The reason we should never fear death is because we know what Jesus Christ went through for us. Since He died and rose again, and since we are in Christ, then when we physically die, we know we will continue to spiritually live, not on earth, but in heaven. Then we will be raised, be physically glorified on the last day, when the church is raptured. And if God wants you to die before the rapture, even be martyred, then that is not something to be feared, but to be faced, for then you will see Jesus, and your loved ones who went to heaven before you. “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of death and of Hades.” Rev. 1:17-18, Rev. 2:10, John 11:25-26
P.S. As you know we are in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here are the other posts I have written on this subject that will help you understand what God is doing, and how He wants you to think and live at this present time: "The Coronavirus - Fear and Panic or Faith and Peace" and "The Coronavirus, Plagues and the End-Times."
Here are some more verses about fear, faith, the future and the work and glory of God.
* Isaiah 35:3-4 – “Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not, behold your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.’”
* Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
* Isaiah 43:1 – “Thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’”
* Daniel 10:19 – “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous.”
* Matthew 6:25-26 – “For this I reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you shall eat and drink… Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ... Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”
* Matthew 10:31 – “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”
* Mark 4:40 – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
* Luke 1:30 - “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.”
* Luke 1:74 – “… to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
* Luke 5:9 – “For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken… And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.’”
* Luke 12:4 – “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
* Luke 12:29, 31-32 – “Do not seek what you will eat… and do not keep worrying. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
* John 14:1, 27 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me… Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
* Philippines 1:14 – “… and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
* Philippines 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
* 2 Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and discipline.”
* Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
* Hebrews 13:5-6 – “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
* 1 Peter 3:6 – “Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”
* 1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
* 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
* Revelation 2:10 – “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
* Revelation 21:3-4 – “God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #162 ~
As you know, the coronavirus has resulted in people getting sick and even dying. It has caused quarantines, social distancing, slowdowns, shutdowns, shortages, markets falling, job losses and financial losses. I am amazed and astounded how this one little virus has spread all over the world and affected so many lives. But has not God not ordained this? Yes, He has, and I believe one reason for this is because He wants to get our attention, He wants Christians to wake up and not be so worldly and fleshly minded. 1 Cor. 3:1-3
There is this physical virus, but much worse than that, there’s a spiritual virus in the souls of many believers, for they are busy loving themselves and the world, but aren’t loving God. While I am sad that many are sick and dying, I am also thankful that God is using this coronavirus to cause us to slow down, to even stop us, and why? So we see what's most important and seek Him. David said, “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2). More than anything or anyone else, you need the Lord. He must be first in your life, your most important relationship, the One you greatly love. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” Ps. 73:25-26, Col. 3:1-4, 1 John 2:15-17
My favorite verse on this subject is
John 17:3. Jesus said to His Father, “This is eternal life, that they may
know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” Jesus
defined eternal life as knowing God, as having a relationship with God and
Himself. This is so incredible, so wonderful, that we can have a personal and
permanent relationship with the living God, that He can talk to us and we can
talk to Him, He can love us and we can love Him, we can know Him, spend time
with Him, and be satisfied by Him. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, I
have no good besides You.’” Psalm 16:2; John 4:14, 6:51, 10:11
What a miracle, what a blessing, that we can know God and have a relationship with Him. What Christ did for us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead resulted in more than just being made righteous but being reconciled to God and having a relationship with Him. God could have saved us and set us in some far corner of the universe for all eternity. But no, He saved us so we could be His children and have this intimate relationship with Him, and then someday, leave this earth and literally be with Him in heaven. Psalm 23:6, 1 Thess. 4:15-17
Your relationship with God is the
single most important thing in your life, and He doesn’t want you to be
deceived, to think you are doing good if, in fact, you are living on the “junk
food” of the world. Sadly, this deception describes the lives of many
Christians: “Thus says the Lord… they went far from Me and walked after
emptiness and became empty… My people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.’” Jeremiah 2:5, 13
I hope you realize that worldly and fleshly desires wage war against your soul, and to have a close relationship with God is a continual struggle, one you need to keep winning. (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Here’s how Paul says it - “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7-10). God wants you to see the present and eternal value of knowing Him and Jesus. And to know Them means you know who They are, Their offices, character and purpose. God is your Father, and Jesus is your Creator, Lord, Savior, and coming King. Their character is perfect - They are holy, just, wise, good, powerful, loving, patient, forgiving, faithful, sovereign, etc. And God’s purpose is to be glorified, and for us to be satisfied, rejoicing in Him, and worshiping Him. But it’s not just knowing these things in your head but also knowing them in your heart and life.
One of God’s primary desires for you,
whether that’s here or in heaven, is for you to know Him. Let me ask you: are
you experiencing God’s forgiveness? Do you see that He is patient with you? Do
you see that He is good to you? Do you see how He is sovereign in your life? Do
you see how He loves you? Can you say, “Your love is better than life” (Ps.
63:4). I can’t stress enough the importance of knowing God, who He is and what
He is like. Here’s what Jeremiah says, “Let him who boasts boast of this,
that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises
lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth.” Jer. 9:24
But it’s more than that. Your relationship with God is not one-sided. It’s not just what God says to you or does for you - it’s you relating to Him and responding to Him. Prov. 8:17
- It’s thanking God for saving you, for providing all your needs, for giving you a job, a place to live, a church, a family, friends, and so many spiritual and eternal blessings. 1 Thess. 5:18
- It’s praising God, exalting Him, loving Him with all your heart. Psalm 118:28
- It’s loving God’s word and meditating on it. It’s believing the truths and promises in His word. And it’s obeying His commands. Psalm 1:2, 119:55-56, 119:97
- It’s praying - it’s seeking Him and asking Him to help you and others. Heb. 11:6
- It’s getting time alone with Him, and pouring out your heart, praying to Him, listening to Him and learning from Him, and being spiritually refreshed. Mark 1:35
- It’s walking with God, going through the day knowing He is with you. It means loving Him, trusting Him, obeying Him, confessing sin, asking Him for help, and being encouraged by Him. Gen. 5:24
I strongly believe God is using use this Coronavirus Pandemic to wake up Christians, to revive us so that we are joyfully walking with Him and living for Him. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). You have a Father who loves you so much, a Savior who died for you, lives for you, prays for you, and can’t wait to see you! And He doesn’t want you sleeping. During this time of social distancing, make sure you are not distant from God, but are awake and close to Him. In His rebuke to the lukewarm Laodicean Christians, Jesus says, “‘Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me’” (Rev. 3:19-20). Jesus said to Martha, and to us, “… you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
This blog site is about the end-times, and the closer we get to Christ’s return, the more difficult life will be. What’s most important now, and in times of great tribulation, is your relationship with God. If you are walking with God, then you will have all the grace and peace you need, and everything will work out for His glory and for your good. During our life on this earth, might we say, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes - How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27
P.S. The Coronavirus Pandemic is presently the greatest physical danger in the world, and God is trying to teach us some important lessons. Here are three posts on this subject, and I recommend that you read them: "The Coronavirus, Plagues, and the End-Times", "The Coronavirus - Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace", and "The Coronavirus, Christians, and the Coming of Christ."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #163 ~
In a number of recent posts, we have focused on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and that’s because it’s a major, global problem, one that relates to your life and the lives of people all over this planet. But it’s vitally important that we see how this God-ordained plague is part of God’s plan in the end-times. My goal in this post is to summarize what will be happening from this present pandemic up to the coming of Christ, and how then you should live.
* This coronavirus, this present plague, is a sign given by God to wake us up, to alert us to the fact that we live in the end-times, and that it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church. Luke 21:11, Rom. 13:11, Heb. 10:37
* This coronavirus will be followed by more plagues in the future. These plagues are one aspect of what Christ calls “birth pains” - others being false christs, earthquakes, wars and famines that will also be taking place in the years leading up to Christ’s coming. Matt. 24:4-8
* Jesus told us ahead of time that these birth pains would occur. That’s because He doesn’t want us to be surprised or fearful when these things happen, but to be at peace, and to be encouraged by the fact that He will soon appear to rapture the church. Mark 13:23, 1 John 3:2
* These birth pains will not be taking place all over the planet but will be happening in various parts of the world. For example, COVID-19 will not affect every single person on this earth, and neither will any of the other birth pains. Matt. 24:7, Luke 21:11, Rev. 6:8
* One result of these birth pains is that many people will die. Jesus soberly says, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Matt. 24:28). Rev. 6:8 sadly states, “It’s rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind, and they were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague.”
* These signs and events are beginning birth pains. They are just the beginning of great difficulties this world will experience before the coming of Christ. (Matt. 24:6, 8; Luke 21:9). There will also be a great apostasy, a falling away of so-called believers from so-called churches. We will see increasing sin, evil and lawlessness. False christs and false prophets will mislead many. The Antichrist will be revealed, desecrating the temple in Jerusalem. There will be a great persecution of both Christians and Jews. All over the world, Christians will be hated, betrayed, and even martyred. Matt. 24:9-26, 2 Thess. 1-9
* Preaching the gospel to the ends of the earth should be uppermost in our minds. Even now, in the midst of this pandemic, God will give you opportunities to be a light to the lost, to proclaim the gospel, to tell people how they can escape God’s wrath, be forgiven of their sins, and become children of God. Matt. 24:14, Luke 21:12-15, Acts 1:8
* God’s end-time work with the church is in conjunction with and coinciding with His end-times’ work with the Jewish people. Side by side passages in Matt. 24:9-26, Luke 21:12-24 and Rev. 7, 10-13 show how God’s work with both these groups will culminate in Christ coming to rapture the church and then redeem a large remnant of Jewish people.
* Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year prophecy-filled time-frame, is marked by five major events, the signing or confirming of a peace treaty at the beginning of this week, the revealing of the Antichrist at its mid-point, the rapture of the church happening during the 2nd half of the week, God’s wrath being poured out on the earth during the very last part of the week, and the salvation of the Jews taking place at the end of this week. It’s important to see that the rapture occurs after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, after the Antichrist is revealed, and before God’s wrath. Dan. 9:24-27; 2 Thess. 1:5-10, 2:1-10; Rev. 8-9, 13
* Thinking about the difficult, dangerous and death-darkened days ahead might cause you to be afraid. But God has commanded you to not fear the coronavirus or any enemy, but to fear Him, to be strong and courageous, and to be an overcomer. Call out to God, trust Him, believe His promises, and do His work, always remembering what Christ told you, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20, Psalm 91, Luke 12:1-8, Rev. 12:11
* All things now taking place in the world are leading to the restructuring and realigning of countries and economies (United States included), leading to a God-ordained future global order that must be in place before the Antichrist begins his rule. God has predestined all of history, and even this present pandemic is part of God’s divine plan, leading to the coming of Christ, the day of the Lord, and His reign over the earth. Dan. 2, 7-12; Eph. 1:9-12
* Some people, even Christians, believe in conspiracy theories regarding the occurrence of world events at this present time. I am not dismissing man’s attempts to conspire, deceive and kill so as to gain power and control over people and countries, but we must know that God is always sovereign. Everything that happens in this world is ordained by God, leading to that point in time when Christ will appear in the clouds to rapture and glorify the church and then take her home to heaven. Eph. 1:9-12; Ps. 2:1-2, 33:10-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17
* God gives you all you need to live for Him in these days and years leading to the coming of Christ. He gives you His Word so you know what to think, say and do. He gives you His Spirit, who leads, comforts and encourages you. He gives you grace, the power and ability to do all that He wants you to do. He gives you His peace when there are problems. He gives you His joy, a gladness in your soul, even when life is hard. He gives you hope, a guarantee that you will be perfect, and in heaven with Jesus and all the other believers. 2 Cor. 9:8, 12:9-10, 13:14
We are in the midst of this global pandemic and what’s most important is knowing you are saved, are forgiven, are children of God (John 3:16). It is essential that you have a good relationship with God and are daily walking with Him (John 17:3). During your life on earth, you are to be living, not for yourself, but for Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:20). You must know what God says about the end-times we live in, and how He is sovereignly directing all leaders, all countries, and all people, in accordance with His eternal purpose, leading to that time when Jesus, His Son, will return at the end of this age to rapture the saints, pour out His wrath, and begin His 1000-year reign over this world. Phil. 2:9-11, Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14
P.S. In the middle of this pandemic, you need perspective, you need to see where we are at in history, and where God is taking us. Be encouraged for God, in general, tells us in His word what will be happening. Read these posts for they will also give you the big picture of our lives as Christians - "What Needs to Happen Before Christ's Return" and "Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #164 ~
The coronavirus is very small, and yet has resulted in a very big trial that’s affecting millions of people around the world. God wants to use this trial, or any trial for that matter, to train His children. Now that we live in the end-times, we will encounter “birth pain” trials, like this coronavirus plague, and for many Christians in the future, the trial of “great tribulation.” That’s why you need to understand the nature and purpose of trials, for they are one of God’s means to help you be a growing, mature, and fruitful Christian.
What is a trial? It’s a difficulty, a pressure, a problem, an affliction, a test from God (James 1:3), a humbling circumstance (James 1:9). It can be internal or external in nature. It can be physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, or any combination of these. Trials are hard, painful, unpleasant and distressing. The Bible passage that best explains what God wants you to learn about trials, in my opinion, is 1 Peter 1:3-9. Starting at verse 6, let’s see what it says:
1. God says you have trials “now” which means you only go through trials during your life on earth. Jesus told the disciples, “In this world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul said, “We must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Being saved doesn’t mean you will have no problems, that life is a bed of roses. All of you can testify to the fact that you have had trials. And when you leave this earth and are in heaven, then all your trials will be over, forever gone. Amen!!! Rev. 7:15-17, 21:3-4
2. God says trials last only “a little while.” Some trials, humanly speaking, are very short, lasting an hour or two, or a month or two. Some are longer, lasting for many years. But what you need to know is that your entire life, in view of all eternity, is very short, for “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while” (James 4:14). Therefore, your earthly trials will not last very long, are only “momentary troubles.” 2 Cor. 4:17
3. God says trials are “necessary.” God is not careless, unthinking or unloving. He is all-loving, all-wise and knows exactly what He is doing in your life. Indeed, the trials you go through are personally planned and designed by God for you, and are necessary, are some of His primary tools to help you spiritually grow up and become a mature Christian.
4. God says we are “distressed” by trials and, as other translations say, result in grief or sorrow. Trials are hard, painful, and can be extremely wearing on your body and soul. In 2 Cor. 1:8-9, Paul describes how he and Timothy felt when they were going through a trial - “We were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed we had the sentence of death within ourselves.” Have you ever felt this way? Some of your trials will be the most difficult and distressing experiences you will ever go through.
5. God says there are “various” trials, which means there are all kinds of trials. There are job trials, financial trials, family trials, marriage trials, school trials, relational trials, church trials, health trials, weather trials, car trials, etc. There are personal trials, trials unique to you. In the Bible we read about Joseph being sold by his brothers, Job physically suffering, Moses leading the unruly Jews, David being chased by Saul, Jesus being punished for our sins, and Paul being in jail. Then there’s this unique coronavirus trial, unlike anything we have ever experienced, designed by our Father to teach us lessons we need to learn.
But why do we have trials? Because your Father knows best, knows that trials are necessary for your Christian life. Here are some of the main reasons why you go through trials:
1. It’s for your faith (1 Peter 1:7). Having faith, which means you are trusting God and His word, is more valuable than all the money in the world. God gives you trials so your faith, your reliance on Him, grows and gets stronger. When you continue to trust God as you go through a trial, then you are persevering, are patiently enduring. Rom. 5:3-4, James 1:2-3
2. It’s so you grow in your love for God (1 Peter 1:8, James 1:12, Deut. 13:4). As a Christian, you love God, which is the most important thing you are to do. But the trials you go through will test your love for God, and will result in you loving Him all the more.
3. It’s so you grow in hope. 1 Peter 1:3-4 gives you the big picture of your salvation, that you were born again in the past, have a living hope in the present, and will realize this hope in the future. You need hope, you need to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you have no trials, when everything will be perfect, and you will be blessed in heaven. Fix your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus is revealed (1 Pet. 1:13) for then you will see Him, your salvation will be complete, and you will receive a brand-new body. 1 John 3:2
4. It’s for the salvation of your soul, for your spiritual growth (1 Pet. 1:9). Besides faith, hope and love, God tells us other essential ingredients that we need to be mature and fruitful:
- You need God’s grace. Going through trials reveals your spiritual weakness and your need for God’s grace and power so you can, in a Christ-like way, persevere and get through them. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9
- You need to obey God. Trials are designed to teach you to obey God, to keep His word. “Before I was afflicted, I went astray but now I keep Your word.” Ps. 119:67, 71
- You need to be holy. God gives you trials to teach you not to sin, to do what is right, to be holy. “He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.” Heb. 12:4-11
- You need to be comforted. Our lives are about others, and the comfort you receive from God when you go through trials is to be shared with others who are going through trials. “… who comforts us in all our affliction so we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor. 1:3-11
- You are to rejoice. Twice you are told to greatly rejoice (1 Pet. 1:6, 8), which means it’s very important. As you understand the past, present and future of your Christian life, as you see how your trials are an important part of God’s work in you, then you will greatly rejoice - you will be a glad-hearted, spiritually-happy Christian. James 1:2, Rom. 5:3-5
5. It is so Christ lives in you. As a Christian, your life is not about you, but about Jesus Christ living in you. God gives trials so you turn to Him and trust Him. When you do this, then the Holy Spirit works in you, and Christ is revealed in and through your life. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves... we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:7, 11). When you encounter a trial, remember that it's not about you, but about Christ being manifested through your life. Gal. 2:20, Phil. 1:21
God is your teacher, and you are His student. Be a good student and a fast learner, and grow from the trials God so lovingly and wisely gives you. At this present time, might God help you go through this coronavirus trial gracefully, obediently, lovingly, hope-fully, and joyfully. And for many of us, our Father is training us for the future, for the tough times we will face in the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church. “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer.” Psalm 144:1-2
P.S. Trials are such an important part of our lives, and we must see God behind the trial, in that He is sovereign and wants to teach us through them. Here is a helpful post on trials - "Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation." Here is a comprehensive article on this subject - "A Biblical Perspective on the Trials of Life."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #165 ~
1 Corinthians 15 talks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believers. In the 1st part of this chapter (1 Cor. 15:3-4), we are told that the gospel message, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, is the most important message in the Bible. That Christ was resurrected shows He was victorious over sin and death, and that God was satisfied with His sacrifice for the sins of people. This is great news for all who repent of their sins and believe that Christ died for them, thereby, paying the penalty for their sins. If you have turned from your sin and trusted in Christ, then you have been forgiven, have victory over death, a relationship with God, and a purpose in life. You will also be given a new body, a perfect home in heaven, and a wonderful future with friends. Most importantly, you will be with Jesus Christ forever and ever. 1 Thess. 5:18
In the 2nd part of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:12-19), we read that some had questioned whether the dead were raised at all. If that is true that the dead are not raised, then Christ was not raised. How utterly sad and depressing to even think that Christ was not raised from the dead. If Christ stayed in the grave, then your faith is worthless, you are a condemned sinner, your life has no meaning, and living for Christ makes no sense. How hopelessly and hellishly lost you would be.“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20). "God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24, Rev. 1:17-18). Indeed, all is truly and forever good for those in Christ, for those who have embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Rom. 10:8-13
In the 3rd part of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:20-28), we see the big picture, God’s eternal plans, and how it relates to the resurrection. Jesus Christ was raised from the dead about 2000 years ago, but when will believers, Old Testament and church-age saints, be raised again? Verse 23 definitively tells us that our resurrection happens at Christ's coming. It's critical that you know this, that you will be resurrected, be glorified, be given a new and perfect body at Christ's 2nd coming, specifically at that time when the church is raptured. 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 2 Thess. 2:1
Then God succinctly sums up the ages to come. During the millennial kingdom, Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem, with believers in their resurrected bodies helping Him carry out His plans (Rev. 5:10). Christ will bring peace to this earth, subdue His enemies, and defeat death, the greatest enemy. Then this glorious 1000-year kingdom age will come to an end, when Christ “hands over the kingdom to the Father… then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:24, 28), and the most-glorious eternal kingdom age will begin.
In the 4th part of this chapter (1 Cor. 15:29-34), with this eternal perspective in mind, we are instructed how to live for God during our short lives on earth. Like Paul, we are to “die daily,” and not be afraid of “danger.” About the Christian, Jesus said, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Paul also tells us to live holy lives and have godly relationships, not like non-Christians who believe this life is all there is, who say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” But we know Christ and the truth of the resurrection - “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21
In the 5th part of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:35-49), we learn about our glorified body. First, we learn that the old body must die before there is a new body. Second, we see that the new body will be radically and amazingly different than the old body. A plant is different than the grain of seed it came from and, so too, our heavenly body will be different than our earthly body (Rom. 8:21). Third, we learn that, though there will be differences, there will be similarities. Humans will be humans, birds will be birds, and stars will be stars. Fourth, there will be the new body: it won’t be perishable but imperishable, won’t be dishonorable but honorable, won’t be weak but powerful, won’t be natural but spiritual, won’t be earthly but heavenly. We have this wonderful description of our brand-new body, but we still cannot fathom how glorious it will be. Might you thank Jesus “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Cor. 15:57
In the 6th part of this chapter (1 Cor 15:50-57), we learn how long it will take to be glorified, and when it will happen. As to the first point, it will take place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” quicker than lightning. As to when it will happen, we know it will occur at Christ’s coming (1 Cor. 15:23), but here we learn that it is at “the last trumpet” which is just what Jesus said - “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet.” Matt. 24:31
It is then said that “we will not all sleep,” that not all believers will physically die. When Christ comes back in the clouds, many Christians will still be on earth, and they will be raptured, and immediately be changed and glorified. But believers who had already fallen asleep, had already physically died, will be glorified first, a split second before those still on earth. “The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:15-17
It is at this time, when “this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” that you will say, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:53-55). Finally, you will be fully and completely saved - body, mind and spirit. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-4
In the 7th part of this chapter, you are told how you are to live. In view of the truth of Christ’s resurrection and your resurrection, in view of the fact that you have a most wonderful Savior and a living hope, you are to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58
P.S. At this time of the Coronavirus Pandemic, when there is all this reporting and sadness about people getting sick and dying, we need hope, we need to know that we have a glorious future. Here is my Easter Sunday message - "The Glorious Resurrection of Christ and Believers in Christ," a post about the resurrection - "The Resurrection and Rapture of the Believers," and an article about hope - "You Have to Have Hope."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #166 ~
An unpopular subject has recently become “popular.” Every day we hear reports of all these people who have died in the United States due to this flu virus, COVID-19. As of today, that number is a shocking and staggering 36,000 deaths. That’s a whole lot of people, now 12 times the number who died on 9/11. But isn’t it true that death happens all the time? Every day, on average, 7,700 people die in this country, and they die in all kinds of ways. In 2017, according to the CDC, 647,457 people died of heart disease, 599,108 of cancer, 169,936 of accidents, 160,201 of respiratory problems, 70,237 of drug overdose, 55,672 of influenza, 47,173 of suicides, etc. (cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/death). Without question, death is a sad and unpleasant subject, not something we like to think about.
But God wants you to think about death, at least once in a while - and He will bring it to your attention. How does He do this? By death that is sudden, is unexpected, is by an accident, a murder, a suicide, a tornado, a pandemic, a war, etc. You are especially affected by death when it’s close and personal, when a family member, friend or neighbor passes away. Most of you have been touched by death in this way. And why? Because God wants you to come face to face with death so that you think soberly about life and spiritual realities.
We live in a world that spends a lot of time, energy and money on physical and external things. There is work, the weekend and vacation. There are foods, supplements and vitamins. There is our health and medicines. There are clothes, cosmetics and hairdos. There is running, swimming and biking. There are cars, houses and smart phones. None of these are bad in and of themselves, but the truth is that we tend to focus on the physical and forget the spiritual. A sinner once said to himself, “Take it easy, eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19). But Jesus said to his disciples, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.” Matt. 16:26
God wants to use a person's death to get our mind off physical things, to get us to think about the spiritual world, to seek Him and learn what’s most important. Now when people think about death, they often get sad, scared, fearful, depressed, upset, angry and confused. That’s why we must know what God says in His word about death, and there’s a lot there, a very instructive passage being Luke 13:1-5. The news of the day was that some people had been brutally murdered, and others had suddenly died in an accident. Those with Jesus were thinking these people must have died because they were “bad” sinners, but they failed to see their own sin, and that they too were sinners who deserved to die.
And so, Jesus twice told these self-righteous sinners, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” He wanted them to know they were guilty and spiritually dead, and that they needed to repent of their sin, or they would not just physically die, but perish, be eternally dead and ruined. God wanted to wake these people up, to help them see their need to turn from their sin and trust in Christ before they would physically die, before it would be too late. Ecclesiastes 7:2 tells us: “It is a better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone, and the loving should take this to heart.” That is, COVID-19 deaths are to instruct lost souls about their need for Christ.
Why Christ? Because a person’s main problem is his sin, that he doesn’t love God, which is seen in his pride, anger, selfishness, disobedience, idolatry, immorality, etc. And the result of sin is death! “The soul that sins will die” (Ezek. 18:20). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Now death does not mean ceasing to exist, but here is what it does mean. 1st, sin results in spiritual death, meaning a person is separated from God, and has no spiritual relationship with Him. 2nd, sin results in physical death, the separation of the soul from the body. 3rd, sin results in eternal death. That is, the person who continues to sin on earth, who remains spiritually dead, and then physically dies, will be eternally dead, that is, forever separated from God, and forever punished by God. Matt. 25:41, 46
Christ is the only answer to this problem of sin. Why? Because “God made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). God the Father placed our sins upon Jesus and then punished Him, meaning Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. He died for us but then rose from the dead, His death and resurrection being the only means by which we can defeat sin and death. The person who repents of his sin and believes Jesus died in his place will not perish, but is forgiven and spiritually made alive in Christ. When Christ comes back to rapture the church, he will physically be made alive, will receive a perfect, powerful and glorified body. Those who believe in Christ’s victory receive eternal life - spiritual life when you are born of the Spirit, and physical life at the coming of Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16, John 10:27-28
How does God want a person to respond to the death he sees in the world, or to the death of a loved one or close friend? As I just said, the unbeliever needs to see death as a wake-up call from God, a spiritual prod moving him to repent of his sins so he can be forgiven and receive eternal life. Now if you are saved, this is how you should think about death:
* Know that God is sovereign over every person’s death. Acts 5:1-11, Acts 12
* Be thankful you were spiritually saved and will be physically saved at Christ’s coming.
* Pray for the lost, those spiritually dead, and as God leads, share the life-giving gospel message with them.
* As long as you are alive on earth, know there is still work God wants you to do. Phil. 1:21
* Don’t overly grieve when believing loved ones die, for you will see them again in heaven, and soon.
* Know that there will be much more death on this earth before the coming of Christ, and so, don’t be too sad or surprised when it happens. Just keep persevering and keep looking for Christ to return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:9, 28-31; Rev. 6:8-9, 7:7-14
* Know that it won’t be long before you die, or are raptured, and are taken to heaven. “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming, will come, and will not delay.” Heb. 10:37
P.S. I hope you see how God wants to use death in the lives of the saved and the lost. This message, in a much expanded form, is my Sunday message for April 19, 2020. My sermon should be available that day - to be listened to or read - my full sermon PDF notes can be viewed or downloaded: Hope Bible Church of Tampa at Sermon Audio. An important article that relates to this is "Why Do Believers Die?' - A Memorial Service Message."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #167 ~
How are you thinking and feeling about what’s been happening with regard to COVID-19, the coronavirus? These past 6 weeks have been like none I have ever seen before, and I am 66 years old. There’s talk about sickness, death, mitigation, masks, ventilators, vaccines, and herd immunity. There’s talk about jobs, unemployment, financial stimulus, protests, and inflation. There are the different thoughts and emotions of people trying to deal with this. Anxious, frightened, nervous, scared, unsettled, worried. Aggravated, angry, annoyed, mad, upset. Alarming, difficult, disruptive, frustrating, inconvenient, stressful. Bored. Confused. Depressed. Lonely. Questioning. Tired. There is no doubt that people have been affected by this sickening little virus that has spread to 184 different countries. But how are you feeling? How are you thinking? How are you doing?
I cannot help but think that you have been tested by this most unusual trial. I hope you are not thinking and feeling like the people I described in the previous paragraph. As a Christian, God is your heavenly Father, the only One who perfectly loves and cares for you. At times like this, it’s important to look to Him and stay close to Him. Think how He is sovereign and in complete control. Think how He is holy, loving, merciful, faithful, wise, good, compassionate, purposeful, righteous, and truthful. Only as you truly know God will you be delivered from fear, loneliness, anger, stress, and boredom, and be given all the grace and peace you need. Ephesians 1:2
Now that we live in the end-times, you will continue to need this grace and peace. As Christians, we are blessed and privileged to be alive at this time, in the last years of this church age. It is a period marked by “birth pains,” by events and conditions occurring around the world, God-ordained signs designed to wake us up to the soon coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And this plague, this pandemic, is one of the birth pains, along with wars, famines, great earthquakes, and financial problems. Matt. 24:4-8, Luke 21:8-11, Rev. 6:1-8
I must admit, this pandemic, this present birth pain, has personally affected me. For the first time ever, I feel like I have an idea of what it’s like to go through an end-times’ birth pain. Like an expectant mother literally experiences and feels her birth pains, I am literally experiencing and feeling the effects of this pandemic. Here in Florida, we have not had wars, great earthquakes, or famines. But now there is this pandemic, this plague, affecting our country, my county, my church, and my wife and I - and God is using it to sober us up, to get our attention. These birth pains, these earthly problems, are planned by God to get our attention, to get our eyes off ourselves, and to be living for Him. 2 Chron. 15:1-12, Phil. 1:21
What can we say about these birth-pains, which include this pandemic?
1. These birth pains will continue and will increase in frequency and intensity. This present pandemic will come to an end, but there will be more of them. As much as we would like to say this won’t happen again, Christians must know that these plagues, along with wars, famines, and earthquakes, will continue to take place in the years ahead, leading to the end of this age and the “birth” of Christ, which means the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church.
2. These birth pains will not continually be taking place, just like a mother does not have continuous birth pains, one right after another. They will be happening now and then.
3. These birth pains occur in various places around the world. For example, wars won’t be taking place in every single country. Great earthquakes usually happen in certain areas (“The Ring of Fire”). Famines most often occur in poorer parts of the world. Matt. 24:6 tells us we will be hearing that these birth pains are happening. For example, I do not know anyone who has died from this coronavirus, but I have heard that many have died.
4. We are living in the beginning stages of the end-times (Matt 24:6, 8; Luke 21:9), a time during which these birth pains are occurring, but not intensely so. I personally believe they will go on for about 10, 20, 30 years or more, and then Christ will return to rapture His church.
5. I do not believe, as some say, that the birth pains start at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. I cannot see how you can fit all these famines, wars, earthquakes, and plagues into a few short years. The very nature of these events, with the exception of earthquakes, is that they occur over an elongated period of time. I believe they have been going on for many years.
6. These birth pains will affect both believers and unbelievers, the saved and the lost.
7. These birth pains will be distressing, disruptive, and death-producing. Revelation 6:8 says that up to one-fourth of the world will die because of them. This sad and sobering state of the world is also described in Matt. 24:28 - “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
8. These birth pains are distinct from God’s wrath, for His wrath will only be poured out upon the unbelievers. Rev. 6:1-8 - birth pains; Rev. 7:9-14 – rapture; Rev 8-9 - God’s wrath.
I have written a number of blogs instructing us how we need to live during these end-times when this pandemic, in particular, and these birth pains, in general, are taking place. Take time to read them if you have not yet done so. Here is a summary of the main themes:
- You are not to be afraid or worried but are to trust God and keep doing His work. Psalm 37:3
- This pandemic is a spiritual alarm clock, and is to wake up Christians so they draw close to God, and realize that His Son is returning soon. Rom. 13:11-12, Heb. 10:37
- This pandemic is designed by God to teach you, but is also part of His plan to reconfigure countries and economies, leading us to globalism and the coming of the Antichrist. Dan. 2:21
- It is important for you to see how this pandemic fits in with the big picture, and will be followed by more birth pains, Daniel’s 70th week, and the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:4-14
- As a Christian, don’t love the fun, food, and games of the world, especially now that we are living in the end-times and can see that Christ is coming soon. Use your spiritual gift, work with your church, help “make disciples of all the nations,” and remember Jesus’s promise, “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 24:14, 25:14-23, 28:19-20
P.S. I wrote this post because many Christians don't think right and, therefore, don't feel right. ("As a man thinks, so he is" - Prov. 23:7). Your response to this Coronvirus Pandemic relates directly to your thinking about God and your understanding of the end-times. The article (#45) I just put up is an expansion of this post. Also, make sure you read my recent posts on this subject, particularly "From the Coronvirus to Christ's Coming and the Rapture," and "The Coronavirus - Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #168 ~
In one way or another, we have all been affected by this coronavirus. One thing that has struck me is how people have been so emotional during this time - there's a whole lot of fear, panic, anger, loneliness, depression, etc. Thus, I felt the need to address this subject of emotions, of feelings. Now all of you had plenty of experience with emotions, whether that’s yours or others. During your life, I’m sure you’ve heard people say things like: “He is very upset.” “She is in a bad mood.” “He showed no emotion.” “He has mixed emotions.” “She’s passionate.” “He’s really sad.” “She cries all the time.” “He hides his feelings.” “She’s happy.” “She’s a basket case.” “She poured out her heart.” “He really cares for her.” "She loves him." We get emotional. In fact, God is emotional, and He made us in His image. We sure aren’t robots, which is a good thing. Can you imagine what it would be like if there were no emotions, if people had no feelings? Emotions give color, energy, variety, and personality to our lives.
Here are some words that convey emotion: anger, anxiety, boredom, compassion, confidence, confusion, contempt, courage, depression, desperation, disdain, disgust, envy, excitement, fear, fulfillment, gladness, grief, guilt, happiness, hatred, helplessness, hope, intimacy, jealousy, joy, laughter, love, kindness, nostalgia, peace, pride, rage, sadness, shame, surprise, terror, victory, weeping.
The subject of emotions is a huge subject, one that is quite complex, and difficult to figure out. But we need to understand it, at least to some degree, or we can’t live rightly for God, we can’t be all that God wants. My prayer is for Christians living in the end-times to be spiritually solid, mature, “at the top of our game,” and this relates to our emotional state. As we get closer to Christ’s coming, times will get much tougher, and the Christian who controls his emotions, who is self-controlled, will be more effective for God. Jer. 12:5, Titus 2:1-6
This post, by no means, is comprehensive, but I do want to share some general thoughts about emotions, and then make some statements about how to be an emotionally strong Christian.
* God made you an emotional being. Look at Jesus - He was a man of sorrows, He was angry, He had compassion, He cried, He agonized, He loved. And God wants you to be like Jesus.
* Emotions are often on the surface, are what we see, hear and sense, but there’s an underlying reason for how you feel. That is, there’s a direct relationship between how you think and how you feel, between your thoughts and emotions. “As a man thinks so he is.” Prov. 23:7
* Emotions often come from thoughts that are affected and influenced by your personality, experiences, circumstances, relationships, memories, and even the music you listen to. Most importantly, your emotions should be affected by God’s word and your relationship with Him.
* Emotions, in and of themselves, aren’t bad, but they can reveal wrong and sinful thinking.
* Emotions are expressed through your speech, and are seen in your actions and body language.
* A person cannot always pinpoint how he feels, but it’s not always necessary to know how you feel, “to get in touch with your emotions.” You don’t want to be too introspective when it comes to your feelings. It’s much more important to focus on your thinking than your feelings.
* Our emotions are often connected to, and intertwined with, other emotions. You can be sad, jealous, lonely and depressed all at the same time. 1 Sam. 18:10-12, Matt. 28:8
* When it comes to your emotions, don’t say, “That’s the way I am.” You don’t want to say you feel a certain way just because of your age, sex, race, color, ethnicity, or personality. There’s a reason you may feel some way, and then there’s usually the real reason, the root of it all.
* Your emotions often affect the lives of people around you, in both good ways and bad.
* Selfishness, anger, or pride in your heart will result in unloving words, actions and emotions.
* Joy, peace, or gladness in your heart will result in loving words, actions and emotions.
* Some people have a hard time separating how they are feeling from what they are thinking. This can be a negative but can also be a positive, for your humanness needs to be understood as a composite of your spirit, mind, soul (emotions), and body. Mark 12:30
* Emotions can be like “dash-lights” that light up to warn you that something is internally wrong. If a negative emotion keeps popping up, then ask God to help you diagnose the root problem.
* Be more emotional, more passionate about the things in life that are most important (John 2:17). You don’t want to be like the person who gets “upset about the littlest things.”
We all have fleshly emotions, but shouldn’t we have godly emotions, shouldn’t we be Christ-like in how we think and feel? Of course, the answer is yes, but how does this happen, how can we grow in having godly emotions? Let me share some things that I believe will be helpful.
* Know that God feels for you, has compassion for you. He cares about what you are feeling and why you feel the way you do. Psalm 103:13-14, Matt. 9:36, Matt. 11:28-30, Heb. 2:17-18
* It's important for you to tell God how you are feeling. Psalm 62:8, Psalm 88, Psalm 119:25-32, Lam. 3:1-18
* Meditate on God’s word, for this greatly affects your thoughts, words, actions, and emotions. Godly emotions come from the heart of a person who is thinking about God’s truth. Godly, truth-based thinking always results in godly and Christ-like emotions. Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119
* Walk by faith, not by sight, not according to your circumstances. Walking by faith, which means God’s word is indwelling you, helps you think and feel in a godly way. 2 Cor. 5:7, James 1:2
* Singing truth-based songs will have a good and positive effect on your mind and emotions. Godly music and godly singing will help you have godly emotions. Psalms, Col. 3:16
* Your emotions are affected by God’s Spirit. The Holy Spirit can encourage and enable you, in body, mind and soul (emotions), to fully live for Jesus. Acts 1:8, 4:31, 9:31, 13:2-4
* Being with other Christians is essential to rightly and wholly live for God. We are a church, and we need each other, and being with one another is spiritually and emotionally uplifting. Acts 12:1-12
* Life, first and foremost, is about loving God and loving others. When you live like this, when you focus on God and others, then you will exhibit and express godly emotions. Mark 12:30-31
* The most important emotions relate to loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. You’re to exalt Him, extol Him, praise Him, thank Him and sing to Him. Psalm 145:1-2
God wants you to be an emotionally strong Christian from this day forward to the coming of Christ. This means you need to be filled with God’s word and Spirit, resulting in godly worship, godly character, and godly emotions. He wants all of us to be communicating and emoting love, joy, peace and hope to a lost world. "I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart… I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:2
P.S. The key to feeling rightly, to having godly emotions is always God's word. "How Then Should We Live in the End Times?" is a post that will help you focus on truths that will, undoubtedly, help you live in the way that God wants. "Spiritual Survival Food for the Coming Tough Times" is an article that will also be helpful. Next week, I will continue to talk about living truthfully and emotionally for God.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #169 ~
Our subject is emotions, feelings of fear, joy, anger, peace, sadness, hope, courage, etc. It’s a vitally important subject, one that relates directly to our effectiveness for God. But the emotional part of a person is a bit mysterious. Where do emotions come from? How do they relate to our spirit, mind and soul? How are they affected by our personality, background, experiences, and relationships? I must admit, I don’t have all the answers. What I do know is that God is an emotional being and He made us in His image, and so we are emotional beings. We have this emotional component that’s part of our personhood, our humanness. But how can we be godly and have godly emotions? It’s by having a relationship with God. John 17:3
When I was 18, by God’s grace, I was born again, I became a Christian. I experienced the most amazing miracle and transformation - I became a child of God, a new person in Christ, a temple of the Spirit. Life for me was now different, dramatically, wonderfully, and eternally so. Without Christ, there was fear, guilt, loneliness, sadness, selfishness, emptiness, and emotions that went along with them, emotions that affected my mood and were heard in my words and seen in my actions. Knowing the truth about Christ and what He did for me, that I was saved, forgiven, and loved, greatly affected me. I began to know and experience the love, joy, peace, mercy, and presence of Christ. I had a personal relationship with God that influenced my relationships with people. By no means was I perfect, but I was changing and growing, with a love for God and people, new thoughts, new desires, and new emotions. John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17
The key to all this is the truth and Spirit of God. Jesus tells us, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Before being saved, I was a sad, lonely, quiet, and unfeeling kind of a person. But knowing the truth, that is, knowing Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel, set me free from sin, and changed me, spiritually and emotionally so. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks, so he is.” I began to see that the key to not being led by circumstances and emotions was to be filled up and led by God’s truth and God’s Spirit. John 14:16-17
Here are some examples. Let’s say a Christian is sad. Now I’m not saying he can’t ever be sad, but if that’s how he feels every day, if he’s continually sad, then something’s wrong, and he’s not experiencing God’s truth and power in his life. What he needs to do is think about the truth, that God is loving, kind, forgiving, sovereign, and has good plans for him - and knowing these truths will help take away his sadness. Let’s say a person is lonely and feels lonely, and severely so. He needs to think about the truth that God is with Him, the Spirit is in Him, and that he knows God and can talk to God. And so, if there’s sadness, there can be joy; if loneliness, then fellowship; if hate, then love; if anger, then forgiveness; if fear, then courage; if worries, then peace; if grief, then hope. This spiritual transformation, being godly and having these Christ-like emotions, only happens by God’s word and Spirit. Galatians 2:20
The truth in the book of Psalms is one way God wants to help you be a strong Christian. More than any other book, it talks about having a close relationship with God, and being spiritually and emotionally encouraged by Him. It’s filled with stories about godly saints, their problems and emotions, and how God helped them when life was hard. Here are some examples:
Psalm 13 - “Will you forget me forever?” David felt like God had forsaken him, had left him, had hid His face from him. David felt all alone and had sorrow in his heart. But he trusted God, remembered his salvation, and believed God would show His love to him. Not only that, but David remembered how God had blessed him, and was determined to sing to Him. Psalm 9
Psalm 37 - “Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious…” David was thinking about the enemies’ success, and how they were against him, and he was fretting, envious and angry. What he needed to do was trust in the Lord, do good, delight in the Lord, rest in the Lord, be humble, have God’s law in his heart, believe that the enemy would be defeated, and believe the promise, that he would “inherit the land,” a promise for Christians too. Psalm 67
Psalm 42 - “Why are you in despair, O my soul?” David was in despair, his soul was troubled and disturbed, and he was “mourning because of the oppression of the enemy.” David knew God was his only answer, his only hope, and so he says, “My soul pants for You.” He prayed to God, hoped in God, believing that He would once again show him His love. And he was going to praise God, for he says to himself, “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him.” Psalm 43
Psalm 73 - “I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Asaph was a godly man, but he still had troubles. Then he saw the wicked and proud, those who seemed “successful” and were “at ease,” and he became envious and bitter. But Asaph came into the “sanctuary of God” and realized that God was with him, would keep Him safe, guide him, and bring him to heaven, whereas the wicked would not be blessed, but would perish forever. Psalm 1
Psalm 88 - “My soul has had enough troubles… darkness is my closest friend.” This is a very dark Psalm, for the writer has no friends, and feels forsaken, afflicted, rejected and cut off from God, like he’s “about to die.” And the only answer given is that he cried out to God. Sometimes praying and waiting on God is all we can do, knowing that only He can help us. Psalm 100
The Psalms is such an important book, one that we need now, one that is particularly helpful to Christians in the end-times. Times will get tougher, for birth pains will continue, the Antichrist will come, and there will be great tribulation. Read and study the Psalms, for in the difficult days ahead, they will bring comfort, peace, hope, and strength to your soul. Psalm 23
In all this, I am not telling you to focus on how you feel, on your emotions, but I am saying you should focus on loving and obeying God, on being filled with His Word and Spirit, for then you will be spiritually and emotionally strong, and will be what God wants you to be, with the result that great glory will be given to Him. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever... And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145
P.S. When we talk about our emotions, we need to think of God's love for us, and here's an article that speaks about that - "The Father's Love for His Children." And here's a previous post that talks about our love for Jesus - "The Rapture, A Love Story."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #170 ~
What’s been taking place in our country these past two months is unlike anything I have ever seen before. People’s lives have been dramatically changed, and some, forever so. Major sectors of our country have been terribly devastated, and some permanently so. It’s important to take a step back and think about God wants to teach each of us.
* This pandemic is but one of many “birth pains” (plagues, wars, earthquakes, and famines) that will be taking place before Christ’s return to rapture the church. Matthew 24:4-8, 31
* This pandemic gives us an idea of what these “birth pains” feel like - there has been, and will be, a lot of fear, anxiety, unrest, anger, confusion, discomfort, and death. “In those days it was not safe to travel about… God was troubling them with every kind of distress.” 2 Chronicles 15:5-6
* God wants to use these “pains” to teach us lessons of faith, hope, love, and perseverance. "As for you be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7
* God wants us to know that there’s a much more dangerous and deadly plague, and it’s sin - it's pride, greed, hate, idolatry, and immorality, and it’s corrupting individuals and this entire country. This sin has been increasingly prevalent in the United States these past 50-60 years. Because God is holy, He can’t ignore this sin, and let US do whatever we want - He must judge US. I strongly believe this present damage, this national devastation occurring in our country, is His judgment of our sins. And God will continue to judge US and we will continue to decline in power, which means that the U.S. won’t be the world’s #1 superpower much longer. To be honest, we are beginning to see the end of American greatness. (But as Christians, let’s ask God to show US some mercy, to hold back the full force of His punishing hand.)
Let me sum up what's been recently taking place in our country:
We see what’s happening physically. We have been focused on this pandemic, and rightly so, for tens of thousands have died from COVID-19, and there will be thousands more in the coming months. In addition, there are the increasing addictions, suicides, cases of domestic violence, as well as tens of thousands of health problems that have been going undiagnosed and untreated. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life.” Romans 6:23
We see what’s happening governmentally. The political divide is severe and is getting worse and worse. The anger, hate, lying, deception, and extreme partisanship, is unlike anything I have ever witnessed; and many in the media are helping foment this division. Then, and sadly so, there’s the politicization of this pandemic. Not only that, we are seeing authoritarian and heavy-handed orders by some governors and other leaders, resulting in people protesting against them. “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” Mark 3:24
You see what’s happening economically. You have heard about millions who have lost their jobs, about businesses temporarily and permanently closing, and the disruption of supply chains. Now the government is printing trillions of dollars out of thin air, and just giving it away. Yes, this may help us a little bit in the short run, but it will surely and greatly hurt us in the long run. Sooner or later there will be inflation, causing even more economic problems and financial hardship. “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius.” Revelation 6:6
You see what’s happening spiritually. In the past two months, most church buildings in this country have closed their doors. Many churches have decided not to meet, and others have been told not to meet. Yes, pastors and church leaders are adapting, but it has been quite challenging. And think how many churches must be hurting financially. All this, I believe, is a sign of things to come. “You will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9
I have written about this coronavirus for the past 2 months, and that’s because it’s a major calamity with disastrous and deadly consequences. And no one knows if we will ever get back to normal, or if there will be a new normal. We have looked at this pandemic from a human perspective, but what is the spiritual perspective, what does God want us to know and do?
* God is sovereign. This pandemic did not catch God by surprise and, in fact, is part of His plan in the end-times. God knew and ordained exactly how this virus would affect every person, family, church, city, and country in the world. Not only that, God is sovereign over every single thing that needs to happen in your life and on this earth before the coming of Christ. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.” Psalm 46:10
* Know that Jesus Christ is still building the church. Yes, most church doors have been closed during this pandemic, but not the hearts of people. Do not be discouraged, for Christ did not take time off - He has been continually working in the lives of people. The gospel is being preached, people are being saved, disciples are being made, and the one true church is still growing. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18
* Do not be afraid, do not fret, do not get angry, do not be discouraged. We often react wrongly when there are difficult trials, but we must learn to respond in a Christ-like way. As God’s child, know that He is always in control, and trust Him, and then you will be filled with His grace and peace. Do not live according to your experiences, circumstances or emotions, but be led by God’s word and God’s Spirit. “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
* Trust God’s word, believe His promises, and obey His commands. The way to stay on the path God has planned for you is by loving His word and having it abide in you. By His Word, He can lead, protect, and strengthen you, and enable you to do what He wants you to do. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4
* Stay in fellowship. God made you to have a relationship with Himself and with others. You need other Christians and they need you. During this difficult time, keep having fellowship with believers, “… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25
* Fulfill God’s plans for your life. God placed you on this earth at this time in history to carry out certain tasks. During stressful times, like this pandemic, don’t be distracted, but stay the course, be part of a good church, and keep using the time, money, and gifts God has given you for His purposes and glory. “Do business with this until I come back.” Luke 19:13
Without question, this is a unique, strange, and challenging time in our history, and let’s not forget, a time of intense spiritual warfare. Be thankful that Jesus Christ is always working and fighting, and that nothing will ever thwart Him. Though there are and will be great struggles and seeming defeats, His plans will always be carried out, and we, with Him, will be victorious. “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37
P.S. A super-big problem has affected our world these past two months, which means God wants to use it to teach us some important lessons. Let's be good learners! "God's Time Frame For Your Life" shares my story in learning about prophecy. "Matthew 24 - A Road Map of the End-times" summarizes what needs to take place before the rapture of the church.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #171 ~
When we look at the world, we see the sinful ways of men and governments, and oftentimes we needlessly worry or get mad. But this is the evil age - what else can we expect? Isn’t this the way it has always been? Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, we have been living in this evil age - “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (Gal. 1:4 1, John 5:19). The Old Testament chronicles the stories of nations, peoples, and kings who were opposing God. In Genesis 6, there’s a whole world in sin; in Genesis 11, there’s the tower of Babel; in Genesis 19, there’s Sodom and Gomorrah; and there are the devilish kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, Bablyon, etc. “The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart.’” Ps. 2:1-3, Rev. 12
When Jesus was on earth, it was the Romans fighting against God and ruling over Israel. Then the church age began, and this Roman kingdom continued, and for close to 300 years, it was greatly persecuting the church. It’s now the 21st century and it’s still an evil age, and nations are still raging against God and “devising a vain thing” (Psalm 2:1). Yes, God has established the governing authority “to be a minister to you for good” (Rom. 13:4). And sometimes we see countries with fairly good governments but, more often than not, we don’t. All over the world there are sinful countries with sinful leaders and sinful laws. Bribes, lies, corruption, abuses of power, payoffs, ill-gotten gains, and cruel injustices, are commonplace. Psalm 14:1 says, “They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.” Isaiah 5:20 talks about “those who call evil good, and good evil.” To see this happening in our own country sickens the soul - and to get righteously angry about all this sin is not wrong, but to focus on it, and feel we need to change it, is not how God wants us to think.
As Christians we can easily fret or get angry when leaders and politicians say and do wicked and unethical things. Psalm 6:3 says, “my soul is greatly dismayed.” Psalm 37:1 tells us not to “fret because of evildoers.” Psalm 55:2 says, “I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted because of the voice of the enemy.” Psalm 73:3 says, “I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Isn’t it hard for you when it seems the wicked are getting away with their evil deeds, and are not being brought to account? But God doesn’t want you to set your mind on the things of this world, and be anxious and overly concerned about evil leaders, and their political schemes and earthly kingdoms.
Here are some truths to keep in mind as you live in this evil world, one that will get worse and worse until Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world.
1. God is sovereign. Sinful people and rulers can only do what God allows them to do. Remember, their evil words and actions are part of His end-time plans, and will work out for the good of the church, and the glory of God. Acts 2:23-24, 4:27-28; Romans 9:17-18
2. “Do not fret because of evildoers… Cease from anger and forsake wrath… Depart from evil” (Ps. 37:1, 8, 27). It doesn’t do any good to get mad or worry and, in fact, it’s bad for you.
3. God will defeat and punish all evildoers. “Evildoers will be cut off… Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more… The power of the wicked will be broken… He passed away and he was no more… Transgressors will be altogether destroyed.” Psalm 37:10, 15, 17, 36, 38
4. Do what God wants you to do. “Trust in the Lord and do good… Delight yourself in the Lord… Dwell in the land… Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him… All day long he is gracious and lends… The law of his God is in his heart.” Psalm 37:3, 4, 7, 26, 31
5. “Seek first His kingdom and righteousness.” We are not to worry and be troubled about matters that relate to this earthly kingdom, but we are to be excitedly and energetically building up the church, the heavenly kingdom of God. Matt. 6:33, Col. 3:1-4
6. Pray for those in authority, for the church, and for the coming kingdom: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Be thinking about the coming millennial kingdom when Jesus Christ will rule the world with a rod of iron, and there will be perfect and immediate justice. Isaiah 6:3, Rev. 2:27
7. Remember the example of Jesus and Paul. Jesus never talked about the Roman government or the politics of the day, but only to say, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s...” (Matt. 22:21). Jesus knew that the real enemy was not the Romans but the devil. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood… but against the spiritual forces of wickedness” (Eph. 6:12). The apostle Paul did not get involved in worldly matters, for his purpose was not to win some political debate, but to preach the gospel and win people to Christ. Acts 20:24
8. Remember the promise, that you will inherit the land (Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34). Know that you will inherit the land, the entire earth. In the coming kingdom age, this earth will be your land and you, and all believers, will reign with Christ, and work with Him in establishing His spiritual and physical kingdom in this world. Psalms 47, 67, 72; Matt. 5:5; Rev. 5:10
Our present political climate in this country is hyper-partisan and polarized. We tend to take sides and pick the person or party we like best, but this is not what’s important. As Christians, we must view life as spiritual, and not political. Be careful about picking political sides, and remind yourself that you are on God’s side, and that people are either saved or lost. In the near future, the Antichrist will wickedly be ruling the world, and there will be great tribulation (Matt. 24:21), at which time it will be clearly obvious that there are only two sides, Christ’s and the Antichrist’s. There will be no political parties, no debates, no voting, but hopefully on our part, a zeal to obey Christ, to love the lost, preach the gospel, and make disciples of all the nations. Yes, we will be hated and, in many cases, hunted down to be killed (Matt. 24:9), but this will be our time, and it “will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13). Here is Jesus’ promise to us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Then there is the rapture, “and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17
P.S. "Politicians, Judges, and Jesus, Our Coming King" is a post I wrote that describes how God helped change my thinking regarding my involvement in political matters. This past Sunday my message was "Psalm 23" - when you get time, listen to it, for I believe it will greatly encourage your soul.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #172 ~
NOTE: I am sure most of you are aware of the sickening and evil murder of George Floyd, and now the senseless rioting that is being seen in major cities all over our country. God is not blind to what is going on in the United States. We have had this problem of the pandemic for over 10 weeks, and now the tragic events of this past week. We must realize that God wants to get our attention, to wake us up - He wants us to turn to Him, to seek Him, to repent of our sins. And we also need to pray for our leaders. God is the answer - only He can truly help us. May He have mercy on us. "... for God troubled them with every kind of distress. As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded... they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul." 2 Chronicles 15:6-7, 12. The "main thing" we need to do is given in the message of John the Baptist, which is talked about in this post.
THE POST: It’s good to keep up with what’s going on in the world, particularly as it relates to prophecy. As for me, I watch cable news, read a few newsletters, look at some on-line sites, and view an occasional You-Tube video. In the past ten weeks I’ve learned some things about COVID-19, masks, ID 2020, digital identity, surveillance drones, forced vaccines, crypto-currencies, a global financial order, 5G technology, and Russia-China-Middle East alliances.
I am interested in these subjects because I want to see how they might relate to the end-times and the fulfillment of prophecy. But it doesn’t take long to see that there’s a lot of information and a lot of conspiracy theories out there. Now I do plan to keep reading up on subjects like these because I want to be informed, I want to understand the times, and I want to be a watchman (1 Chron. 12:32, Ezek. 3:17). But I’m not going to take the time to burrow into all the minutia, especially if what’s being said seems far-fetched and extreme. Isaiah 8:11-13, 1 Timothy 1:3-4
You see, I don’t want to go down some rabbit hole - I need to stay above ground so I can see the big picture. I do believe God wants us to know general things about Christ’s coming and the end-times, and I’ve taught extensively and repeatedly on these subjects. But I don’t think it's worth it to get bogged down in specifics or speculation. What I’m saying is that we need to be balanced, and discerning. Yes, there are some things we need to know, but there comes a time when we just need to trust God and realize that He's in control. Sadly, many Christians get so focused on what’s going on in the world that they fail to do the work of God.
As a pastor, my primary job is to build up the church and reach out to the lost, which is also my purpose with this blog post. My desire for you is to know what will be happening before the rapture of the church, and to be encouraged, to be strong in faith, hope and love, to be doing the Lord’s work, and to be excited about the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1-5
One way to be encouraged is by learning from the lives of believers that we read about in the Bible. I cannot think of a better example than John the Baptist. Even though he and his fellow Jews were oppressed by the Romans, he didn’t fret, he didn’t get angry, he didn’t focus on what they were doing, and he didn’t debate with the “learned” men of the day. He did what God wanted him to do, which was being a forerunner for Christ. And isn’t that our job today? Yes, it is! John knew that Christ was coming soon, and he told the people all about Him. Here we are 2000 years later, living in the end-times, and we too know that Christ is coming soon, and we too need to be telling people about Him. Now what can we learn from John’s life?
John was a man of godly character. He feared God, and he wasn’t afraid of man. His goal was to please God, not man. John was humble - he knew who he was in relationship to Jesus, that Jesus was eternal, above all, and more powerful. He said, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30-31). John was zealous and passionate, and was determined to fulfill the mission God had given him. He was a holy man, not distracted or weighed down by the world or the flesh. John was honest and sober-minded, and did not withhold or sugar-coat the truth. He spoke the word of God plainly, clearly, and powerfully. John 1:19-34
John was a man with purpose, which was to “prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for Him” (Luke 3:40). How did he do this? He preached the gospel, the good news (Luke 3:18). He proclaimed, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2). He told the people that they were sinners, and specifically how they were sinning (Luke 3:10-14). He told them that Jesus was the Lamb of God, “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He exhorted the people, telling them that they needed to repent if they were to be forgiven of their sins (Mark 1:4). He told them that salvation and being a member of God’s kingdom was by the work of the Messiah - He “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Luke 3:15-16, John 1:29-34
John also told the people what would happen if they did not repent, that they would be judged for their sins. He spoke soberly and boldly how the Messiah would baptize with “fire,” specifically about the “coming wrath,” being “thrown into the fire,” and the “burning up of the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:7-12). John also preached about the millennial kingdom age, though he knew not, like we know, when it would come. He thought it would take place at Christ’s 1st coming, but now we know it will be during His 2nd coming. John declared, “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth” (Luke 3:5). This is speaking of the time when Christ the King will rule over the world, when there will be righteousness and peace. John goes on to say that “All people will see God’s salvation” (Luke 3:6), which is referring to when Christ returns and saves a great many Jews, soon followed by His 1000-year kingdom age, when the whole world will witness God’s mercy, power and glory. Isaiah 40:3-11; Psalms 47, 67, 72, 98
More than any other passage in the Bible, these words about John’s life, his character and purpose, motivate me to prepare the way of the Lord. Can you see how relevant his life is, and how it instructs us what we are to do? We can get so distracted by what’s happening in the world, even with things that may relate to Christ’s return and the rapture, but we must stay the course, and continue to carry out the Lord’s work. We are to teach the saved about the 2nd coming of Christ, and tell the lost about the 1st coming of Christ, and their need to be saved before His 2nd coming, before it’s too late, before they are “thrown into the fire.”
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, in view of His appearance and His kingdom, preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:1-2). This is for pastors and preachers, but it should also encourage you to tell people the truth about Christ, His 1st coming and His 2nd coming. Don’t get off track, don’t be focused on man’s work - be doing God’s work, keeping the main thing the main thing - “Preach the word.”
P.S. When you get time, read "Make Ready the Way of the Lord," another post that talks about your purpose in life, that you are a forerunner for Christ. Then there's an article, "What Does God Want Me to Do in the End-Times?", which lists out a number of verses instructing you how you are to live for the Lord.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #173 ~
I can’t believe it! What’s been happening this past week is shocking, horrific, sickening, some of the worst things I have ever seen in our country. It started with the brutal murder of George Floyd by that depraved and evil “policeman.” Then there were peaceful protests, people being rightly upset about the crime that had been committed. But then there were rioters, looters, gangs, and anarchists, smashing, stealing, shooting, and burning, creating mayhem in many of our cities - I have never seen such a blatant disregard for law and order. Some of the people were looking for “excitement,” others wanted “loot”, and others want a new “American Revolution,” with a goal to fundamentally transform this country.
What’s the reason for all these problems? It’s our sin - the root problem is our sin, our rejection of God. You may say that’s too simplistic, that some of the reasons relate to families, government, education, and the church. To some extent, I agree, but I am not here to analyze all the factors contributing to our present problems. I am here to say that the underlying problem is sin, whether that’s in the policeman’s life, the lives of the rioters, or your own life. I was reading Jeremiah this morning, and what he said about God’s judgment of man’s sin motivated me to write this post. “… The Lord pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord brought it about, and has done as He said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey His voice, this thing has come upon you.” Jeremiah 40:3
This verse, like hundreds of others, tells us that sin is our real problem, and it must be judged - and right now, it is being judged. Our country is spiritually going downhill, and our recent history is evidence of that - a country politically divided, a pandemic that has resulted in the loss of 109,000+ lives and has slammed our economy, and now this recent murder of a black man accompanied by this sudden outbreak of crime and violence. That Jeremiah verse, along with many others, is to let us know that God is righteously angry, and not pleased with our sinful and corrupt country.
But what is this sin? At it’s heart, it means we are not loving God but, instead, are loving ourselves or things, whether that’s our body, money, houses, cars, music, movies, etc. Sin is also seen when we are racist, when we are thinking and acting like we are better than those of a different race. Col. 3:8 describes sin as “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech.” 2 Tim. 3:2-4 says sinners “will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God.” God gives us many lists of sins because He wants us to know that it is our main problem. Mark 7:20-23, Romans 1:28-31, Galatians 5:19-21
Sin started with Adam, and then spread to all mankind. Genesis 4 tells us about Cain’s murder of Abel. Genesis 6 talks about an entire world greatly sinning against God, except for Noah and his family. Genesis 11 describes a rebellious world trying to build a tower to the heavens. Genesis 19 speaks about the hideous sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the prophets go into great detail about the sin of Israel and other countries. You and I then should not be shocked by the sin in our country, for it has always been evident during this evil age. And this most recent eruption of evil reveals once again the sin that is in the heart of man. As I said, God is now judging the sin in this country, and He will continue to judge it, and the time will come when she’s no longer the world’s number one power, paving the way for the devilish kingdom of the Antichrist to be raised up and become this world’s last superpower. Revelation 13, 17:8-17
What’s God’s answer to the sin in this world, in your life, and to that most wicked Antichrist? It’s Jesus Christ, sent by His Father to this earth to be a mediator between God and man. Christ died on a cross to deal with this sin, both paying for man’s sin so God’s justice would be satisfied, and disarming and defeating the devil. God could then forgive sinners, and give eternal life to all those who repent and believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins, and then rose again. This eternal and spiritual life that God gives a true believer is love, joy, peace, a relationship with Himself, and a purpose in life, that will satisfy their soul like nothing in the world can ever do. John 7:37-38; Rom. 5:8, 6:23; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:10; Col. 2:15
Now as Christians, we are part of the church, which has continued to grow for close to 2000 years, her holy light shining in the darkness. But since we still live in this evil age, this sin still greatly affects the entire world. And we wish things were better, that there would be no more hate, murder, racism, or riots, but instead, only love, peace, and unity. But that’s not the way it is, and it’s not going to really change until Jesus Christ comes back. In fact, Matt. 24:12 tells us lawlessness will increase in the end-times, which means this world will become even more evil and wicked, until that time when Christ returns to rapture the church. Matthew 24:30-31
I have mentioned this coming Antichrist, one described as “the man of lawlessness,” the “son of destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3). Yes, there’s lawlessness and destruction now, but this most wicked man will make things much worse, especially for the Christians and Jews he will be persecuting. But in all this, don’t be afraid - be strong, courageous, and loving, knowing that this is our time to live for God, to tell people the good news about how they can know Jesus, be forgiven, and be a member of His great and glorious kingdom. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
I write all this so you understand that sin is the main reason we are having all these problems, and that only Jesus Christ can truly make things better in your life, and in this world - and so don’t be looking for the answer to be found in some President, governor, or mayor. While you are still here on earth, don’t focus on politics, but instead seek God’s kingdom, and do the work He wants you do. And soon, Christ will come back to take you to heaven, and will then judge this evil world and the Antichrist, during what’s called the Day of the Lord. Then He will take back control of the world, and begin His 1000-year reign as King, and like never before, there will be glory to God, peace on earth, and good will toward men. Isaiah 6:3, Luke 2:14
P.S. This subject of sin and God's judgment of it is an important one, and one you need to understand. When you get time, read "It's Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better," and "The Antichrist is Coming Soon, and It's Before the Coming of Christ."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #174 ~
There’s no doubt that Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords, King of kings, and Savior of sinners, is literally coming back to earth - and what an exciting and important truth for this present generation of Christians. Like no other time in history we need to not just know, but believe, that Christ is coming again, and soon - and He will solve all our problems, and make everything right in this world!
When you read God’s word, you discover hundreds of verses describing Christ’s coming. Why? Because He wants you to be convinced that He’s coming again; He wants you to know key details of His coming; He wants you to know why He is coming; He wants you to know that His coming marks the end of this evil age and the start of a good age; and He wants you to be looking forward to seeing Him. Listed below are a number of verses that describe the glorious return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
* Matthew 24:30-31 - “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the others.” These classic rapture verses tell us that we will see and hear that Jesus Christ is coming, and then all believers from all time, those in heaven and those on earth, will be gathered to Him. Mark 13:27
* Matthew 24:42 - “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” None of us know the exact time of Christ’s coming, but God tells us specific events that need to occur before His return so we can know the general time. Matt. 24:32-34
* Luke 19:13 - “Do business with this until I come back.” You are to use the abilities, gifts, and money that God has given you so you can do your part in carrying out His end-time's work on this earth. Eph. 2:10
* John 14:3 - “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus has prepared a heavenly home perfectly suited for His bride, which includes you. And at just the right time, He will come back and take you home to heaven. Heb. 12:22-24
* 1 Corinthians 1:7-8 - “…as you eagerly wait for the Lord Jesus to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Be assured that God will help you, strengthen you, and keep you going, and make sure you make it to heaven. 2 Tim. 4:18
* 1 Corinthian 15:51 - “Listen, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.” All believers, those who have already died (fallen asleep), and those still alive on earth at Christ’s coming, will be changed, will suddenly, wonderfully, and eternally be glorified.1 Cor. 15:42-44
* 1 Thessalonians 1:10 - “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead.” In view of Christ’s coming, you are to be working and waiting for Him. Luke 12:40-43
* 1 Thessalonians 2:19 - “What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes - is it not you?” A very encouraging part of your hope is that in heaven you will see believing friends and loved ones who you knew on earth. 1 Thess. 4:13-14
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Christ Himself will announce His coming to the Christians on earth, at which time they will suddenly be raptured and glorified, and joining with the glorified heavenly believers, immediately be taken to meet the Lord in the air. 2 Thess. 2:1
* 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4 - “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night… But you brothers are not in surprise.” Unbelievers will be caught off guard by Christ’s coming, but believers will not be surprised but, instead, will be expecting it. Matt. 24:42-44
* 2 Thessalonians 1:7 - “To give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.” One reason for Christ’s return is to deliver the Christians from the persecution they are going through. Matt. 24:21-22
* 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you brothers, to not become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy… do not let anyone deceive you in any way for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.” God does not want you to be led astray by some false teaching regarding Christ’s coming. One erroneous teaching is that Christ will rapture the church before the Antichrist is revealed, but it's really after he is revealed, which is at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week. That is, the rapture happens sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel's 70th week. 2 Thess. 2:8
* 2 Timothy 4:1-2 - “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and Kingdom, preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season…” God’s word is not just to be taught, but to be taught in view of Christ's return to set up His kingdom on earth. Psalms 47, 67
* Titus 2:13 - “While we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness.” You are to be waiting, to be very excited, to be excitedly looking forward to seeing your Lord and Savior. Rev. 22:20
* Hebrews 10:25 - “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.” God wants you to be seeing the signs that show us that Christ’s return is drawing near, and then encourage others with this good news. Matt. 24:3, 32-34
* Hebrews 10:37 - “In just a very little while, He who is coming, will come and will not delay.” Christ’s return to rapture the church will happen very soon, and that’s because we now live in the end-times, that time defined by the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. Daniels 12:4; Romans 11, 13:11-12
* James 5:7 - “See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too be patient and stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near.” Life for Christians will become very difficult the closer we get to Christ’s return. You are to patiently wait for His coming, knowing that His timing is perfect, and that He will give you all the strength you need to keep persevering for Him. Luke 18:8
* 1 Peter 1:5 - “… who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Christians have many spiritual enemies, but God will keep protecting you from them through all the years leading up to Christ's return to rapture the church. 2 Tim. 4:18
* 1 Peter 1:16 - “Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Christ is revealed.” Don’t set your hopes on earthly things but on heavenly things and, specifically, that Christ will be returning soon to glorify you and take you home to heaven. Col. 3:1-4
* 2 Peter 3:11-12 - “Since everything will be destroyed in this way what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” Don’t be worldly, but be holy, living for God, and looking forward to the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. 1 Thess. 5:4-11
* 1 John 3:2-3 - “We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Remember that when Christ returns, your salvation will be complete, for then you will be given a perfect and glorified body, one like His. Phil. 3:20-21
* Revelation 7:9 - “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” After all the believers are gathered together, they will immediately be taken to heaven so they can be in the very presence of God and worship Him like never before. Rev. 19:1-6
* Revelation 22:12 - “Behold I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” At Christ’s coming, you will receive an eternal, glorious, and generous reward for your earthly service for Him. 2 Tim. 4:8
* Revelation 22:20 - “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Christ keeps telling you that He is coming soon because He wants you to know that He is coming soon, and wants you to be excited about seeing and being with Him. Heb. 10:37, Rev. 22:7, 12
Can you believe it? Jesus Christ is coming again, and soon! All these verses, along with many others, are given so you can know about His glorious appearing, which won’t be long from now. It’s vitally important that you know and think about these verses about Christ's coming, for they will encourage you and give you hope in these years leading up to the return of our great Lord, Savior, and King. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30
P.S. There are a lot of major problems in our country, and it's imperative that you see how Biblical prophecy is central to all that is taking place. Here is a post and an article that will help you understand where we are headed: "The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ," and "Matthew 24, the Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post # 175 ~
In times of distress, whether it’s personal, or out in the world, we need God’s word, we need His answers to these problems, and this is especially true at this juncture, one of the most explosive and evil times in U.S. history. Psalm 2 gives the big-picture answer, and it relates to prophecy, that during this sinful age, human kings are ruling and rising up against God - but the good news, especially as we see this present rebellion in our country, is that Christ the King is returning to judge the world and establish His glorious kingdom on earth. Now the answer for each individual is to take refuge in Christ, and eternally experience His mercy and blessing, instead of rejecting Him and eternally experiencing His wrath. Matthew 25:41, 46; John 5:24
Psalm 2:1-3 tells us about the wicked and their rebellion against God. Four groups are described – there are the nations, the different countries, and they are in an uproar, a rage, a tumult. There are the peoples, the individuals who live in these nations, and they are plotting and scheming. But it’s vanity, for what they are doing is worthless and comes to nothing. There are the kings, the Presidents, and they are taking a stand, declaring their positions, and making policy. Then there are the rulers who are working together and carrying out the desires of their king. But notice what it says? They are actually counseling together against the Lord, against God Himself, and they are also against His Anointed, the Messiah, that is, Jesus Christ. Revelation 13
Now it’s not like leaders in the US, the EU, or the UN are meeting together with their fists literally raised up against God, but if they’re not fearing God, if they act like there is no God, if they are not following His lead, then their hearts are raised up in opposition to God, resulting in sinful and worldly actions that affect the lives of many other people. A leader's and all mankind's main problem, like the devil himself, is that they are proud - they doesn’t fear God, seen in that they don't worship God and obey His will, but rather, do what they wants, do what is wrong. Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 2:3 illustrates a person’s sin, his defiance of God, his insubordination, his pride. An unsaved person hates and rejects God, and does not want to be under His authority but, instead, wants to tear off what he believes are fetters, are chains – he wants to be completely free from God’s rule in and over his life. The Bible describes different authorities God has established - people are to fear God, children are to obey their parents, wives are to submit to their husbands, citizens are to be subject to the governing authorities, and slaves (workers) are to obey their masters (employers). One of the quickest ways to find out if a person fears and obeys God is to see if he fears and obeys the authorities God has placed over his life. Colossians 3:18-25, 1 Peter 2:13-3:9
It doesn’t take long to see that the resistance and rejection of authority is rampant in this country, and is taking place at all levels, in families, at workplaces, in the government, and on the streets. Do you see how people are disregarding and disobeying the law? Do you see the lawlessness and anarchy, people destroying and stealing property, and rebelling against the police? It’s obvious that people don’t want to be told what to do, but want to do their own thing, want to be “free” from these God-given authorities that, if obeyed, will result in peace, harmony, order, and prosperity.
Psalm 2:4-6 tell us God’s response. He laughs, He scoffs – He knows that people are but fools when they rebel against Him, that they are like little ants attempting to rise up against man. Sinful people don’t realize who God is, that He is holy and just, and can quickly and powerfully crush any rebellion. But God is not just thinking these things to Himself (i.e. the Trinity), for “He will speak to them in His anger.” God wants people to know that He is righteously angry because they have rejected Him and, in fact, He is furious, and will not put up with this human rebellion.
Psalm 2:6 declares God’s plan, that He has already installed His King as ruler over the world. During this evil age, the devil has been given limited power to rule the world (1 John 5:19). But Christ is sovereign over the devil’s work and is now, at this same time, building His church. In the age to come, we will literally see Jesus Christ in Zion, in Jerusalem, and with us, He will build His kingdom on this earth. Psalm 47, Matt. 6:9-10
Psalm 2:7-9 tell us how God the Father and Christ His Son are working together to execute this decree, this plan, what Christ wants the whole world to understand, one that will be carried out during the coming kingdom age. These verses give us a glimpse into the intimate relationship that Christ has with His Father, His submission to Him, and how the Father wants to bless His Son with a special gift, a redeemed and restored world filled with godly people. This passage closes with God’s promise to Christ that, with a rod of iron, He will powerfully judge the sinful world we now live in (the day of Lord), and then will fulfill His Father’s plan on this earth (the millennial kingdom). This is our hope, and what we need to be looking for, especially as see how this world is becoming more and more evil. John 17; Rev. 8-9, Rev. 19:11-21, Rev. 20
Psalm 2:10-12 is the Spirit’s sobering instructions to this sinful world, especially to kings and judges. He tells them to wise up, to get smart, and warns them that the coming judgment He has just spoken about will come upon them if they don’t fear God. Indeed, our first and foremost duty is to fear God, to worship and serve Him, and to rejoice in Him alone. Romans 1 tells us the same thing, that God’s wrath will be poured out upon all those who don’t honor and thank God, who won’t and don’t worship Him. Prov. 1:7, Mark 12:30
The Holy Spirit makes it clear that it’s not just loving the Father, but loving the Son, showing homage to Him, that is, kissing Him. What the Spirit is saying is that the only way to be saved, to not be judged for your sins is through Jesus Christ - the only way to know the Father is through the Son. If you don’t show homage to Jesus, if you don’t kiss Him, spiritually speaking, then Jesus, as your righteous judge, will have to punish you, and you will perish forever. These last few verses are present tense, meaning this passage applies to what is going on in our country today, that God and Christ at this time, in June of 2020, are warning this world of their need to repent of their sin and turn to Christ, before it's too late. The final and concluding phrase speaks not of God’s justice, but of God's mercy, for it promises that all who take refuge in Christ, all who trust in Him, will be blessed, now and forever, in this age and in the age to come, when we will literally be reigning with Christ the King over this world. "The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth" (Psalm 47:2). “Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10
P.S. You can't understand what's going on in the world around you, if you don't understand God's word. Psalm 2 is one of many prophetic Psalms that speaks about our present situation. I encourage you to read "Prophecy Psalms for the Jews and for You" - Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. It's obvious that many things are changing in our country, but you haven't seen anything yet - please read, "Everything on This Earth is Going to Change."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #176 ~
When a runner runs his race, he needs to know there’s a reason to run the race, that it has purpose. He needs to know the race will come to an end, that it will soon be over. He needs to know that it’s worth it to run the race, that he will be rewarded for his efforts. That is, a runner needs hope, which is what each and every Christian needs. To run the “race that is set before us,” the race God has given you, you need hope - you can’t live life without it. You will get sick and suffer pain. You will have spiritual battles, personal struggles and be persecuted. You will get tired, feel defeated, be discouraged, and at times want to give up. And now there’s this present crisis in our country, with all the riots, violence, destruction, anarchy, etc. In all this, you have to have hope if you are going to be able to run and win the race God has for you. Hebrews 12:1-3
How do we define hope? It’s a reason to live. It’s what you don’t have now but believe God will give you in the ages to come. It’s expecting God to bless you in the future for your work for Him in the present. More specifically, hope is God’s promise to you that you will be in heaven with Jesus, with believers, in a glorified body, and that you will be eternally rewarded. Hebrews 12:22-24
There’s something else you need to know, which is that your hope as a Christian relates directly to God’s promises to the Jewish people. In the Old Testament you read extensively about God’s future plans for Jewish believers, and these plans relate directly to what God has in store for Christians. Specifically, there are three key promises or covenants God gave the Jewish people. There’s the promise of land, described as the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 13:14-17, Psalm 105:8-11), the promise of salvation, called the New Covenant (Jer. 31:33-34, Psalm 98:2-3), and the promise of a King, which is the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-13, Zech. 14:9).
Literally hundreds of verses in the Old Testament further confirm and describe these promises. As you read your Bible, be looking for them, for they will give you confidence that God will do just what He promised. Sadly, many in today’s churches believe God has cancelled and nullified these promises to the Jews because of their sin and unbelief, but this is just not true. God is faithful, and will be forever true to His word. Psalm 89, Matthew 24:35
As I said, many verses speak of these promises, but my favorites are Ezekiel 37:21-23, for here you see all three of them in one single passage. There’s the land promise - “I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land, and I will make them one nation in the land” (vss 21-22); there’s the promise of the King, which we know is Jesus Christ – “There will be one King over all of them” (vs 22); and there’s the promise of salvation – “I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be My people, and I will be their God” (vs 23). Do you see the word “will?” It’s God’s guarantee to His people that He will carry out His promises, that they will definitely come to pass.
But how does this relate to you? First, there’s salvation, and of course as a Christian, you have been saved. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:5). Second, there’s the land. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:3). This is from Psalm 37:11, which says, “The meek will inherit the land,” which is true for the Jews, but now is true for you as well. Third, there’s the King, and in Rev. 19:16, we read, “On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’” Jesus Christ will return as the King, and will rule perfectly over this world and, in fact, we will be reigning with Him. Revelation 5:10
The verses, in my opinion, that best connect the future of the Jewish believer with the future of the Christian, are Rom. 15:8-13. There we read that the promises God gave to the fathers (Old Testament Jews), are in conjunction with His promises to church-age Christians – “I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Thy name… Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” In the coming kingdom age, all saved people will be in Jerusalem worshiping the King. Psalm 47:1,6 and Psalm 48:1 also talk about this - “O clap your hands, all peoples, shout to God with the voice of joy… Sing praises to our King… Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.”
Do you see that your hope relates directly to the hope of the Jewish people? Though we don’t know all the details of our future, we do know that all God’s people will be together, worshiping and serving Him. As a Christian, you need this hope, you need to know it’s worth it serve the Lord and suffer for Him, that the future blessing you will receive from God far outweighs any troubles or struggles you will ever experience in this life. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
P.S. Might you continue to be filled with godly hope, for you need it. Here are two posts that will increase your understanding of this wonderful hope that God wants you to have: "Your Great Hope and Most Glorious Future" and "Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #177 ~
In my early years as a Christian, there was an often-asked question, “What happens when a believer dies?” The usual answer was, “Well, he goes to heaven.” Being in heaven is a correct answer, but it’s elementary, it’s simplistic. In the past 25 years, I have learned that there’s much more than just heaven. And I thank God for teaching me wonderful truths about our future, the hope that is for all Christians. On this blog site, I have talked a great deal about our hope, but since it is so critically important for our lives, I am compelled to keep teaching on it. My purpose today is to share with you a number of truths about this hope that God has given you.
1. Prophecy tells us what will be happening in the end-times, but we also need to know how we should live during these years leading up to Christ’s coming. You can have head knowledge, all this information about the birth pains, the Antichrist, Christ’s return, the rapture, etc., but you also need heart knowledge. You need love, faith, joy, holiness, and you also need hope. Only as you have hope can you truly live, grow, and succeed as a Christian. “Let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thess. 5:8
2. Hope is all about the future, and having hope means you are thinking about the future God has in store for you. Your hope is not about the past or the present, but about a God-planned and glorious future. This truth about hope for the Jews is conveyed in Jeremiah 29:11-12 - “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’” But the principle communicated here speaks to us, for the plans God has for our future relate directly to the hope He wants us to have today.
3. “Hope for the future” can be a statement or a command. As a statement, “hope” is a noun and is what you need to know. As a command, “hope” is a verb and is what you need to believe. If you have no hope, it’s because you don’t know or don’t believe what God has told you in His word. Having hope means you are hoping for, you are looking forward to God’s promises being fulfilled. “If we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:25
4. The hope God has for you is described in His word. That is, having this hope in your heart means you need to know what God’s word says about it. It’s obvious that God does not tell you everything about your future, but enough to excite and encourage your heart. “Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” Romans 15:4-13
5. The foundation of our hope is Jesus Christ. The Christian, and all he says and does, now and forever, is to be centered on Christ. All aspects of our hope are related to Christ, whether it’s worshiping Him, serving Him, being blessed by Him, or having fellowship with other Christians. “… Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). “… Christ Jesus, who is our hope.” 1 Timothy 1:1
6. Hope is not about the end-times, about what happens before Christ returns - it’s about what happens at, and after, Christ’s return. Having this hope, knowing and being excited about the great future God has for you, will help you endure all the difficulties you will encounter before Christ’s coming. “… your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 1:3
7. Hope is not worldly or fleshly, what you might achieve, but heavenly and spiritual, what only God can give you. And God not only gives you hope, but promises you that He will fulfill His hopes for you, and that’s because He is always faithful. “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely… at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you and He will bring it to pass.” 1 Thess. 5:23-24
8. Having hope, at its essence, is having faith, is believing God’s promises to you about your future. That is, you cannot have hope without faith. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for… By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise… for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:1, 9-10
9. At its heart, hope is an expression of God’s future love for you. God loves you every single day of your life on this earth, but hope tells you how He will wonderfully and perfectly show you His love you in the ages to come. “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Rom. 5:5, Psalm 23:6
10. Hope informs you that your future in a perfect heaven with Jesus Christ will be much better and brighter than your time on this sinful earth. “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4-5). “The day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1
11. If you have hope, then you will be excited about, waiting for, and looking forward to what God has in store for you. Trusting in the people and things of earth leads to disappointment, but what God has planned for you will please and satisfy you like nothing you have ever experienced. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be given to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
12. The godly men and women of the past had hope, this faith for the future, for they were looking for the fulfillment of what God had promised them. Having this hope helped them to persevere, to not give up, to keep going for God. “For by it the men of old gained approval” (Heb. 11:2, 6). “By faith Moses… choosing rather to endure ill treatment… he was looking ahead to the reward.” Heb. 11:24-26, Job 19:25-27
13. Having hope does not mean you are just thinking about the future - it means you are living today in view of the future. 1 Thess. 1:9-10 sums up the life of a Christian - "... how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven." A godly Christian is both serving the Lord and waiting for Him. 2 Tim. 4:1-2 instructs pastors, “... in view of His appearing and His kingdom, preach the word.” God's word must be taught with the coming of Christ and His coming kingdom in mind. Matt. 6:9-10
14. Hope keeps you from worrying about the past and being overwhelmed in the present. Having hope is positive, forward looking, and keeps you pressing ahead and making progress for the Lord. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14
15. One reasons for trials is so you grow in hope, so that you look forward to that time when all your difficulties and problems will be gone. This looking ahead will keep you moving ahead and enable you to get through trials, even the present crises in our country. In the middle of the storm, you need to know that the Son will shine again. “Not only this, but we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance… and hope does not disappoint…” Romans 5:3-5
16. To endure, to persevere, you have to have hope. You will experience difficulties in life, but the hope God gives you motivates you to keep going for Him. This will especially be true during the great tribulation, when you will be hated and persecuted like never before. “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name (difficulties)… He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other” (hope). Matthew 24:9, 31
17. Hope is one of the keys to being holy, to not being fleshly or worldly. Fixing your eyes on Jesus and His coming to make you like Himself and take you to heaven has a holy, purifying effect on your life. “When He appears, we shall be just like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
18. Hope relates to your salvation, for when Jesus Christ comes back your salvation will be complete, for then you will be glorified. The grace to be given you when Christ is revealed is glorifying grace, that which will perfect you, and enable you to perfectly worship and serve the Lord in the ages to come. “…having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved…” Rom. 8:23-24, 1 Thess. 5:8-9
19. Hope is an anchor for your soul. Knowing the certainty and glories of the future helps you through the uncertainties and problems of the present. The winds will blow, and the waves will pound, but the hope of a God-solid future helps secure and stabilize your life in the present. “This hope we have as an anchor for the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…” Hebrews 6:17
20. What is this hope God wants you to have at this time? It’s being with Jesus (John 14:1). It’s having a powerful, glorious, immortal and spiritual body (1 Cor. 15:42-44). It’s being able to perfectly love and worship God and Jesus (Rev. 5:13). It’s having a heavenly home (John 14:2-3). It’s being with loved ones and other believers (1 Thess. 4:13-14). It’s receiving an incredible inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4). It’s having no pain, sorrow or sickness (Rev. 21:4-5). It’s being greatly rewarded (Matt. 25:21). It’s having a satisfying and God-glorifying purpose (Rev. 5:10). It’s having fullness of joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11). Next week's post will explain these aspects of your hope in more detail.
You need hope! Pray for it, and God will give it to you! “I pray that the eyes of your heart are enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:18). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
P.S. This post is dedicated to all my dear friends who have suffered through the years, and having experienced and exhibited the grace of God, are ones who have hope, and are looking forward to being in heaven with Jesus. Here is a related article I encourage you to read, "You Have to Have Hope."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #178 ~
THE SHORT VERSION:
1. It's being with Jesus Christ.
2. It’s not being affected by any fleshly, worldly, or devilish thing.
3. It’s having a brand-new body.
4. It’s perfectly loving God and Jesus Christ.
5. It’s having a heavenly home.
6. It’s being with loved ones and others who are believers.
7. It’s receiving an incredible inheritance.
8. It’s being greatly rewarded.
9. It’s having a satisfying and God-glorifying purpose.
10. It’s seeing the glory of God displayed on earth.
11. It’s having fullness of joy and experiencing pleasures forever.
12. It’s knowing God and Jesus Christ more fully.
THE LONG VERSION:
Do you want to be all that God wants you to be? Do you want to be a growing and godly Christian? Do you want to be a positive, forward-looking person? Do you want more joy and peace? Do you want to love God more? If so, one thing that will help is having hope. Many Christians are lacking in hope, and don’t even know what they are missing. They are focused on the present, on what is happening today, but they are not thinking about the future God has planned out for them. And they don’t see that having this hope, that being excited about God’s plans for their future, will help them be more fruitful and successful in the present.
How do we define hope? Hope is not a present reality but an expectation of a future reality. Hope, as a noun, is what you need to know about your future and, as a verb, it’s what you need to believe about your future. It’s knowing and seeing, by faith, God’s plans for your future. It’s what you don’t have now but are confident God will give you in the ages to come. It’s believing that God will continually show you His great love after you leave earth and are in heaven.
What exactly is this hope?
1. It’s being with Jesus Christ. “… thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). Jesus, like no one else, has loved you and will always love you. He died for you and rose again, saving you from your sins, from the clutches of Satan, and from death itself. He’s your Savior and Redeemer, Lord and King, Brother and Friend. He can’t wait to be with you, and show His love and glory to you, and in ways you could never imagine - it won’t be long before you are literally with Him. Just think what it will be like when you first see Him, and He talks to you, and you talk to Him, and He tells you that He loves you. Job 19:25-27; John 14:3, 15:9, 17:24
2. It’s not being affected by any fleshly, worldly, or devilish thing. “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning or crying or pain; the first things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). There will be no more sin, sorrow, sickness, death, trials, conflicts, worries, enemies, or persecution - how freeing and wonderful to not be affected by these things! Life can be hard, stressful and painful, but your hope is that everything and everyone in the future will be good, loving, and a blessing. Yes, there will be sin and evil during the millennial kingdom but it won’t personally affect you. Rev. 7:15-17
3. It’s having a brand-new body. “… the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:20-21). Your body is weak, sinful and mortal. Yes, it’s good enough for your life on earth, but it's not at all adequate for your life in heaven and for eternity. Therefore, God will give every believer a new body, a powerful, immortal, glorious and spiritual body - and this will happen when Christ returns to rapture the church. Then you will be physically saved, and your salvation will be complete, and you will be fully able to eternally worship and serve the Lord, and give Him great glory. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 2 Cor 5:1-8, 1 Thess. 5:23
4. It’s perfectly loving God and Jesus Christ. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). This is the great commandment! But now your love for God is sporadic, it’s not always wholehearted, it’s interrupted by sin, it’s definitely not what it should be. But not long from now you will be glorified, and with rapturous joy, you will more fully know and be filled up with His love for you. Then and forever, you will perfectly and continually love the Lord in a personal way and with others, and how God-exalting and soul-satisfying that will be! Psalm 145:1-2, 1 John 4:19, Rev. 5:13
5. It’s having a heavenly home. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). You now live in an earthly dwelling. It may be small or big, plain or lavish, cluttered or neat, but it’s temporal and wears out, and has to be cleaned, kept and maintained. But Jesus has made a home perfectly suited for you. It’s beautiful, spotless, furnished, practical, the most comfortable and relaxing place you could ever imagine. There you will be able to worship the Lord, fellowship with saints, have a meal, and live forever. Your home will be part of the new city, the heavenly city, one that will bring eternal glory to God and Jesus Christ. Psalm 84:1-4, Heb. 12:22-24, Rev. 21:10-23
6. It’s being with loved ones and others who are believers. “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exaltation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?” (1 Thess. 2:19). One of the great blessings on earth is being with other Christians, especially ones you love and who love you. One of the great blessings of heaven is being with them again, and for all eternity. And so, don’t grieve too much when loved ones and friends leave this earth and go to heaven, for you will soon see them again. Your relationships with believers on earth continue in heaven, but then they will be perfect, with perfect love, communication, and fellowship, and all centered around Christ. You will also meet and enjoy the company of millions and millions of believers, like Moses, David, Esther, Nehemiah, Mary, Paul, Luther, Edwards, Spurgeon, etc. How wonderful and encouraging this will be! 2 Sam. 12:22-23, 2 Cor. 4:14, 1 Thess. 4:13-14
7. It’s receiving an incredible inheritance. “… to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away…” (1 Peter 1:3-4). None of us can fathom how much God wants to bless us in the future. Good parents give good things to their children, but that’s nothing compared to what God will give you in the future. Money, land, jewelry, and keepsakes are earthly inheritances, but our heavenly inheritance is infinitely better (1 Cor. 2:9). This inheritance, guaranteed to all God’s children, cannot be destroyed, is perfect, and will never lose its magnificence. We don’t know the exact nature of our inheritance, but it will be an expression of God’s gracious and perfect love for us. Not only that, but it’s “reserved in heaven for you.” Our inheritance, now kept safely in heaven, will be given to us at Christ’s coming. What a kind and generous Father we have!
8. It’s being greatly rewarded. “He who plants and he who waters are one, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Cor. 3:8). God gives each believer an inheritance just because he is His child. But your reward is more than an inheritance, for it relates to your work for Him. Jesus tells us the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), that God gives you money and abilities you are to use to serve Him. This reward in heaven, your heavenly pay, relates directly to the quality of your work on earth, and how you faithfully used what God gave you. Do not forget, God will reward you for everything you say or do for Him. Part of this reward is the actual work you will be doing in the future. Hear what the master told his slave - “Do business with this until I come back… Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing - be in authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:13-17, Col. 3:23, Rev. 22:12
9. It’s having a satisfying and God-glorifying purpose. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand” (Eph. 2:10). You won’t be just sitting in heaven playing a harp. God has specific plans for your life in the ages to come. You will be working for God, serving Him, doing what He wants you to do, and what you love to do. During the millennial kingdom, your work directly relates to reigning with Jesus Christ over this world. Exactly what this will look like, we don’t know, but it will be perfect, satisfying, and effortless work, that which will be good for others and a glory to God. Rev. 2:26, 5:10, 20:6
10. It’s seeing the glory of God displayed on earth. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (Habakkuk 2:14). We now live in an evil world controlled by the evil one. But the next age, the millennial kingdom age, will be one in which Jesus Christ will reign over the world. Then, with great satisfaction and joy, you will see the righteousness, peace, and glory of God. “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations” (Ps. 47:7-8). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for Thou will judge the nations with uprightness, and guide the nations on the earth” (Ps. 67:4). “In His days, may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more” (Ps. 72:7). “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy” (Ps. 98:8). This is a small sampling of what the future, and your future, will look like. Just think - we will soon be reigning with Christ, and seeing His glory on earth! Psalm 150, Isaiah 6:3
11. It’s having fullness of joy and experiencing pleasures forever. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11). Your heavenly Father will make sure you are always full of joy and gladness. Every day, and for all eternity, you will experience God’s goodness, be with Jesus, see His glory, have fellowship with the saints, and enjoy the beauty and pleasures of the world. You will never feel sad or down or lonely. Every day will be a good day, a delightful day, a perfect day, a most wonderful day. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In the future, you will always experience Jesus’ life to the full - and you will be rejoicing with gladness, exulting before God, and giving Him the glory He deserves. Ps. 68:3-4, John 7:38, 1 Thess. 5:16
12. It’s knowing God more fully. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Eternal life is knowing God, having an eternal relationship with Him. In the ages to come, you will keep growing in your knowledge of God, for He will continue to reveal Himself to you. You will increasingly know more about His love, wisdom, power, goodness, holiness, sovereignty, etc. (You will also be able to look back at your time on earth and see how God was specifically working in and through your life). You will learn more from God’s word, the word we have now, but don’t fully understand. You will learn more about Jesus, more about the angels and saints, and more about the world we live in. You will never grow tired of spending time with Jesus and seeing His glory, for your soul will be fully and always satisfied by Him. As a result, you will keep growing in your love and affection for Jesus. John 17:24, Rom. 11:33
This is a detailed summary of your hope, of God’s great and glorious plans for your life, which will begin to be realized at Christ’s return and then continue for all eternity. Your life on earth is usually 70, 80, 90 years or so, but eternity is forever and ever. It’s vitally important for you to see the big picture, that God’s hope for you will be fulfilled after your time on this earth, and during your everlastingly-long heavenly life, covering billions and billions and billions and billions of years, etc., etc., etc. We spend so much time thinking about this life, but you must understand the details of your incredible future, this eternal life that God will give you. 1 Thess. 1:1:9-10 tells you, “serve a living and true God,” and “wait for His Son.” You are to work for God now but you are to also be looking forward, and excitedly so, to that time when your God-planned and perfect future will be fulfilled. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
P.S. This written post was my Sunday morning message for July 12, 2020. If you get time, I would suggest that you listen to it, for it was quite expanded, and I believe you will find it most encouraging and motivating.
P.P.S. One of my greatest desires with this blog site is that you would grow in hope, that you would be super-excited about the incredible future God has planned out for you. If you have not yet done so, I would encourage you to read the last two posts - "Important Lessons on the Hope God Has For You," and "When Life Is Hard, You Need Hope."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #179 ~
This has been a very difficult year for the United States – I can’t believe all that has happened so far! I am wondering if God’s patience with US is coming to an end and if, in fact, He has withdrawn His sin-restraining hand from US. Of course, we don’t know all that God is doing, but His word does tell us what we are to know and do. For example, there’s Psalm 11, which is most enlightening, and essential in helping us understand the present condition of our country, as well as learn how God deals with both good and bad people, the righteous and the unrighteous.
Verse 1 tells you that you need to take refuge in the Lord. At times, you may feel like you need physical refuge, that you need to get away from your problems by escaping to a safe place. But no, your biggest problem is not physical, but spiritual – it’s your sin, and the answer is to take refuge in the Lord, to trust in Him. Only because of Jesus’ death and resurrection can you find spiritual safety, salvation from your sins, this merciful and eternal deliverance from God’s wrath. “His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 2:12
Verse 2 talks about our enemies, those who are unrighteous and wicked. These unbelievers don’t fear God (Psalm 36:1), hate God and hate us (John 15:8), love to do evil (John 3:19), and don’t think God sees them. And they don’t want to be seen by people, and so they “shoot in darkness at the upright.” They work behind the scenes, try to stay hidden, and embed themselves with other people, for they do not want to be exposed (Eph. 5:11), stopped, and arrested for their evil activity. Psalm 10:8-11
The result, the cumulative effect of the enemies’ work is summed up in verse 3 - “the foundations are destroyed.” This is sobering and shocking, and is describing the present state of our country, that our spiritual foundations are being torn down. We may not have seen this coming, but this devastating work is clearly obvious. It’s now seen in our churches, families, schools, businesses, government, media, and music. Our laws, rules, morals, and values, that which hold us together, are being changed and replaced with that which is just plain godless, evil, and of the devil. “The mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thess. 2:7). This should grieve and sadden our souls for, at this time in history, we are actually witnessing the foundations of our country being destroyed. “They know nothing… They walk about in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.” Psalm 82:5-8
The question I have, and assume most of you have, is then stated: “What can the righteous do?” What do we do about all the problems taking place, the pride, lies, hate, crime, violence, disrespect, and lawlessness in our country? What do we do when people say evil is good and good is evil? (Isaiah 5:20). Thankfully, God gives us the answers in vss. 4-6, and it’s not what the righteous are to do, but what God is doing. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of these few verses, for they will help you think rightly as you observe this evil on earth. And this evil will not just continue, but will increase, and then the Antichrist, that most lawless man, will come and rule the world, after which Christ will come to rapture the church, and then begin His 1000-year rule on this earth. Matt. 24:12, 2 Thess. 2:1-10
What are the answers? What do we need to know, understand, and believe? That God is not oblivious, ignorant, and just going "to sit on His hands" when it comes to the evil now being seen on these earth.
* 1st, God is in His holy temple, which means He is holy, supreme, and altogether different than those living on earth. He is pure, righteous, and hates man’s sin.
* 2nd, God is on His throne, which means He is sovereign, and that nothing happens that He does not allow or authorize. Man cannot do just what he wants, for God is in control and, by His power and wisdom, predestines the actions of man. Dan. 4:35
* 3rd, “His eyes behold.” God is omniscient, and sees and knows every single thing that the righteous and wicked are doing on this earth. Proverbs 15:3
* 4th, God doesn’t just see, but He tests, He examines both the wicked and the righteous, and this is for the purpose of judging, and then punishing or rewarding (Eccl. 12:14). And God hates those who love violence. This is strong language, but it’s the truth. Because God is holy, He hates those whom He knows will not turn from their sin and turn to Him for mercy and forgiveness.
But it’s not just that God hates sinful man but, because He is just, His punishing wrath must be poured out upon these unrighteous, unrepenting, unsaved sinners of the world. The language speaks of fire, the kind of fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, that will be seen during the day of the Lord, and that sinners will feel for all eternity. “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire… these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matt. 25:41,46
Finally, there’s verse 7, my favorite. “The Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.” God is righteous, and He loves you, His righteous one, and the righteous things you do. Then there’s that encouraging and wonderful truth, that you “will behold His face.” As Christians, you know the Lord and have a relationship with Him, and by faith, you see Him now, but by sight, you will literally see Him in the future. It cannot get any better than this! Job 19:25-27, Psalm 17:15
These are powerful, life changing, grace and peace giving truths, and you need them today, and for your entire life, up until that time when you physically die, or are raptured, and taken to heaven. You shouldn’t be confused, upset, worried, sad, angry, or feel defeated about what’s going on in our country. Believe the truths of this little Psalm, that God is on His throne, that He is holy, sovereign, omniscient, righteous, and judges, and will punish the wicked, those who “freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men” (Psalm 12:8). Whether the enemy is attacking you or the foundations are being destroyed, always remember that God gives you refuge (vs. 1), and a relationship with Him that lasts forever (vs. 7).
P.S. I am not one to give you false hopes. I am compelled to tell you the truth about the last years of this church age, for God wants you to know what is going to happen, and to be ready for it. Here are two other posts that speak about our future - "It's Going To Get Worse Before It Gets Better" and "Christians Go Through Tribulation."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #180 ~
In the Old Testament, God’s promises to the Jews have been spelled out in hundreds of verses, many of which have not yet been fulfilled. In the New Testament, God continues to communicate His plans for His people. Then in the past 140 years, God’s prophecy that He would bring the Jews back to their land has miraculously been taking place (Ezekiel 36-37), giving us proof that He has not nullified His promises to them, and that we are now living in the end-times. That’s why, at this time in history, at the very end of this church age, we need to study God’s prophetic word, for it reveals to us God’s plans for the Jews, and for the church,
One of my favorite passages is Luke 21:20-24. Sitting next to God’s plans for the church (vss 12-19), it summarizes what happens to the Jews from the time they were driven from their land around 70 AD until the “times of the Gentiles” are fulfilled. In these verses, Jesus predicts the future, for He really wants us to know His big-picture plans for the Jews, a time span that we now know covers over 1950 years.
First (vs 20), Jesus tells His disciples that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies, and that her desolation, her destruction, would happen soon thereafter. We know this took place in the 1st century because verse 24 goes on to say that these persecuted Jews “will be led captive into all the nations,” and from history, we know this happened after Jerusalem’s desolation in 70 AD. And it will never happen again, for God has told us it would never happen again.
Second (vs 21), Jesus says that the Jews living at the time of this desolation would need to flee from Judea and Jerusalem, to get out of there fast, for that entire area would be a deadly danger zone, for it would soon be run over and ransacked by the ruthless Roman soldiers.
Third (vs 22), Jesus explains that this will occur because these are days of vengeance. God is holy, and since the Jews did not believe He was the Messiah, the One who could save them from their sins, then He had no choice but to punish those who rejected Jesus, who did not recognize the time of His visitation. But Jesus greatly loved His people, and so He kept warning them about what would be taking place in the future. Luke 13:34-35, 23:27-31, 19:41-44 - “The days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you.”
Fourth (vs 23), Jesus pronounces a “woe”, a solemn expression of their coming judgment and destruction. Again, we see that Jesus cared deeply for His people, for though He was just, He was also compassionate, knowing how bad it would be, particularly for the most vulnerable, the pregnant women and nursing mothers. He knew it would be absolutely devastating, that there would be “great distress upon the land,” and great “wrath to this people,” the Jewish people.
Fifth (vs 24), Jesus continues this prophesy by telling them three specific things:
1. “They will fall by the edge of the sword.” Thousands and thousands of Jews would lose their lives during that time - multitudes would be killed, and many others would die of starvation.
2. They would “be led captive into all the nations.” From history we know that, at that time, Jews were scattered all over the world and, in fact, are now in over 100 different countries, with the great majority of them living in Israel and the United States.
3. The Jewish people would be “trampled underfoot,” be treated like dirt, meaning they would be greatly hated and persecuted. Antisemitism, this extreme hate for Jews, has been tragically and sadly taking place for the past 20 centuries, the worst of it coming at the hands of Hitler, the one responsible for the murder of nearly 6 million Jews. This Antisemitism will continue in the years ahead, and increasingly so, climaxing during the rule of that most devilish man, the Antichrist.
Jesus then gives the Jews some hope. He says this “trampling” will keep going “until.” This word “until,” a timing word, means there’s a limit to this persecution, that it will not keep going, that it will someday come to an end. The “times of the Gentiles,” that period of time when there is no divinely appointed king over Israel, began in 586 BC with the defeat of King Zedekiah, and will continue until the end of Daniel’s 70th week, at which time Jesus Christ, the King of kings, will begin His glorious reign over this earth. Dan. 9:24, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 11:15
It’s 2020, which means this passage, Luke 21:20-24, covers close to 1950 years. That the Jews are now back in their land means we are living in the end-times, and that God is presently and actively carrying out His plans for them. But what’s next? Here is what God has told us will happen:
* Daniel’s 70th week, the final seven years of the “times of the Gentiles,” and a prophetically most-important period of time, will begin in the near future. Dan. 12:4, Rev. 13
* At the beginning point of this week, the Jews will sign a covenant, but it will be a very bad deal, for though it will be a treaty with the coming Antichrist, it will really be a treaty with the devil himself. Dan. 9:27
* At the midpoint, this wicked Jew-hating Antichrist, will be revealed, and then begin his lawless dictatorship. Dan 9:27, Matt. 24:15-26, Rev. 13
* Christians are raptured sometime between the midpoint and endpoint - Matt. 24:31-36, 2 Thess. 2:1-9
* At the endpoint of this 70th week, Jesus Christ will return to save a large remnant of Jews, and this is when the “times of the Gentiles” will be fulfilled. Daniel 9:24, Luke 21:24, Rev. 10:7, Rev. 11:15
* God will pour out His wrath upon the unbelieving world, and then capture the Antichrist and the false prophet, and cast them into the lake of fire. Rev. 16, 19:20
*Jesus Christ will begin His 1000-year reign over the earth, a most amazing, righteous, and God-glorifying time. The newly-saved Jewish people will be in Jerusalem, and they, along with all believers (Christians included), will be reigning with Christ. Psalm 47, Hab. 2:14, Rev. 5:10, Rev. 20:1-7
This is the future! Without question, this is going to happen! As a Christians, you should be so excited, for in the years ahead, you will literally see the unfolding of God’s prophetic word. That's why this is the time for you to understand end-times' prophecy, how it relates to both Jews and Christians, and how it is now being fulfilled in the world. "Your redemption is drawing near” and “the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:28, 31
P.S. In these end-times, you need to know how God is working with the Jews if you are to understand how God is working with the church. That's why it's important for you to take the time to learn about God's plans for the Jews. Here are two helpful posts - "The Suspension of God's Plan for the Jews, and the Church Age," and "A Short Summary of God's Working With the Jews."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #181 ~
What about the future of the Jewish people? Has God nullified His promises to them about giving them land, a King, and salvation? (Ezekiel 37:24-28)? Has God, because of their rejection of Him, rejected them? Have His promises to the Jews been given to the church? What are God’s plans for them during this church age? Romans 11 answers these questions, with a specific emphasis on His plans to save a remnant of Jews.
Romans 11:1-10. “May it never be!” In the strongest of words, Paul tells us that God has not rejected the Jews. He wants us to know that “there has also come to be at the present time a remnant,” this remnant referring to Jews who would be saved during this church age. This remnant is comprised of Jews whom God foreknew, those He planned to save from eternity past. Paul makes it clear that their salvation is by God’s grace, not by their works, so that all Jews who are saved, are saved, because of God’s “gracious choice.” Ephesians 1:4
What about the Jews who are not saved? “The rest were hardened,” for they did not repent of their sins and believe in the Messiah - and God hardens the hearts of all those who do not believe, who willingly harden their hearts against Him. A great majority of the Jews rejected Jesus, not just in the first century (Acts 13:44-52), but throughout the centuries. So there's this partial hardening of the Jews, but the good news is that it’s not a complete hardening, for this remnant is still being saved. Not only that, but this hardening is temporary, for at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:25). Indeed, God will keep His promise to His chosen people! “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” Psalm 111:9
Romans 11:11-16. Paul speaks of the Jewish people as ones who stumbled, but did not fall, meaning that God’s plan for “all Israel to be saved” is now on hold, but as I just noted, only for a time, for after this age is over, after the rapture of the church, they will be fulfilled. But why did God allow the Jews to stumble? He did it for the sake of the Gentiles. The sin of the Jews, their rejection of Messiah, is resulting in a large number of Gentiles being saved during this church age, and Paul, “an apostle of Gentiles,” was thankful for this. Paul also knew that when the Gentile-hating Jews saw Gentiles being saved (Gal. 3:6-14), they would be jealous, resulting in some of them, that is, this remnant, trusting in the Messiah and being saved.
Paul then shares with us the bigger and eternal picture, that all this will turn out, not just for the present good of the Gentiles, but for the future good of the Jews. “How much more will their fulfillment be?” “What will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” Throughout the years, millions of Jews have rejected Christ, but all Jews alive at the end of Daniel’s 70th week will accept Him, and “all Israel will be saved” (Dan. 9:24). “Israel has been saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation” (Isaiah 45:17). Their salvation sets the stage for Jesus’ 1000-year glorious reign, when all these newly saved Jews will worship Him and be ruling with Him! Hebrews 11:10-16, 39-40
Romans 11:17-24. Paul, being a Jew, knew how much the Gentiles hated Jews, and how they might get deceived, thinking they were saved because they were better than the Jews. So Paul says to these Gentiles, "and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in” and were partakers of the “rich root.” He wanted them to know that it was because some Jews were broken off due to their unbelief that they would be grafted in, would be saved during this church age. This “rich root” refers to God’s unconditional promise to Abraham - “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). Not only that, but their God-given faith in Christ was the same kind of faith Abraham had. (Gen. 15:5-21, Rom. 4:9-25). Only because of God’s promise, power, and grace would these Gentiles be saved. To make doubly sure these Gentiles knew it wasn’t just about God’s love for them, Paul reminds them that God will graft the Jews in again, which will happen at Christ’s 2nd coming. “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days… I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” This leads us to the next verses:
Romans 11:25-32. In no way does God want us “to be uninformed,” to be ignorant about His plans for the Jews. He wants us to know that this “partial hardening” of the Jews, which has been happening for close to 2000 years, will not continue. Now that the Jews are back in their land, we know we are living in the end-times, and that it won’t be long before this age comes to an end, and we will say, the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in” - and “all Israel will be saved.” Once all the Gentiles whom God has chosen to save, are saved, then all the Jewish people whom God has chosen to save, will be saved, will be forgiven of their sins. “There is forgiveness with You… and He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130:4, 8
As Gentile Christians, we may think the Jews are our enemies, but we need to see them as ones loved by God, and so we are to love them too. We read that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable,” which means God won’t go back on His word, but will keep His promise to save the Jews. God does not lie or change His mind, and He has not cancelled His people - He will be true to His word! In the near future, this partial and temporary hardening of the Jewish people will come to an end, and “all Israel will be saved.” Just like God was merciful to us when we were disobedient, so too God will be merciful to this remnant of Jews. "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy." Romans 9:15
Romans 11:33-36. In the first 11 chapters of his letter to the Romans, we see God’s holiness, wisdom, power, and sovereignty. We read about His righteousness, and how we are righteous in Christ, and are loved and forgiven. Here in Romans 11 we understand God’s present and future plans for the Jewish people. As we dwell on the character, work, and ways of God, we cannot help but be overwhelmed, for we realize how awesome and magnificent He is, that He alone is holy and supreme. Then think how Jesus Christ humbled Himself so God could save us from our sins, bring us into His presence, adopt us as His children, and give us eternal life. Might we be humbled, and give God all the praise, glory, thanks, and honor that He deserves. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
P.S. As Christians, we must understand the and plans God has for the Jewish people. Many believe that God has forsaken His people, but that's not true. I have written five articles carefully explaining what God wants us to know about His present and future plans for the Jewish people. Here is the first article: Replacement Theology: It’s Not True – Part 1.
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 #183 ~
There’s no question that God has special plans for the Jewish people during this church age and in the ages to come. Now it’s true that God’s plans for the Jews were put on hold around 70 AD when, for rejecting Christ, they were punished, scattered all over the world, and since then, have been greatly persecuted (Luke 21:20-24). Last week we looked at five New Testament passages that prove God’s plans for the Jews are still valid and will be fulfilled in the near future. What is both striking and instructive is that these verses about the Jews are sitting next to verses about the church. As I stated last week, this means that God’s end-time plans for the Jews are somehow connected and related to His end-time plans for the church.
Here are several more passages which contain end-time verses about the Jews and the church.
1. Matthew 24:9-27. Verses 9-14 give an important summary of what the church needs to know in the end-times: 1) Christians will be going through great tribulation. 2) There will be false prophets, apostasy, and increasing lawlessness. 3) We are to persevere until the end of the age. 4) We are to keep preaching the gospel until Christ returns to rapture the church. Verses 15-27 are about the Jews, but notice what Jesus says, “let the reader understand.” It’s Christians who are reading this, and they need to know that the temple in Jerusalem will be desecrated by the Antichrist and that he will then chase after the Jews. Seeing what’s happening to the Jews will be a signal to the church that great persecution will soon begin, as also told us in Rev. 12:17, and then described in Matt. 24:9. “They deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”
2. Mark 13:9-23. Verses 9-13 describe the persecution that Christians have been and will be experiencing during this church age. Again, we are instructed to preach the gospel and persevere to the end of this age, at which time we will see Christ and be raptured by Him (vss. 26-27). Verses 14-23 are about the Jews, and similar to what we read in Matt. 24:15-27, tell us about the Antichrist’s desolation of the temple and his pursuit of the Jews. But notice what Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Jesus is alerting Christians, for He wants us to know that He has told us everything we need to know about His end-time’s work with the Jews and the church. Might we be good students and learn all these things. Rev. 1:3
3. Luke 21:12-32. Verses 12-19, similar to Mark 13:9-13, describe the suffering the church has been going through since her beginning days. And again, she is instructed to share the gospel during this church age. Verses 20-24 summarize God’s plans for the Jews, and how she has been trampled upon since Jerusalem’s destruction (~ 70 AD), and which will continue until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Verse 28 gives us hope, for it says, “your redemption is drawing near” which refers to the rapture of the church. Verse 32 then says, “the kingdom of God is near,” which speaks of the physical and millennial kingdom Christ will establish on earth at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, and which will be a great blessing to believing Jews and the church! Psalm 37:11; Matt. 5:3, 6:10; Rev. 5:10, 11:15
4. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9. This is a critically important end-time’s passage for the church. We learn that this man is revealed as the "man of lawlessness" (the Antichrist) when he arrogantly acts like he is God and takes his seat in the temple of the Jews (Matt. 24:15). This happens in Jerusalem at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:27), and before the Day of the Lord, during which time God pours out His wrath upon the world (vs 2). Since Christ’s coming is after the Antichrist’s coming (vs 9), and since Christians are gathered (raptured) to Christ at His coming (vs. 1), then we can conclude that the rapture occurs after the midpoint, sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, but before the Day of the Lord. From this passage Christians can see that the rapture is not at the beginning or end of Daniel’s 70th week, but sometime after the midpoint. Matt. 24:36, Rev. 13
5. Revelation 7:1-17. Two momentous events are described in this chapter. Verses 1-8 talk about the sealing, the setting apart and protecting of 144,000 Jews. Verses 9-17 tell us about the church on earth coming out of the great tribulation (being raptured), and then standing before and worshiping God (the Father) and the Lamb (the Son) in heaven. Both of these events occur after the 6th seal is broken, the signs in the heavens (Rev. 6:12-16), but before the 7th seal is broken (Rev. 8:1) which results in the blowing of seven trumpets and God’s wrath being poured out upon the earth (Rev. 8-9). These two dramatic, back to back, God-directed events, the sealing of the Jews and the rapture of the church, take place at the end of this age.
6. Revelation 12:6-17 - 13:1-17. Rev. 12:6-16 focuses on Satan and his attempts to capture a number of Jews, but God miraculously enables them to physically escape his devilish wrath (Matt. 24:15-26); and later, at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, He spiritually saves them. (Dan. 9:24). The dragon (Satan), seeing that he can’t catch the Jews, chases after the church (vs.17), which leads to Rev. 13. This dark chapter tells us, “It was also given to him (the beast - the Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” Christians will need to be wise and to persevere, and to remember that God is sovereign over everything that happens, even the death of fellow believers (Rev. 6:9-11, 17). Then there is another beast, the Antichrist’s evil partner, and he uses the technology of the time to deceive and control the unbelievers (vss. 11-17). Thankfully, the efforts of this 2nd beast will not harm the church.
What can we conclude?
1. In the New Testament, there are many side-by side, end-time’s passages about the Jews and the church - Matt. 24:9-27; Mark 13:9-23; Luke 21:12-33; Acts 1:6-11, 2:17-21, 3:18-21, 15:14-17; Rom. 11, 15:7-13; 2 Thess. 2:1-9; and Rev. 7:1-17, 12:6-17 - 13:1-17, 21:10-14.
2. These verses give us solid, super-strong evidence that God has not reneged on His Old Testament promises to the Jews, but that His plans for them will be completely fulfilled.
3. It’s important for Christians to see that God’s end-time’s work with the Jews is connected to and in conjunction with His end-time’s work with the church. We need to understand these passages and know how they relate to us. “Let the reader understand.” Matt. 24:15
4. Take the time to study these passages so you can be convinced about God’s plans for the Jews and the church in the end-times, and can then share this truth with others. 2 Tim. 2:15
5. Seeing God’s plans for the Jews being fulfilled will result in being filled with joy and peace, for it means realizing that we are getting closer to the end of this age. Rom. 15:13
6. “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” Romans 15:10. (We will look at this next week).
P.S. I hope you are learning how how all these New Testament Jewish verses are relevant to the church. There are many excellent charts that will help you to more clearly see God's plans for His chosen people. Here are three: "70 Weeks of Daniel," "God's Plan for the Jews in the End Times," and "Promises for the Jewish Remnant."
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By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #184 ~
What is your primary purpose in life, and that of all the Jews and Gentiles in this world? It’s glorifying God, worshiping Him, loving Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Indeed, this is a God-centered and soul-satisfying purpose, one that’s found throughout the Bible. “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name.” This Old Testament verse, Psalm 86:9, is prophesying about the future. Today I want to look at Romans 15:4-13, a New Testament passage that takes this theme of worship from the past to the present to the future.
In verse 4, Paul is instructing the Christians, telling them that the Old Testament Scriptures (past) were written to encourage us (present), and to help us to persevere (present), so that we have hope (future). This passage starts and ends with hope (vss. 4, 13), which means it’s a very important point. And it’s God who gives us encouragement and perseverance so we might have hope (vs. 5). This hope, the expectation of good and glorious things to come, had been mentioned by Paul in Rom. 5:3, when he said, “We exult in hope of the glory of God.” This hope is looking ahead to that time when Jesus Christ will return and fill the earth with His glory. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
In verse 5, we learn that God wants to unite Jewish and Gentile believers, and why? So “with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 6). There had been open hostility between Jews and Gentiles in the first century, and to some degree there still is, and so Paul addresses this issue by saying, “Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, to the glory of God” (vs. 7, Eph. 2:11-18). Since Christ accepted Gentile believers, they needed to accept Jewish believers, and vice versa. Why? It is “to the glory of God.” Again, your primary purpose and ultimate priority in this age and in the ages to come is giving glory and praise to God with both Jews and Gentiles. Rev. 5:13, 22:10-14
Paul continues to explain God’s plan for both Jews and Gentiles (vs. 8). We learn that Christ was serving the “circumcision,” the Jews, for He was “to confirm the promises given to the fathers.” How did this happen? When Christ came to earth, He died on a cross and rose from the dead so as to save sinners. This was part of God’s plan to fulfill the promises He had given to Abraham, Isaac, Judah, and all Jewish believers, to “those who are of the faith of Abraham” (Rom. 4:9-16). These verses explain that Christ also came for Gentiles for He wanted them to experience His mercy too, and why? Again, so they would “glorify God” (vs. 9). To further expound on this point, Paul shares four Old Testament verses about both Jews and Gentiles praising God.
Romans 15:9 - “I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your name.” (Ps. 18:49). This is directed to the Jews, that they are to openly praise God among the Gentiles, the nations. The Jews’ public worship of God is also to be evangelistic in nature, with the result that some Gentiles will be saved and will worship God with these Jewish believers. “Sing to the Lord, bless His name. Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations” (Pss. 96:2-3, 98:1-4). To a small degree this happened in the past, before Christ’s 1st coming. To a small degree it is occurring now, in this present church age, in that time before Christ’s 2nd coming. But to a much greater degree, it will be taking place in the future, during the millennial kingdom age, when Christ is reigning over the earth.
Romans 15:10 - “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people” (Deut. 32:43). This command to the Gentiles, to the nations, is that they are to be glad, to be exulting, to be rejoicing in the Lord. And surely they are not to be Antisemitic, but are to be rejoicing with Jewish believers. In a limited way this rejoicing occurred in the past; in a limited way it is happening during this church age; and in a much greater and more glorious way, it will be taking place in the ages to come.
Romans 15:11 - “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him” (Ps. 117:1). Like vss. 9-10, this too is an eternal command. Now it is similar to vs. 10, but here it is a command to Gentiles that they are to praise the Lord, and let me say, regardless of how Jewish people may now be hardening their hearts during this church age. At this present time, two things are obvious: a minority of Gentiles are being saved (Matt. 7:13-14), and the vast majority of God-worshiping believers are Gentiles. Romans 11
Romans 15:12 - “There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope” (Isaiah 11:10). This is referring to Christ’s 1st and 2nd comings. Jesus Christ came the 1st time to save sinners and to set up His church, a spiritual kingdom. Again, we see that word hope, and it can refer to the Gentile’s hopes during this church age, but I believe it also, and more so, speaks of their hopes for the future. We know Christ is coming a 2nd time to earth to establish both a spiritual and physical kingdom, when He is ruling in our hearts, but also ruling over the world, over both Jews and Gentiles. Now that we live in the end-times, we know this hope will soon be a reality, that it won’t be long before Jesus is King over this world, and we are glorifying God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Psalm 67:4-5 also confirms this Isaiah 11:10 prophecy - “May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise You, God; may all the peoples praise You.”
Romans 15:13. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The conclusion of this important big-picture passage is that God wants us to abound in hope! This hope is referring to the return of Christ and the age to come, when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” (Hab. 2:14). Life can be distressing and difficult (Acts 14:22), and so you need this hope, this realization of a most glorious future. Believing the truth, that Christ is coming, that you will be glorified, and that you will be glorifying God like never before, will result in your heart being filled with joy and peace. Might you be excited about our great God and Father, who loves you so much, the Holy Spirit who is always with you, and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who is coming soon to take you home to heaven, and then set up His kingdom on earth. “I will extol You, my God, O King. And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1-2
P.S. There is no more important thing than glorifying God, and we all know that. Might God give us the grace to be excitedly and wholeheartedly praising Him like never before. Two other posts I would encourage you to read on this God-glorifying subject are: "The Most Important Thing for You!" and "The Glory of God - The Most Important of All!!!"
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By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #185 ~
This famous prayer will soon be answered by God, and that’s because we now live in the end-times! It won’t be long before we see “the summing up of all things in Christ” (Eph. 1:9-10) during the millennial kingdom, when Christ will righteously, powerfully, and lovingly be ruling this world - and as Christians, we will be reigning with Him. The New Testament gives us a little information about this kingdom age, but the Old Testament goes into great detail about what will be taking place. Though the Old Testament prophecies focus on God’s plans for the Jews, Christians need to know what they say, for our future is directly related to the future of the Jews (Psalm 37:29 - Matt. 5:3). Today I want to summarize some of the key features of this glorious kingdom, what you can expect, and what you can be looking forward to.
1. Jesus Christ will return to earth to establish His kingdom! “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev. 11:15; Dan. 7:27, 9:24). The millennial kingdom is soon to begin, a new and magnificent age, a 1000-year period when Christ is King over the entire world. “The Lord will be King over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only One” (Zech. 14:9). “God is the King of all the earth” (Ps. 47:7). Then Christ’s home will be in Jerusalem. “The Lord is there” (Ezek. 48:35). “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised… in the city of our God… the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:1-2
2. Jesus Christ will be greatly feared! “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods” (Ps. 96:4). “Let them fear You while the sun endures…” (Ps. 72:5). “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over the earth” (Ps. 47:2). Jesus Christ will be an awesome, majestic, and powerful King! “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You” (Ps. 66:3). “The nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Your glory.” Psalm 102:15
3. A large remnant of Jews will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week! “Israel has been saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation” (Is. 45:17). “There is forgiveness with You… He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Ps. 130:8). “They will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, for I will forgive their iniquity” (Jer. 31:33-35). “All Israel will be saved… the Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from them” (Rom. 11:25-27). During this kingdom age, all Jewish believers will be with Jesus and will live in Israel. Ezek. 37:27-28
4. The Jewish people will be the most blessed people in the world! “His lovingkindness is great towards us” (Ps. 117:1). “He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel” (Ps. 98:3). “He subdues people under us and nations under our feet” (Ps. 47:3-4). “God blesses us so that all the ends of the earth may fear Him” (Ps. 67:7). “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (Ps. 37:29). “How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts" (Ps. 65:4). The promises God made to Abraham will all come true! “I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so shall you be a blessing… in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Gen. 12:2-3
5. Jesus Christ will lovingly, wisely, and righteously be ruling over the world! “The Lord reigns.” (Ps. 97:1). “You will judge the people with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth” (Ps. 67:4). “He will have compassion on the poor and needy… He will rescue their lives from oppression and violence” (Ps. 72:12-14). “The Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations” (Is. 61:11). The world will be ruled perfectly by the King of kings and the Prince of Peace. “There will be no end to the increase of His government, or of peace… over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice…” Isaiah 9:6-7
6. The whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord! “Indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Numb. 14:21). “Blessed be His glorious name forever, and may the whole earth be filled with His glory” (Ps. 72:19). “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). Can you imagine what it will be like when God’s glory is beautifully displayed and seen all over the world? “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
7. The truth about God and salvation through Christ will be proclaimed to all the earth! “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples” (Ps. 96:3-4). “God be gracious to us and bless us… that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations” (Ps. 67:1-2). Yes, the church is to preach the gospel to all the nations, but in the kingdom age there will be the proclaiming of the gospel and the salvation of souls like never before! “God has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God” (Is. 52:9-10). “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Psalm 98:3
8. The whole earth will worship the Lord! “All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name” (Ps. 86:9-10). “All the earth will worship You and will sing praises to You” (Ps. 66:4). This is amazing and so wonderful, to think that the whole world will be praising God! Even the unsaved will be bowing down to Christ. “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). “All the families of the nations will worship before You” (Ps. 22:27). “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people… Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, let all the peoples praise Him” (Rom. 15:10-11). “O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy.” Psalm 47:1
Jesus told His disciples, and us, “all things which are written about Me in the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). I hope you now realize that many of the prophesies about Jesus, and the Jews, will be fulfilled during the millennial kingdom - you should be encouraged by this for it relates to your future as a Christian. Picture this magnificent kingdom age, when Christ is ruling, and you are reigning with Him, and helping Him and the Jews to carry out God’s purposes and plans. More than ever before, there will be peace on earth, love for one another, joy in people’s hearts, and true justice, for Christ will be a perfect and powerful King, and all to the glory of God. “Then comes the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father” (1 Cor. 15:24). “To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36
P.S. There is not that much being said or written about the coming kingdom age, but might you be learning about it and tell others about it. I just put up a new post (9/4/2020) on this subject - "Clear and Compelling Evidence For God's Kingdom." And here's another good one to read - "The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age".
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By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #186 ~
There’s a great deal of information in the Old Testament about God’s plans for the Jewish people. Yet, many believe these plans are null and void, and have been invalidated because of the Jews’ rejection of Christ in the 1st century. But when you examine the New Testament, you discover all these verses that do not deny but rather confirm God’s plans for the Jews. You can’t miss them, you can’t skip over them, you can’t redefine them, and you sure can’t say they have already been fulfilled. And as a Christian, you need to know them, for they relate to the great and glorious future God has for you and the church. In today’s post we will look at many verses that speak about the coming kingdom age, when Jesus Christ is ruling the world.
1) Acts 1:6-7 - "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed…” The disciples want to know from Jesus if He was going to start the kingdom at that time. By what Jesus says, He assures them that there would be a future kingdom on earth, one in which He would be King of the Jewish people, and King over the entire world. But first, they had a job to do, for they, which means the church, were to be Jesus' witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (vs. 8). As Jesus ascends into heaven, two angels tell the disciples that He would be coming back, and it would be then that He would bring into being His earthly kingdom.
2) Acts 3:20-21 - “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away… and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things…” People repenting and returning, and being forgiven of their sins, is referring to the church age, after which time God would send Jesus from heaven to restore, to renovate all things on earth. The Jews had learned from the Old Testament prophets about this kingdom age, and that the Messiah, the Christ, would be King, but now they knew when this would take place, that it would be at the end of this church age.
3) Acts 15:16 - “After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild it’s ruins, and I will restore it.” James was talking to Jewish leaders about Gentiles being saved, and how it would be after “these things,” after this church age, that Christ would return to rebuild and restore the tabernacle and other ruins, referring to the temple and Israel. This message about the future kingdom age is being repeated in the book of Acts, and why? To convince you that Christ will return to set up His kingdom on earth after this church age is over.
4) Acts 28:23 - “He was solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus…” Eight times in the book of Acts, there’s the word “kingdom.” (Acts 1:3, 1:6, 8:12, 14:22, 9:18, 20:25, 28:23, 28:31). The apostles weren’t just preaching the gospel, they were also testifying about the kingdom of God, the entirety of God’s plan for His people, which would include the coming millennial kingdom. As Paul said in Acts 20:27, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” The book of Acts is the history of the early church, and here in the beginning days of the church age, God wanted both believing Jews and Gentiles to know with certainty that Christ's kingdom would be established on earth.
5) Luke 19:11-27 - “They supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately… Do business with this until I come back.” During Jesus’ ministry, some believed that the kingdom of God would soon be set up on earth. To help people understand what would be happening, Jesus shared a parable. This is the meaning: Jesus, the king, was going away (to heaven), and from there He would be given a kingdom (on earth). His slaves on earth were to be working, doing business with the money He had given them during the time He was gone (the church age). Then He would come back and reward them for their work, and start up His kingdom on earth. We now live in the end-times of this church age, and it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and reign as King of this world.
6) Luke 20:34-36. “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God.” The “resurrection” is referring to believers being glorified, receiving bodies like the angels, which occurs at Christ's coming. The “age” is speaking of the next age, the millennial kingdom age, when Christ is ruling the world and believers are reigning with Him.
7) Luke 21:31 - “So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.” This chapter lists a number of events taking place in the end-times before Christ’s return. Those who actually see these events things taking place will know that the redemption (rapture) is drawing near (vs. 28), and that the kingdom is drawing near (vs. 31). This kingdom can only be referring to Christ’s 1000-year kingdom on earth.
8) Luke 22:18 - “I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” The night before His death, Jesus was with His disciples and instituting the ordinance of communion. Jesus made this statement to reassure His disciples that He would rise from the dead, and also return to establish His earthly kingdom, at which time He would once again celebrate the Passover with them. Ezekiel 45:21, 1 Cor. 11:26
9) Matthew 19:28 - “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit on upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Jesus’ disciples knew He would be the King of this world, but they wanted to know how they would be rewarded for their work on earth. Jesus refers to the regeneration which is the “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21), and this occurs when He returns, sits on His throne, and sets up His kingdom. That’s when these disciples would be given their own throne and be reigning with Him.
10) 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. And the twenty four elders… fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, ‘We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who are, and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.’” It’s at the end of Daniel’s 70th week that Christ will become King on this earth. We should extremely excited and looking forward to this time when there will be righteousness, peace, and love on this earth like never before!
11) Revelation 20:6 - “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). “… Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (vs. 2). “… he (Satan) would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were completed” (vs. 3). “They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (vs. 4). “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed” (vs. 5). “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released…” (vs 7). We learn some important information about this coming kingdom age - and one thing we know for sure is that it will last exactly one thousand years.
12) 1 Corinthians 15:24 - “Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”1 Cor. 15:20-28 covers a time period that, I believe, will be close to 3000 years. Let me summarize what has happened and will be happening. 1) Jesus was raised from the dead. 2) At Christ’s coming, at the end of this age, believers will be made alive, will be glorified. 3) Christ will set up His kingdom on earth, one that will last for 1000 years. 4) During this millennial kingdom age, Christ will be the supreme King, abolishing all rule and authority. 5) At the end of this age, Christ will finally and forever defeat death (“Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire” - Rev. 20:14). 6) “Then comes the end (of the millennial kingdom age) when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father.” 7) “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” Revelation 22:1
God has given us clear and compelling evidence that this coming kingdom age is not fantasy or fiction, but a future reality. In a very little while, everything will change, and Christ will begin His 1000-year reign over this earth. Then we will be wholeheartedly worshiping and serving Jesus, our King, and O, how wonderful and glorious this will be! Let’s keep praying: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
P.S. I am very thankful that God has told us all about this coming kingdom age. Yes, we should focus on our work for God at this time, but we also need to see ahead to what He has in store for us. Here are two other posts that give us more valuable information about the kingdom of God. "Kingdom Instructions for the Church" and "The Gospel of the Kingdom of God."
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By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #187 ~
How do you keep going for the Lord? How do you persevere? What enables you to get through the tough times of life? If you are one of the raptured saints, how will you make it through the great tribulation? These are extremely important questions, and the answer is simple - by having a close relationship with God. I became a Christian in the early 1970’s, and I give God all the credit for keeping me going since that time, for those 48 plus years. Today I want to tell you how God has helped me to stay close to Him and keep living for Christ.
* Getting time alone with God. Every morning, after I get up and get awake, I go to a quiet place and read something from the Psalms, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, and then I pray. “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word… only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part.” Luke 10:39-42
* Being in God’s word. My main priority in life is God’s word - I couldn’t make it without Him teaching me from His word, whether it’s truths I need to know, promises I need to believe, or commands I need to obey. “O how I love Your law!” (Ps. 119:97). “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
* Crying out to God. To me this means being open with God and telling Him when I am sad, tired, anxious, confused, or discouraged. It also means asking God to meet my needs or the needs of others. I am so glad I can go to God for all the grace, wisdom, and peace that I need. “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me.” Psalms 57:2, 62:8
* Walking by faith. I have learned not to live by feelings, circumstances, relationships, or how our church is doing, but to rely and depend on God, on His word and strength. “Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock” (Isaiah 26:4). “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-6, Hebrews 11:6
* Being satisfied by God. Only by seeking and seeing God have I been truly satisfied. Food, pleasures, games, people, and possessions have not satisfied me, but Christ has, for He is the bread of life. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth?” (Ps. 73:25). “The Lord is my portion” (Ps. 119:57). “To live is Christ.” Phil. 1:21
* Being satisfied by God’s love. I don’t look for the love of people, but the love of God. His love has been wonderful, continual, and perfect, and has satisfied me like nothing else. “Your love is better than life” (Ps. 63:3). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love” (Ps. 90:14). “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.” 1 John 4:16
* Knowing the living God. When I say knowing God, I mean knowing in my mind and believing in my heart that He is my Creator, Lord, Savior, and King, and that He is holy, wise, loving, good, patient, forgiving, powerful, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and sovereign. What a tremendous blessing to actually know God! “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God” (John 17:3). “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” 2 Peter 3:18
* Staying away from sin. By no means am I perfect, but God has helped me to say no to sin, to not listen to or give in to worldly and fleshly temptations. I know that I can't be close to sin and close to God at the same time. “Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity” (Ps. 119:37). “Like the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your behavior.” 1 Peter 1:15
* Loving, worshiping, and thanking God. I love God, and that’s because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). His Son Jesus died and paid for my sins and now I’m righteous, forgiven, a child of God, and will be forever with Christ and all the angels and saints. Loving God is heart-satisfying and soul-warming, the most important thing I do. “Praise the Lord… for it is pleasant and praise is becoming” (Ps. 147:1). “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” Psalm 103:2
* Obeying God. Obeying God’s commands is how I have carried out His plans, how I have fulfilled His purpose for my life. When I obey God, I usually feel close to Him, and know His love in a much fuller way. “I obey Your statutes for I love them greatly” (Ps. 119:167). “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me, and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and disclose Myself to Him…” John 14:21, 23
* Going through trials. Trials are not fun, are not enjoyable. But in these times, God has revealed Himself to me in a special way, showed me His love, and comforted me with His word. Here’s my favorite trial passage - “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant… In the day of my trouble, I call to You, for You will answer me.” Psalm 86:3-7
* Seeking Him. By this I mean getting extra time with God, usually once a month. For many years now, I’ve been going to a camp or motel room with my Bible, a few books, and some pen and paper. Getting away from the world and from people, and having this special, alone time with God is one of the best things He has helped me to do. “I love those who love Me and those who seek Me will find Me” (Prov. 8:16). “Come with Me by yourself to a quiet place.” Mark 6:31
* Being shepherded by the Lord. The Lord is my shepherd, and He knows me perfectly, and through the years He has made me lie down in green pastures, led me besides still waters, restored my soul, guided me in paths of righteousness, has always been with me, and has loved me every single day. That my Shepherd does these things keeps me strong and keeps me going for Him. “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know me.” John 10:14, Psalm 23:1
* Drawing near to God. God wants me to be close to Him, and I want to be close to Him. As I seek Him, as I go after Him, as I spend time with Him, He draws near to me, and is close to me, and loves me all the more, and He teaches me, encourages me, and makes Himself known to me. “My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8, James 4:8
* Learning from the Psalms. My favorite book in the Bible is the Psalms. It has helped me immensely in my relationship with God, and I believe will greatly help you in your relationship with God. The following verses I have memorized, personalized, and say often to the Lord, for they help me to think rightly, stay strong, and be close to Him - Psalms 9:2, 20:7, 23:1, 23:6, 26:3, 27:14, 31:19, 40:8, 46:10, 56:3, 57:5, 63:2-3, 86:11, 90:14, 105:4, 115:1, 118:14, 119:32, 119:67, 119:76, 119:92, 119:112, 139:23-24, 143:10, 145:1-2.
May God help you to stay close to Him. Without question, your relationship with God is the single most important thing in your life, for it affects you and everything you do. Being close to the Lord is the only way you can truly love the Lord and live for Him, in these days, and in times of tribulation, and let me add, in times of great tribulation. “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1
P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of your relationship with God. As you keep loving and seeking Him, you will stay close to Him, and know that He is not only your Lord, but your best friend. Here are two posts that tell you a little more about my life and my relationship with Him: "The Rapture, A Love Story", and "God's Time Frame For Your Life."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #188 ~
Two questions come to mind when I think about the end-times - what’s going to happen, and how are we to live. 1 Thessalonians answers both these questions, for the truths of this epistle are given in the context of Christ’s 2nd coming. Written in the 1st century, this epistle is instructive to Christians during the entire church age, but it’s especially important for those living in the 21st century. That’s because we now live in the end-times which means Jesus Christ will soon return to rapture the church. As you go over these lessons from 1 Thessalonians, think of how they apply to you at this time, but also if you happen to be alive during Daniel’s 70th week, in those last few difficult years before the coming of Christ.
1. Be filled with God’s grace (1 Thess. 1:1, 5:28). Every day of your life on earth you need grace, that Spirit-given ability and strength to be and do all that God wants. You need God’s grace in every situation, every relationship, and every trial. You need His grace to love others, to work at a job, to share the gospel, to serve the saints, to suffer for the Lord, and to endure to the end - and God will give you all the grace you need. 2 Cor. 9:8, Heb. 4:16, James 4:6
2. Share the gospel (1 Thess. 1:4-7). The gospel message, that everlasting truth of God’s mercy and love, that Christ died and rose again to pay for all your sins, must be fixed in your mind and heart, for it is a spiritual spring bringing forth living water, enabling you to live fully for Him. As you are transformed by the power of the Spirit, you will be a witness for Christ to the world around you, even in times of tribulation. Matt. 24:9-14, 28:19-20
3. Work for God (1 Thess. 1:9, 4:11-12). Don’t be lazy, but use the abilities God has given you to meet your needs and help meet the needs of others. As a member of the church, you have a special gift that you are to employ in serving one another, and in carrying out God's plans on earth. He has work for you to do, whether it relates to a secular job, doing your part in the church, sharing the gospel, or just praying. “Do business with this until I come back.” Luke 19:13, Eph. 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11
4. Wait for Jesus. Hope is an essential ingredient for spiritual growth, and perseverance, especially in the end-times. What is hope? It’s looking forward to the future blessings God has in store for you. Four aspects of your hope are described in this epistle: being with Jesus (1 Thess. 1:9, 4:17), being with loved ones who are Christians (1 Thess. 2:19-20, 4:13-17), being delivered from wrath (1 Thess. 5:8-9), and being glorified (1 Thess. 5:23-24).
5. Learn from believers (1 Thess. 2:1-14, 5:12-13, 5:25). God has lovingly and sovereignly placed Christians in your life so as to help you “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” You can’t make it on your own! You need to learn from the words and examples of others, in areas of love, faith, holiness, gentleness, and suffering. Don't forget to show your appreciation to those who are leading you, and pray for them.
6. Suffer for God (1 Thess. 1:6, 2:14, 3:1-5). Jesus Christ suffered for you, and what a privilege that you can now suffer for Him. Your suffering may relate to trials, conflicts, sharing the word, work situations, persecution, or health issues. In those last few years before Christ’s return, Christians will experience great tribulation, but this will last only a short time, and then your Savior will return to take you to Himself and then on to heaven. Acts 14:2, 2 Thess. 1:5-10
7. Have faith (1 Thess. 2:13, 3:1-10, 5:8). True faith is not trusting your own wisdom or feelings, but trusting the Lord and His word, depending on Him and His promises. To fulfill God’s will and live successfully for Him, you have to have faith, for it’s the means of grace, growth, and godliness. As times get harder, as you go through tribulation, your faith will be tested, but God will help you to keep trusting Him. Luke 18:8, 2 Cor. 5:7, Heb. 11:6
8. Love God and one another (1 Thess. 1:3, 2:7-8, 3:6, 3:12, 4:9-10, 5:8). The divine love God puts in your heart keeps you laboring for Him, enables you to be close to others, and motivates you to share the gospel. This agape love for others is seen when you are giving, forgiving, forbearing, patient, kind, compassionate, and committed. “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another.” John 15:17, Col. 3:12-13, 1 John 4:19
9. Be holy (1 Thess. 4:1-8). “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” Now that you are saved from the penalty of sin, might you be saved from the power of sin, and soon enough, by death or by rapture, you will be saved from the presence of sin. By faith and by grace, fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Live holy and wholly for the Lord, and then you will “see” Jesus and be a powerful witness for Him. Heb. 11:24-27, James 4:1-10, 1 Peter 1:16
10. Know the truth of the rapture (1 Thess. 4:14-17 - 5:1-7). God wants you to know some of the details about Christ’s coming, and what happens when Christians are raptured. Here is what you learn: a) The rapture occurs at Christ’s coming. b) Christ will bring with Him the believers who have already died. c) Just before the rapture, you will hear the shout of the Lord, the voice of the archangel, and the sound of the trumpet. d) The dead in Christ, believers who have already died, will be glorified a split second before the raptured saints are glorified. e) The raptured saints will be caught up with the dead in Christ, and together, they will meet the Lord in the air. f) Believers who are alert and sober won't be surprised by Christ’s coming, but unbelievers will be completely caught off guard. g) The rapture takes place just before the day of the Lord, which is the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the unbelievers. Matt. 24:29-31
11. Rejoice, pray, and give thanks (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Being glad in the Lord, asking for help, and being grateful in all things, proves that you really know Him and His character, and are trusting Him. These godly qualities, essential for your own peace of mind, your witness, and the Lord’s work, should be in your life today and for the rest of your life on earth, and especially when the Antichrist is ruling this world. Phil. 4:4-7, Rom. 5:3, Rev. 13
12. Know that God is faithful. This means you are confident that God is with you and will keep you going for Him, and then at the end of this age, will rescue you from this world, glorify you, bring you to Himself, and then take you to heaven. “Faithful Is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” 1 Thess. 5:23-24, 1 Cor. 1:8-9, Jude 24-25
I love this epistle, for it tells us how we are to be living for the Lord now, and at all times, and especially if we are on earth during Daniel’s 70th week, those last few years before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. If you are not living according to the truths in 1st Thessalonians, you won’t be a strong soldier for Christ - you’ll be weak, sad, selfish, proud, tired, fearful, angry, discouraged, and ineffective. Remember, you are in training so you can be a good servant and soldier for Christ, your Commander in Chief. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness… since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:7-8). Might you please the One who enlisted you in His service. 2 Timothy 2:4
P.S. My desire is to do all I can to make sure you are ready to live for the Lord at all times, but especially in the end-times, and in particular, during the time of great tribulation and suffering. Here are two detailed articles that give you lots of good instruction about how to be living for the Lord. "Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Special Forces" and "Spiritual Survival Food for the Coming Tough Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #189 ~
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17a). That Christians are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ seems too good to be true. But it is true! In the book of Romans your entire salvation is explained in detail. Rom. 1:18 - 8:16 speaks about the past, your justification, how you became positionally holy, and about the present, your sanctification, how you can be practically holy. But Rom. 8:17-30 talks about your hope, that you are an heir of God, and that you will be perfectly holy and gloriously blessed in the future.
“… if children, heirs also, heirs of God” (Rom. 8:17a). One of the incredibly great blessings of being a child of God is that you are an heir of God. An earthly heir receives from his parents or relatives an earthly inheritance, whether its money, property, or some personal or prized possessions. But we are talking about you being an heir of God, the One who is Creator, Lord, and now your heavenly Father. This means that God Himself is your portion (Ps. 119:57), that He is your Father and you are His child (Rev. 21:7), that He wants to have intimate fellowship with you, that He loves you personally, intensely, and eternally, and wants to bless your life far more than you could ever imagine. How exciting and wonderful to be a child of God and an heir of God!
“… if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17a). You are not just an heir of God, but a fellow heir with Jesus Christ. And Christ is an “heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2), and all things means everything in this world. The Father said to Jesus, “I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession” (Ps. 2:8). As a child of God, you will receive not just a fraction but a full share of Christ’s inheritance. To think that Christ will fully share with every believer His inheritance is beyond belief, but it’s the truth! As Christians we will be like Christ (1 John 3:2). We will reign with Christ (Rev. 5:10). We will share in the glory that Christ received - “The glory which Thou has given Me I have given to them” (John 17:22). Like Christ, we will inherit the earth - “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:3). And we will inherit “a new heaven and a new earth” - “He who overcomes will inherit all these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son” (Rev. 21:1, 8).
“We have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:10). The Greek construction of “we have obtained an inheritance” does not mean you have already received this inheritance, but that it’s guaranteed, it’s certain to happen. Being an heir of God is what your heavenly Father predestined and planned out for you a long time ago. “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). You cannot fathom how much your heavenly Father loves you - and He shows you His love by greatly blessing you in this age, but even more so, in the kingdom ages to come.
“… the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:14). When you became a Christian, you received the Holy Spirit - and He's the down payment of your inheritance. A major aspect of this inheritance is that you will be redeemed, you will be given a powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorified body (1 Cor. 15:42-44), which takes place at the rapture (1 Cor. 15:51-53). Being blessed in this wonderful way brings God tremendous glory. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.” Eph. 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Once you are born again, you have a living hope, this expectation, this confidence that you will “obtain an inheritance.” This inheritance is “imperishable”, for it is eternal in nature and can never be destroyed. It is “undefiled” which means it is perfect and can never be corrupted or marred by sin. It “will not fade away”, for it will never lose its magnificence, beauty, or glory. Peter goes on to say that you “are protected by the power of God for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:5), and this is God making sure that you will be given this inheritance in the future. Even the angels serve you, further ensuring you that you will receive this inheritance. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” Heb. 1:14
“He saved us… according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit… so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement” (Titus 3:5-7). What can we conclude?
* An amazing result of being a child of God is that you are an heir of God, which means you have real hope, the guarantee of a perfect and fantastic future. The best is yet to come!
* Being an heir of God means you will be unbelievably rich. You will not be a random forgiven sinner sitting in some far corner of heaven, but you will be a child of God and an heir of God, and be literally reigning and living with Jesus, and sharing in His spiritual and physical blessings.
* That you are an heir of God relates directly to prophecy and His promises about the future and, in particular, His personal and special plans for you. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Gal. 3:29, Gen. 12:1-3
* You may suffer in this life, but remember, “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Rom. 8:18
* It’s important to ask God to reveal to you the greatness and the glory of your inheritance. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1:18
* Cry out to God, “Abba Father”, and thank Him for how much He has loved you, does love you, and will love you forever and ever. Rom. 8:15, Psalm 86:12-13
P.S. A personal friend of mine and a great scholar in the area of end-time's prophecy is Alan Kurschner. You would do well to look at his website, Eschatos Ministries, and read some of the things he has written. Just recently, he produced a documentary / movie entitled "7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture." I would encourage you to take the time to watch this - you will learn a lot, especially as it relates to Christ's return and the rapture of the church.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #190 ~
What a magnificent and glorious salvation we have been given! And God gets all the glory! As Christians, we have been saved from the penalty of sin, are now being saved from the power of sin, and will soon be saved from the presence of sin. The book of Romans, more than any other epistle, best describes our salvation. From justification to sanctification to glorification, it gives us the big picture, telling us how we were saved by Christ, are to grow by the Spirit, and will be glorified by God. As always, our focus in this blog post is the future, and it’s Rom. 8:17-30 that tells us what God has in store for us, and what we should be eagerly waiting for.
From Romans 8:14-17 we learn we are children of God, that we are His spiritual sons and daughters, that we have been adopted into His family. That we can have an intimate relationship with God, our heavenly Father, is a most wonderful blessing and experience. Now we are at the very beginning of this relationship, this eternal life, but it will continue on forever, and only get better and better and better.
Romans 8:23 says, “having the first fruits of the Spirit… waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Eph. 1:14 tells us, “you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession.” 2 Cor. 5:5 says something similar, that “He who prepared us for this very purpose (redemption) is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.” Your Christian life has just begun, and you are not yet fully saved, for what God planned for you back in eternity past has not yet been realized. But God gave you the Holy Spirit as a pledge, as a guarantee that your salvation will be completed. The apostle John says it this way, “now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2
Did you get that? “It has not appeared as yet what we shall be.” The world doesn’t know who we are, and even we don’t have a full grasp of who we are, and will be. As Christians, we are still encased in this sin-prone body. Rom. 7:14-15 tells us, “I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin… I am not doing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” Rom. 8:23 says, “Even we ourselves groan inwardly.” 2 Cor. 5:4 reminds us, “For indeed, while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened…” We still sin, cry, get sad, get tired, suffer, get sick, feel pain, and still grow old - that is, we are not yet acting like perfect children of God., like we were created and saved to be.
Yes, the Holy Spirit lives in us, and because of Him we give off some spiritual light. There’s a little truth and holiness in us, and we do bear some fruit, like love, joy, peace, patience, etc. At the present time, we do have a little of God’s glory in us, for “we all, with unveiled face, beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). Be encouraged, for if you are a true Christian, you are indeed growing, and going “from glory to glory.”
A Christian is now a little bit like Christ, but soon will be a lot like Christ, for “when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). That “we will be like Him” when we see Him is truly miraculous and most encouraging. What this means is that when Christ comes back, all Christians still on earth “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). Then we will be raptured and “glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:17), be bodily “redeemed” (Rom. 8:23), experience “freedom” from sin (Rom. 8:21), and then be revealed as “sons of God” (Rom. 8:19). (Vines Dict. correctly defines the redemption of our body as “the deliverance of the believer from the presence and power of sin, and of his body from bondage to corruption, at the coming of the Lord Jesus.”)
This is not just good news, this is great news, for when we see Jesus, our salvation will be complete, we will be perfect, and we will be with loved ones who “have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thess. 4:13-14)! It’s not just the Christians on earth who will be glorified at Christ’s coming, but all believers who have already died and gone on to heaven. “The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17
This is our future, what will be taking place not long from now. God wants us to be “waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). Every Christian should be looking forward to this, expecting this, hoping for this to happen. “In hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Romans 8:24-25
But there’s much more, “for the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God,” for then “the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:19, 21). It’s not just man who has experienced huge consequences because of his sin, but an entire creation has been corrupted because of his sin (Gen. 3:17-19). Only when Christians are revealed as sons of God at the start of the next age will this creation be restored and then filled with the glory of the Lord (Col. 3:4). “… that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of the restoration of all things” (Acts 3:20-21). “The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
P.S. God has given us so much wonderful detail about our future, for He wants us to have hope and to be encouraged by what He has planned out for us. This article will really help you understand more what God has in store for you - "Being in Heaven With Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #191 ~
What’s going to happen to this earth? Will there ever be a nuclear holocaust that affects the whole world? Will a massive meteor shower suddenly wipe out the world? Will there ever be climate change so severe that it results in the destruction of this earth? Will a huge geomagnetic storm wreck the entire planet? Will this physical earth stay like it is, or will it somehow and someday dramatically change, or be changed? I am sure many of you have thought about questions like these. In this blog post, I usually focus on the future of people, but what about the future of this planet? What does God have to say about this? This is what He tells us:
Romans 8:19 - “The anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.” This word “creation” isn't referring to mankind, but rather to this physical earth, to animals, plants, rivers, seas, fish, plains, mountains, heavenly bodies, etc. Figuratively speaking, the creation is longing and waiting for that time when believers are revealed and seen by the world, and then everything will change for the good.
Romans 8:20 - “The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope…” Why is creation anxiously longing? Because it was subjected to futility, to vanity, to emptiness. That is, the creation does not presently exist as God intended it to be. A long time ago, when Adam and Eve lived in the garden of Eden (Gen. 1-2), everything was good, and in fact, everything was perfect. Then Adam and Eve sinned, and they spiritually died, and all creation was cursed (Gen. 3). The world was no longer perfect, and it was not creation’s fault, it was man’s fault. But God was sovereign over man’s sin, for his sin and its consequences are part of His eternal plan for mankind and creation.
Romans 8:21 – “… the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Because of Adam and his sin, the physical earth has been corrupted. There is decay, disease, and death. There are forest fires and fire ants. There are tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. There is pollution and there are poisons. Animals fight other animals, and birds sing in a minor key. And when I was recovering from back surgery this past June, my garden rapidly filled up with weeds. These are just a few examples of a world that has been cursed and corrupted because of man’s sin.
Romans 8:22 - “We know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pain of childbirth until now.” The creation is in an impossible situation, for it is still enslaved to corruption, and therefore is groaning and grieving. Though this verse was written about 2000 years ago, the creation is still suffering the pains of childbirth. But God is faithful to His promise, and that He has gathered a great number of Jewish people back to Israel means we now live in the end-times, and it won’t be long before the birth of a renovated and remodeled earth.
Here are some important things to know about you and planet earth:
1.People living on earth should be good stewards and, environmentally speaking, take care of this earth. We should do what we can to keep the air and water clean. We should not be wasteful, but conserve and reuse what God has given us. Gen. 2:15
2. The problems in our physical world are partly because people are not good stewards, but primarily because of Adam’s sin resulting in God’s curse upon this planet. Gen. 3:17-18
3. Even though the earth is physically corrupted, we still see the beauty, goodness, and glory of God. The creation is a visible testimony of God’s power and divine nature. Psalm 104, Rom. 1:20
4. Man should not worship the world, but only the One who created the world. Rom. 1:20-23
5. As much as we should be good stewards, man must realize that he cannot fix this world, he cannot reverse the curse and the resulting corruption. For example, during this age, there will always be spring and summer (life) followed by fall and winter (death). Rom. 3:23, Gal, 1:4
6. Neither man nor creation will bring ultimate destruction to this world. The destiny of this earth is not in the hands of man, but in the hands of God. Eph. 1:9-11, Rev. 8-9, Rev. 21
7. After believers are glorified, the world will be set free from the curse of sin, and the corruption we now see and experience (Rom. 8:21). This occurs at “the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:20), which will happen at the beginning of the next age. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Col. 3:4
8. Man’s restoration to righteousness will result in the restoration of the earth. Rom. 8:17-25
Acts 3:19-21 - “… and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things.” When Christ returns from heaven, He will restore, will set in order all things, which includes the creation. In Matt. 19:29 we read, “… 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.” The word “regeneration,” used in Titus 3:5 to refer to the new birth of Christians, is used here to refer to the rebirth of the earth at the time of Christ’s second coming. As Jesus told the apostles, this will take place when God is “restoring the kingdom to Israel.” Acts 1:6
What will this new earth be like? “Although it will not yet be a totally new earth (Rev. 21:1), it will nevertheless be wonderfully superior to the present fallen and unredeemed earth.” (John MacArthur’s commentary on Matthew 19:28 - p. 204). This earth will be dramatically different during the 1000-year kingdom age, when Christ reigns over the world, the twelve apostles rule over Israel, and the believers reign over the rest of the earth (Rev. 5:10). Indeed, this present earth is “waiting eagerly” for the “revealing of the sons of God.” Rom. 8:19
The Old Testament describes what this restored earth will look like. Psalm 65:8-9 - “You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. You visit the earth and cause it to overflow; You enrich it greatly.” Psalm 67:6 - “The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.” Psalm 96:11 - "Let the heavens be glad and the sea rejoice.” Psalm 98:8 - “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” Isaiah 35:1, 7 - “The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom… The scorched land will become a pool.” Isaiah 55:12 - “… The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before You, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 65:17 - “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:25 - “The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Joel 3:18 - “In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water.” Habakkuk 2:14 - “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” This is great news! The creation really has something to look forward to, but so do the Christians. Rom. 8:23 - “Not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
P.S. It is so wonderful to know that we have a future, and that this earth also has a future. There is much in the book of Psalms about what God has in store for us, the Jewish believers, and this planet. You can learn a lot more about this by reading my three articles on Psalms and how it relates to prophecy - here is one of them: "Prophecy Psalms for the Jews and for You - Part 2."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #192 ~
1) What is the next major event to take place in this world? The coming of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, to this earth.
2) What is the coming of Christ? The word coming is a noun that means both arrival and consequent presence. Christ’s coming is not an instantaneous event, but a period of time during which Christ’s presence and working on earth is clearly evident. It begins after the coming of the Antichrist, and after the end of this age. Matt. 24:15-31, 2 Thess. 2:1-9
3) Why is Jesus Christ coming back to earth? Christ is coming back to rapture the Christians, pour out His wrath, save a remnant of Jews, begin His 1000-year reign, fulfill His promises to believers, and be worshiped. Matt. 24:31, Rom. 11:26, Phil. 2:9-11, Rev. 8-9, Rev. 11:15
4) How is Jesus Christ coming back? He is coming back suddenly, “just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west” (Matt. 24:27). He is coming back visibly, for “they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud” (Luke 21:27). He is coming back audibly, “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thess. 4:16). He is coming back as a King, “with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30, Zech. 14:9
5) What is the end-times? The end-times are the final years, the last stage of this church age, a long period of time during which many prophesied events will be taking place, making it increasingly clear that Christ’s return is getting closer and closer. Ezek. 36-37; Dan. 12:4, 9; Matt. 24:4-34; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 1:5
6) How do we know we are in the end-times? The main reason we know we are in the end-times is because a great number of Jewish people have come back to their homeland, to Israel, as prophesied in Is. 11:11, Jer. 32:37, and Ezek. 36-37. Since the 1880’s, the Jews have steadily been returning to their land, resulting in Israel becoming a nation in 1948. God’s work with the Jews in the end-times is in conjunction with His work with the church. Matt. 24:4-26, Rev. 7
7) What is Daniel’s 70th week? It is a seven-year time period described in Dan. 9:24-27 and Rev. 12-13, 17. At the very beginning of this period the Antichrist makes a treaty with Israel. At its midpoint, the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist is revealed and puts an end to temple sacrifice. At the end of this 70th week, a remnant of Jews are saved. Rom. 11:25-26
8) When is Jesus Christ coming back? We do not know the exact time Christ is returning, but we do know the general time, that it will happen sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, after the coming of the Antichrist, but before God pours out His wrath on this evil world. Many prophesied signs and events will be occurring during this time, enabling us to see that His coming is drawing near. Matt. 24:4-14, Matt. 24:32-24, 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Heb. 10:25
9) Are there two separate comings of Christ? No, there is only one second coming of Christ. This word coming is used in the singular when referring to Christ’s return, which means there will not, as many mistakenly suppose, be a coming of Christ to rapture the Christians on earth at the start of the 70th week, and another coming for the salvation of the Jews at the end of this week. There is only one coming of Christ, beginning sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, at which time the rapture, the Day of the Lord, and the salvation of a large remnant of Jewish people will occur.
10) Is there a secret coming of Christ for the Christians? There is no place in the Bible that states there is a secret coming of Christ. Many verses tell us that Christ will appear or be revealed, which means that His return will a visible return, and that it will not be a secret coming only for Christians. Matt. 24:30, 2 Tim. 4:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 John 2:28
11) What is the rapture? The rapture is the culmination and climax of this church age. At the end of this age, Christ will come on the clouds of the sky and suddenly, quickly, and safely take the Christians who are on the earth to be with Himself. At the rapture, all believers, those who have already died and those still on the earth, will be given new immortal bodies. The rapture, the first event to occur at Christ’s coming, takes place during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, after great tribulation, but before the Day of the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:17, 2 Thess. 2:1-3
12) Who gets raptured? Only true Christians will be raptured. A great multitude of believers will stand firm, survive great tribulation, be alive on the earth at the end of the age, and then be raptured. Matt. 24:13, Eph. 6:10-13, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 7:9-14
13) What does redemption mean? In a spiritual sense, it speaks of those who are saved, who are spiritually delivered from sin and are no longer its slaves (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:13). In a physical sense, it refers to believers being delivered from their fleshly body and from this evil word, which happens when Christians are raptured from the earth. Eph. 1:14, 4:30; Rom. 8:23
14) Who are the elect in Matthew 24:22? The elect refers to the Christians who are raptured during the 2nd half of Daniel's 70th week, and the Jewish people who are saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:9, Rev. 7
15) Will Christians be living on earth when the Antichrist comes to power? Yes, Christians will be alive on earth when the Antichrist is here. The Antichrist will be revealed and come to power at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Matt. 24:9-15, 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 13
16) What is the great tribulation? It refers to the great distress and persecution that affects both Jews and Christians in the end-times. This persecution is not God's wrath but Satan's wrath. Directed by the Antichrist, it starts at the midpoint of the 70th week but it is cut short just before Christ comes from heaven to rapture the Christians. Matt. 24:9-22, Rev. 13:7
17) What age are we living in? We are now living in an evil age, an age that began thousands of years ago with the sin of Adam (Gen. 3:1-7). Satan is the ruler of this evil age, though he is still under God’s sovereign control. Gal. 1:4, 1 John 5:19
18) When will this evil age end? We know this age has come to an end when we see great signs in the heavens, when “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Matt. 24:29
19) What will be happening in the end-times, in the years leading up to the end of this age? There will be birth pains (earthquakes, wars, famines, and plagues - Matt. 24:4-8). There will be a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27). A Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem (2 Thess. 2:4). A 10-nation evil kingdom will be formed (Dan. 7:19-24). There will be a great apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3) The Antichrist will arise and rule over the world. (Rev. 13). The Jewish temple will be desolated by the Antichrist (Matt. 24:15). Great tribulation and persecution will affect both Christians and Jews (Matt. 24:9, 21). The gospel will be preached to all the nations (Matt. 24:14). There will be great signs in the heavens. Matt. 24:29
20) How should Christians live during the end-times?
- We should love God and love one another. Deut. 13:3-4, Mark 12:30-31
- We should share the gospel with the lost. Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20
- We should have faith, praying and trusting that God will lead us and take care of us. Luke 18:8
- We should have hope and be looking forward to Christ's return. 1 Peter 1:13
- We should be sober, and be putting on faith, hope and love. 1 Thess. 5:8
- We should live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:11-13
- We should be wise in how we live. Dan. 11:33, Rev. 13:18
- We should be thankful that we are able to live for Christ in the end-times. 1 Thess. 5:18
- We should encourage one another day after day. Heb. 10:24-25
- We should persevere to the end of this age. Matt. 24:13, 1 Thess. 4:15, Rev. 14:12
- We should be patient and wait for the coming of the Lord. James 5:7-11
- We need to know our God, display strength, and take action. Dan. 11:32
P.S. What a blessing that God gives us answers to questions we may have about Christ's coming and the end times. Next week I plan to give answers to questions about the Antichrist. In the meantime, here are two posts to read - "That Evil Antichrist and His Short Rule on Earth" and "Reasons for the Rise and Rule of the Antichrist."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #193 ~
1) Who is the Antichrist? The Antichrist is described as the little horn, the man of lawlessness, the man of destruction, and the beast - and he will be the devil’s man on earth. That we are now in the end-times means it won’t be long before this most wicked man will be ruling this world and carrying out the work of the devil. Dan. 7:8; 2 Thess. 2:3; Rev. 13:3-8
2) What will the Antichrist be like? He will be arrogant, the proudest man on earth. He will be very intelligent. He will be a smooth talker, a charismatic man, a great deceiver, making people think he is God when, in fact, he is doing the work of the devil. He will be more influential than any other person on earth. He will have the utmost hatred for God and His people. He will be wholly opposed to God’s word, and all that is good, right, and true. He will be the most lawless and evil man this world has ever seen. Dan. 8:23-25, Dan. 9:32, 36, Rev. 13:5-8
3) Where is the Antichrist from? Many believe the Antichrist will be from either Syria or Iraq. Let me explain why people say this. From Dan. 8:8-26 and Dan. 11:29-45 we learn about Antiochus Epiphanes, a devilish leader who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175-164 BC. His most evil act took place when he defiled the temple in Jerusalem, which is just what the coming Antichrist will do (Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4). Therefore, we consider Antiochus to be a type or figure of the coming Antichrist. The reason we believe the Antichrist will be from present-day Syria or Iraq is because that was the territory Antiochus ruled.
4) When will the Antichrist be revealed? When will Christians clearly know who he is? Some may suspect he is the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week when he makes a treaty with Israel, but for sure we will know he is Satan’s man when he desecrates the temple at the midpoint, the 3½ year mark of that week. “In the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:1-4
5) Are there other antichrists? There have been many antichrists throughout the church age, people who openly deny God and Jesus Christ, and their work on earth. John tells us, “even now many antichrists have appeared”, but he also says, “you have heard that antichrist is coming.” (1 John 2:18, 22-25; 1 John 4:3). The Antichrist to come will be the most powerful and evil antichrist in history. He may be alive on earth at this time, and if he is, he is not yet openly opposing God and Christ, but he will be soon. Dan. 8:23-25, 2 Thess. 2:3-10, Rev. 13:4-7
6) Where does the Antichrist get his authority? The Antichrist gets his authority and power from the devil himself. “They worshiped the dragon (devil) because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast” (Rev. 13:4). Yet it is God who sovereignly permits the devil and, therefore, the Antichrist to carry out their evil deeds. Dan. 2:21, Rev. 17:17
7) What is the purpose of the Antichrist? The Antichrist’s purpose is understood by knowing that the prefix “anti” means “against” or “in place of”. The Antichrist is against God, hates Him with a passion, and desires to take His place and become ruler of the world. Most of all, he wants to be worshiped as God, which will happen, but only for a short time. “… the son of destruction, 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, displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thess. 2:3-4
8) What will the Antichrist do in the end-times? The Antichrist will be the key player in getting Israel to sign a covenant (treaty) with other nations (Dan. 9:27). He will lead a coalition of ten nations, which is the power base by which he will rule the world (Dan. 7:20). He will desecrate the temple in Jerusalem, setting himself up to be God (Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). He will be boasting about himself and blaspheming God (Rev. 13:5-6). He will persecute both Jews and Christians. He will fight against God by fighting against His people who live on earth. “He persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child… It was also given to him to make war with the saints.” (Rev. 12:13-17, Rev. 13:7). The Antichrist, working with the other beast, will cause unbelievers to take his mark and worship his image. Rev. 13:11-17
9) Is God sovereign over the Antichrist? Yes, God is sovereign over the Antichrist and his ungodly work on earth. This vile and devilish man is like a dog on a leash, and can only do what God wants and allows him to do. God’s sovereignty over the Antichrist and his activities will result in God’s plans being fulfilled, and great glory being given to Him. Prov. 21:1, Rom. 8:28-29, Eph. 1:9-11, Rev 17:17
10) Will Christians be on earth when the Antichrist is revealed? Yes, Christians will be on the earth at that time. At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist will be revealed and begin persecuting the church. This persecution, part of great tribulation, will be cut short, and then the church will be raptured and gathered to Christ. Matt. 24:21-31, 2 Thess. 1:5-10
11) What is the mark of the beast? It is a mark on the hand or forehead that the Antichrist causes unbelievers to take during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. It is one of the primary ways by which the Antichrist will control them, for only those who take the mark will be able to do business, to openly buy or sell during this time. Those people who receive the mark will be eternally damned and punished, and deservedly so. Luke 21:28-31; Rev. 13:16-17, 14:9-11
12) Can a person take the mark of the beast and still get saved? Once a person takes the mark of the beast, he cannot be saved. That person who takes the mark is an unbeliever and has sealed his destiny, and will be damned, doomed, and forever be “tormented with fire and brimstone.” Rev. 14:9-11
13) Can a Christian take the mark of the beast? No. A Christian cannot receive the mark of the beast, and then be damned to hell. Once a person is saved, he is sealed by the Spirit, is eternally secure in Christ, cannot lose his salvation, and will forever be with Him. Eph. 1:14, 4:30
14) Will all non-Christians living during the Great Tribulation take the mark of the beast? No, some of them will not take the mark of the beast, and many of those who do not take the mark will get saved and then, at the coming of Christ, be raptured and glorified. Rev. 7:9-14
15) What is the image of the beast? This word image, from the Greek word “icon”, is a picture or symbol of the Antichrist that unbelievers are to worship in the end times. It is the primary means by which the devil, working through the false prophet, will force people to worship the Antichrist. Those people who do not bow to this image will be pursued by the armies of the Antichrist so as to be persecuted and killed. Luke 21:12-19, Rev. 13:14-15
16) What will happen in the world before the Antichrist is revealed and comes to power?
- The world will experience “birth pains” in various places. There will be wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and economic distress. Matt. 24:4-9, Luke 21:8-11, Rev. 6:1-8
- The United States will decline in power, and no longer be the world’s leading superpower.
- We will see a growing desire for globalism, economically, politically, societally, and militarily.
- There will be a growing desire among the unsaved for someone to solve the world’s problems and bring peace.
- Nations will be realigned, specifically those which become part of the Antichrist’s kingdom.
- It will be a time like the days of Noah, with ever increasing sin and evil. Matt. 24:12, 37-38
- The one becoming the Antichrist will make a firm covenant with Israel and other nations at the very beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:27
- The Jews and the Christians will face growing hostility and persecution. Luke 21:12-24
- The sophisticated technology that the Antichrist needs to surveil people and carry out his devilish plans will be fully developed and ready to use. Rev. 13:14-17
17) How will the Antichrist control the world during the end times? Revelation 13
- Because of the Antichrist’s apparent resurrection, and the amazing miracles the other beast performs on his behalf, he will be famous and greatly loved, and be looked to as a world leader.
- He will have the authority and power of the devil, of Satan himself.
- He will be a skilled speaker, one who is very deceptive and persuasive.
- He will rule militarily over the world with great might and power.
- He will rule economically by requiring everyone to take the mark of the beast.
- He will rule spiritually by forcing people to worship his image, the “image of the beast”.
18) How long will the Antichrist be in power? Rev. 13:5 says that “authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” This means the Antichrist will be in power from the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, when he is revealed, to the end of that week. During those forty-two months, on a day we do not know, Christ will return to rapture the Christians, and then pour out His wrath on the earth (the Trumpet judgments - Rev. 8-9). The Antichrist’s ability to rule will be diminished during this time when God’s wrath is being poured out.
19) When will the Antichrist be defeated? Shortly after Daniel’s 70th week is over, the Antichrist, along with the false prophet, will be defeated and captured during the battle of Armageddon. “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 Thess. 2:8). “These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire.” Rev. 19:19-20
20) How should you live when the Antichrist is ruling the world? You are not to be afraid of the Antichrist, for you are not to fear man but God (Luke 12:4-5). Persevere, knowing that Jesus is with you, and that the Antichrist will be here for only a short time. (Psalm 37, Matt. 28:20). Have faith and hope, knowing that God is working all things together for good, and has a great future in store for you (Rom. 8:28-29). Remember God’s promise, that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Finally, don’t forget that “they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Rev. 12:11
P.S. Isn't it amazing how much information God has given us about this most evil man who will soon be ruling over this world? You need to know these things, and know your God, display strength and take action (Dan. 11:32). I encourage you to read my article on the Antichrist - "The Coming of the Antichrist, the Devil's Man on Earth."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #194 ~
Never in my life have I seen people so passionate about an election. All this money that’s being spent, all these ads, mailers, debates, signs, and tweets, and all this campaigning and commentary, and for what? Yes, the person who gets elected will affect this country in some small ways, but as Christians, we must keep things in perspective. An earthly leader cannot solve the problem of sin and death, cannot meet our need for love, joy, and peace, and cannot bring real peace to this earth. What the world really needs is a Savior and a King!
A long time ago, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth. He lived an absolutely perfect life, continually taught the truth, did all these amazing miracles, and then died on a cross to pay for people’s sins. Whoever repents and believes Jesus Christ died to pay for his sins and then rose from the dead, is forgiven and becomes a child of God. Indeed, Christ is the one person people need to know, the gift people need to receive, the life people need to have, and the reason people need to live. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21
Shortly after Jesus rose from the dead, He talked with His disciples about the kingdom of God. It was obvious they wanted Him to stay and set up His kingdom on earth, but that was clearly not God’s plan at that time. Jesus reminded His disciples what He had told them before, that they were to be His witnesses to the world - and then He ascended into heaven. As they gazed into the sky an angel told them that Jesus would be coming back, and they knew that meant He would be returning as a King. In the meantime, the church is to do the work of being a witness to the world and spiritually building the kingdom of God. Matt. 6:33, 28:19-20
So here we are in 2020, and quite the year it has been with the impeachment, the pandemic, sickness, death, lockdowns, riots, fires, hurricanes, and now this election. But as Christians we’re not to be fearful and get sidetracked, we’re to be sober-minded, we’re to stay focused on Christ and on the work He wants us to do (1 Thess. 5:4-9). That we live in the end-times means Christ will soon be coming back to earth. Should we not be excited about this? Should we not be diligently working for Christ while we are patiently waiting for Him. Should we not know that life on earth will dramatically and wonderfully change when He returns?
Christ is longing to come back, and when He does, you will see Him in action - without delay, He will rapture the church, transform the bodies of believers, pour out His wrath on the world, redeem a remnant of Jews, defeat the Antichrist, bind up that evil devil, and begin His reign on a restored earth. You ought to be thinking about these things, that the King of kings will return to this world, take charge, and then rule like no leader has ever ruled before. What the world needs is a Savior, and now, more than ever, a King. “‘Behold, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:21
This theme of Jesus Christ being the King of the world is seen throughout God’s word:
* 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – “I will raise up your descendant after you… and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” Jesus, our eternal King, is a descendant of king David.
* Psalm 2:6 – “Yet, I have set My king upon Zion, My holy mountain.” God the Father gave the world to His Son, and the authority and power to be King and rule over it.
* Psalm 45:6 – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” Jesus Christ, the most righteous King, will reign forever and ever.
* Psalm 47:7-8 – “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Jesus is God and He will be King of the entire world, over every single nation on the earth.
* Psalm 48:2– “Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Jesus, our King, will be reigning from the city of Jerusalem.
* Isaiah 9:6-7 – “A Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us… there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom.” Jesus will perfectly govern, His kingdom will keep growing, and there will be peace.
* Daniel 7:14 – “To Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all peoples and nations of every language might serve Him.” Everyone in the world will serve King Jesus.
* Micah 5:2-5 – “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” The coming King, the One who is eternal, is also a man, for He was born as a baby in Bethlehem.
* Luke 1:31-33 – “Do not be afraid Mary… behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus… and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary was the mother of the Son of God, the King of kings.
* 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 – “Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” One of Christ’s purposes during His millennial reign is to defeat death, His chief enemy.
* Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Jesus Christ will officially become King of this world at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, at the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
* Revelation 19:16 – “On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Christ the King, the One with authority over all kings, will defeat the Antichrist.
* Revelation 20:6 – “They will be priests of God and will reign with Him forever and ever.” Christians will reign with Christ the King, and not just for 1000 years, but forever and ever.
There’s great turmoil in our country, and with that, great difficulties; and in the near future, there will be great tribulation for both Jews and Christians. But don’t be sad, upset, or fearful. Get your eyes on God, and think how blessed you are, for you have been saved from sin and death, have eternal life, and now and forever have the honor of worshiping and serving Jesus, your Savior and King.
It won’t be long before you leave this earth and then you will see Jesus. Soon after that you will be back on earth, again worshiping and serving Him, and more than that, reigning with Him over this world. Just imagine how magnificent and gloriously wonderful this will be? This is no made up story, no dream - this is the truth, your future, that you will happily live forever with the King of kings. “To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood - and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Rev. 1:5-6
P.S. Psalm 146 instructs us not to "trust in princes, in mortal men," but to put our hope in the Lord God. Always remember that God is the answer, not men or women. And this is true today, and especially as we think about this election. Here is a related post that tells my own story on this subject - "Politicians, Judges, and Jesus, Our Coming King."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #195 ~
1. What is the coming kingdom age? In the near future, after this present evil age comes to an end, there will be a good age. This age will last exactly 1000 years, during which time there will be one king ruling the entire world. Jer. 10:10a, Gal. 1:4, Rev. 20:3-7
2. Who will be the king during this kingdom age? Jesus Christ will be the King, the King of kings. “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” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Jesus will be holy, righteous, loving, merciful, good, and wise, a most excellent and perfect King. Psalm 67, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 19:16
3. What will Jesus Christ be doing during the kingdom age? He will be reigning over all the nations of the world. He will be perfectly leading, guiding, judging, and governing, resulting in awesome deeds of righteousness, abundant blessings, soul-satisfying goodness, and peace to those who live on this earth. Psalms 47:7-8, 65, 72; Dan. 7:14
4. When does the kingdom age start? The millennial kingdom age will begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which happens soon after the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Rev. 10:7, Rev. 11:15
5. What is the general nature of this age? The earth will be full of the glory of the Lord. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” (Is. 6:3). Compared to our present evil age, it will be a good, holy, and peaceful age. It will be a time when Jesus Christ is feared and worshiped by all who live on the earth. Ps. 72:18-19, Hab. 2:14, Gal. 1:4, Phil. 2:9-11
6. What are some of Christ’s objectives during this age? During Christ’s reign, He will abolish all rule, authority, and power, and He will defeat death, the last of His enemies. His ultimate goal is to be worshiped so that His Father is glorified. John 17:4-5, 1 Cor. 15:25, Phil. 2:9-11
7. What will the devil do during this time? Nothing. The devil will be chained up for the entirety of this 1000-year period. At the end of this time, the devil will be released, and then deceive the nations, gathering them together to fight against Christ. But Christ will quickly and easily defeat the devil, and then cast him into the lake of fire, where he will be severely and eternally tormented and punished. 1 Cor. 15:25-28, Rev. 14:9-11, Rev. 20:7-9
8. What will Old Testament and church age believers be doing during this age? First, know that they will have been glorified, will possess immortal, powerful, and spiritual bodies. Therefore, they will be able to perfectly worship Jesus Christ, reign with Him, and serve Him, using their talents to carry out His work on earth. They will also spend time with Christ and other believers, having intimate fellowship with them. Psalm 145:1-2, Luke 19:16-17, 1 Cor. 15:40-42, 1 Thess. 4:13-15
9. What will the newly saved Jewish people be doing during this kingdom age? A remnant of Jewish people, those saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, will be worshiping Christ, learning from Him, and having fellowshipping with Him. Many of the Jews will be serving Him by carrying out various duties that specifically relate to Jerusalem, Israel, and the new temple. Psalms 65:1-4, 96; Isaiah 2:1-5, 12; Ezekiel 40-48; Romans 8:25-26
10. How will the Jewish people be blessed? They will be blessed in physical, spiritual, societal, and relational ways, and therefore, be a wonderful witness to unbelievers, with the result that God and Christ will be greatly feared and glorified all over the world. Gen. 12:1-3, Psalm 67, Psalm 98:1-3, Psalm 117, Isaiah 4:2-6, Isaiah 12
11. What do we understand about the unbelievers during this time? Though the devil is chained and there is no world system, the unsaved will still be sinning, proving that a person’s core problem is the evil in his own heart. Yet, many unbelievers will travel to Jerusalem to learn from Jesus Christ, bring Him gifts, and worship Him. Psalms 68:29, 98:1-3; Isaiah 2:1-3; Isaiah 12
12. Will people be getting saved during the millennial kingdom? Yes, an enormous number of people will be affected by the lives of the Jews during this age and be saved by Jesus Christ. Psalm 67:1-2 says, “God be gracious to us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 96:2 instructs us, “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” Psalm 98:2-3 tells us, “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
13. Will there be a Jewish temple during the millennial kingdom? Yes, there will be a Jewish temple, and it will be in Jerusalem. As Christians, we have the Lord’s supper to remind us what Christ did for us, and during the kingdom age the Jews will offer memorial sacrifices, not to take away sin, for Christ’s death already did that. These sacrifices will remind them that Christ the King is also Christ the Savior, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29, Ezek. 40-48
14. What will the physical earth be like? The earth will be in a restored and renovated condition, and that’s because the curse of sin will be removed. Magnificent and most beautiful this creation will be, for the stars, birds, fish, animals, plants, etc., will be set free from their slavery to corruption. And yes, even the animals will be at peace with one another. Psalm 98:7-8, Isaiah 65:25, Acts 3:21, Romans 8:23-25
15. What happens to unbelievers at the end of this kingdom age? The devil will be thrown into the lake of fire. Then Jesus Christ, sitting on His great white throne, will judge all unbelievers, and then cast them into the lake of fire, “the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels”, a place where there will be "eternal punishment," and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 24:51, 25:41, 46; Rev. 20:7-15
16. What will happen at the conclusion of this kingdom age? Jesus Christ will hand “over the kingdom to the God and Father… then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Himself, so that God may be God in all” (1 Cor. 15:24, 28). That Jesus humbles Himself before His Father shows His love for His Father, and their perfect unity. Then “the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10). “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first earth passed away.” Rev. 21:1-7
17. Will Jesus Christ reign forever and ever? Yes, Jesus Christ will reign forever and ever! “I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever and ever” (2 Sam. 7:12-13). “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Psalm 45:6). “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Psalm 145:13). Jesus Christ will be perfectly and powerfully reigning over the world during the millennial kingdom, and then He and His Father will be reigning together forever and ever.
18. What should be one of our prayers at this time? “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:9-10). We should have hope, be looking forward to the next age when we will be with Christ and reign with Him over this world, but we should also be praying and asking Our Father to send His Son to rapture the church, pour out His wrath, and then set up His kingdom. “Come, Lord Jesus.”
19. Why does God want there to be a 1000-year kingdom age? God wants this age to be a glorious display of His Son in action. We live in an evil age with imperfect people ruling this world, with the result that there are all these problems, all this corruption, and all this grief and sadness. But God wants us to see Jesus Christ executing perfect justice, caring for the poor, blessing the earth, and bringing peace. Not only that, but He wants us to be reigning with Christ, helping Him carry out His purposes. What a joy to be able to reign with Christ during the 1000-year kingdom age and see His glory and goodness on display all over the world. Rev. 5:10, 20:6
20. Why do I spend time thinking about the millennial kingdom? Because it motivates me to keep living for the Lord, and to finish the work He has given me to do. I must say that I am super excited about this kingdom age. I get tired of continually struggling with the world, the flesh, and the devil. I get so tired of imperfect leaders and corrupt governments. And I get very tired of seeing and hearing about all the crime, hate, murder, conflict, and war. I really want to see God’s promises and plans fulfilled for all His people (Psalm 33:10-12). I can’t wait to be glorified, to be with Jesus, and be able to perfectly worship and serve Him during this new kingdom age. And I am really looking forward to spending quality time with friends I knew on earth. "Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth.” Psalm 47
P.S. There is a lot of important things said about the kingdom age in the Bible, and it would do you good to study them out. Here are two very helpful posts to read on this subject: "Christ the King is Coming," and "The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #196 ~
How are you going to successfully make it to the end of your life, especially when times get really tough? How will you be glorified? And how will you ever get from earth to heaven so you can be with Jesus, and other believers who went on ahead of you? It is certainly not by what you do. Here is the simple answer -“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord” (Zech. 4:6). An expanded answer is given in Romans 8:18-39, for it tells you that your hope, your future, is guaranteed, for your salvation, from beginning to end, is the work of God, the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. What does it say?
Romans 8:26-27. Your salvation is by the work of the Spirit. Let’s be honest, you are physically weak for you get tired, sick, and have aches and pains. You are spiritually weak for you struggle in life, still sin, and don’t always obey God. “We ourselves groan within ourselves” (Rom. 8:23). “My iniquities have overtaken me” (Ps. 40:12). This is why God gave you the Spirit, and a most wonderful gift and help He is. “He saved us… by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). “He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever, that is the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16).“By the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body” (Rom. 8:13). “… being led by the Spirit” (Rom. 8:14). “… the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Eph. 4:30). “… the fellowship of the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 13:14. How incredibly encouraging, knowing that God gave you the Spirit, and that you have Him now and forever!
Now the main point of Rom. 8:26-27 is that the Spirit is praying for you, interceding for you according to God’s will. Because you’re weak, you can’t make it without the Spirit’s continual prayers. And His prayers are fervent and intense, “groanings too deep for words.” The Spirit wants God’s will to be carried out in your life more than you do, and He is praying that this happens. As for the Father, He knows exactly what the Spirit is asking and is answering those prayers, meeting spiritual needs you don’t even know about. And if it's God’s will for you to be on earth when the Antichrist is persecuting the church, remember that the Spirit will be with you, and be praying for you, asking the Father to give you whatever you need so you can keep living for Him all the way to the end. Be very thankful that the Holy Spirit is your Helper and will keep doing His part to make sure you make it to heaven to be with Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28. Your salvation is by the sovereign work of God. This favorite verse of many describes God’s personal and meticulous work in your life. He is purposely, powerfully, lovingly, and wisely working, ensuring that all His plans for you are carefully being carried out. “God causes all things” - good things, bad things, trials, conflicts, temptations, sins, your family, your church, friendships, sickness, enemies, death - “to work together for good.” Life may seem like a gigantic puzzle, with a million different pieces seemingly scattered all over the place, but God is perfectly putting all the pieces together, making one beautiful picture.
This “good” can refer to the results of God’s work in your daily life. I am sure you have seen God causing both little things and big things to happen in just the right way at the right time with the right person, something only He can do. You plan out your way, but God directs your steps - He continually intervenes in your life and carries out His plans. This “good” also refers to the final part of your salvation, which is described in vs. 29.
Romans 8:29. Your salvation will not be complete until you become like Jesus. Have you forgotten that your salvation won’t be finished until you are glorified? In eternity past God foreknew you, meaning that He knew all about you, that He had you in His heart and loved you long before you ever loved Him. And in eternity past, He determined and predestined all the details of your life. The time came when you were born, and then you were saved, were born again. But at this point in time, you’re not fully saved, your salvation is not yet complete. Only when Christ returns to rapture the church will you be fully saved, be glorified, that is, be “conformed to the image of His Son.” To experience life to the full, you need to be like Jesus (1 John 3:2), you need to be raised in glory, raised in power, and raised with an imperishable body (1 Cor. 15:40-42). Then, in unimaginable and extraordinary ways, you will be able to wholeheartedly worship Him, learn from Him, fellowship with Him, be satisfied by Him, and serve Him!
Romans 8:30. Your salvation is what God Himself planned and will do for you, from beginning to end. The right way to think about your salvation is that it is all the work of God. First, God predestined you - He determined and planned out all the intricate details of your life so you could be saved. Second, the time came for you to be physically born, and then God called you, for His Spirit worked in your heart, convicted you of sin, and revealed Christ to you. Third, He justified you, meaning you were made righteous in God’s sight, and forgiven of all your sins. Fourth, you were glorified, you received a brand-new, Christ-like body. But notice that “glorified” is in the past tense, meaning that what God planned to do for you will surely be done, for He sees the end from the beginning. Once a person is foreknown and predestined, it’s an absolute certainty that he will be called, justified, and glorified. Rom. 8:30 is one of the greatest assurance verses, giving you confidence that you are a child of God, and that nothing can or will stop God from completing your salvation, from making you like His Son, and which happens at His coming. 1 Cor. 15:23, 50-53; Phil. 1:6; 1 Thess. 4:15-17
Romans 8:23-39 is needed truth for every Christian, especially for those living in the end-times, and that’s because it’s truly a prophetic passage. For many people, 2020 has been a most difficult year, but I must tell you that life will be getting tougher and tougher as times goes on, as we get closer and closer to Christ’s return. With increasing birth pains, lawlessness, and persecution, life will only get harder. But remember, since the Holy Spirit is praying for you and the Father is working in you, then God will finish what He started in you. Knowing God’s overall plan for your life, His unwavering commitment to you and His continued faithfulness, should give you much confidence and motivate you to keep serving the Lord until the very end. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful.” 1 Cor. 1:8-9
P.S. Knowing that God Himself is responsible for your salvation is essential to know, for it results in joy, peace, confidence, and a heart that zealously wants to follow and obey the Lord. "The Sovereignty of God, A Most Important Truth" is an article that is extremely helpful in knowing how God is personally lovingly, wisely, and powerfully involved in your life.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #197 ~
Romans 8:17-39 starts off by stating that we are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,” super-encouraging truths for every Christian. We learn that we will be redeemed and be glorified, that is, be delivered from our sinful body and be given a brand-new one. In addition, we see that this corrupt earth will be set free from sin's curse and be wonderfully restored. This is our hope and our future, what we ought to be eagerly waiting for, and what will surely and soon take place.
How will this happen? How will we keep going for the Lord during our time on earth, and then get to heaven? We don’t have the power in ourselves to stay strong for the Lord, and in the future somehow transform our bodies so we can then rocket from earth to heaven to be with Jesus. From beginning to end, our salvation is from and for the Lord God Almighty - it’s an awesome and powerful work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 13:14
Romans 8:26-39 explains how this happens, how we will be victorious and glorious Christians. It’s through the Spirit’s sealing, helping, leading, comforting, and by His prayers to the Father on our behalf (Rom. 8:26-27). It’s believing that God is sovereign, that He lovingly, wisely, and continually causes all things to work together for good (Rom. 8:28). “… having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Eph. 1:11
It’s also knowing that God will faithfully and forever carry out His plans for us (Rom. 8:29-30). In eternity past He foreknew us, chose us, and predestined us, planning out all the details of our lives so we would be eternally saved - “… having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26, Ps. 139:16). At the right time, He caused us to physically be born on this earth, and then He called us, working in our lives so as to lead us to Himself. At the right time God caused us to be born again, forgiving us and giving us His perfect righteousness. He still needs to glorify us, that is, complete our salvation by conforming us to the image of His Son. And never forget that God is God, and what He desires to do, He will do. Do not doubt Him in this - do not question His ability to fully carry out His purposes and plans for your life here on earth. “I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6, 1 Cor. 1:8-9
To strengthen this point, Paul emphatically states a “no” answer question, “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom. 8:31-34). These powerful words, that the living God is for you, mean that no one can truly be against you. God showed you His amazing, out-of-this-world love by sending His Son to die for you, pay for your sins, and be raised again. Now this isn’t some sentimental love God has for you - what Christ did for you is the rock-solid truth, is factual and foundational to His plan to forever save you from your sins, and is truly the single greatest demonstration of His love (Rom. 5:8). Since God did this for you, be confident that He will keep doing whatever it takes to make sure you are successful and safe on earth, and will then be gloriously transformed so you can be with Him in heaven (Phil. 3:20-21). An example of God's present work is that Jesus Himself is now praying for you, “who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Heb. 7:25
Be assured that no angel, no devil, no demon, not you or anyone else, can change or thwart God’s personal and eternal plans for you. How can anyone condemn you for any unrighteous thought, word, or deed when Christ has already died for you and dealt with all your sins? Always remember that you have been perfectly and forever justified by Christ, and that you are now, and will be, continually and eternally loved by God. Psalm 103:8-17
As much as anything, God wants you to be 100% convinced that nothing will ever stop Him from carrying out all His plans for you, and therefore, nothing will ever stop Him from loving you. “Who will separate us from the love of God?” (Rom. 8:35-37). This question hits at the heart of God’s motivation to save you from your sins, which is His unconditional and unfailing love for you. “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3). And when tough times come your way, remember the gentle and compassionate love that God has for you. (Matt. 11:28-29). “I have come to know and have believed the love that God has for me.” 1 John 4:16
Paul then uses some very strong words to describe the trials you may experience as a Christian - tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. God gives you these worst case scenarios so that if any of them happen, you still know that He loves you and will get you through the devilish darkness of this evil age and make sure you make it all the way to heaven so you can be with Jesus. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever.” 2 Tim. 4:18
To further convince you that nothing can separate you from God’s love, Paul gives a more comprehensive list, specifically mentioning death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things related to the past, present or future, things geographically, or any created thing. (Rom. 8:38-39). As a Christian, you may be afraid of someone or something; you may doubt whether you are really saved; you may think some grievous sin will keep you away from Jesus and out of heaven; you may feel like the devil is too strong for you; you may feel like God has left you; or you may be so discouraged by circumstances that you think God doesn’t love you anymore. A great many Christians have been afflicted and harmfully affected by thoughts like these. That’s why it’s imperative to hang onto these truths from Rom. 8:17-39, for you will need them, especially when times are much harder than they are now. Psalm 13, Matt. 24:4-14
That we live in the end-times means life will grow increasingly difficult, for there will be birth pains, false teachers, a wicked Antichrist, betrayal, and great persecution. Always remember that you are a child of God, that you have hope, that the Spirit is praying for you, that your Father’s plans for you will be fulfilled, that Jesus died and rose again for you and is also praying for you, and that God Himself really loves you. “Keep yourselves in the love of God… to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25
P.S. What a joy to know that God is faithfully working in our lives, that He is control, that His plans for our lives will be carried out, and that in the future we will be glorified, and greatly glorify God. Here are two encouraging posts to read - "God Is In Charge of Everything," and "God Will Keep You Strong to the End."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #198 ~
The single biggest reason we know Jesus Christ is coming soon is that the Jewish people have been gathering back to their land, just as God promised over 2500 years ago. That the Jews have been returning to their land for the past 140 years is an amazing work of God, one of the greatest modern-day miracles, and the strongest evidence we have that we are now living in the end-times. As Christians we need to know this, for the rapture of the church is the 1st thing to occur at Christ’s coming.
The story of the Jewish people began about 4000 years ago with Abraham, the father of the Jews. The birth of the nation of Israel took place in Egypt where, in a 430-year time span, they grew from 75 people to about 2 million. Led by Moses, they escaped that devilish Pharaoh, took a forty-year journey through the desert, and with Joshua as their leader entered the land of Canaan. Not only had God promised them this land (Gen. 13:14-15), but also salvation (Jer. 31:31-34), and a King (2 Sam. 7:12-16). Sadly, for most of the next 800 years, the nation failed to fear and love their Maker, “the living God and everlasting King” (Jer. 10:10) and therefore, kept sinning against Him. During that time, God exhibited great patience, but finally He punished them, with many dying of famine and the sword, and others being exiled.
Yet, for their sake and His sake, God promised that a remnant of Jews would return to their land in 70 years, which is just what happened (Jer. 25:12). Led by Ezra, Nehemiah, and others, thousands of Jewish people came back to Israel and again began to worship the one true God. But for many it was short lived, for it did not take long before their faith faded, and their worship turned into a worthless, ritualistic religion. Yet God was faithful, and kept His most important promise (Micah 5:2), for He sent His Son to earth to be the Savior - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” John 3:16
For 33 years, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, lived a perfect life, loving, teaching, and healing tens of thousands. Finally, He died on a cross to satisfy His Father’s wrath and pay for people’s sins, and was then raised from the dead. After commissioning His apostles to go and make disciples, He ascended into heaven (Matt. 28:19-20). But most Jews were proud and rejected Jesus, refusing to repent of their sins and believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. For their grievous sin, God rejected them and again drove them out of their land. Luke 19:41-44
Luke 21:20-24 summarizes how God punished them: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near… there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people… they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot…” History soberly gives us many distressing stories of the Jews being greatly persecuted throughout the centuries. But Luke tells us that this would be come to an end, for we read “… until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
God was determined to fulfill His promises to His people about receiving land, a King, and salvation. In fact, He had already told them He would gather them again. Jer. 32:37, Ezek. 36:24-28, Hosea 3:4-5, Amos 9:14-15, Micah 4:6-7, Zech. 8:7-8, Zeph. 3:14-20 all prophesy the gathering of the Jewish people back to their land so that God’s plans for them would be fulfilled. For those who say this gathering took place after the Babylonian captivity, you need only know that His promises to them about the land, the King, and salvation were not all fulfilled at that time. Not only that, but Isaiah 11:11 tells us, “The Lord will again recover the second time with His hand the remnant of His people… will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”
The prophecy that best sums up God’s regathering plans for the Jews is Jer. 31:10 - “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare in the coastlands afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepherd keeps His flock.’” Three keys words stand out - “scattered”, “gather”, and “keep.” The scattering began around 70 AD and continued up to 1880. Since then, God has been gathering them back to their land so that there are now close to 6.7 million Jews in Israel. In our lifetimes, we have truly been witnessing one of God’s greatest miracles. What is also astounding is that the Jewish people have been returning to their land with their identity, language, religion, and culture still intact. The “keep” part of Jer. 31:10, that the Lord will “keep him as a shepherd keeps His flock,” is both a physical and spiritual keeping and has not yet taken place, but it will, and it won’t be long from now. And it relates to the salvation of a remnant of Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:24
This brings us to the New Testament and to prophecy passages for the Jews, and right away you see that God placed them next to prophecy passages for the church. You cannot overstate the importance of these prophecies for the Jews and the Christians sitting next to each other in the text. God wants Christians to see that His end-time’s work with the church is in conjunction with His end-times’ work with the Jews, that His last-days’ work with the Jews coincides with the final years of the church age.
What specifically do we learn? From Matt. 24:9-22, we read about the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem, and great tribulation afflicting both Jews and Christians. From Luke 21:24-32, we see that the times of the Gentiles will come to an end, that the church will be redeemed (raptured), and that Jesus will set up His kingdom for the Jews and the church. From 2 Thess. 2:1-4, we learn that the wicked Antichrist will proudly declare himself to be God in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, after which Christ returns to gather the church. From Rom. 11 we find out that a remnant of Jews will be grafted in, be saved, this taking place once the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, and once this church age is over (Rom. 11:25-26). From Rev. 7 we discover that 144,000 Jews will be sealed just before the church is raptured. Indeed, God is fulfilling His end-time plans for both Jews and Christians at this time in history, leading to the soon coming of Christ. I hope you realize how extremely blessed you are to be part of what God is now doing on planet earth.
To know how God wants you to respond to this, note the first part of Jer. 31:10: “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare in the coastlands…” The clear instruction is for the nations, including Christians, to hear this prophetic word, believe it, and declare it to the world. Since this prophecy is now being fulfilled, shouldn't we excitedly be telling people that God is presently carrying out His plans for the Jews, and this is all leading up to Christ’s second coming for the church and the Jews? Yes, yes, yes!!!
The #1 sign to the church, the signal to all believers everywhere that we are now in the end-times is this single fact that the Jewish people have returned to their land. O Christian, be greatly encouraged and filled with joy, for the Jews are back in their land and the birth pains are taking place, which means Christ is coming soon to rapture the church, pour out His wrath, save a Jewish remnant, and set up His kingdom on earth, a glorious kingdom for both Jewish and Gentile believers. Psalm 37:11, Matthew 5:3
P.S. All Christians need to understand God's historical and present working with the Jewish people, for it relates directly to His plans for the church. To learn more, I encourage you to read "A Short Summary of God's Working With the Jews," and "Unfinished Business."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #199 ~
Did you know that God’s future plans for Israel relate to His future plans for you and the church? Many Christians are unaware of the great blessings God has in store for the Jews, and what that means for the church. Today I want to talk about the future of Israel, and how this specifically relates to prophecy, to the church, and to God’s work in the world in these last years leading up to the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King.
1) In the Old Testament times God focused on Israel. But since Christ’s 1st coming, God has been focusing on the church, and now, 2000 years later, we are getting close to the end of this age and Christ’s 2nd coming and the rapture of the church. After the rapture, the day of the Lord, and the salvation of a remnant of Jews, the kingdom age will begin and God will greatly bless both Jews and glorified believers (OT saints and the church) with the result that they will be a beautiful witness to the world and a glory to Jesus Christ. Psalms 67, 96, 117
2) Israel is Israel. Israel is not the church, as some wrongly say, and there is nothing in God’s word that says the church has replaced Israel, that the church is now the sole recipient of some or all God’s promises to her. God has very specific and special plans for Israel with regards to her future, and all these plans will be carried out. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations… The counsel of the Lord stands forever… Blessed is the nation (Israel) whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12, Isaiah 60-62
3) Three key promises were given by God to Israel: a) They will inherit a vast portion of land (Gen. 13:14-17, 15:18-21). b) A large remnant of Jews will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week (Jer. 31:31-34). c) Jesus Christ will reign as Israel’s King during the millennial kingdom. (Ezek. 37:21-23, Zech. 14:9). Indeed, God remembers His promises to the Jewish people and will faithfully fulfill every one of them. “He has remembered His covenant forever.” Psalm 105:8-11
4) The phrase “end-time” comes from Dan. 12:9 - “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.” Dan. 7-12 contains a great deal of information about God’s plans for Israel in these last days leading up to Christ’s return to become King of the world. (Dan. 7:13-14). That the Jews have returned to their land is God’s signal to the church that we are in the end-times, that He is once again actively working with Israel, that the prophecies contained in Dan. 7-12 are about to be fulfilled, and that Christ will soon return to rapture the church and set up His kingdom on this earth.
5) Luke 21:20-24 must be understood if we are to know how God has been working with the Jews during the church age. We learn that they were punished and scattered all over the world, which began around 70 AD. And they “will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” and then Christ will become King of this world. “When you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:31
6) Romans 11 must also be understood if we are to know how God has been working with the Jews during this church age. “God gave them (Jews) a spirit of stupor, eyes to see not and ears to hear not, down to this very day” (vs. 8), and “they (Jews) were broken off for their unbelief” (vs. 20). During this church age, God is not focused on saving Jews, but on saving Gentiles. “By their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles… and their failure is riches for the Gentiles” (vss. 11-12). But “God has not rejected the people whom He foreknew,” for we read that “a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved… when I take away their sins” (Vss. 25-27). God will save a large number of Jewish people at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Is. 45:17, Dan. 9:24
7) The Jewish people have been gathering back to their land, the #1 sign that we are in the end-times, and that the times of the Gentiles will soon come to an end. This miraculous return, beginning in the 1880’s, has resulted in close to 6.7 million Jews presently living in Israel (Hosea 3:4-5, Amos 9:14-15). The fulfillment of end-time prophecies and promises for both Jews and Christians is contingent on the Jews being back in their land. For the Antichrist to desolate the new Jewish temple requires that the Jews be back in their land (2 Thess. 2:1-4). For the church to be raptured necessitates that the Jews are living in Israel (Matt. 24:15-31). You cannot overstate this amazing miracle that millions of Jews have returned to Israel, and what it means for them, the church, and God’s eternal purposes.
8) That many New Testament prophecy passages for the Jewish people sit next to prophecy passages for the church means that God wants you to see that His end-times’ work with the Jews is in conjunction, is coinciding with His end-times’ work with the church. God’s present and future work with the Jews should be of utmost interest to all Christians. Knowing how God is working with the Jews helps you understand the timing of His dealings with the church in the years leading up the rapture, and should motivate you to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth…” (Matt. 6:10). I encourage you to read the following passages that describe God’s end-times' work with both Jews and Christians. Matt. 24:4-31, Luke 21:7-31, Rom. 11, 2 Thess. 2:1-10, Rev. 7, Rev. 12:13-17
9) A listing of God-planned prophetic events taking place in the years ahead: a) Birth pains will be affecting people in various parts of the world. b) Both Jews and Christians will face increasing persecution. c) A peace treaty between Israel and the coming Antichrist will be signed at the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. d) At the midpoint of that 7-year week, the Antichrist will be revealed, and then be recognized by Christians and discerning Jews. e) The rapture of the church will happen sometime during the last half of that 70th week. f) The day of the Lord, the outpouring of God’s wrath upon the earth, will begin after the rapture, occurring during the last part of that 70th week. g) God will save a remnant of Jewish people at the very end of that week. h) Jesus Christ will then begin His 1000-year reign over the entire world.
10) During the millennial kingdom, both Jewish and Gentile believers will be worshiping the Lord (Rom. 15:9-15). Both will inherit the land (Ps. 37:11, Matt. 5:5). Both will be blessed by the Lord (Ps. 67:7, 1 Pet. 1:4). Both will reign with the Lord (Matt. 19:28, Rev. 5:10). Both will be serving the Lord (Ez. 40-48, Matt. 25:20-21). Both will be witnessing for the Lord (Ps. 96:2-3). How encouraging and exciting it will be to see God blessing both Jewish and Gentile believers - “All these (Jewish believers), having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us (the church), so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:39-40
At this time, with so many problems, difficulties, and conflicts, it may seem like the world is spinning out of control, as if God is ignorant of what is going on, as if God doesn’t care, or as if God is unable to do anything about it. On the contrary, our wise, loving, faithful, powerful, and purposeful God is constantly working, and sovereignly directing all things and all people towards that singular moment when He sends “Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:20, Eph. 1:9-11). It won’t be long before we “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). Be encouraged for “your redemption is drawing near” and “the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:28, 31). Then we will “tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.” Psalm 96:3-4
P.S. The following will help you understand God's working with Israel, something you need to know - "A Summary of the Prophetic Work of God, from the Time of Abraham to Christ's Millennial Kingdom." Here is a suggestion for an inexpensive but very valuable Christmas gift - I encourage you to download our articles, posts and/or charts to give to friends and loved ones! Downloads
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #200 ~
Yes! Yes! Yes, Christ is coming again - and He’s coming soon. Jesus Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth, God in the flesh, the Son of God and Son of Man is, without question, coming back to this world. You need to know this and be convinced of this, and be looking forward to Christ’s return to rapture the church and reign over this earth.
About 2000 years ago Jesus Christ lived on this planet for the first time. In fact, many Old Testament verses predicted His coming, and also His purpose on this earth. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 say it best, that Jesus came to suffer, die, and pay for the sins of sinners - and all those who repent of their sins and believe that He died for them will be forgiven. After Jesus died, He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, awaiting that time when His Father sends Him back to this earth. Psalm 22:27-29, Acts 3:14-21
What does God’s word say about Christ’s coming? Jesus Himself promised that He was coming back. “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah” (Matt. 24:37). “I will come again and receive you to myself” (John 14:3). “Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20). Peter talked about “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). John told us, “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him” (1 John 3:2). James instructed us, “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7). He went on to say, “The Judge is standing right at the door” (James 5:9). Paul spoke of “the day of Christ Jesus,” referring to His return (Phil. 1:6). Paul talked about those “who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15). He also tells us, “Wait for His (God’s) Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:10). The angel told the apostles, “This Jesus… will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Truly, truly, Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth, and much sooner than most people think.
How is Christ coming back? Jesus is not coming back meekly or quietly like a lamb, but like a lion, with power and glory - “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:30). To unbelievers, Jesus is coming back suddenly and surprisingly - “The day of the Lord will come just like a thief… destruction will come upon them suddenly…” (1 Thess. 5:2-3). To all people, Jesus will come back visibly, not secretly - “Behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him” (Rev. 1:7). “Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24:27). Christ’s coming will be announced - “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God...” 1 Thess. 4:16-17
When is Christ coming back? Heb. 10:37 tells us that it won’t be long from now, “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Rom. 10:11-12 says that “Salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” In answer to the disciples’ question, “When will these things happen, and what is the sign of your coming?” (Matt. 24:3), Christ gave them numerous signs that must occur before His return - birth pains (vss. 5-8), false prophets (vs. 11), increasing lawlessness (vs. 12), preaching the gospel to the world (vs. 14), the abomination of desolation (Antichrist - vs. 15), great tribulation (vss. 9, 21), and heavenly signs (vs. 29). End-time Christians who are waiting and watching will see that Christ’s coming is drawing near. In other words, you can know the general time of Christ’s return, but you cannot know the exact time, “For of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son of Man, but the Father alone” (Matt. 24:36). Encourage one another “as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25
Why is Christ coming back? What is His purpose in returning to earth? Here are the reasons:
1. To rapture the church - “We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:17, Matt. 24:31
2. To give us relief from tribulation - “… to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven.” 2 Thess. 1:7; Matt. 24:21-22, 29-31
3. To deliver us from God’s wrath - “… to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thess. 1:10, Rev. 6-9
4. To redeem us from our sinful bodies - “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory… your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:27-28, Eph. 1:14
5. To glorify the believers - “… in Christ all will be made alive (glorified). But each in His own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming...” 1 Cor. 15:22-23
6. To be with us – “we… 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 Thess. 4:17, 5:10
7. To take us home to heaven - “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be.” John 14:3, Heb. 12:22-24
8. So believers can see Christ’s glory - “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory.” John 17:24
9. To judge the world - “He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness.” Psalm 98:9, 2 Thess. 1:6-10, Rev. 8-9
10. To defeat the Antichrist - “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, that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan.” 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 19:11-20
11. To save a remnant of Jewish people - “… all Israel will be saved… ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove ungodliness from Jacob’… ‘I take away their sins.’” Rom. 11:25-27
12. To begin His reign on earth -“He placed His right foot on the sea and His left on the land… in the days of the voice of the seventh angel.” (Rev. 10:2,7). “… the seventh angel sounded… The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Rev. 11:15, Zech. 14:9
13. To be worshiped by believers - “After these things I looked and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes, peoples, and tongues… clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’” Rev. 7:9-10, 5:13
14. To give us our inheritance - “… who according to His (God’s) great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance… a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:4-5, Eph. 1:14
15. To be worshiped by the whole world - “… that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 1:10-11
The greatest event taking place in the world in the not-too-distant future is the appearing, the revealing, the coming of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King. Might you believe in Him, love Him, tell others about Him, be waiting for Him, be saying to Him, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20), and be praying to the Father, “Thy Kingdom come.” Matt. 6:9
P.S. When it comes to end-time's prophecy, the soon coming of Jesus Christ is the single most important subject. Many details need to be understood, but this one fact is what you need to remember. Three posts that talk specifically about Christ's coming are: "When is Christ Coming Back?", "Why is Jesus Christ Coming Back?", and "What Will Happen When Christ Comes Back?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ Special Post ~
Thankful: I am very thankful that God has stirred me and helped me to write these prophecy blog posts for the past four years. I must say, I have been extremely motivated and excited about serving the Lord and you in this way, and trust that it has been a blessing to your life. In this special post, there are a few thoughts I want to share with you.
The Plan: After the first of the new year, I am planning on writing posts on an every-other-week basis. Many more end-time’s subjects and Bible passages need to be covered and explained to you. In all this, I have three main goals: 1) to share with you the hope God gives you in His word; 2) to prepare you for the future, for what I believe will prove to be very strategic yet difficult times; 3) to equip you so you can teach others about what God has in store for us. These last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church are critically important times in the life of the church. Even though this past year has been tougher than usual, I believe we are still living in the calm before the storm, before the birth pains grow stronger, and before persecution increases. Take advantage of this time to learn all you can about the future God has planned out for you and the church. “Behold, I have told you everything ahead of time.” Mark 13:23
Download: I encourage you to download all the posts, articles, and charts. You never know when the powers that be will shut the site down. It doesn’t take that long to download this important information, and then you will have it for yourself, and also be able to share it with others. You may even want to give the downloads to friends and family members, and what could be an eternally valuable and long-lasting Christmas gift for them.
Recent messages: I continue to pastor a small church in Tampa, Florida. My weekly Sunday messages to the church can be found in two places - Sermon Audio and Facebook (Hope Bible Church). In the past two months all my sermons have related to the future, to the hope God has given us. Even my Christmas message (12/20/20) covers the big picture, that is, both the first and second comings of Christ. I also want to say that I greatly appreciate your prayers for my ministry in the church and the writing of these blogposts. If you have any suggestions or questions about the subject of end-time’s prophecy, please email them to me.
Other prophecy sites: Here are two other instructive and helpful prophecy sites that I have mentioned in the past but want to remind you of: Eschatos and Zion’s Hope. Do take the time to check them out, and I am sure you will be very encouraged by them.
One of My Favorite “Christmas” Songs: Let me conclude by sharing the words of one of my favorite Christmas songs, “Joy to the World.” What is so unusual about this song is that it doesn’t focus on Christ’s first coming. It truly is a second coming carol, containing some of the most encouraging words about the millennial kingdom age. I am sure you will find it instructive and heart-warming. “Joy to the world! the Lord is come; let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns; let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love.”
Christmas Post: I will post a special Christmas message this next Monday (12/21/20).
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!! Steve Hogan
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #201 ~
Most people, even many Christians, don’t understand the real meaning of Christmas. We know it’s not about presents, family, food, football, decorations, and singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” but it’s not just about baby Jesus either. Yes, He is the reason for the season, but do you understand the whole story? Do you see the big picture? Do you realize that the Bible stories of Jesus’ birth are not just about Him being a baby, but about His entire, eternal purpose? What does God’s word say about Christmas and it's true meaning?
In the Old Testament we find many prophecies about Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 9:6-7 tells us, “A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God… There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” These are remarkable, hope-producing predictions about this baby, this child, a son, and that He would miraculously be God in the flesh, would literally be with us on this earth, and then be a King who will rule over this world forever and ever.
Micah 5:2-5 says, “But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity… He will arise and shepherd His flock… He will be great to the ends of the earth. This one will be our peace.” This too speaks of the Messiah, this eternal one who would be born in that little town of Bethlehem, and then become a ruler, bringing peace to Israel and to the whole world during what we know to be the millennial kingdom.
The New Testament tells us that these Old Testament prophecies were and will be fulfilled, for they describe Jesus’ birth, but much more than that. In Matt. 1:20-23, we learn that Joseph found out from an angel that Mary’s child was “‘Immanuel’, which translated means, ‘God with us,’” this fulfilling Isaiah 7:14. Joseph was told that the baby’s name was to be Jesus which means Savior, for He would “save His people from their sins.” Matt. 2:1-12 goes on to tell us about the Magi worshiping this baby Jesus, for He was the King of the Jews, thus fulfilling the Micah 5:2-5 prophecy. To sum it up, the Christmas story as stated by Matthew makes it explicitly clear that Jesus wasn’t just a baby but God in the flesh, a Savior and a King.
Luke 1-2 says the same thing. First, there’s an angel telling Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:26-33). Mary, a holy and humble young woman, was surprised but excited to hear that her baby would not just be her son, the son of man, but also the Son of God, and that He would be a King, fulfilling the promise given to David. (2 Sam. 7:12-16). Then there’s the angel bringing “good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
Zacharias, the priest, upon learning from the Holy Spirit that baby Jesus was to be the Savior, proclaimed that He would bring forgiveness of sins to His people, to both Jews and Gentiles (Luke 1:68, 77). He also knew Jesus would be the greatest King ever and would fulfill God’s promise to Abraham about his descendants being rescued from their enemies, receiving land, and living in peace. (Luke 1:71-75, 79). Finally, there’s Simeon, who actually held baby Jesus when He was in the temple with Joseph and Mary - and the ever-hopeful Anna was there too, one who had long been praying for that day. They knew this little baby was the Messiah, the Christ, and also the King who would bring lasting peace to Israel. Luke 2:25-32, 36-38
Indeed, the message of Christmas is infinitely and eternally bigger than just a story about the baby Jesus. I hope you clearly understand the meaning of the Christmas story, as told by Matthew, Luke, and the prophets, that Jesus is the Lord, God in the flesh, and that He came to this earth to be both a Savior and a King.
A little over 2000 years ago Jesus was born on this earth, and He grew up to become the most important Man, a perfect Man who died on a cross to pay the penalty for all your sins. You see, all people have sin-blackened souls and are guilty before God. And not you nor anyone else can save your soul - only Jesus Christ, the Son of God and son of man, can save you, can take away your sins. If you repent, if you tell God that you are truly sorry that you have sinned against Him, and believe that Christ, and Christ alone, satisfied God’s wrath by dying for you, then you will be born again and become a child of God. Your soul will be cleansed from all your sins, and you will receive eternal life, a needed, satisfying, and most wonderful relationship with the living God, one that will last forever and ever. “Repent and return, so your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you.” Acts 3:19-20
We are coming to the end of 2020, a year that for many has been most difficult and troubling - and so the true and timeless message of Christmas is particularly relevant at this time. While some may think this is the time to just relax, eat good food, sing songs, get presents, and be with family, let me strongly say that now is when you need to know the real meaning of Christ, that Jesus Christ is a Savior and wants to deliver you from your sins, that He is Lord and wants to use your life for God’s purposes, and that He is King, and will soon return to rule over this world during the kingdom age.
That a great many Jewish people have come back to their land means we are now in the end-times and this church age is about over. We are a lot closer to Christ’s 2nd coming than we are to His 1st coming. It won’t be long before we “see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27), before we will be saying, “glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men” (Luke 2:14), and before “the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
Let me share a truth-centered, super-encouraging, 1st and 2nd coming Christmas carol, “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”
1 - “Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”
2 - “Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a King; Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit rule in our hearts alone; By Thine all-sufficient merit raise us to Thy glorious throne.”
May the true message of Christmas live in your heart and be lived out in your life, bringing blessing to your life and great glory to God!
P.S. What a wonderful time of the year to think about Jesus Christ, our Savior and King. Here are two previous posts that tell us how the Christmas story relates to Christ's 2nd coming and the hope that God has for every believer - "First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming" and "The Christmas Story and Christ's Second Coming."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #202 ~
Are you looking forward to 2021? Yes? No? Yes and no? 2020 was a rough and difficult year for many of us. It did not turn out how we expected, with the pandemic, lockdowns, wearing masks, people getting sick, many dying, others losing jobs, not seeing family, and not going to church. All this, coupled with other challenging trials, has led to worry, anger, fear, and frustration. Without question, 2020 was a tough year, a strange year, the kind of year you don’t want to see again. So what do you think about the new year? What do you think is going to happen in 2021? More importantly, what are you planning to do? But most importantly, how are you to live for God when life seems like it’s out of control, when people are becoming increasingly evil, and when the world around you is growing worse and worse?
First, recognize that we live in a sinful, devil-controlled world. There will always be problems, trials, and just plain wickedness. In fact, the closer we get to Christ’s return to rapture the church, the harder life will get. Second, understand that God is sovereign over all things, including every aspect of your own life. Third, remember that God never changes, and the way you are to live for God never changes. Fourth, know what God wants you to know, be who He wants you to be, and do what He wants you to do. And how to live for God, this knowing, being, and doing, is all found in God’s word.
Psalm 119:87 - “They almost destroyed me on earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.” Psalm 119:92 - “If Your laws had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Psalm 119:143 - “Trouble and distress come upon me, but Your commands give me delight.” Psalm 119:157 - “Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from Your statutes.” Do you see that we need God’s word in the midst of persecution, troubles, and affliction? Regardless of how many trials you face, the answer is to always keep trusting God and obeying His word. Holding on to God and His truth is the means to being truly safe and strong and being able to stay the course. No matter what happens in 2021, God and His unchanging word will keep you on the road He has planned out for you. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Here are seven truths you need to understand and apply to your life this year and for all time:
1. Your Relationship with God. Focus on your relationship with God. Know who He is, that He is the living God, your Creator, Lord, and Savior. Get to know Him, for He is loving, kind, wise, sovereign, holy, faithful, forgiving, gentle, and powerful. Love Him with all your heart. Worship Him. Enjoy Him. Stay close to Him (Ps. 63:8). Be satisfied by His love (Ps. 90:14). Spend time with Him (Phil. 3:10). Think of how Jesus got alone with His Father (Mark 1:35), how Mary sat at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:40-42), and how Enoch walked with God. Gen. 5:21-24
2. Your identity. Believe what God says about you, not what the world says. Your identity is not about your race, color, sex, looks, build, upbringing, job, the money you have, the neighborhood you live in, or the things you own. It’s knowing that God Himself is your Creator, that you did not evolve from some animal, but that He made you in His own image. It means you have a soul, are eternal, are God’s most important creation, and are made to have a meaningful purpose in life. It means knowing you are a saint, a child of God, His servant, a temple of the Spirit, and a member of the church. These powerful and unchanging truths result in you realizing that you are special to God, and will help you fulfill His will for your life. Gen. 1:27, Eph. 1:4-5, 1 Cor. 6:19-20
3. Thankfulness. God commands you to thank Him, for it’s the right thing and a good thing to do. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Ps. 136:1, 1 Thess. 5:18, Col. 1:11-12). God has done so much for you, and if you don’t thank Him, you are ungrateful, you will be grumbling, and you won’t be spiritually happy - you will be miserable. Being thankful leads to more blessings, more fruitfulness, a positive attitude, and being a good witness.
4. Humility. Being humble is a result of knowing God for who He is, that He is the Lord God Almighty. It means you see who you are in relationship to Him, that He’s infinitely greater than you, that He’s your Master, and therefore you are His servant. Here are some benefits to being humble: you will fear God; you will praise God; you will pray to Him; you will serve God and others; you will learn from God and others; you will have good relationships; and you will be infinitely blessed. Always remember - “humble yourself in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” James 4:10, Matt. 23:12
5. Faith. When you have faith, you are relying on God and not on yourself “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord” (Jer. 17:17:7-8). You are to trust God, even when you go through trials (1 Pet. 1:6-7). You are to depend on Him to love you, and to give you wisdom, strength, and direction in life. Spiritual success, along with grace, peace, joy and hope, all come from having faith, from believing God and His word. Heb. 11:6, Rom. 15:13
6. Prayer. A person who is praying has faith, is believing that God actually hears and answers His prayers (1 Jn. 5:14-15). With respect to Elijah it is said, “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b). About Epaphras, Paul said, "(he is) always laboring earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12). At all times and in all situations, pray to God, and then you will be useful to Him, blessed by Him, and at peace. Neh. 2:4, Dan. 6:10-11, Phil. 4:6-7
7. Purpose. The Bible records many stories of people who did God’s work, and so too, He has given you work to do. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). And Jesus Christ is our #1 example - “I brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4). As part of His team, as a member of the church, God has special assignments He wants you to carry out, and oftentimes it relates to the spiritual gift He has given you (1 Pet. 4:10). Ask God to show you the work He has planned out for you; be willing to do what He wants you to do; and obey His commands, for they will outline and lead you in the work He has for you.
Who knows what will happen in 2021? People sure don’t know - none of us can predict the future. But God, our heavenly Father, knows exactly what will be taking place in our little world as well as throughout this world. Yes, life can be hard, and may even be more difficult in 2021 than it was in 2020. In fact some who are reading this may be here when the Antichrist is ruling the world and bringing great tribulation. But no matter what happens, you need to always and in everything keep looking to Him. There is no question that God, working through His word and the Spirit, will enable you to be and do all that He wants this year and in the years ahead, all the way to the end of your life on this earth. “Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth.” Psalm 73:23-25
P.S. What a blessing to have a new year! Of course, we know that our lives and our time is for God and His purposes. Here is a good article on time - "The Time of My Life," and more instructions about how we are to live for God now and in the future - "What Does God Want Me to Do in the End-Times?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #203 ~
I often think about the future, specifically that most wonderful moment when Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church and take us to our heavenly home. I also think about what leads up to that moment, that most difficult time when the Antichrist is on earth and Christians are going through great tribulation. And to think that God wants us to be alive at this time in history and be part of His end-time's plans should both excite us and sober us. John 15:16, Acts 17:26
With this God-planned future in view, what should you do? First, you need to know what will be happening. Jesus says, “Behold, I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:23). That means you need to study prophecy passages like Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 and 2 Thess., and Revelation. I also encourage you to read the posts and articles found on this blog site. Second, read His word and do what He has told you to do. Last week I went over seven key Bible truths about how you are to live: your relationship with Christ, your identify, faith, humility, prayer, purpose, and thankfulness. Today I will look at seven more.
Obedience. The main way you fulfill God’s purpose for your life is by obeying His commands, many that are very basic, but so, so important. Mark 12:30 - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” John 15:17 - “This I command you, that you love one another.” 1 Pet. 1:16 - “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Prov. 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Eph. 5:18 - “Be filled with the Spirit.” Matt. 6:33 - “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Matt. 28:19 - “Go make disciples of all the nations.” When you carry out these commands God will be glorified, His purposes will be fulfilled, and you and the church will be forever blessed. Psalm 119:1-8
Holiness. As a Christian, you are perfectly righteous in God’s sight, you have been forgiven of all your sins, and you are a saint, which means a holy one. And now you are to live like a saint - you are not to be worldly or sinful, you are not to be angry, bitter, proud, lazy, selfish, dishonest, covetous, impure, or immoral. The main way this happens is by the work of God's word and the Holy Spirit in your life. “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” (Ps. 119:11). Some wonderful results of being holy are peace, a close relationship with God, spiritual growth, and being useful to God. 1 Jn. 5:5-9, 2 Tim. 2:21
Promises. The Christian life isn’t just doing what God wants you to do, but also knowing what He is doing for you. And much of what God does is seen in His promises to you, and the church. Here are some of them: Ps. 23:6 - “Goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Ps. 32:8 - “I will lead you in the way that you should go.” Ps. 46:10 - “I will be exalted among the nations.” Matt. 16:18 - “I will build the church.” 1 Cor. 1:8-9 - “God will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Heb. 13:5 - “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Rev. 22:20 - “I am coming soon.” These promises about the future, the hope God has for you, are crucial, for they help you get your eyes off yourself and onto God, and what He is and will be doing. 2 Peter 1:3-4
Church. The church, comprised of those who are true Christians, is the body of Christ, the spiritual family of God. It is primarily by the church that God’s truth is taught, His purposes are fulfilled, disciples are made, and there’s spiritual growth. And so you need this family, and by being part of it, there’s real love, joy, fellowship, and encouragement. Be assured, Christ will build His church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matt. 16:18, Eph. 1:3-14
Relationships. God does not want you to be a loner - which is another reason why you need the church. God’s desire is that there are Christians you can be close to, spend time with, talk to openly, give you counsel, pray for you, care for you, and who you can share your life with. But good relationships are godly friendships that go both ways. That is, there must be mutual concern, care, and love. In all this, we are talking about relationships that are committed to Christ, that are focusing on Christ and fulfilling His purposes. Then there will be real blessing, unity, fellowship, and progress for the Lord. Rom. 1:11-12, Col. 4:7-14, 2 Tim. 1:3-4
Character. Life is not just about what you do - it’s also about who you are, that you have godly character. This means being loving, kind, forgiving, patient, truthful, thankful, faithful, hopeful, courageous, rejoicing, loyal, diligent, persevering, a hard worker, and a fighter for what’s right. Of course, only God can build this godly character in your life. By His word, by the Holy Spirit, by prayer, through trials, and by learning from others, you will surely grow in character, you will be more Christlike, you will be effective for God. Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Tim. 4:11
Sacrifice. God did not save you and leave you on earth so you could make a name for yourself. Jesus sacrificed His life to save you from your sins, and so you could sacrifice your life and make a name for Him (Ps. 23:4, Eph. 5:1). When you love people, when you are kind, giving, and patient, then you are sacrificing your life for them, and for Him. Yes, sacrifice can be extremely difficult, but it’s worth it, for the glory of Christ, the good of others, and for your eternal blessing. And it may be that you will sacrifice your life by dying for Christ, that you are a martyr, but remember, He died for you (Rev. 6:9). “I urge you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God.” Rom. 12:1. Luke 9:23
Each of these truths are vital if you are to live successfully for God. Ask Him to help you spiritually grow up so you can “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Eph. 4:1). As you know, we presently live in a very sinful, troubled, divided, and changing country, and this means great challenges and pressures. But what does not change is who God is, what He plans to do, who you are in Christ, and how you are to live for Him. Never forget that! And so no matter what’s happening now or will be happening in the future, keep looking to Christ. And if you are still on this earth when the Antichrist is revealed and devilishly ruling, don’t be afraid, don’t stress out, just remember to keep doing what God has taught you to do. This is the secret to success! “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you! Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9
P.S. Here is an article that also tells us how God wants us to live: "Spiritual Survival Food for the Coming Tough Times." My plan for the future is to put up a post every other week, which means the next one will come out on January 22 - it will be all about our magnificent brand new body! But if events come up necessitating a post more often, I will do so.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #204 ~
These are extremely tough times, very difficult days for those living in the United States. There’s the Covid virus, children still not in school, the election controversy, the Capitol riot, the impeachment, freedoms being taken away, and the greatest political division since the Civil War. These things can lead to worry, anger, and being overwhelmed, unless you look to the Lord and are trusting Him. But how does God want you to process what’s presently happening in our country? What does He want you to do?
* Fix your eyes on Jesus. Look to Jesus and cast your cares on Him instead of trying to figure everything out. Love Him and stay close to Him. And ask God to give you the peace He wants you to have. “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations.” Ps. 46:10, Phil. 4:4-6, 1 Pet. 5:7
* Know that God is sovereign. When troubles abound, know that God is still in control, that He reigns, that His will is being carried out, that all things are going according to His plan. “He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’” Dan. 4:35, Is. 46:9-11
* See the big picture. “God changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding” (Dan. 2:21). What’s been going on in our country these past 50-60 years has been ordained by God. A humanistic educational system, a rapid decline in morality, a growing socialistic government, increasing globalism, technological advancements, and super-quick communication - God is sovereign over it all. All the leaders we have had, and now the new President - God is sovereign over this as well. And God wants to give you wisdom, which means He wants you to know where all this is headed, that His Son, Jesus Christ, is coming back and will establish His kingdom on this earth. “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed” (Dan. 2:44). “His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.” Dan. 7:27, Rev. 11:15
* Know where it all leads. Everything that’s been taking place, whether it has to do with the past 50-60 years, 2020, or what’s been happening in the past few weeks, relates to God’s plans for the future. It may be puzzling to you, but not to God, for all things, all people, all events, all problems, all countries, all the puzzle pieces, are fitting together in just the way He has planned, and are all leading to that time when Christ returns, raptures the church, judges the world, and sets up His kingdom on this earth. “… with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Eph. 1:9-11
* Don’t worry about evil people. Don’t fret, for God will deal with those who are wicked, and if they don’t repent, will judge them. “Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land” (Ps. 37:9-15, 11:5-7). While rulers may think they have all this power and can do whatever they want, God knows they are but fools. He is laughing at them, scoffing at them, and warning them to repent or else. God wants them, and us, to know that He has already installed His Son as the true and future King over this entire world. Psalm 2
* Understand Biblical prophecy. God has already told you everything you need to know about the future. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:23). All that God wants you to know about what will be happening before Christ’s coming is found in His word, in Matt. 24, Luke 21, 1-2 Thess., Daniel, and Revelation. In these years leading up to Christ’s return, there will be birth pains, false teachers, increasing lawlessness, the signing of a treaty, the building of a Jewish temple, that devilish Antichrist, great tribulation, and finally, signs in the heavens signaling the end of this age. And all that is now taking place and will take place in our world must be seen in the context of these end-times’ Bible prophecies. Don’t worry, be at peace, for God is working all things together for your good, and for His purposes and glory. Rom. 8:28-29
* Don’t get caught up in conspiracy thinking. Isaiah 8:12-13 warns us, “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ in regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy, and He shall be your fear.” Many people are speculating, saying things that may or may not be true, but you don’t know for sure. Be very careful to what you listen to, things political or spiritual, things that may sound interesting, but oftentimes are far-fetched, and seem un-believable. In these days, do not waste your time on fantastical theories, do not be led astray by worldly ideas. May God’s prophetic word give you the right perspective, a proper framework by which you can know what is right and wrong, can discern what is true and false. Trust the Lord, and not men. Focus on God’s word, and not human words. 2 Tim. 2:14-18, 1 John 4:6
* Christ is building the church. “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18). When you think about this country and the world we live in, you may get discouraged and wonder if God is winning, if His work is really being carried out. This verse is to remind and encourage you that God, through Jesus Christ, is doing exactly what He wants to do. His plans for the church are precisely and perfectly being carried out, and will never be thwarted by the devil or anyone else. Prov. 21:30, Is. 46:9-11,
* Do the work God gives you to do. “Do business with this until I come back” (Luke 19:13). It’s easy to be distracted and think too much about what’s going on in the world. But be thinking about what God wants you to do, and keep building your part of the wall. This means loving Christ, living for Christ, being in a good church, using your spiritual gift, and being united with others in making disciples. Neh. 4; Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 2:10
* God’s word is not chained. “I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not chained” (2 Tim. 2:9). There is no doubt that the devil is at work, and wants to prevent you and all Christians from preaching the word. When you see and hear of his evil activity, don’t fret or fear, but remember that God is the Lord God Almighty and the Chief Communicator, and that His word, His gospel message, will be preached and will bear fruit. But be wise, keep praying, and persevere in getting God’s word out to the lost, to the unsaved. Mark 13:9-11, Phil. 1:12-18
What a time to be alive! The church age will soon come to an end, but lots needs to happen and much work still needs to be done. Stay close to God and to Christians, keep the big picture in mind, be led by the Spirit, and keep doing the work God has assigned you to do. And it may be that Christ’s return and the rapture of the church is much closer than you think. “Do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:11-12
P.S. I hope and pray that you are excited to be living in the end-times, and that you are learning what God wants you to know, and are doing what He wants you to do. "What the Bible Says About the Future" is a great summary of God's plans for these years leading up to Christ's return, and what comes after that.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #205 ~
This country is terribly troubled! It is sharply divided. It has major problems in its cities. It has big problems in its schools. It has huge problems in the government. It has problems economically. It has problems with crime, drugs, immigration, and human trafficking. There are problems with marriages, families, and even with churches. It is obvious that this country is going downhill, and sad to say, and sovereignly so, it will keep getting worse until Jesus Christ comes back and takes over, not just this country, but the entire world. Rev. 11:15
The real reason for this country's problems is her sin. The truth about sin and its consequences must be understood by Christians, or else we will be looking for answers in the wrong places. Humanistic and worldly thinking never give us the answers about the spiritual need of the soul, our relationships, and how we can truly live - they only come from God, His word, and from Jesus Christ. John 8:32, 14:6
Sin is a major subject in the Bible. Sin is talked about from the beginning of the Bible to the end of it. One of the best lists of sins is in 2 Tim. 3:2-4: “Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Another detailed list is found in Gal. 5:19-21: “The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealously, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.” Jer. 2:13 sums up sin this way: “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Indeed, the sin of rebelling against God and rejecting Him is the root of all kinds of other sins.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to our sin problem. The wages of sin is death, both physical and spiritual death. "The soul who sins will die” (Ezek. 18:4). "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). As people, we have sinned against God, and deserve to be punished, and eternally so. But thankfully, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of man, became our substitute, and suffered and died on a cross to pay for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.” All those who repent of their sin and believe that Jesus Christ died for them, satisfying God's wrath, and then rose again are born again, receive eternal life, are forgiven, and will go to heaven.
Many Bible stories illustrate our sin problem. There was Cain and his sin of murder, and he was judged (Gen. 4:9-14). There was the family of Achan greedy for gold and silver, and God had them stoned to death (Josh. 7:16-26). There were the proud, immoral, and gluttonous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and God righteously rained down fire and brimstone upon them (Gen. 19:23-29, Ezek. 16:49). In Noah’s time, the people in the world were extremely wicked for “every intent of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually.” God had no choice but to devastate the entire earth with a flood, and so everyone was punished, and perished, except for Noah and his family (Gen. 6-8). These examples, along with many more, are to wake us up to our serious and deadly sin problem. It is that which affects and afflicts every person, every family, every village, every city, every country, and the whole world.
A time when Israel was troubled by sin and found mercy - 2 Chron. 15:6 tells us, “many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the land. Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress.” It was God Himself who afflicted and troubled Israel because of her sin, because she rejected Him and worshiped false gods. And because of her “abominable idols” (vs. 8), “Israel was without the true God” (vs. 3). But King Asa was stirred by the words of the prophet Azariah who told him, “As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (vs. 7). The king responded by removing the idols and calling on the people to repent and seek the Lord. And by God’s amazing grace, the people “entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and soul.” This led to a great revival for we see that God “let them find Him.” The undeserved and unbelievable blessing was that “the Lord gave them rest on every side,” and there was peace, for there was “no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.” 2 Chron. 15:15, 19
A major part of Israel’s history is her sin against God. Time after time, the Bible graphically describes how God’s privileged people sinned against Him, and therefore, He judged them. (Ps. 78, Ps. 106, Neh. 9, and the prophets). From around 1450 BC to 600 BC, God demonstrated great patience and love for His people (Ps. 136). There were short periods of time when the Israelites lived in a godly way, but most of the time they kept on sinning. Finally, and righteously, God had many killed and many others exiled from their land. After the Jewish people returned to their land and had been there for about 500 years, a most incredible thing happened - Jesus Christ, the son of God and Savior of sinners, actually came to Israel. Sadly, most of His people rejected Him, and again God exiled them, this around 70 AD, and this time to all parts of the earth (Luke 21:20-24). Since the 1880’s, God has been mercifully, and according to His promise, bringing the Jews back to Israel, a number now totaling close to 6.6 million. That all these Jewish people returned and now reside in their God-given land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times, and that Jesus Christ will soon return to rapture the church and begin reigning over this world. Dan. 12:1-4
The Old Testament prophets spoke extensively on the subject of sin. 1) The prophets talked very openly to the people about all the different sins they were committing. 2) They made it clear that what they were doing was wrong, and consequently, were guilty before God. 3) They strongly exhorted the people to repent of their sins and turn to God for mercy, for forgiveness. 4) They warned them that if they didn't repent that they would be judged for their sins. 5) They gave the Jewish people hope, for they spoke about the coming Messiah, One who would be both a Savior and a King. 6) The prophets told them about God’s promises, that in the future He would save a remnant of Jews, give them an eternal King, and that they would inherit a large portion of land (Ezek. 37:21-28). The writings of the prophets occupy a sizeable portion of the Old Testament, and that’s because God really wants us to learn about His holiness, the danger of sin, the consequences of sin, His great mercy, and the hope He has for Israel, which also relates to the hope He has for the church (Ps. 37:11 - Matt. 5:5). It’s not just important, but imperative, that you read the sobering, instructive, and purifying messages of the prophets, for it relates to you, and to the times we live in.
God has been judging the United States. We have been and will continue to be plagued by troubles, and it won’t stop unless we, as a nation, repent of our sins and turn to the Lord. But I do not believe that will happen. Why? Because of the profound magnitude and seriousness of our sin, because of all the Old Testament examples of nations who greatly sinned and then were judged, and because we know that God, as a final and irreversible judgment, gives people over to their sin, especially to gross sexual sin (Lev. 18, Rom. 1:18-33). I don’t believe there’s any stopping our nation’s downhill slide, which we have been witnessing since the 1960’s. David Ettinger, in a recent issue of Zion’s Hope, said, “America is undergoing upheavals, and many of us are concerned. It is tough seeing the foundations upon which our nation was built under attack… If you believe godlessness and secularism in the United States have passed the point of no return - which I, and many evangelicals do believe - then it is highly likely 2020 may have been a spark that quickly becomes an inferno of cataclysmic events paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist and the return of the Lord Jesus. Don’t count on 2021 – and 2022, 2023, 2024, etc. - to offer any respite from the downward spiral in which our nation is swirling.” (Zion's Hope Magazine - “A Perfect Right Now Passage” - Vol. 31, No. 5, p. 22)
Just because God is judging the United States does not mean He is not working, that people are not getting saved, and that the church is not growing. Jesus Christ is still building the church in this country and will continue to do so until He comes back at the end of this age and raptures the Christians who are still on earth. Until that time, you are to have faith, hope, and love, and be a holy, dedicated, and obedient Christian. Your job is to carry out the assignments God gives you, love all the believers, use your spiritual gift, and be united with the church in making disciples. And remember, seeking God’s kingdom is your main priority (Matt. 6:33). It’s not being consumed with the world, politics, pleasures, sports, or fame. It’s not making money. And it’s not taking it easy (Luke 8:14, 12:13-21). Jesus plainly and lovingly tells us, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). What an opportunity and what a joy to work with God and fulfill His purposes at this time in history - and it results in Him receiving eternal glory, others being eternally blessed, and you receiving eternal rewards.
You may be saddened to think this country is in decline, but you must be thankful and happy in the Lord. "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice" (Ps. 97:1, 1 Thess. 5:16-18). You should know that what is now happening is by the sovereign hand of God, is part of His end-time plans, and must take place before the Antichrist comes to rule over this earth, and before Christ returns to rapture the church, defeat the Antichrist, judge the world, and reign over the world. I cannot stress enough the importance of seeing this big picture, of knowing where things are headed, and that God’s eternal plans are unfolding day by day. It won't be long before Christ's coming, and then He will dramatically and wonderfully change everything, and all for the glory of God. “He had made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father – to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Rev. 1:6-7
P.S. This message about how our sin is in trouble because of our sin is extremely important to understand. I would also encourage you to read two other posts - "The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ", and "In a Wicked World, You Have to Have Hope."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #206 ~
It is obvious to all of us that we are living in very difficult times, and in a very troubled country. We can speculate all day long as to why things are happening, but we always need to come back to what God tells us in His word. And He makes it clear that sin is our number one problem, and that it affects and relates to everything going on in our world today. Because of this, I felt compelled to write a blog post on the subject of sinners, but it kept getting longer and longer, and finally, it became an article: Evil Doers in the End-Times. I strongly encourage you to take the time to read this, and then pass it on to others. Listed below are the main points in this article. All these truths about sin, sinners, and the solution, must be properly understood by Christians, and especially now that we live in the end-times, in a country and world that is increasingly growing more sinful and wicked, for only then can we live for God in a godly and fruitful way.
1) Do you notice all the wickedness in the world, and that it’s getting worse?
2) Why sinners are sinners.
3) Sinners are not thinking right.
4) Some sinners are worse than other sinners.
5) Stay away from those who are evil and wicked.
6) Some sinners may not appear to be sinners.
7) God will protect you from those who are wicked.
8) The devil and his army of demons work through sinners.
9) Part of God’s plan is to work through evildoers.
10) God is sovereign over all evildoers and uses them for His purposes.
11) How are we to live in this world of wrongdoers?
12) Evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
13) God will judge the wicked in His time.
14) What should we say to sinners?
15) Saintly living in a sinful world
16) The devilish end-times’ deception of sinners
17) What needs to be understood is that we live in a sinful world, and it's going to get worse.
18) This subject of sinners and God’s dealings with them needs to be understood.
19) What Christians need to know is the hope we have.
20) What are you to do now?
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #207 ~
The hope of all believers is that they will receive a brand-new body, one that will be truly remarkable, powerful, glorious, and immortal. This is incredibly great news, and what will definitely take place in the future, when Jesus Christ returns at the end of this age.
Our human body, created in God’s image, was fearfully and wonderfully made. Though it’s the most amazing and complex of all God’s creations, it’s still very weak and frail, and that’s because of our sin. Yes, we are able to fulfill the plans God has for us in this present age. But we are also in this downward-spiraling, aging process, one that can be especially difficult. Now that I am 67, I am daily feeling the debilitating effects of being older - I get more tired, feel weaker, and have more aches and pains. What Paul said is so true, “We ourselves groan within ourselves” (Rom. 8:23). “We groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven” (2 Cor. 5:2-4). This groaning is physical, but also spiritual, for we continually struggle against our sinful flesh and unseen enemies. More than ever before, I am looking forward to that time when “there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Rev. 21:4, Phil. 1:23
This “looking forward” is what we call hope. As Rom. 8:23 goes on to say, we are to be “waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved.” I am sure you know that your salvation is not yet complete, that as a Christian living on earth, you were justified, you are being sanctified, and you will be glorified - you will be given a new body that’s absolutely amazing. It’s vitally important that you see the entirety of your salvation, for as Rom. 8:30 sums up, “These whom He justified, He also glorified.”
What does God want you to know about your glorified body?
* 1 John 3:2 tells us, “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him.” Wow! Can you imagine this, that you will be like Jesus? Of course, you will be recognizably different in appearance than Him and other believers. But you will have the same kind of body as Jesus, a human body with perfect arms, hands, legs, feet, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hair. Everything about you will be glorious, and yes, stunning. And having a body like Jesus’ body is essential for eternal life, for eternal relationships, and so you can fulfill God’s eternal plans.
* Rom. 8:29 tells us the same thing, that we will be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Again, we are told that we will be like Jesus, we will have a form, a body like His. As 1 Cor. 15:39 explains, “all flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of birds, and another of fish.” We are not beasts, birds, or fish, we are humans, and we will have the same kind of flesh as that of Jesus, our Lord, Savior and King.
* Phil. 3:20-21 further confirms this - “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” No matter what you look like or how good of shape you are in, your body is still in a humble and lowly state. But the time will come when you will be transformed, fashioned, changed, and be like Jesus, possessing the same form, and having a magnificent and awesome body.
Luke 20:35-36 tells us more, that believers will attain to the resurrection of the dead, but “will neither marry nor are given in marriage” - none of us will be husbands, wives, or have children. It goes on to say, “they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” We are now sons of God and soon enough we will look like sons of God, which means we will also look like the angels. God’s plans for you are perfect which means you will have a perfect body so you can live in your wonderfully perfect home, so you can have all these perfectly enjoyable and encouraging relationships, and so you can carry out your perfect and God-glorifying purpose.
1 Cor. 15, the Bible chapter that best describes the believer’s new resurrection body, is most enlightening, especially vss. 40-42. We learn that our present bodies are perishable, are being corrupted, are growing worse with age, are mortal, and eventually will die. But your new body will be imperishable, eternally durable, and last forever. As vs. 54 says, “this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and then this mortal will have put on immortality.” God also wants you to know that your present body is dishonorable. Yes, you are made in His image, but being contaminated by sin often results in being shameful, disgraceful, and even ugly, both inside and out. But thankfully, you will be given a Christ-like body, one that is honorable, perfect, awesome, magnificent, altogether beautiful, one fit for the King.
Then we discover that your body will never again be weak. No longer will you be tired, feeble, sick, diseased, but rather you will be strong and powerful. We all know about the superheroes in comic books and movies, a primary feature being their strength. In the future, you will have a super-strong body, one that is always vigorous, energetic, and tireless. Finally, you won’t possess a natural body, a body suited just for this earth, but rather one that’s spiritual, suited for heaven and the restored earth (Acts 3:21), and for the new heaven and new earth too (Rev. 21:1). Yes, it will be a physical body, but it will also be spiritual, a supernatural and heavenly body. That you will have a body like Jesus’ is a God-promised and glorious truth, and why? So you can be with Jesus wherever He is - “we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17
I get excited thinking about this aspect of our hope, that we will have brand-new bodies, ones that are imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. Designed and made by God, this body will be perfectly and wonderfully suited so you can be and do all that He has planned for you:
* You will grow in your knowledge of the Lord, and your relationship with Him. “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12
* You will fully know and feel the richness and warmth of God’s great love for you. Psalm 136
* You will wholeheartedly be worshiping and loving the Lord, and with a beautiful voice, you will be singing to Him too. Psalm 47:6, 145:1-2; Mark 12:30
* You will have stimulating, loving, and Christ-centered fellowship with all believers. Heb. 3:12
* You will perfectly serve the Lord, rule righteously with Him over this earth, do exactly what He wants you to do, and go everywhere He wants you to go. Rev. 5:10
* You will always be filled with the Spirit, and therefore be filled with love, joy, peace, and goodness. You will be happy and satisfied all the time. Your new body will be able to enjoy and experience all the blessings and pleasures God has in store for you. Psalm 16:11
When will believers receive this brand-new body? It is not when a person physically dies and goes to heaven. It’s when the church on earth is raptured. 1 Cor. 15:23 tells us, “… in Christ 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.” You will be glorified, be made alive at the coming of Christ. 1 Cor. 15:51-52 says that it’s at the last trumpet - “In a moment, at the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 John 3:2 gives you more information - “When He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” It’s at Christ’s coming and when you first see Him that you will be glorified and be like Him. Job 19:25-27
Imagine what it will be like to have a Christ-like body, a perfect body? Think about being in a new body and being in heaven and being with Jesus. We live in a world that spends way too much time and money on our physical bodies, whether that relates to health care, cosmetics, clothes, or exercise (Is. 3:16-24, 1 Tim. 4:8a). Yes, you should take care of your body, stay in shape, and look nice, but don’t overdo it. Remember that you are a child of God living in a sinful world, and you need to focus on loving and serving the Lord. And since it’s the end-times, you need to be looking forward to Christ’s coming and the next major part of your life, when you will look like Christ, be with Christ, and live like Christ wants you to live. “I know that My redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin (old body) has been destroyed, yet in my flesh (new body) I will see God, I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27
P.S. When you are sick or tired or feeling old, then you need to remember what God has in store for you, a brand-new body. I really encourage you to read these two articles for they also talk about this hope of receiving a new body - "You Have to Have Hope," and "Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #208 ~
A country that does not live by the truth will sooner or later cease to be a country. God has designed us to live by the truth, whether it’s in our personal lives, relationships, churches, jobs, society, or government. Seeing progress and success in any of these areas relates directly to the understanding and application of specific truths, facts, laws, principles, or realities. For every aspect of life, truth is foundational and fundamental. The heartaches and hardships a person experiences often result from not knowing and living by the truth. And the problems we see in our country, the greed, corruption, conflicts, crime, and unrighteous policies result from this too, most specifically because of the lies of the devil.
There are countless examples of how people need to live by the truth. There is anatomy and physiology, truths about your body. There are proteins, carbs, and vitamins, truths about the foods you eat. There is low pressure, high pressure, and humidity, truths about the weather. There are truths about leadership, taxes, and borders, and how governments should function. There are truths that relate to the law, to judges, juries, and the need for witnesses to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” There are truths that relate to raising a child, cooking a meal, building a house, driving a car, or growing a garden.
The truth is that you cannot live without the truth. For example, what happens if you don’t believe the law of gravity and you jump off a cliff? What happens if you don’t believe principles about budgeting and you keep buying things on credit? What happens if you don’t believe truths about relationships, about being kind, patient and forgiving? There is truth that relates to every single person and thing in the world. And if you aren’t living in accordance with the truth, then you will be living by lies and your life won’t make sense - it will be filled with problems.
Living by the truth means you need to be a learner. God has given you a brain and a mind so you can learn the truth. And it’s from parents, teachers, friends, books, making mistakes, and observing things that you learn the truth. I remember my grandfather always telling me, “to be successful, you need to be with those who are older and who have done well.” People whose lives are led by lies, who don’t learn and apply truth, will encounter many difficulties and will not grow up in the way God wants. Your whole life, from beginning to end, from birth to death, needs to be lived in accordance with truth. To be truly successful you must keep reading, watching, listening, and learning from others, especially from God.
I have made some general points about truth, but what’s most important in life? It’s spiritual truth, truth that comes from God, truth only He can give you (Ps. 119:33-40). Do you remember when Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” This was just after He told Pilate, “I have come into the world to testify to the truth.” Jesus’ whole purpose in life related directly to the truth, to living the truth and telling the truth. Everything He said was the truth - He never lied, He never spoke falsehoods, He always told the truth. And the truth He spoke was spiritual truth. He could have impressed people with His knowledge of the human body, the stars, or the weather, but that’s not what people really needed to hear. Spiritual truth is what really matters, it’s what’s eternally important, and Jesus was always teaching it. And it related to knowing and loving God, loving others, and living a moral and meaningful life that would be eternally blessed.
Jesus Christ was and is a perfect Teacher, the best in the world! He taught the truth about God and His mercy, man and his sin, and how He would die to pay for our sins so we can be forgiven. This truth is the gospel truth and is the most important and needed truth on earth. “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free (from sin)” (John 8:32). The smartest person in the world can know all there is to know about business, health, or science, but if he doesn’t know the truth about God, Jesus, and salvation, then his life will be empty and futile. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36
Jesus didn’t just speak the truth - He was the truth. In John 14:6, He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” When people saw Jesus, they saw the truth, One “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). They actually saw God, a perfect human who loved the truth, embodied the truth, and lived by the truth (John 14:9). He was always giving, kind, patient, serving, wise, and compassionate. He always did what was good, right, and true. “Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). God sent His own Son down to this earth because He wanted us to know and see what truth really looked like.
The truth was not just given to us in the person of Jesus, it was also given to us in a book, in God’s word, in the Bible. It’s only by the truth of God’s word that we can spiritually grow up and be all that God planned us to be. “The sum of Thy word is truth” (Ps. 119:160). There are millions of books in the world, many of them non-fiction, many that share various aspects of truth on different subjects. But infinitely more important than all of them is the Bible, for only through it can we learn what we need to know about God, Jesus, the Spirit, salvation, the church, the kingdom age, and how we can be truly loving, kind, and successful Christians. “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation” (Ps. 25:5). “Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Eph. 4:24
There’s something else you need know, and it’s the truth about Satan, the father of lies (John 8), the number one enemy of the truth. Satan hates God, Jesus Christ, and the truth in God’s word - and his primary goal is to promote and proclaim his lies, hoping to hurt, deceive, and control people. He does not want you to believe truth, and especially spiritual truth which is clearly communicated in God’s word. Satan would want you to believe that there is no truth. He would want you to think that a person can come up with his own truth. He would want you to believe that truth does not have to be absolute, that it can be relative. He would want you to think there is no God, no sin, no heaven, no hell, that Jesus did not die and rise again, that salvation is by works, that God did not create the world, that there is no male or female, that Christ isn’t coming back, etc. Satan is the most wicked and evil liar there is, and so watch out - do not be deceived! And remember, truth defeats lies, truth never loses, truth always wins.
It’s quite obvious that Satan is fighting fiercely against God and His truth, and therefore against Christians who believe the truth. And it’s demons working through evil people who carry out His global plan to cancel truth and promote his evil doctrines (1 Tim. 4:1-3). Without question, we are in a ferocious battle for the truth, a battle for the hearts and minds of people, one that will continue until the very end of this age. (Eph. 6:10-12). As Christians we must know and keep fighting for the truth - and we must not succumb to the terrible and deadly lies of the devil, but instead destroy them. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge (truth) of God.” 2 Cor. 10:4-5
Thankfully, God’s truth will never be silenced or cancelled (2 Tim 2:9). This happens through the church, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), through pastors who proclaim the truth to the people in their church (2 Tim. 4:1-2), and through individual Christians who personally share God’s precious and life-changing truth with others. “Speak truth each one of you with his neighbor” (Eph. 4:25). Might you be faithful and keep living and speaking forth the truth of God, and now more than ever, for we are in the end-times, and Christ will be coming back soon to rapture the church and take us to heaven.
P.S. What a blessing to be a truth-loving, truth-learning, truth-talking person. I encourage you to be reading and studying God's word, and learning from others, specifically those who are God-appointed teachers. Here are two relevant and encouraging posts to read: "Deception or Discernment", and "Old Testament + New Testament = Word of God."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #209 ~
There are all kinds of lies in this world:
- the little lies a person tells another person,
- the lies of slandering and smearing,
- the lie that having lots of money means you are successful,
- the lie that life means having lots of possessions,
- the lie that you need to be entertained by movies, TV, and sports,
- the lie that alcohol and drugs satisfy you and makes you happy,
- the lie that says human beings evolved from lower life forms,
- the lies and spin we hear in the news media, the fake news,
- the lie that outward beauty is more important than inward beauty,
- the lie that being popular is important,
- the lies we hear in movies and music,
- the lie that sex outside of marriage is okay,
- the lies of Hitler that led to WW2 and millions of people dying,
- the lie that the government can solve our problems,
- the lie that our coastlines will someday be flooded because of climate change,
- the lie that there is no male or female, no man or woman,
- the lie that gender is subjective,
- the lies many people make when they do their taxes,
- the lies we see and hear in advertising,
- the lies we see in deepfake technology, in manipulated videos,
- the lies we are told about our history,
- the lies and propaganda we hear from politicians,
- the lie that skin color makes you more, or less, important than others,
- the lies taught in critical race theory,
- the lie that abortion is not wrong, and
- the lie that feelings are more important than facts.
These are just some of the lies you may have heard, and there are many, many more.
All lies are wrong, sinful, and attacks against truth, but some lies are far worse than others. You see, the worst lies have to do with spiritual truths, with God’s truth. And why? Because what you believe about God’s truth has a direct bearing on whether you go to heaven or hell, are saved or damned, are forgiven or guilty, are blessed or punished, are with Jesus in heaven, or are eternally consigned to a dark, lonely, and most painful place. Without a doubt, believing God’s spiritual truths is the most important and impactful thing you can do in life. “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
The devil, “the father of lies” (John 8:44) wants people to believe his lies, and not God's truths, in particular those that relate to whether you are spiritually and eternally alive or are spiritually and eternally dead. The devil’s lies regarding God’s truths are pure evil, deceptive, deadly, and, at times, contradictory. (Many unbelievers, like the devil, are two-faced, double-minded hypocrites, saying one thing one day and another the next day, all to suit their evil desires - Ps. 119:113). What are some of these lies?
- That there is no God,
- that there is no devil,
- that there is no spirit world,
- that man is basically good,
- that there is no such thing as sin, only mistakes,
- that there is no right or wrong, no absolute truth, that everything is relative,
- that God does not know, see, or care what you do,
- that you can do whatever you want for there are no consequences,
- that you aren’t guilty if you do something wrong,
- that Jesus is not God, and not the Son of God - He was just a good man,
- that Jesus never existed,
- that Jesus sinned and therefore, was not perfect,
- that God is cruel, merciless, powerless, forgetful, and unforgiving,
- that there is no heaven,
- that there is no hell,
- that only a few people go to hell, like Hitler, Stalin, and Castro,
- that there is a heaven, but no hell,
- that this life is all there is, and so eat, drink, and be merry,
- that the Bible is not God’s word,
- that there are many errors and contradictions in the Bible,
- that Jesus did not die on a cross to pay for people’s sins,
- that Jesus was never raised from the dead,
- that to be saved you need to do good works,
- that to be saved you need to believe in Jesus Christ plus do good works,
- that if your good works outweigh your bad works, then you will go to heaven,
- that there are many good religions and therefore, many ways to heaven, and
- that everybody goes to heaven.
It’s shocking and sobering that there are all these lies, and many more besides? But why does the devil lie? Because he hates God and the truths of God, and he doesn’t want people to believe these truths and be saved - he wants people to suffer forever in hell. The person who believes the devil’s lies with regards to God, Jesus, man, and salvation is deceived and is downing a spiritual poison, one that is eternally deadly. Sadly, these lies have been believed by billions of people all over the world. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel” (2 Cor. 4:4). “The gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” Matt. 7:13-14
The devil is extremely deceptive, for “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” and “his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Some servants of the devil actually look, talk, and act like they are real pastors and ministers, but they are fakes, hypocrites, blind guides, wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 5:15, Matt. 23). They are the worst kind of liars and therefore, the most dangerous people, for they seem to be sharing the truth with people about how to get to heaven when, in fact, they are telling people lies that lead them to hell. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in… You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?” Matt. 23:13, 33
Thankfully, God has given us spiritual truth, spiritual absolutes, and it’s found in His word. And it’s truth that’s good, right, holy, loving, perfect, and precious, truth that restores the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, and endures forever (Ps. 19:7-10). It’s truth you need to know, understand, and believe. The most important of all spiritual truths is the truth of the gospel. If you’re a Christian, if you’ve been forgiven, if you’re going to heaven, if you’ll be with Jesus, then thank God that He opened your heart to believe this gospel truth, that salvation is a gift from God, and is for those who repent, and believe that Jesus died and paid for their sins, and then rose again. Without a doubt, the truth of the gospel makes all the difference in your life, for only it can enable you to have an eternally satisfying and encouraging relationship with God Himself.
A great spiritual war engulfs this entire world, and it’s a fierce battle for the truth. The devil’s #1 weapon is his lies, and God’s #1 weapon is His truth, which is clearly spelled out in His Word. As a Christian, make sure you know the spiritual truths of God and aren’t being led astray by the lies of the devil. And don’t be distracted by and focusing on the other lies, like those mentioned in paragraph one. Remember, your primary purpose as a Christian is not to counter the lies you see in the world, those in our schools, media, culture, government, etc. That’s not how Jesus and Paul spent their time when they lived on earth. Your job is to learn spiritual truth, live the truth, correct spiritual errors, like those in paragraph three, and share the truth, especially the truth of the gospel. “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom” (Ps. 51:6). “… speaking the truth in love…” (Eph. 4:15). And if you’re a pastor, remember that your number one priority is preaching and teaching God’s word (2 Tim. 4:1). “The overseer must be… holding fast the faithful word… so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” Titus 1:7, 9
The most important truth for any person is the truth of the gospel, what Christ did for us at His 1st coming, and how we can be saved from sin and have eternal life, this most wonderful relationship with God Himself. In this blogsite, I have talked about the gospel again and again. But the principal reason for this site is end-time’s prophecy, the truths about Christ’s 2nd coming. And it's the truths about Christ's 1st coming that are foundational to His 2nd coming. At His 1st coming, Christ was glorified and resurrected from the dead, and at His 2nd coming, all believers from all time will be glorified and gathered to Jesus. At His 1st coming, Christ told us about His 2nd coming, and events leading up to it. And it's Christ's 2nd coming that begins the fulfillment of 100's of prophecies and promises from both the Old and New Testaments, those with regards to Jews and Gentiles, and how we will together glorify our great God and Savior. Romans 15:8-11
Of course the devil lies about prophetic truth as well. I am not going to list out the devil's many lies about our most amazing and glorious future, but only to say that his #1 lie is that Jesus Christ is not coming again. And there is absolutely no truth to this lie, for truly, Christ is coming again, and it won’t be long from now. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:37
P.S. God wants you to be discerning, to recognize the difference between the truth of God and the lies of the devil. Here are two articles that give you many truths about our future - "Thirty Important Truths About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ" and "50 Truths God Wants You To Know About the Rapture."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #210 ~
Jesus tells us a story about the necessity of faith, and it relates to the end-times (Luke 18:1-8). There was a widow who needed legal protection and she goes to the city judge, but he’s unrighteous, a man “who did not fear God or respect man.” He was a mean and uncaring man, unwilling to help this poor woman. But she keeps bothering him, keeps begging him for help, and finally, because of her persistence, he gives her the protection she wants. The lesson God wants us to learn is one of continued faith, of persevering prayer, and especially in the end times, in those last few years before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church.
Life on this earth will be extremely difficult for Christians in the end-times, especially when the Antichrist is ruling, during that time we call great tribulation. “Nation will rise against nation… and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes” (Matt. 24:7). “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of My name.” (Matt. 24:9). “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child...” (Mark 13:13). “… A quart of wheat for a day’s wages....” (Rev. 6:6). “It was also given to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them” (Rev. 13:7). “No one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark (of the beast, the Antichrist).” Rev. 13:17
Can you imagine how hard it will be to live and survive in those days? Christians alive at that time will be going through some of their darkest days, their most difficult experiences on earth. That’s why they will need faith, for it’s the means by which they can stay close to God and get help from Him so they can keep on living for Him. God wants us to know that in the midst of any trial, or during the coming great tribulation, by faith, we are safe, and can be filled with His love, joy, and peace. "...who are protected by God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:5). "I will be glad and rejoice in Your love for You knew my affliction and the anguish of my soul” (Psalm 31:7). Might it be said of the believers who are living during those most trying times - “Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” Rev. 13:10
“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” What about you? Will you have faith, will you be looking to Him and trusting Him when times are tougher than they are now, harder than they have ever been before? You need to think about this question now, not later when the Antichrist is here. God wants you to be growing in faith in the present, and in the years leading up to that time when there will be great trials and tribulation. But how do you grow in faith? How do you grow in trusting God? How do you learn to walk more by faith and less by your flesh and your feelings? How do you go from being a person with little faith to a person with great faith? Here is what God says about how we can be growing in faith.
The first key to faith is God’s word. Only by knowing God’s word can you have true faith, and then experience the love, life, leading, and power of God and the Holy Spirit. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17, Ps. 56:4). If you want to increase your faith, keep reading and thinking about God’s word, and then the Spirit will stir your spirit and enable you to trust Him. “Take… the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:18
The second key is knowing God’s character. “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:10). Knowing that God is loving, holy, good, strong, wise, sovereign, merciful, and compassionate, is essential to trusting Him, to having faith. Whenever I recite “The ABC’s of God’s Character”, a list of 26 character qualities of God, I’m spiritually refreshed, and am moved to love and trust Him.
The third key is trials. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3). None of us in our flesh like trials, but they are good for our spiritual lives, especially for our faith. God gives you trials to get you out of your comfort zone, to cause you to trust Him, to depend on Him instead of on yourself and others. (Pr. 28:25-26). When you go through a trial and are trusting God, then you will draw closer to Him and experience all the grace you need. “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ … I am well content with insults, weaknesses, distresses, persecution… for Christ’s sake… for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12:9-10
The fourth key to faith is learning from others. God has given us many examples of those who love Him and trust Him. It’s important that you learn from their lives and see how they trusted God through the years. “Join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil. 3:17). Early on in my Christian life, I became friends with some godly men who had great faith, ones who encourage my life to this day. “Though he is dead, he still speaks” (Heb. 11:4). And as you read the Bible, you discover hundreds of believers who looked to God, trusted Him, depended on Him, who had faith. Then there’s Hebrews 11, the single best chapter on faith, for it sums up the experiences of these saints who had faith in the living God. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
“Have faith in God!” (Mark 10:22). God commands you to have faith in Him. This means all day long, wherever you are at, whoever you are with, whatever you do, you are to be trusting God and His word. It means you depend on Him to lead you; you rely on Him for strength; you believe He will meet your needs; you ask Him to bless your work; you trust Him to use your relationships; you expect Him to reward you; you count on Him to protect you, and enable you to make it to the end of your life on this earth and on to heaven. I cannot stress enough the importance of you trusting God, of having faith in Him now, and for the rest of your life on this earth. And if you are a “little faith” person, one who is doubting, fearful, and complaining, ask God to make you a “great faith” person, for that’s what God wants you to be and knows you can be. Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 11:20, 14:31; Matthew 8:10
Most importantly, faith is how you experience the joy of the Lord, the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14). It’s how you have a close and meaningful relationship with God Himself. Without question, this is what you need more than anything else. Way too often we walk by sight, our eyes fixed on worldly things, and we are trusting ourselves, others, and things, with the result that we are spiritually empty - but as we trust and rely on God, then we will be fully satisfied by Him. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.” Jer. 17:5-8; Jer. 2:5, 13
One more thing - the parable tells us one thing we are to be praying for, and it's justice. As Christians, we will suffer, be under great pressure, and be persecuted, but we have hope, for we know Christ is coming, that He will rapture us (1 Thess. 4:17), and give us relief (2 Thess. 1:7). And being persecuted on earth will result in great rewards in heaven (Matt. 5:10-12). But what is Luke telling us? “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night… I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly” (Luke 18:7-8). There’s a great deal of injustice and lawlessness in this world, and it’s only going to get much worse (Matt. 24:12). But we are instructed to cry out to God, knowing that it won’t be long before Christ comes to judge the world, and pour out His wrath on all the evil unbelievers who have rejected Him. “The great day of Their wrath has come” (Rev. 6:17, Rev. 8-9, 2 Thess. 2:7-8). Hallelujah! The good news is not just that Christ will enable us to escape this wicked world and bring us to Himself and to heaven, but also that there will be justice on earth. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness.” Psalm 98:9
P.S. Some have said that Christians in this country are soft, and I am sure there is some truth to that. Might we see that we are soldiers of Christ and take up the shield of faith. You must have this shield or you will get hurt and be ineffective for God. This is the time to learn, and be growing in faith, and I have no doubt this is what God is teaching you. I encourage you to read "Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Special Forces", a good article about being a good soldier.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #211 ~
Our biggest problem, by far, is death. People physically die, and all people are spiritually dead - and that’s the truth. Now there are two kinds of death, physical and spiritual - and they are related in that sin is the cause of both. People physically die because of their sin, and people are spiritually dead because of their sin. “The soul who sins will die” (Ezek. 18:4). “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). “You were dead in your trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1
The sobering truth is that people who are physically alive are spiritually dead, which means they are separated from God and spiritually lifeless, unless they have been spiritually saved. And the person who is not spiritually saved during his life on earth, and then physically dies, will be eternally dead, painfully separated from God forever. What is so sad is that many people don’t understand this enormous spiritual problem of sin and death. They have been deceived by their wrong thinking, and by the devil himself. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” (2 Cor. 4:4, 11:13-15). Some people don’t even believe in sin, others believe you can sin but there are no consequences, and others think they will be annihilated, will go out of existence when they die, but that’s just not true - these are all deadly errors, much worse than having a physical disease, like Covid-19. 1 John 1:8-10
In our world, most people focus on the physical. There are doctors, nurses, hospitals, special diets, medicines, nursing homes, supplements, gyms, and exercise. None of these are wrong in and of themselves, but “bodily discipline is only of little profit” (1 Tim. 4:8). Most people are overly concerned about physical issues but don’t realize that sin and death are their primary problems. You know that Covid-19 has resulted in global havoc, and has now consumed and controlled people’s lives for over a year. Think of the virologists and immunologists, and the efforts by countries to solve this one little, but big, physical problem. I am not saying we shouldn’t have doctors, nurses, etc., and shouldn’t do what we can to help people be safe and well. The point I am making is that we tend to focus on the physical and not the spiritual. Our far bigger problem is sin, ignoring God, rebelling against Him, disobeying Him, worshiping idols, but not loving Him. And the consequences of not dealing with this deadly sin problem are not just temporal, but eternal, and are not just physical, but spiritual.
Most people who focus on the spiritual do not have the correct answers, many of whom should know better, like ministers, rabbis, imams, swamis, etc. To sum it up, most of them say that the way to get right with God is by our own efforts, that we need to carry out religious duties, that our good deeds will outweigh our bad deeds, and then we can go to heaven and live forever. But this thinking is not right - it’s terribly wrong and spiritually dangerous, and the results are eternally deadly and extremely painful. People need to know that hell is real, is justly deserved, and a devilish place where sinners are punished forever. “‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil’… these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41, 46
What then is the answer? The answer is not “what” but “who”? It’s the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came down to earth about 2000 years ago and become a man and, therefore, a mediator between God and man. Sin is man’s main problem, the cause of both spiritual and physical death, and Christ, the perfect God-man, could pay for our sin. Christ dealt with our sin by taking it upon Himself while dying on a cross, His Father then pouring out His wrath upon His Son instead of upon us. That’s why Christ cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Everyone needs to know that there are only two options - either you pay for your own sin by being punished forever in hell, or Christ pays for it Himself.
The person who repents of his sin, who sincerely tells God he is sorry he sinned against Him, and believes that Christ took his place and paid for his sin is born again, is forgiven, becomes spiritually alive (Eph. 2:1-5). This is good news, the greatest and most important news in the world, that through Christ we can defeat both sin and death - and it’s because of God’s great love for us. “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “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
Jesus Christ didn’t stay dead, and He couldn’t, and that’s because He was God and as God and man, He defeated sin and therefore death, seen when His Father raised Him from the dead. The only answer to our problem of being spiritually and physically dead is Jesus’ death-and-resurrection. And Jesus’ resurrection clearly proves He is the Victor, the Conqueror of sin and death, thereby being the One who can give us both spiritual and physical life. “This man… you nailed to a cross… and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:23-24). And a person who is physically alive on earth becomes spiritually alive when he believes in Christ, and after he physically dies (unless he is raptured), he will be glorified, be given a perfect body, be physically alive forever. (1 Thess. 4:15-17). Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (hell).” Revelation 1:17b-18
Jesus speaks of our new spiritual life and new physical life this way: “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). We are spiritually made alive when we believe and are physically made alive when Christ raises us up. Paul says it this way: “These whom He justified, He also glorified” (Rom. 8:31). We were justified, spiritually made alive, when we believed in Christ, and are glorified, physically made alive, when the church is raptured “on the last day.” Paul also tells us, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). And you see this gap of time between becoming spiritually alive and physically alive. For Christians, this good work of salvation began in the past when we were born again, and it will be completed in the future when Christ returns to rapture the church.
The greatest chapter in the Bible on the resurrection is 1 Corinthians 15. The main message is that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and therefore Christians will be raised from the dead - and we are talking about physical resurrection and life. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ 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” (1 Cor. 15:22-23). Christ’s resurrection took place about 2000 years ago, but our resurrection will take place in the future, “at His coming.” It's sad that many Christians do not even think about how their salvation is not yet complete. But be excited and filled with hope, for it will happen soon, at the end of this age, at the coming of Christ, which is not many years from now. "...waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved." Romans 8:23-24
Since we live in the end-times, it won’t be long before Christ’s comes back to glorify us, to give us our brand-new body, to “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:42-44). This most amazing transformation takes place at the sounding of the last trumpet - “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep (physically die), but we will all be changed (physically glorified), in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. This perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
How should you live during this church age, knowing this wonderful news about Christ’s resurrection in the past and your resurrection in the future? You are to live a holy life, a brand-new life. "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so too we might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). You are to know that you have the resurrection power of Christ and can carry out all His plans for your life. “I pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened, so that you will know… what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:18-20). You are to know the Lord and have this close relationship with Him, daily experiencing His resurrection power in your life. “I count all things to be loss… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection” Phil. 3:8-10
Finally, be exceedingly thankful and wholeheartedly working for the Lord, knowing that it won’t be long before you leave this earth and are with Him forever. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
P.S. As a Christian, you need to know and be excited about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and about your resurrection in both spirit and body. Here are three previous posts on the importance and the blessings of the resurrection - "The Resurrection and the Rapture of the Believers", and "Christ's Resurrection Means the Best Is Yet to Come", and "The Resurrection and the Rapture - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #212 ~
Jesus Christ is coming again - He’s coming back to this earth. That’s the truth, and it’s going to happen very soon - and He needs to, for its obvious that this world is becoming more and more of a sinful mess. And when Christ comes, everything will dramatically change, and every person on this planet will be greatly affected. “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
How do we know? Because God told us so - “… that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things.” (Acts 3:20). Jesus Christ, the Creator, the Son of God, and Lord of lords, first came to this world about 2000 years ago. When He was here, Jesus Himself told us that He was coming again. “Behold, I am coming soon.” Rev. 22:12
Do we know when Christ will return? We do not know the exact time, but we will know the general time, and that’s because God told us many clear, visible signs and events that will be occurring before His Son returns to earth. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” Matt. 24:32-34
* The Jewish people will miraculously return to their land and become a nation, which has already taken place. Ezekiel 36-37, Matt. 24:15-20
* Most people will hear about, and some will experience “birth pains” happening around the world - earthquakes, wars, plagues, famines, and economic distress. Matt. 24:4-8, Rev. 6:1-8
* There will be an extremely evil man, the Antichrist, who will rule the world for a short time, who will force people to worship him and take his mark, the “mark of the beast”. Rev. 13
* Both Christians and Jews will be greatly persecuted all over the world. Matt. 24:9, 21-22
* The Jews will be offering sacrifices in a newly built temple in Jerusalem. 2 Thess. 2:3-4
* There will be increasing lawlessness and evil, which is now quite evident in every country. Matt. 24:12
* The gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached in all the nations in the world. Matt. 24:14
* God has given us these signs to alert us, to warn us, to wake us up to the fact that His Son is coming back soon. And He does not want us to be surprised!
What will happen when Christ comes back to earth? Five major, global events will occur:
1. The first thing to happen when Christ returns is the rapture, when He suddenly, powerfully, and lovingly takes all the Christians from this earth to be with Himself. At that time, all believers who have ever lived, those from earth and those already in heaven, will be glorified, be given brand-new, immortal bodies, and be gathered to Christ. Matt. 24:30-31, 1 Cor. 15:42-44
2. The wrath of God will be poured out upon this earth. This is the Day of the Lord, a most dreadful time when billions of people will be punished and die, and deservedly so, for sinning, for rebelling against God. You do not want to be here when this happens! Revelation 8-9, 16
3. The redemption, the salvation of a large remnant of Jews will take place at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week, a seven-year period of time. Daniel 9:24, Romans 11:25-26
4. The Antichrist and the devil will be soundly defeated. 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 20:1-3
5. Christ’s reign on earth will begin. His glorious rule will last exactly 1000 years, during which time the earth will be repopulated. “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:7-8). People will be saying, “Peace on earth,” and there will be love, justice, and harmony like never before.
How about you? What will happen to you when Christ comes back? Will you experience God’s mercy and be raptured, or be left behind and experience God’s wrath? “It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). You do not want to ignore, dismiss, or forget what God is telling you about His Son's return to this planet. With respect to our future, Jesus declared, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). If you happen to be living on earth when Christ comes back, your life will be greatly changed, one way or another. Which way will it be?
The only answer to all your problems is Jesus Christ. And your biggest problem is sin. It's rejecting and disobeying God. It’s not loving Him but instead loving yourself and other things, being an idolater (Psalm 115:4-8, Col. 3:5-6). About 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to this world to take care of our sin problem. He lived a perfect life, and then died on a cross, being punished by His Father for peoples’ sins, taking the wrath they deserved.
To get right with God, to receive God’s mercy and be forgiven, to go to heaven, you must tell God that you are sorry you sinned against Him, and believe that Christ died for you, was punished for your sins and paid the penalty you should have paid. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
It's not going to be long before Christ returns to earth and changes everything! “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming, will come, and will not delay” (Heb. 10:37). Again, don’t be left behind! “You will see the Son of Man… coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26:64). “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
P.S. Next to the gospel of Jesus Christ, how you can be forgiven of your sins and receive eternal life, the coming of Christ back to this earth is the most important subject there is. I have written a number of posts on this subject. Here are a few more I encourage you to read: "Christ is Coming Again, and He's Coming Soon", "Jesus Christ, the Savior, Judge, Redeemer, and King", and "Everything on This Earth Is Going to Change."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #213 ~
Every Christian is to take communion, to take the bread and cup on a regular basis. And why? God commands you to, for He knows how vitally important it is for your relationship with Him. At its core, Christianity is about God’s love for you, and consistently observing communion helps you know this love, and also fuels and fires your love for Him. 1 John 4:19
When we have communion, we are looking back and remembering that Jesus Christ died on the cross, His saving death being a demonstration of His love for us (Rom. 5:8). But we are also looking ahead and thinking about being with Christ in the kingdom ages and, specifically, at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9), when as Christ’s Bride, we will be with Him and freshly experience His love for us. Taking communion helps us to not only remember the past, but to look forward to the future, with the result that we are renewed by His love in the present. In this post we will look at communion from the past to the present to the future, from Christ’s cross to Christ’s crown.
1) Luke 22:14-20 (past). It was the last supper, Jesus’ final meal with His disciples before He suffered and died on the cross for us. We also know this as the first Lord’s supper, that time when Jesus transformed the last Passover meal into the first communion meal. Christ was signaling the end of the Old Covenant with the holy place, priesthood, and sacrifices, and the beginning of the New Covenant, which was accomplished by His death, the shedding of His blood on the cross for us, the means by which our sins would finally and forever be forgiven.
The church age was soon to begin, and Jesus Christ was instituting communion for the church, and for every Christian in the church, and not as a ritual to be repeated, but as a time to intimately remember Him. We all know how easily we forget things, but you never want to forget Christ and what He did for you on the cross. God knows you need to regularly be reminded of His love for you, of Christ’s death for you, by which all your sins are forgiven - and taking communion with other Christians is one of the best ways to do this.
Note what Jesus said, “I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16). Jesus was looking ahead to when all the people to be saved would be saved, when the church age would be over, when all believers would be together during the millennial kingdom age. He was vowing to not take the bread and cup until His work in building the church was complete, at which time He and His Bride would have their first meal together at this special marriage supper. For emphasis, Jesus says it again, “I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). It’s so encouraging to see Jesus’ loving heart, His passionate desire to be with us. As Jesus is excited about seeing us, might we be excited about seeing Him and being with all the believers. Without a doubt, it will be the greatest, grandest, most glorious wedding reception this world has ever seen.
2) 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (present). The command for Christians to take communion is stated again. God is stressing this point because it’s what every Christian in every church in the entire world needs to be doing. Having communion is to be a continual constant in the lives of Christians during this church age. Paul reminds us what Jesus said, “This is My body, which is for you” (1 Cor. 11:24). I cannot overstate the significance of this verse, for Jesus gave His body which means He gave His entire life “for you”, and His life was perfect, and therefore would be the perfect sacrifice. Jesus loved you so much, shown in that He gave His life for you, the innocent One substituting His life for the guilty ones, and all to make you holy and perfect forever (Heb. 10:14). This divine, spiritual exchange is the heart of the gospel, the most important transaction, the most wonderful news in the world, that Jesus took your sins, and gave you His life. “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
Again, we read Jesus’ words, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you do this, in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:25). The Jews who were celebrating the Passover were to realize that the lamb’s blood which had been smeared on doorposts allowing their forefather’s escape from Egypt had been pointing to, and was now replaced by, the Lamb’s blood, which enabled them and all believers in Christ to eternally escape sin and death. The cup that represented the lamb’s blood was now representing Christ’s blood. Indeed, this new covenant is God’s sure promise to us that Christ could and would save us, for “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrew 9:22
“As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).Taking communion means we are not just looking back but looking forward - and we are to keep proclaiming Christ’s death which was in the past, His victory over sin and death, “until He comes”, which is in the future. Truly observing communion means having faith in what Christ did for you on the cross, and hope for what He will do for you in the coming Kingdom. And this faith and hope produces a real and present love in your heart for your most amazing and gracious Savior.
What Paul said about proclaiming “the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26), reminds us what Jesus said about how He would not be drinking the fruit of the vine “until the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:18). Just as Jesus was thinking about the future, of that time when He would be with us, might we also be thinking of the future, of that time when we will be with Him. From the day of Pentecost and the start of the church until the signs in the heavens and the end of this age, Christians are to be taking communion, remembering and loving the Lord, and looking forward to seeing Him face to face and being with Him forever.
3) Revelation 11:15 (the future) - “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever.” Jesus Christ told us that the kingdom of God would be coming (Luke 22:18), and it’s at the very start of this kingdom that all believers will be together with Him at the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9), this most holy wedding reception, the greatest banquet ever - and Christ will be at the head table, hosting this glorious and magnificent occasion.
Finally, Jesus Christ breaks His fast, for He told us at the last supper, at the first communion, “I shall never again eat it until is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16). Christ has been waiting for close to 2000 years for this time when we, His Bride, celebrate our divine and eternal marriage with Him. Now that we are in the end-times, it won’t be long before all believers will be with Christ having sweet fellowship with Him, and the most wonderful meal.
The purpose of this post is to help you more clearly understand the importance of taking communion. Remember, it’s a faith event, for you are to be believing, to be remembering what Christ did for you in the past when He died on the cross. It’s a hope event, for you are to be looking ahead and thinking about what God has planned for you in the future, that you will be with Jesus during the kingdom age, and specifically that you will be with Him and all the believers at the “marriage supper of the Lamb,” the first of many meals with your Lord and Savior. And it's also a holy event, for you are thinking about the most holy Christ and thanking Him for making you holy forever (Heb. 10:12-18). And again, it’s a love event, for thinking about what Christ did for you in the past and what He will do for you in the future will fill your heart with love for Him in the present, and the desire and strength to keep living for Him until He comes. “‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. God wants us to keep taking communion during our time on earth to help us keep loving Him and living for Him. Never forget this, for you don't want to lose your first love for Him. Here are two more posts about your love for the Lord in these days: "The Rapture, A Love Story", and "Loving the Lord and Longing to See Him."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #214 ~
The Bible talks extensively about the “day of the Lord,” a phrase referring to a frightening, devastating period of time when God intervenes in the affairs of this world and judges the ungodly. In the Old Testament, the prophets described in detail many of these “days”, times when God righteously punished deserving sinners, cities, and nations. Here are some examples: “I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin” (Isaiah 13:11); “The day of the Lord is awesome and very terrifying - who can survive it?” (Joel 2:11); “You will get exactly what your deeds deserve” (Obadiah 1:15); and “I will destroy people and animals.” Zephaniah 1:3
The most dreadful and destructive "day of the Lord" is still coming, and it will occur at the end of this age, when the holy, powerful, and sovereign God judges the entire world. Matt. 24:29 speaks of these celestial signs suddenly darkening the skies, alerting and warning everyone on earth that this day of doom is soon to begin. “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light… and the powers of heaven will be shaken.” Rev. 6:12-14 also tells us that there will be a “great earthquake… and every mountain and island were moved out of their place.” Every single person on this earth will know that something dramatic and cataclysmic is going to happen, and they seem to know what it is, for they say, "Hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." Rev. 6:16-17
This severe judgment will be unleashed upon this sinful world during the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, a seven-year time frame. The Antichrist will be ruling the world, unbelievers will be living in “peace”, and Jews and Christians will be undergoing persecution. Then these cosmic disturbances will darken the skies, alarming the unbelievers. Not long after that, seven “trumpets” will be blown resulting in fiery and deadly judgments killing billions of people and animals. “There came hail and fire… a third of the living creatures in the sea died… torment for five months… they would kill a third of mankind.” Rev. 8:7, 9; Rev. 9:5, 15
Soon after that, there will be seven more judgments, for the “bowls” will be quickly poured out resulting in more death and destruction. “It became a loathsome and malignant sore… every living thing in the sea died… men were scorched with fierce heat… they gnawed their tongues because of pain… and huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men” (Rev. 16:2, 3, 9, 10, 21). And the evil unbelievers living on earth still “blasphemed the God of heaven… and did not repent of their deeds” (Rev. 16:11). Without question, these wicked sinners will deserve to be greatly punished. “Righteous are You, who are and who were, the Holy One, because You judged these things.” Rev. 16:5
Then Jesus Christ will suddenly appear on the scene. The “King of kings and Lord of lords,” along with the armies of God, will come racing down to earth and strike down the nations. “He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” (Rev. 19:15-16). He will royally crush that devilish Antichrist and his evil partner, the false prophet. “These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire” (Rev. 19:20). “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” Rev. 19:6
What about the Christians? What happens to them during this time? They will not be on earth during this wrath!!! That’s because of “Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10). But there’s still some confusion among Christians as to what will happen to them in the end-times, and when. Matthew 24, the most important prophecy chapter in the Bible, gives us the order of end-time events: First, there are birth pains - wars, famines, earthquakes, and plagues (Matt. 24:4-8). These events, affecting both Christians and non-Christians in various parts of the world, are not part of the day of the Lord, God’s wrath, for they take place before it even begins. Second, there’s great tribulation, the persecution of Christians and Jews brought on by the Antichrist. Matt. 24:9-14 talks about this tribulation as it affects the Christians, and Matt. 24:15-26 tells us the origin of this great tribulation, that it’s instigated by the Antichrist and starts in Jerusalem, and that it affects the Jews. Rev. 13:13-17
Matt. 24:27 describes a brilliant light flashing from east to west, the glorious, celestial signal that Christ is coming, and obviously, this happens after the birth pains and great tribulation. Then Matt. 24:28 gives a most sobering message, that vultures gather which means people are dying during this time. But there’s something else we need to know - that this great tribulation is cut short by these sky-darkening signs (Matt. 24:29) which, as Acts 2:20 tells us, are “before the great and glorious day of the Lord.” This can only mean that this great tribulation, this period of persecution, is before the day of the Lord, the period of punishment. Matt. 24:30 then informs us that immediately after these celestial-darkening signs, the skies will be lit up by Christ’s glory (Matt. 24:27). It is at that point that Christ will gather together all the believers from all time, those still on earth and those already in heaven. “He will send forth His angel with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Matthew 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 2 Thess. 2:1
This should make it clear to Christians that the rapture takes place after the great tribulation has ended but before the day of the Lord, before God’s wrath begins. People who say the birth pains and great tribulation are part of the day of the Lord are wrong, are in error. Great tribulation is when Christians and Jews are persecuted by the Antichrist, and the day of the Lord is when unbelievers are punished by God. Yes, we may be persecuted but we won’t be punished. As 1 Thess. 5:9 says, “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This “salvation” refers to physical salvation, to being raptured and rescued from God’s wrath, the disastrous and deadly day of the Lord. 2 Thess. 1:6-10 tells us the same thing, that there will be relief from tribulation for Christians, but retribution and eternal destruction for disobedient and ungodly unbelievers.
What 21st century Christians need to understand is that the church will still be on earth during the birth pains and great tribulation, but not during that dreadful day of the Lord, which is only for unbelievers. The order and nature of end-times’ events, shown also in Rev. 6 - Rev. 8, make this very clear. In Rev. 6:1-8 we read about the first four seals, which speak of the birth pains. Rev. 6:9-11 talks about the 5th seal, which is Christians suffering great tribulation and being martyred. Then Rev. 6:12-17 tells us about the 6th seal, which describes the sign of the end of the age, the world-waking celestial disturbances warning us of God’s coming wrath. But this wrath, pronounced by the 6th seal in Rev. 6:16-17, is not poured out on the earth until after the breaking of the 7th seal (Rev. 8:1), which then results in the opening of the scroll and the trumpet judgments (Rev. 8:2-9:21). In between Rev. 6 and Rev. 8 is Rev. 7, which tells us two things, the sealing of 144,000 Jews, and the church, just having been delivered out of great tribulation, worshiping God in heaven.
Since we are so close to the end of this age, it is extremely important that all Christians know this order of end-time events: 1. birth pains; 2. great tribulation. 3. celestial signs (darkness and then light). 4. the rapture of the church. 5. the wrath of God on earth. It is now 2021, and at this time, we’re in phase 1, the birth pain stage. But great tribulation is coming soon, and right after that, catastrophic, life-altering, earth-shaking, God-judging events will impact the entire world. Everything on earth will change, and if you are a Christian, you will be changed too, for you will be glorified. "We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:51-52
What a time to be alive! As Christians, it’s absolutely imperative that you know these things, and then tell others who don’t know, and especially those who aren’t Christians. Tell the unsaved that today is the day of salvation, that now is the time they need to turn from their sin to Jesus Christ. Tell them not to wait, for the time is coming when it will be too late, and they will be left behind, and suffer, and be punished, and not just on earth during the day of the Lord, but in an extremely painful and everlasting hell. Matt. 25:30, 41, 46; Rev. 14:10-11
Tell the unsaved that God is holy, and that He must judge sinners who rebel against Him, who reject the truth of the gospel - but also tell them that God is merciful, that He offers forgiveness to all who come to Him and believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior, the only One who can save them from their sins, and from that terrible day of the Lord on earth, and from that punishing wrath in hell. “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40
P.S. You need to know about the Day of the Lord, the coming wrath of God on this sinful earth. Understanding this subject will sober you up, make you more holy, and motivate you to tell the lost about what they will experience if they don't turn from their sin to Christ for salvation. Here is another post that will help you understand this most important subject - "The Day of the Lord, the Wrath of God on Earth."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #215 ~
As Christians, it’s important to think about what our lives will be like in the end-times. But what about the non-Christians? What will their lives be like? When we study the Bible, we discover there is a lot said about the sinful thinking and actions of unbelievers in those last few years before Christ’s return to rapture the church. That’s because God doesn’t want Christians to be surprised by the lives of sinners, for they will affect us much more than we realize.
First, God wants you to know the state of an unbeliever’s heart, how he will be thinking. 1 Thess. 5:4-5 says the unsaved will be living in darkness - they will be sinning, and therefore, spiritually sound asleep. They don’t think Christ is coming to judge the earth and punish people like themselves - they believe the world is going along just fine, and they aren’t expecting anything to change. To them, Christ “will come just like a thief in the night.” 1 Thess. 5:2
From 2 Thess. 2:12, we learn how much the non-Christians love their sin, for they “took pleasure in wickedness.” As Rom. 1:25 says, they do not love God or God’s truth, but in fact, love the lies of the world and the devil. They are terribly deceived with the result that their sinful minds are depraved - they are not thinking right, they have “lost their minds.” God will reject these God-rejecters and send “upon them a deluding influence” (2 Thess. 2:11). These fools will “oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith” and they “will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 2:8, 13). The Antichrist will be wickedly influencing the sinners at that time - they will be so deceived that they will actually worship and follow this most devilish man.
Second, how will the unsaved be living? It will be like the days of Lot: “they were eating and drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building” (Luke 17:28). Workers will be at their jobs, children will be going to school, businessmen will be making money (Rev. 18), and retirees will be taking it easy. This reminds us what the rich man said to himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take life easy, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him, ‘You fool.’” Luke 12:19-20
These godless sinners will be living life with no thought of a soon-coming world catastrophe. Like the days of Noah, they will also be “marrying and giving in marriage” (Matt. 24:38). They will not just be carrying out daily activities but will be making plans for the future. It’s not that they won’t know about Christ’s coming, it’s that they won’t believe it, and will even mock those who tell them the shocking, sobering truth about what’s to come, that God Almighty will be pouring out His wrath upon the entire world. Laughingly, they will ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:4
What’s more amazing is that these sinners will actually be saying, “Peace and safety.” Wars, famines, and economic problems (birth pains) will have subsided, due in large part to the power, charm, and rule of the Antichrist. Most unbelievers will have received the mark of the beast, with the result that they will have what they need - and life will seem good. Not only that, but the Antichrist will be hunting down those “dumb and crazy Christians”, who along with the Jews, will be the most hated people on earth. Great numbers of them will be taken into custody, and most of them will be martyred. Many sinners will assist the evil Antichrist by betraying and turning in the saints, some who are their own family members (Mark 13:11-13). For Christians, it’s going to be very bad, and very hard - it will be great tribulation (Matt. 24:9). But for unbelievers, there will be a sense of peace in the world at that time, but it will be a fake peace, a false peace, one that will soon be shattered.
The last day of this age will be like most other days - people will be eating, drinking, studying, working, shopping, playing, partying, sleeping, relaxing, and sinning. Suddenly “there was a great earthquake… the sun became black… the whole moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell to earth… and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains” (Rev. 6:12-15). The sinners will be scared to death, crying, anguishing, shouting, screaming, swearing - and running for safety. But there will be none - for they will not be able to hide from the presence of God and the wrath of Christ. A world of wicked people will be “fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). Without a doubt, they will know that “the great day of Their wrath has come.” Rev. 6:17
These peace-shattering signs are only the beginning of the end, the dreadful and deadly end for most unbelievers on earth. Immediately after these signs, all Christians will be wonderfully rescued from the coming wrath (1 Thess. 1:10) and be quickly taken up and away to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17). It is said, “there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left… two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left” (Luke 17:34-36). “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52), millions of Christians will be raptured from the earth, with a world of sinners witnessing the greatest escape in history.
What will these sinners think when they see this? They may be confused, or because they are in shock, because they are scared, so gripped by an all-consuming fear, they won’t care. The massive earthquake, the darkened sky, the mysterious rapture - everything will happen so fast, and the unsaved will only be thinking about finding a safe place, a refuge. But there will be none.
Then what? Thirty minutes of the most sobering silence will be heard all over the world, anticipating the holy day of the Lord, the outpouring of His wrath. First, it will be the Trumpet judgments, and then the Bowl judgments, destructive and devastating calamities occurring over a period of many months, or maybe years. It will be drawn out, unrelenting, and tortuous, a series of events tormenting the unrepenting unsaved. One of the judgments will be so bad that “men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them” (Rev. 9:6). The very next judgment results in one third of mankind being killed, which will be billions of people (Rev. 9:18). Sadly, and stubbornly, “the rest of mankind… did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts” (Rev. 9:20-21). In a future post, I will give a more detailed summary of the Day of the Lord, God’s glorious, righteous, end-time judgment of the world.
Before the day of the Lord, Christians on earth will be persecuted, and only for a little while. But the unsaved will be punished, the day of the Lord being the very beginning of a just and eternal penalty for all their terrible sins. “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.” 2 Thess. 1:7-10
What do Christians need to know and do during these most times?
- Stay close to Jesus. Love Him with all your heart. Read His word and remember His promises. Psalms 63:1-8, 105:4, 119:5; Luke 10:40-42
- Be thankful for all things and in all situations. 1 Thess. 5:18
- Remember what God told you about the end-times, and tell others. Mark 13:23, Rev. 1:3
- Make sure you love your enemies, those who persecute you - and pray for them. Matt. 5:44
- Share the good news with the unsaved. Tell them how they can be saved from their sins and the coming wrath on earth and an eternal and punishing hell. Tell them to turn from their sin and to believe in Jesus Christ before it’s too late. Matt. 24:14, John 3:16, Col. 4:2-7
- Keep trusting God, have faith in Him, the God of the impossible. Prov. 3:5-6, Luke 18:8
- Have hope - think about the wonderful future God has in store for you. Rom. 8:23-28
- Encourage one another during those difficult times, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Heb. 10:25
- Be praying for Christ’s kingdom to be established on earth. Matt. 6:10
- Fervently love the Christians, and always pray for them. Eph. 6:18, 1 John 4:7-21
- In the evil day, as the battle rages, resist the enemy and stand firm. Eph. 6:13
- Persevere, knowing that God will give you all the grace you need to keep going to the end. Matt. 24:13, 2 Cor. 12:9-10
- Keep looking for Jesus to come and take you to be with Him and then home to heaven. “Wait for His Son” (1 Thess. 1:10). “Be on the alert… you also must be ready.” Matt. 24:42-44
P.S. Most people don't think much about God's coming wrath on earth, but they need to, for it's a holy, sobering exercise, motivating us to live for the Lord and to tell the lost the good news of Jesus Christ. We all wish that better days for our world were ahead but I can't say that. For all you Christians, I encourage you to read two other important posts - "It's Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better" and "Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #216 ~
The following is J.C. Ryle’s realistic description of what unbelievers will be doing in the days and months leading up to Christ’s second coming. Even though Ryle wrote this back in the 1860’s, it is extremely relevant today, more so than ever before, for now we live in the end-times. It’s engrossing, compelling, yet very sobering - you need to read this, for it will motivate you to live a more holy and purposeful life for the Lord in the last years of this evil age. From chapter one, entitled, “Watch” - (pg. 25-29) of J.C. Ryle’s Are You Ready for the End of Time? -
“Whenever Christ does come again, it will be a very sudden event. I draw that truth from the verse in the parable (Matt. 25:1-13) which says, ‘At midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh, go you out to meet him.’
I do not know when Christ will come again. I should think it most presumptuous if I said that I did. I am no prophet, though I love the subject of prophecy. I dislike all fixing of dates, and naming of years, and I believe it has done great harm. I only assert positively that Christ will come again one day to set up His kingdom on earth, and that whether the day be near or whether it be far off, it will take the Church and the world exceedingly by surprise.
It will come on men suddenly. It will break on the world all at once. It will not have been talked over, prepared for and looked forward to by everybody. It will awaken men’s minds like the cry of fire at midnight. It will startle men’s hearts like a trumpet blown at their bedside in their first sleep. Like Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, they will know nothing till the very waters are upon them. Like Dathan and Abiram, and their company, when the earth opened under them, the moment of their hearing the report of the visitation will be the same moment when they will see it with their eyes. Before they can recover their breath and know where they are, they shall find that the Lord is come.
I suspect there is a vague notion floating in men’s minds that the present order of things will not end quite so suddenly. I suspect men cling to the idea that there will be a kind of Saturday night in the world, a time when all will know the day of the Lord is near; a time when all will be able to cleanse their consciences, look at their wedding garments, shake off their earthly business and prepare to meet their God. If any reader of this address has got such a notion into his head, I charge him to give it up forever.
If anything is clear in unfulfilled prophecy, this one fact seems clear, that the Lord’s coming will be sudden, and take men by surprise. And any view of prophecy which destroys the possibility of its being sudden - whether by interposing a vast number of events as yet to happen, or by placing the millennium between ourselves and the advent - any such view appears to my mind to carry with it a fatal defect. Everything which is written in scripture on this point confirms the truth, that Christ’s second coming will be sudden. ‘As a snare shall it come’, says one place; ‘As a thief in the night’, says another; ‘As lightning’, says a third; ‘In such an hour as ye think not’, says a fourth. ‘When they shall say, peace and safety,’ says a fifth. Luke 21:35; 1 Thess. 5:2; Luke 17:24; Matt. 24:44; 1 Thess. 5:3
Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself uses two most striking comparisons when dwelling on this subject. Both are most teaching, and both ought to raise in us solemn thoughts. In one He compares His coming to the days of Lot. In the days when Lot fled from Sodom, the men of Sodom were buying and selling, eating and drinking, planting and building. They thought of nothing but earthly things: they were entirely absorbed in them. They despised Lot’s warning. They mocked at his counsel. The sun rose on the earth as usual. All things were going on as they had done for hundreds of years. They saw no sign of danger. But now mark what our Lord says: ‘The same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed’. Luke 17:28-30
In the other passage I allude to, our Lord compares His coming to the days of Noah. Do you remember how it was in Noah’s day? Stay a little, and let me remind you. When the flood came on the earth in Noah’s time, there was no appearance beforehand of anything so awful being near. The days and nights were following each other in regular succession. The grass and trees and crops were growing as usual. The business of the world was going on. And though Noah preached continually of coming danger, and warned men to repent, no one believed what he said. But at last, one day the rain began and did not cease: the waters rose and did not stop; the flood came, and swelled, and went on, and covered one thing after another; and all were drowned who were not in the ark. Now mark what our Lord says: ‘As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the Son of Man: they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all’ (Luke 17:26-27). The flood took the world by surprise, so also will the coming of the Son of Man. In the midst of the world’s business, when everything is going on just as usual, in such an hour as this, the Lord Jesus Christ will return.
Reader, the suddenness of the Lord’s second advent is a truth that should lead every professing Christian to great searchings of heart. It should lead him to serious thought, both about himself and about the world.
Think for a moment how little the world is prepared for such an event. Look at the towns and cities of the earth, and think of them. Mark how most men are entirely absorbed in the things of time, and utterly engrossed with the business of their callings. Banks, counting house, shops, politics, law, medicine, commerce, railways, banquets, balls, theatres, each and all are drinking up the hearts and souls of thousands, and thrusting out the things of God. Think what a fearful shock the sudden stoppage of all these things would be, the sudden stoppage which will be in the day of Christ’s appearing. If only one great house of business stops payment now, it makes a great sensation. What then shall be the crash when the whole machine of worldly affairs shall stand still at once? From money counting and earthly scheming, from racing after riches and wrangling about trifles, to be hurried away to meet the King of kings, how tremendous the change! From dancing and dressing, from opera going and novel reading to be summoned away by the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, how awful the transition! Yet remember, all this shall one day be.
Look at the rural parishes of such a land as ours, and think of them. See how the minds of the vast majority of their inhabitants are buried in farms and allotments, in cattle and corn, in rent and wages, in rates and tithes, in digging and sowing, in buying and selling, in planting and building. See how many there are who evidently care for nothing, and feel nothing, excepting the things of this world, who reckoned nothing whether their minister preaches law or gospel, Christ or antichrist, and would be utterly unconcerned if the Archbishop of Canterbury was turned out of Lambeth Palace, and the Pope of Rome put in his place. See how many there are of whom it can only be said that their bellies and their pockets are their gods. And then fancy the awful effect of a sudden call to meet the Lord Christ, a call to a day of reckoning, in which the price of wheat and the rate of wages shall be nothing, and the Bible shall be the only rule of trial! And yet remember, all this shall one day be.
Reader, picture these things to your mind’s eye. Picture your own house, your own family, your own fireside. What will be found there? Picture, above all, your own feelings, your own state of mind. And then, remember that this is the end toward which the world is hastening. There will be no long notice to quit. This is the way in which the world’s affairs will be wound up. This is an event which may possibly happen in your own time. And surely you cannot avoid the conclusion that the second coming of Christ is no mere curious speculation. It is an event of vast practical importance to your own soul.
‘Ah!’ I can imagine some reading say, ‘This is all foolishness, raving, and nonsense; this writer is beside himself. This is all extravagant fanaticism. Where is the likelihood, where is the probability of all this? The world is going on as it always did. The world will last my time.’ Do not say so. Do not drive away the subject by such language as this. This is the way that men talked in the days of Noah and Lot, but what happened? They found to their cost that Noah and Lot were right. Do not say so. The Apostle Peter foretold, eighteen hundred years ago, that men would talk in this way. ‘There shall come in the last day scoffers,’ he tells us, ‘saying, where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation’ (2 Peter 3:3-4). Oh, do not fulfil his prophecy by your unbelief!
Where is the raving fanaticism of the things which I have been saying? Show it to me if you can. I calmly assert that the present order of things will come to an end one day. Will anyone deny that? Will anyone tell me we are to go on as we do now forever? I calmly say that Christ’s second coming will be the end of the present order of things. I have said so because the Bible says it. I have calmly said that Christ’s second coming will be a sudden event, whenever it may be, and may possibly be in our own time. I have said so, because thus and thus I find it written in the Word of God. If you do not like it, I am sorry for it. One thing only you must remember, you are finding fault with the Bible, not with me.”
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At the end of this age, billions of unbelievers will be surprised, shocked, and scared to death. In the days and months before Christ’s coming, non-Christians will be living what you would call “normal lives”, and not expecting anything unusual to happen. But Christians know better, for we know the truth, what the Bible predicts will happen in the years leading up to the end of this age. We should not be surprised, shocked, or scared by the coming of Christ - “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:4). Now that we are living in the end-times, we can “see” the day of the Lord approaching - it’s clearly evident that this dreadful “day” is getting closer and closer. Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 24:4-14, 32-35
O Christian, you must warn the lost, and whether they believe it or not, you must tell them that “all hell” will soon break forth on this earth. More than ever before, you must tell the unsaved this bad news, but also, the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ, that they need to repent of their sins and trust in Him for salvation, so they can escape this end-time’s wrath on earth and the eternal wrath in hell, and then forever be with the Lord in heaven. “Rescue those being led away to death, hold back those who are staggering to slaughter” (Prov. 24:12). This is our duty, our solemn responsibility. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
John the Baptist made this prediction about Jesus Christ, and what we now know will soon be fulfilled: “His winnowing fork is in His hands, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12). You want to be the wheat, and not the chaff! And you want to be like John and “make ready the way of the Lord.” Matthew 3:2
P.S. This message about Christ’s return, and God’s wrath being poured out upon the world is a most important message at this time in history. The coming of Christ is soon to happen, and people need to know the truth, both believers and unbelievers. Here are two more relevant messages: “J.C. Ryle’s Prophetic Creed – an Excellent Read”, and “Evildoers in the End-Times.”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #217 ~
1. God is a perfectly righteous judge. Because God is holy and hates sin, then He must judge sin. Throughout history, whether it’s in individuals, families, cities, countries, or the entire world, God has judged sin. Then there’s God’s eschatological wrath, also called the day of the Lord, His just judgment of the entire world, which will happen soon. What’s so amazing is that the holy God judged His own Son, Jesus Christ, who took our sins and paid for them by dying on a cross so all who repent of their sins and believe in Christ are forgiven and receive eternal life - and they will never be judged for their sins. Mark 1:14-15; John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:21
2. The eschatological day of the Lord, the climactic judgment of this world, takes place at the end of this present evil age, which won’t be long from now. This awesome and righteous judgment will devastate the entire planet as well as human life, the greatest global demonstration of justice since the Noahic flood. Revelation 8-9, 16
3. God’s holiness is the reason for His wrath during the day of the Lord. God is perfectly just in unleashing His wrath upon an unjust world, which will be a vivid display of His righteousness and will bring Him great glory. Rom. 3:4-6, Rev. 4:8 - “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.”
4. The day of the Lord results in the exaltation of Christ, the vindication of the saints, the punishment of unbelievers, the defeat of the Antichrist, the end of Satan’s rule on earth, and the beginning of Christ’s rule. Rev. 1:4-7, Rev. 8-9, Rev. 19:20-21, Rev. 20:1-6
5. A scroll written by God contains instructions for the day of the Lord. This scroll has seven seals, and Jesus Christ is the only One who can break these seals. Once He does, then the scroll is opened, and there is the blowing of the seven trumpets, the outpouring of God’s wrath, resulting in Christ reclaiming the earth and receiving power and great glory. Rev. 5:12-13
6. The events associated with the first six seals are not part of this “day of the Lord” wrath, but are judgments happening here and there, and they are also wake-up calls, signs that Christ is coming soon. The first four seals are the “birth pains.” The fifth seal is great tribulation which affects both Christians and Jews. The sixth seal speaks of signs in heaven and a massive earthquake, and is proclaiming to the world that the day of the Lord is at hand. Matthew 24:4-9, 29; Rev. 6:1-17
7. Christ’s coming will be like a “thief in the night” to non-Christians. Unbelievers will not know and / or not believe what will soon be hitting the world. Suddenly they will see these heavenly signs and feel this huge earthquake, and be shocked, scared to death, and try to escape, for they know God’s wrath will soon be poured out upon them. 1 Thess. 5:1-9
8. The coming of Christ and His wrath will not be like a “thief in the night” to Christians. Most Christians “are not in darkness” and are not surprised by these cosmic signs announcing the outpouring of God’s wrath upon a wicked world. They know that the signs are not just signaling the wrath of God, but also the imminent rapture of the church. Matt. 24:29-31
9. A vast number of Jews will be protected during the day of the Lord and not experience God’s wrath. Between the breaking of the 6th and 7th seals there will be the sealing of 144,000 Jews. There will also be a remnant of Jews who escape from the devil (the Antichrist) when he comes chasing after them. Matt 24:15-20; Rev. 7:1-8, 12:13-16
10. At Christ’s coming the church is raptured, which happens before the day of the Lord. Thus, all Christians will escape these fierce judgments, for “Jesus… rescues us from the coming wrath” (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9). The rapture occurs between the breaking of the 6th and 7th seals, and at a time completely unknown to us. Matt. 24:36, Rev. 7:9-14
11. The day of the Lord begins right after the rapture and on the same day. Luke 17:26-35
12. The day of the Lord is comprised of the trumpet and bowl judgments. The trumpet judgments (Rev. 8-9) begin after the rapture, after the breaking of the seventh seal, and during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. The bowl judgments (Rev. 15-16) begin after the blowing of the 7th trumpet, and after the end of this 70th week.
13. The breaking of the 7th seal results in the scroll being completely opened. Once this seal is opened, there will be exactly 30 minutes of silence before God’s wrath begins on earth. This will be a most sobering and suspenseful time for unbelievers, for they will be in utter agony, dreading the destructive and deadly day of the Lord. Zeph. 1:7, Zech. 2:13, Rev. 8:1
14. Just before the trumpet judgments, the pleasing smell of incense mixed with our prayers arises up to God. Then this censer, filled with incense, prayers, and fire, is thrown down to earth, a signal to the world that God’s wrath is starting. Rev. 8:1-5
15. Seven angels, standing before God, prepare themselves to sound their trumpets. These angels are carrying out His righteous work. They know that the trumpet blasts are a battle cry for God’s justice, for His wrath to be poured out upon a very wicked world. Psalm 103:20-21
16. The blowing of the seven trumpets happens consecutively, one after another, the first, then the second, and all the way to the seventh. After the blowing of the seventh trumpet, there is the outpouring of the seven bowls, and these too do not happen simultaneously, but are consecutive, each one occurring after the previous one. Rev. 16
17. The fact that the judgments are sequential, and take place over a period of time, tells us that the entire day of the Lord is not quick and sudden. The effect on the unrepentant unbelievers will be tormenting and torturing, mentally, emotionally, and physically, resulting in great fear, great pain, and death - and rightfully so. Rev. 16:9-10
18. We do not know how long the trumpet judgments will last. They begin after the rapture, at an unknown time during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. The fifth judgment goes on for five months, and they conclude with the seventh, at the end of the 70th week. They will last at least five months, but less than 42 months, and I’d say, much less, for the great tribulation, I believe, will go on for quite a while. Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:36
19. The first three trumpet judgments are cataclysmic, destroying plants, animals, rivers, and seas. The fourth judgment impacts the sun, stars, and moon, darkening the earth. The fifth one results in unbelievers being tormented by scorpion-like-locust stings for five months. The sixth one is the worst, for 200 million horsemen go out and kill one third of mankind.
20. Three things result from the blowing of the seventh trumpet: 1. Daniel’s 70th week comes to an end (Dan. 9:27). 2. The mystery of God is finished, and many Jews are saved. (Rev. 10:7). 3. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ” (Rev. 11:15). This important point in history enables Jesus Christ to establish His reign on earth.
21. The Antichrist is present on earth during the day of the Lord. He is given authority to rule for 42 months, lasting from the midpoint to the end of Daniel’s 70th week. At the sound of the seventh trumpet his role as world ruler is over. The bowl judgments are a transitional phase from the Antichrist’s rule to Christ’s rule. Rev. 13:4-5, 16:12-16, 17:14, 19:20-21
22. The bowl judgments are the final phase of God’s wrath on this earth. These bowls, being wide and shallow, are quickly poured out, meaning this aspect of God’s justice happens fast, for only 30 days, yet it’s terribly destructive, wiping out the Antichrist’s kingdom. Rev. 16
23. The bowl judgments are extremely painful and deadly. The first bowl judgment results in unbelievers receiving “loathsome and malignant” sores. The second one causes the seas to become blood, resulting in the death of all sea creatures. The third turns the rivers into blood. The fourth causes the unbelievers to be “scorched with fierce heat.” The fifth results in the Antichrist’s kingdom being darkened. And the result is that the unbelievers “gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven…” Rev. 16:11
24. No one repents of their sins. It is incredibly sad that after all these hard-hitting judgments there are still all these hard-hearted sinners who won’t repent of their sins. Not only did they not repent but they were angry and blamed God - “they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and they did not repent of their deeds.” Rev. 16:1-11
25. The battle of Armageddon. The pouring of the sixth bowl prepares the world for the battle of Armageddon. But there’s no battle. God’s enemies don’t have a chance, not against the “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” The Antichrist and false prophet are quickly seized and thrown into the lake of fire, and “the rest were killed with the sword” of the Lord. Rev. 19:11-21
26. “A loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’” The most destructive bowl judgment is saved for last. There is a mighty earthquake, and all the cities collapse. Hundred-pound hailstones rain down from the sky, killing millions of sinners. Indeed, God’s righteous wrath will be poured out upon a most wicked world. Rev. 16:17
27. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” (Rev. 18:2). There’s Rev. 17-18, which give more detail about the devil's world system and the Antichrist’s kingdom. We read about Babylon the Great, which refers to the religious and economic systems of the world. And we learn about the Antichrist’s evil and ungodly empire. These are all destroyed by God’s catastrophic judgments.
28. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God’s wrath is completed. The Antichrist’s authority comes to an end at the blast of the 7th trumpet, but it is by the pouring of the 7th bowl that the Antichrist is fully defeated, the world system is destroyed, and Christ’s authority is finally established on earth. The saints and angels in heaven will wholeheartedly praise God for His awesome victory over the enemy. “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.” Rev. 19:1-6
29. The greatest world war is between God and Satan, and God is the winner. Since the sin of Adam, there has been a great battle, raging between the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan, between the forces of God and the forces of the devil (Gen. 3:15, Eph. 6:10-13). We are now close to that time when God’s plans for believers and planet earth will be completely carried out, and we will see the “summing up of all things in Christ." Eph. 1:9-11
Let me summarize what we can expect in the years ahead: we will see this spiritual battle intensify, from the birth pains to the Antichrist to the great tribulation to the rapture (Matt. 24:4-31) to the outpouring of God’s wrath (Rev. 8-9) to the salvation of a remnant of Jews (Rom. 11:25-26) to the defeat of the Antichrist (Rev. 16, Rev. 19:20) to Christ reigning over the earth - “The Lord will be King over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). You are wonderfully blessed to be part of God’s eternal plans, and to be on earth at this momentous time in history. Rev. 1:6-7
30. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth” (Psalm 98:9). Be excited and thankful, for we are close to the end of this age and Christ’s return to rapture the church. Don’t be fleshly or worldly, and don’t be ignorant of what will be happening on earth (Rom. 13:11-14). This is our time to live for God and do the work He wants us to do. Tell sinners to turn from their sin to Christ. Warn them that if they don’t, then they may be here for that dreadful day of the Lord, and from there, descend to a fiery hell (2 Thess. 1:9). “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:58
Note: This post is a shorter version of an article I just posted. When you get time, I strongly encourage you to read this article, entitled: "God's Wrath on Earth at the End of This Age."
P.S. As a pastor, I teach from the Bible every Sunday. I have been going through 1 Peter, one of the most important epistles on suffering - which makes it extremely relevant for Christians living at this time. I encourage you to go to Sermon Audio, and there you will find and be able to listen to these messages and download my notes. The last three messages are on the importance of humility, and how to get victory over anxiety.
P.P. S. I would encourage you to look the charts that are linked in points 2, 3, 6, 7 & 30. They will be very helpful to you in seeing the big picture in regards to the wrath of God.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #218 ~
We live in an evil age with evil people, and this makes life extremely difficult for Christians. But this is God’s sovereign plan, and the way it’s going to be until Jesus, His Son, returns to earth and takes us home to heaven. In fact, it will keep getting worse up until that day when we are raptured and gathered to Jesus. But how does God want us to live with sinners? What are we to say and do? In His word, God has told us everything we need to know about how we are to relate and respond to sinners at this critical time in history, the closing years of this increasingly evil age.
1. Remember, the unsaved are sinners and will do what is sinful, even terribly wicked things. They don’t have God’s Spirit in them. They are children of the devil (1 John 3:10), and their minds are blinded by him (2 Cor. 4:4). There is no fear of God before their eyes (Rom. 3:18). They are proud, selfish, angry, covetous, immoral, unholy, and unloving. And they curse, swear, and slander, and they hate you, hurt you, and get mad at you. (Rom. 1:28-32, 2 Tim. 3:1-5). Never be surprised by the evil and devilish things that sinners say and do.
2. Love the lost, the unsaved sinners, for this is what Jesus commands you to do. “I say to you, ‘love your enemies’” (Matt. 5:44). This is not a feel-good love, but an agape love, a spiritual and supernatural love - it’s being compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forbearing, and forgiving (Col. 3:12-13). Unbelievers need to know what God is really like, and loving them is one way they find out. Remember Jesus’ example - “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). Might we love like Jesus loved. Eph. 5:1
3. Pray for the unsaved, even those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44). Ask God to have mercy on their souls, to forgive them, “for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Pray that God would break through their sin-hardened hearts and open their devil-blinded minds, that they would see their need for a Savior, one who can rescue them from sin and death. Pray, for only God can do this amazing, soul-saving work in their lives. Psalm 107:10-16
4. Overcome evil with good. Sinners may say bad things to you, slander you, revile you, or do something worse. Oftentimes, our usual reaction is to get angry, and to want to get even and retaliate, but you are “not to be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Be forgiving, gentle, and kind - this is true Christian love - and this may cause sinners to wonder why you are different, and can open a door for the good news of Christ.
5. Don’t fret, don’t worry, don’t get mad when sinners do evil things. It’s easy to get upset at sinners when they are just plain evil, when they are callously and blatantly sinful, but you are to keep trusting the Lord and keep doing what is good and right. My favorite chapter about how we are to live with sinners is Psalm 37 - it gives God’s perspective, it shows that He is in control, it tells you what to do, and it promises that He will protect you and bless you. “The humble will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.” Psalm 37:11
6. You may be persecuted, you may suffer, and even greatly so. Jesus has told you - “if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Consider it a badge of honor if God wants you to suffer for Him (1 Pet. 4:19). Be thankful when you are persecuted, knowing that God will use it for His purposes and your good. Remember Paul, that his circumstances “turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12-14). And if you are here during great tribulation times and are turned in to evil authorities, then love your persecutors, and maybe “it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.” Luke 21:12-17
7. Share the gospel with the lost, with those who are walking on that road leading to hell. Remember what Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). Is not sharing the gospel with the helpless and hopeless one of the main reasons God left you on earth? As you see the day of Christ drawing near, be bold, and tell the unsaved the good news so they can be saved from their sin, from hell on earth and hell in hell, and so they can be with Jesus, and be blessed forever in a new heaven and on a new earth. Heb. 10:25, 12:22-24
8. Know the future of unsaved sinners. Do you ever think about unbelievers who seem to be successful, who seem to get away with evil, or even with murder? Do you know what God says about those who stay unsaved, who never repent and turn to Christ? “They will wither quickly… evildoers will be cut off… a little while and the wicked will be no more… his day is coming… their sword will enter their own heart… the wicked will perish… like smoke they vanish away… he passed away, and lo, he was no more… transgressors will be altogether destroyed” (Psalm 37:2, 9, 10, 13, 15, 20, 20, 36, 38). Be assured, for God is perfectly just, and he will make sure that unrepentant sinners get what they deserve, for sooner or later you will see them no more - they will leave this world, and be punished forever in hell. Matt. 25:40, 46; John 3:16
9. You must have hope. An essential key to living in an evil age with sinners who hate God and who hate you is having hope. It’s knowing that living for God on earth will be worth it in heaven, for then you will be greatly rewarded, then you will be wonderfully glorified, then you will see and be with Jesus your Savior and King, and after that, you will reign with Him during the millennial kingdom, which is a good age, not an evil one like now. Be excited and encouraged by the fact that the best days of your life are in the future. Rom. 8:18-25
10. Most importantly, have a good relationship with Jesus. To successfully live with sinners in a sinful world, you must know Jesus as your Lord and Shepherd and stay close to Him (Ps. 23:1-4). The way to have a close relationship with Jesus is to love God's word (Ps. 119:105), trust Him (Jer. 17:7), pray to Him (Matt. 7:7), obey Him (John 14:21, 23), be Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:18), live a holy life (1 Pet. 1:15-16), be in a good church (Acts 2:42), and not be friends with sinners. 1 Cor. 15:33
I don’t think we realize how evil it will be in the last years of this evil age. Yes, it is bad now, for sinners are unrestrained and sin is rampant, but the Antichrist isn’t even here yet. When this most evil man, this man of lawlessness, this son of destruction, is ruling the world, then sinners will be unbelievably ungodly and wicked. (2 Thess. 2:1-12). They "will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim 3:12). “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matt. 24:9
As you apply these truths today, tomorrow, and in the years ahead, you will see God making you into the man or woman He wants you to be, one who is loving, strong, trained, and ready for whatever assignment He has planned for you. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will distress, or tribulation, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Rom. 8:35-39
P. S. We live in a sinful world, and I am sure you know it's getting worse and worse. And so don't be sinful and worldly - be holy, and know that God is training you to be a special service soldier for these days and the future He has in store for you. "Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Special Forces" is an important article about how God is raising you up so you can be a strong-and-courageous fighter for Him, especially in the end-times, these last years of this evil age.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #219 ~
Do you think about how God wants to bless your life in the future? Do you understand that God will eternally reward you for your earthly service for Him? Most people have jobs during their time on earth - they work 40 hours a week or so and get paid for their work. But do you realize how much God will reward you when you are working for Him instead of for yourself? (This includes a mother staying at home whose work is raising her children.) Your reward from God will be out of this world, infinitely more than anything you will ever receive from some job on earth. You may have earthly bank and retirement accounts, but are you storing up “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys”? Matthew 6:20
This subject of rewards is no small matter, no minor subject in the Bible, but sadly, most Christians don’t know much about it, or if they do, don’t think much about it. They are not focused on future blessings but on present fulfillment. They are thinking about their life on earth, on their jobs, house, money, friends, and fun things to do, but they are forgetting that God wants to greatly reward them in heaven. “Blessed are you who are poor… who hunger now… who weep now… be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven… But woe to you who are rich… who are well fed now… who laugh now… woe to you when all men speak well of you.” Luke 6:20-26
One of the keys to being rewarded by God is desiring to please Him, is realizing that you are not to seek praises from men but are to give glory to Him. “You are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6
God wants to generously reward His servants for the work they do for Him, but it must be done by faith, it must be done by depending on Him, and not by trusting in self or living for self. “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, but those who come to Him, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6). “By faith Moses… refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:24-26
God will reward each person’s work. God does not give out family rewards, church rewards, community rewards, only individual rewards. “Each will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Cor. 3:8). The work, the faithfulness of each and every individual believer who has ever lived will be tested and judged by Jesus Christ. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
Only a person’s good deeds will be eternally rewarded. If a believer’s works are not done to please the Lord, if they are not done in faith, “if any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15). I hope you realize that receiving rewards from God has nothing to do with your salvation. And I hope you know that a true believer can never lose his salvation, but he can lose the rewards God wants to give him. By your good and faithful service to God, you will most certainly be wonderfully and forever blessed. “Watch yourselves… that you may receive a full reward.” 2 John 2:8
Isn’t it amazing that God watches you all the time with the mindset to reward you, to eternally compensate you for everything you do? On earth we think of getting paid for the 40-50 hours we work each week, but God is talking about your 24/7 week. Might you have the mindset that your entire life is for God, and that everything you think, say, or do has the potential to be rewarded by Him. We are incredibly blessed to have such a giving and gracious Father, One who carefully observes our life to see how He can personally reward us. “Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:4). “Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Colossians 3:23-24
The real value of your life will not be known until the future, when Christ returns, and then you will learn what aspects of your earthly work were eternally profitable or only temporally profitable. “Each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it (the foundation, who is Christ) remains, he will receive a reward” (1 Cor. 3:10-14). Now we live in the end-times, and it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and give us our rewards. He has told us, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what He has done” (Rev. 22:12). Knowing that God greatly loves you and wants to richly reward you in the future should super-charge your heart, and motivate you to love Him and live for Him all the more!
P.S. It's important that you think about how your life after this life will be so dramatically affected by all the rewards God will pour out upon you. And when we talk about rewards, we are talking about one specific of our hope. Learn all you can about your hope, what God has planned out for your future. I encourage you to read these posts from the past -"You Need Hope To Get Through Life" and "Your Great Hope and Most Glorious Future."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #220 ~
We all understand the importance of work, for this is how we survive, how we make a living, how we buy food and clothes, pay bills, and provide for our family. But first and foremost, you are to work for God. He is your Master - “it is the Lord Christ whom you serve”, and He will reward you for “from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Col. 3:24). Knowing we are to work for God while we live on earth, and that we will be eternally rewarded in heaven is most encouraging.
Do you think about how God wants to richly reward you for your work for Him? Do you realize that your heavenly reward from God for working at a job is infinitely more than your earthly pay for working at that job (Eph. 6:5-8)? Do you understand that being rewarded relates not to whether your earthly employer sees you working, but knowing that your heavenly Father sees you working all the time (Matt. 6:3-4)? Do you realize that being rewarded has nothing to do with whether you are young or old, single or married, slave or free, rich or poor, black or white, sick or healthy, employed or unemployed, or retired (Luke 2:36-38)? Do you know that being rewarding is not so much about what abilities you have, but how you faithfully use your abilities (Matt. 25:21)? Do you see that working for God is not a part time thing or 40 hours / week, but a 24/7 week and years of godly living? Think about how God wants to greatly reward you for a lifetime of service to Him. “In keeping them, there is great reward.” Psalm 19:11
What specifically can you do to be rewarded by your Father? “Whoever gives a cup of water to drink because of Christ… he will not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41). “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35). “Sell your possessions and give to charity” and then you will receive “an unfailing treasure in heaven” (Luke 12:32). “Give to the poor”, “pray”, “fast”, for then “your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18). Seek God for “He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). If people “insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me… your reward in heaven is great” (Matt. 5:11-12). By doing these things for the Lord, you will be wonderfully and everlastingly blessed.
The above verses clearly state how you can be personally rewarded for working for God. But keeping other commands also results in you being rewarded. Here are some of them: “let your light shine before men” (Matt. 5:16); “go make disciples” (Matt. 28:19); “love one another” (John 15:17); “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15); “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21); “look out… for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4); “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness…” (Col. 3:12); “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2); “encourage one another” (Heb. 3:13); “be holy yourselves in all your behavior” (1 Pet. 1:15); “as each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another” (1 Pet. 4:10). Yes, it takes time and effort to do these things; yes, you need to sacrifice your life, and sometimes suffer; but it’s for the glory of God, the good of others, and for your eternal benefit. There is no doubt that God will make your earthly work extremely and eternally worthwhile, that your work for Him in this world will result in untold and unbelievable treasures in heaven.
In the Bible, there are many examples of godly people loving and serving the Lord. There’s Enoch walking with God, Noah building an ark, Abraham being obedient, Moses enduring ill treatment (“he was looking to the reward” - Heb. 11:26). There’s Rahab welcoming the spies, David conquering kingdoms, and others being stoned, sawn in two, and put to death with the sword. There’s Deborah being a leader, Jael killing Sisera, Ruth being loyal, Esther being courageous, and Mary being humble. There’s Peter preaching, Peter’s mother-in-law serving, Mary Magdalene loving Jesus, John writing the revelation, Anna praying, Stephen being fearless, Dorcas making all those clothes, and Paul being an apostle to the Gentiles (“there’s laid up for me the crown of righteousness” – 2 Tim. 4:8). There’s Prisca and Aquila risking their lives, Mary and Persis working hard, and Epaphroditus being a minister to Paul. All these saints will all be greatly rewarded for their love and service to God. Might the lives of these who served God in the past motivate you to serve Him in the present. “… fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Rom. 12:11
What do you need to do to receive eternal rewards from your heavenly Father? “Whatever you do, do your work heartily… knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Col. 3:23-24). Wow! It’s whatever you do! This means that every single thing you think, say, or do has potential to be rewarded by God. “Whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord (Eph. 6:8). “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done” (2 Cor. 5:10). These truths about rewards shows God’s incredible love for you, that He really wants to bless you forever for all you do for Him during your short time on earth? “In Your presence is fulness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Psalm 16:11
“Whatever you do” - think about this for your own life. It can mean singing to the Lord, saying a quick prayer for a friend, joyfully doing the dishes, cheerfully mowing the lawn, faithfully doing the laundry, dutifully caring for your children, having lunch with a believer, diligently working at your job, wisely using your money, trusting God when you are sick, giving to a person in need, being kind to a stranger, compassionately caring for your elderly parents, encouraging someone who is discouraged, patiently driving in heavy traffic, lovingly texting a friend, thanking God for the weather, rejoicing when faced with a trial, attending a mid-week Bible study, etc., etc., etc.
What's important is not just doing "Christian" things, but doing them for God with a right heart and right motives. “Wait until the Lord comes who will bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts, and then each man’s praise will come to him from God” (1 Cor. 4:5). What do these motives relate to? Paul speaks of “your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you” (1 Thess. 1:3-4). It’s having faith in God, relying completely on Him. It’s doing what you do because you love God with all your heart and want to please Him. It’s having hope, knowing that your reward is not on earth, but in the future and in heaven. It’s walking with the Lord Jesus and God the Father, knowing that you are always with them and they are always with you, and that they always love you and see you. And “your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:4
Remember what Jesus told us, “I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12). That we are now living in the end-times means Christ is coming back very, very soon, and so it won’t be long before you receive your reward from Him. “The time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Revelation 11:18
P.S. As Christians, we know that we are to be working for God every day of our life. But many different things can short-circuit our desire to serve Him. One of them is worry and anxiety, which affect all of us to some degree or another. I recently finished a two-part series that talks about about how God wants us to give us victory over our worries, over being nervous: Do Not Be Anxious and Anxiety, Worry and Stress. I encourage you to take the time to listen to them.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #221 ~
In the future, your heavenly Father will show His great love for you by giving you incredible and unbelievable blessings! His plan is to generously reward you for your life of service to Him, a life of godly thoughts, words, and actions. And receiving rewards has nothing to do with your age, abilities, income, race, or what church you attend, but is a result of faithfully living for the Lord. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.” Colossians 3:23-24
You will be rewarded in many specific ways, but your reward is essentially the Lord! That is, it’s not really what, but Who - Jesus who loves you so much, seen in that He died for you and saved you from sin and death, and is now and forever your Lord, Savior, and Friend. Your life as a Christian is the Lord, for He is everything you would ever need or want. “The Lord is my portion.” Psalm 119:57
Your reward is the Lord, and knowing Him, being loved by Him, and having this eternal relationship with Him. John 17:3 says it simply, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” The definition of eternal life is knowing God and Jesus, having a relationship with Them that lasts forever and ever. When you believe in Christ, you are born again, and you begin this eternal relationship with Him and His Father. This is real living, this is the abundant life, and is seen with Enoch who walked with God (Gen. 5:24), David who beheld the Lord’s beauty (Psalm 27:4), and Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet. Luke 10:39
The disciples had forsaken many things to follow Jesus, and so Peter asks Him what they will get for being faithful to Him. Jesus answers, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms for My sake and the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:28-30). Do you see what it says? God will richly bless you in this life if you are faithful to Him, and then Jesus sums up the age to come by saying that you will have eternal life. And this is the main point, that your reward is the Lord! As a Christian, you now have a relationship with the Lord, and this will get better and better, and then in heaven, you will have a perfect relationship with Him. Think about rewards this way, that it’s not what you will receive but Who, for you will be seeing and spending time with Jesus Christ Himself. “Yet in my flesh I will see God, I myself will see Him with my own eyes… how my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
Paul was teaching about Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church, that all believers would “meet the Lord in the air.” And what does he say after that? “And so we shall always be with the Lord.” You can’t miss what’s being said, that it’s all about our relationship with the Lord, for “we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:15-18
Jesus was talking to His disciples and could tell they were sad, that something was bothering them, and so what did He say? Jesus spoke about faith, He told them to believe in Him, to trust Him. He also spoke about hope, for He said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go and prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Again, what’s most important about your future is that you will always be with the Lord. “Nevertheless, I am continually with You… Whom have I in heaven but You?” Psalm 73:23-26
When Jesus comes back, He will take you to heaven, to His heavenly home. But heaven is much more than a place, for its focus is Jesus, the most famous and important Person in all the universe. Let’s say you visit a friend at his or her house, but the visit is not about the place - it’s not about the nice home, the beautiful yard, the comfortable couch, or the good food. It’s about the person and spending time with that person - it’s talking, sharing, loving, crying, and laughing. And so too, your future is principally and primarily the Lord, and being with Him, knowing His love, learning from Him, and having close fellowship with Him.
A famous Bible verse conveys the same point. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). Your future is summed up as being forever in the house of the Lord, which means being with the Lord, and having a most excellent relationship with Him. My favorite heaven verse says the same thing: “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” (Heb. 12:22-24). When you go to heaven, you are going to a place, to a city, to the heavenly Jerusalem. But these verses don't focus on the place, but on the angels, the church, the Old Testament saints, and most importantly, Jesus Christ and God the Father. Your reward is being in the very presence of God and literally being with Jesus and seeing Their awesome glory, and also being with all the angels and believers.
Rev. 21:3 communicates this as well. “I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.’” Our reward is not just that we will be with God, but that He will be with us. God greatly desires to be with you and me, and all the believers, so much so, that after the millennial kingdom age, the new heaven and new earth will actually be joined together (Rev. 21:10). The holy city, the new Jerusalem, will be our eternal home, and there we will live with Jesus, and experience eternal life, eternal love, joy, peace, goodness, and eternal pleasures. And having a brand-new glorified body will enable us to fully experience all that God has planned for us. 1 Cor. 15:42-44
Never forget that the Lord is your reward, that it’s having a relationship with God and Jesus Christ, knowing and loving and enjoying Them, and Them knowing and loving and enjoying you! Yes, you will receive all these other rewards, these amazing and innumerable treasures, an inheritance beyond belief, and you will be living in that most wonderful house of the Lord - “The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone” (Rev. 21:19), but most of all, you will be with the Lord Himself. Psalm 16:11 says it perfectly, “In your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
Jesus loves you much more than you can ever imagine! When He prays to His Father, He expresses His deep love for you by sharing His desire to be with you, and to reveal more of His infinite glory to you - “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me.” John 17:24
P.S. We love the idea of prizes, presents and gifts, but God really wants you to be looking forward to the rewards you will have in heaven, especially being with Jesus, His Son. Here is an article that I just wrote that lists out over a 100 different verses about these rewards and the incredible future that God has planned out for you - "Your Lord, Your Hope, Your Reward."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #222 ~
My plan was to write a post and list out a number of verses about rewards and the incredibly glorious future God has in store for us. But I discovered there are many more verses than I thought, close to 150 of them. And so, I wrote an article - “Your Lord, Your Hope, Your Reward.” I encourage you to take the time to read and think about these eternal truths for, without question, they will help to spiritually strengthen your life. I have no doubt that they will give you a heartfelt hope about your future which will increase your love for God in the present, resulting in a more blessed, fruitful, and successful Christian life.
Many of you are watching the Olympics. Might these earthly games be a motivation to you to win heavenly prizes, eternally satisfying and God-glorifying rewards. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win! Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:24-27). Take the time to go through “Your Lord, Your Hope, Your Reward.”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #223 ~
Could you have ever competed in the Olympic games and won a gold medal, or a silver or bronze for that matter? I could have never done that - I have never been even close to being that athletic, that physically talented. But God wants each Christian to know that they are to run the race He has set before them, and be winners, and then He will give them a “gold medal”, a crown, a prize, a reward. To every Christian, God gives unique gifts and talents that they are to use for Him - and it’s not what or how many gifts or talents God has given you, but are you wisely and wholeheartedly using what He has given you to serve Him? If you do, you will be a winner, and in the coming ages, you will be infinitely blessed and God will be supremely glorified.
Today we will look at how God describes these future, eternal, and glorious blessings.
1. CROWNS. “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day… and to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8). In the first century, crowns were the wreaths awarded to winning athletes at the Olympic games. For the Christian, receiving a crown from the Lord means you ran the race God gave you to run, you competed according to the rules, you persevered, and you were victorious (Heb. 12:1, 2 Tim. 2:5, Rev. 2:17). Can you imagine the exhilarating joy you will experience when you receive a crown from the Lord, and when you hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Being blessed in this way shows that God is very pleased with you, for you gave it your all. The Bible also speaks of the crown incorruptible (1 Cor. 9:25), the crown of life (James 1:12), the crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4), and the crown of rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19), crowns which show God’s hearty approval, but also relate to blessings that He will lavish upon you in the future.
2. PRIZE. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). This is referring to the crown, the wreath an athlete receives for winning an event at an athletic game. This word emphasizes the fact that God Himself is the righteous Judge, the One who rules, who perfectly decides the prize you will receive for your labor of love (2 Tim. 4:8). 1 Cor. 9:24-27 instructs you to “run in such a way that you may win” the prize. It’s good to learn from successful athletes, especially the need to discipline your body, to exercise self-control in all things. Indeed, the Christian life is a long race, a life-time race, a marathon. But remember, God is always with you, watching you all the way, and helping you win the prize He wants you to give you. Psalm 73:23-24
3. REWARDS. “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what He has done” (Rev 22:12). The word “reward” in also translated as wage. John 4:36 says, “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal.” Rom 4:4 tells us, “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but what is due.” In Matt. 6:4 we read, “Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” God’s promise is that He will reward you when you work for Him, for that is what is due you, it is what you earned. Now as Christians, we are all in the church, all on the same team, all working for Christ, but each of us “will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Cor. 3:8). Whereas all Christians will be in heaven with Jesus and in a new glorified body, each of us will be rewarded differently, in accordance with how we, by God’s grace, worked for Him. And those who live full out for the Lord will be richly rewarded for their faithful service to Him. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you… rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matt. 5:11-12, Heb. 6:10
4. RECOMPENSE. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward (recompense) of in inheritance.” (Col. 3:23-24). This word reward or recompense literally means “a giving back in return” (Vines Exp. Dict.). It’s amazing, and encouraging, that whatever you do, whether working at a job, serving someone, praying for someone, sharing the gospel, raising your child, cooking a meal, cleaning your house, mowing your lawn, etc., God will graciously and generously reward your efforts. It is truly astounding that “whatever you do” for the Lord will be justly compensated, eternally rewarded. As to when, Luke 14:14 says “you will be repaid (recompensed) at the resurrection of the righteous.”
5. TREASURES. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither most nor rust destroys, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:19-21). All of you know people who have lots of earthly things, who through the years, have been collecting lots of stuff. “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15). God wants you to invest your life and money wisely, not for this world, but for your eternal future. Now I believe it is a good practice to regularly set aside money for your earthly “retirement,” for that time when you are not fully employed. But you should never love your money and trust in it. You don’t want to be the person who “lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Love God and trust Him (“In God We Trust”) and use your money for His purposes, knowing that He will bless you now and for all eternity.
6. INHERITANCE. “Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34). Can you imagine that? You will inherit the kingdom, and inherit the earth! That’s unbelievable! An earthly heir receives money, property, and goods from his parents, that which may have some worldly value. But Christians are children of God and heirs of God, and will receive an inheritance that has infinite value, which is “imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Then you learn that you are a fellow heir with Jesus Christ and will share in His possessions. Wow! (Rom. 8:17). God gives you an abundance of verses on this subject because He wants you to be excitedly looking forward to being in heaven with Him, your loving Lord and Father. (Matt. 19:29, Luke 12:32, Acts 20:32, Rom. 8:16-17, Gal. 3:29, Eph. 3:6, Titus 3:7, Heb. 1:14, James 2:5, 1 Peter 1:3-4). Gal. 4:7 - “You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God.” Just think, you are an heir of God, and He won’t just give you good things, but Himself. “The Lord is my portion.” Lam. 3:2
7. GRACE. “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us… made us alive together with Christ… so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace…” (Eph. 2:4-7). Do you see what God is saying, that He wants to show you “the surpassing riches of His grace”? Everything about your future, your inheritance, blessings, crowns, treasures, and rewards, result from God’s love expressed in His grace to you. Your entire and eternal life is wonderfully blessed because of God’s grace. But you are only at the very beginning of your Christian life - you have the rest of this life and the ages to come to experience God’s grace. There’s the 1000-year kingdom age when Christ is reigning over the earth, and then the eternal kingdom age when everything is completely perfect, glorious, and altogether beautiful. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13
8. GLORY. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). What an encouraging prayer, that Jesus is praying to His Father so that you may see His amazing glory when you are in heaven. But what is this glory? It's a big word that speaks of who God and Christ are, their essence and nature, their truth, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, eternality, supremacy, etc. It speaks of their character, their love, holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, righteousness, sovereignty, and mercy, etc. Their glory is also seen in who they are, in what they do, in the creation, in Christ’s life and work, in the lives of believers, in His dealings with unbelievers, in our glorified bodies, in the millennial kingdom, and in the new heavens and earth. And there’s no doubt that God’s glory is directly related to the blessings and rewards He will be giving you. “We exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:3
God’s glory is the single most important truth for the Christian, for it relates to everything about God and our life, now and forever. We have been, and will continue, through all eternity, to know, see, and grow in our understanding of the glory of God and Jesus Christ. And then we are to give Them the honor and glory they rightly deserve - “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13
All that we have talked about - crowns, prize, rewards, recompense, treasures, inheritance, grace, and glory - is speaking of the HOPE God has given us with regards to our future. God has given us plenty to think about with respect to what He has in store for us, and that’s because He wants you to be looking forward to the future and being with Him. “In your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Ps. 16:11). What our future exactly looks like, we don’t know. (1 Cor. 2:9). Yes, God has given you a general idea, but the specifics won’t be known until you get to heaven, and even then, they will be forever unfolding for all eternity. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” Ephesians 1:18
P.S. An incredibly important and encouraging subject is heavenly rewards, one that most Christians don't know much about. If you haven't yet read the previous posts on this subject of how God wants to greatly bless your life in the future, then take the time to read: "God Really Wants to Reward You", "Earthly Work That Results in Heavenly Rewards", and "Your Reward is the Lord."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #224 ~
How do you feel about the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, and the role of our country? Shocked, bewildered, concerned, angered, betrayed, outraged, disheartened, frustrated, confused, defeated, embarrassed! What in the world is happening?! What is the United States doing, and why? (Yes, I believe we should get out of Afghanistan, but it’s how it’s being done that’s upsetting). But what is God doing? That’s the question that needs to be answered. Anytime something disastrous happens, it’s essential that we look to God and learn from Him. “Your way, O God, is holy. What god is as great as our God?” (Psalm 77:13). What are some of these things that God wants to teach us?
First, God is sovereign, He is in charge. We need to know that God has control over all people, events, countries, and rulers. No person and no President can do what he wants apart from God’s decrees, apart from His will. Anything that happens is always in accordance with His perfect, eternal, and glorious plans. Rest and rejoice in the fact that God is sovereign over all the actions and words of every single person in the world, including all those in Afghanistan and the United States. “God does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’” Daniel 4:35
Second, God is holy and just. He is altogether righteous and must punish all sin. Therefore, God deals with all the evildoers in Afghanistan, in His way and in His time. But there's a ton of evil in the United States too, and it’s because of her awful sin that she is declining in power, status, and influence around the world. This downhill slide that’s been going on in our country the past 90 years is explained in Rom. 1:20-32. It starts when the people reject God (vss. 20-23) which leads to immorality (vs. 24), then to homosexuality (vs. 26), and then to depravity (vs. 28 - people saying evil is good and good is evil - Is. 5:20). Fret not, for God is righteous, and He will not be mocked - in due time, He will punish all sinners who rebel against Him. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18
Third, God is good, that is, He works all things together for good in the lives of Christians. You may be upset or saddened when you think of Afghans and Americans being persecuted for their faith but, remember, God is working this out for their good, and His glory. And pray for them. In the United States, we are seeing increasing crime, rising inflation, border problems, Marxism being taught, the continuing Covid crisis, and again, God is in complete control, and is working all this out for the good of the Christians. He is helping us grow in character (Rom. 5:3-5), is causing the spread of the gospel (Mark 13:9-11), and is carrying out His end-time plans. “In Christ we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:10-12
Fourth, God is merciful. Whenever I hear about some calamity, I think of the gospel and how God desires to show mercy to those in trouble, and I am not just talking physically, even though that is desired in this Afghan situation, but spiritually. He wants the afflicted and hurting to know that their real problem is not the war, a fire, a hurricane, a virus or whatever, but their sin - and death that results. What people ought to be really concerned about is sin and death. And Jesus Christ is the only answer, sent by His Father to this earth to die on the cross and rise again from the dead to pay for the sins of all the people who would repent of their sins and believe in Him alone for forgiveness and eternal life. When you hear that people are experiencing problems of any kind, then pray that they would turn to Christ, and that God would have mercy on them, and save their souls, and bring them into His eternal family. “Jesus Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18
Fifth, this is God’s will, part of His eternal purpose. All that is now happening, whether it’s in Afghanistan, the United States, or in your own life, is part of God’s end-time and eternal plans. God is wisely and faithfully working in the life of every single person, directing every single event, and working in every single church and every single country, all which is leading to that most glorious time when Christ returns to rapture the church. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect.” Matthew 24:30
Specifically, what is happening, and what are His plans?
1. This present conflict is part of the birth pains. Jesus told us that wars (Afghanistan), along with plagues (Covid), earthquakes (Haiti), famines (Africa), and economic problems (inflation) would happen in the end-times and would increasingly get worse before Christ’s coming. “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines.” Luke 21:10-11, Rev. 6:5-6
2. The United States needs to lose her position as the #1 global superpower so that, sooner or later, Antichrist’s kingdom can come to power. This nation is in spiritual decay, witnessed by her moral, political, financial, academic, and international decline. This nation is experiencing big-time domestic and foreign problems, solid and sobering evidence that God is judging her for her sin, leading to her downfall. “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days - you would not believe if you were told… I am raising up the Chaldeans… You, O Lord, have appointed them to judge.” Habakkuk 1:5-6, 13
3. These recent events in Afghanistan are leading to changing global power structures and new alliances among nations, which, as God predicts, must happen before the rise and rule of the Antichrist. This once great nation, now in grave danger, is visibly going down, and this will have a dramatic impact on the present world order. I don’t believe it will be long before that devilish beast, the Antichrist, is revealed and becomes dictator of the world. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast (Antichrist) for one hour.” Revelation 17:12
4. Israel, the most important nation in the end-times, will definitely feel the effects of these recent events. That’s because anti-Semitic nations have been ordained by God to be her enemies (Psalm 83), and are presently being emboldened. You can’t imagine how happy Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, etc., are to see the United States, the “Great Satan”, leaving that part of the Mideast. In the months and years ahead, we will see these countries more united than ever before in their fight against Israel and the United States. They truly want to wipe them off the map - but God is sovereign, and His purposes will prevail. “The Lord nullifies the plans of the nations… the counsel of the Lord stands forever… blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12
5. God wants you to serve Him and help Him fulfill His purposes. As a Christian, you are a key player in what God is and will be doing in this world. Like a piece of a puzzle, He is fitting you together with others, and using you to bring about His end-time plans, Christ’s return to earth, the rapture of the church, and the day of the Lord. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep, for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed… Let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:11-12
I have spoken of God’s character and purpose, which you must know if you’re to be a hope-filled, Spirit-filled, Christ-glorifying believer. But what are you to do? First, love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). Second, don’t be distracted by the evil that’s happening in the world, and thereby keep you from doing the work God wants you to do (Neh. 6:1-4). Third, trust God, believe that He is in control, is building the church, and will use you for His purposes (Eph. 2:20-22). Fourth, obey God’s commands, use your spiritual gifts, and do your part in making disciples and building the church. Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20
P.S. There's lots God wants you to know about the end-times and the coming of Christ. Three posts that relate to this particular post that I would encourage you to read are: "The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ", "What Needs to Happen Before Christ's Return?", "Truths You Need to Know about the End-Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #225 ~
You can never say that a Christian is unemployed. What I mean is that we work for God, and we will always have work. As long as we are alive on this earth, God has work for us to do, and it’s not part-time but full-time. And it’s good work, productive work, eternal work, God-glorifying work, with blessings and benefits that are out of this world. Colossians 3:23-24
On this Labor Day, I am writing about work. I just finished publishing, what I believe, is a helpful article on work - “The Excellent End-Time's Worker.” It lists 40 different truths and principles that show you how to be a great worker for God in these last years before the return of Christ. I am also planning on writing two other posts on work which will come out in the next few weeks.
But today I want to share with you one main thought about work, and it’s from Eph. 2:1-10. The first nine verses are all about the gospel, the work of Christ in saving us from sin and death, and that it’s by the grace of God. Then verse 10 says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Do you see what God is telling you, and it’s the very first thing after the gospel? That you are saved to work? You are saved by the work of Christ so you can do the work of Christ. God saved you and left you on earth so you can worship Him, and work for Him. (Matt. 4:10). You are now employed by God and are one of His permanent workers, and you will never be laid off, but will be working with Him and for Him, now and forever. In Ephesians 2:7, you will find another wonderful reason why God saved you.
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:57-58). “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
I encourage you to take the time to look at "The Excellent End-Time's Worker.”
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 #227 ~
“You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Matt. 4:10). This verse sums up our eternal purpose as Christians. Worshiping the Lord, loving Him, praising Him, singing to Him - and serving Him, working for Him, obeying Him, fulfilling His plans - this is what we are to do every day of our lives on earth, in heaven, and forever and ever.
I am in my late sixties, and I ask myself, “What am I to do?” I am to worship and serve the Lord. I look around and see other people focused on food, fortune, fun, and fame (Luke 6:24-26), and I wonder, “What am I to do?” I am to worship and serve the Lord! I see others my age who are retired and engaged in all kinds of leisure activities (Luke 12:19), and I think, “And what am I to do?” I am to worship and serve the Lord! I hear of evil things happening around the world and, at times, get worried, distracted, and angry (Psalm 37:1), “But what am I to do?” I am to worship and serve the Lord! And now that we’re living in the end-times, that critically important period of time before the return of Christ to rapture the church, I think, “What I am to do?” I am to worship and serve the Lord!
I am convinced God chose me to be holy in His sight, that He called me, justified me, and left me on earth so I can worship and serve Him (Eph. 1:4-5, Phil. 1:21-26). I also know I am not my own, that Jesus Christ bought me with His own blood, and that I am now His slave and servant. This freeing truth means I am not a hell-bound slave of the devil lost in a heathen world doing what is sinful and worthless. Instead, I am a child and servant of God! (Rom. 8:12-17). To have a heavenly Father who dearly loves me, and to be able to love and serve Him during my life on earth is such a wonderful blessing. “Not one of us lives for himself… for if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord… therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lords.” Romans 14:7-8
Every Christian must learn what it means to serve the Lord and work for Him. When we talk about work, we usually think of an 8-4, 9-5, or part-time job, but I’m talking about working fulltime, 24-7 for the Lord. Jesus gives a parable illustrating this point, concluding with the statement - “When you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done’” (Luke 17:7-10). This is instructive on two points. First, we are to work for God all the time, every day, every evening, and every week of our life. Second, whatever we do, we are working for God, whether it’s making a meal, cleaning house, raising children, praying, shopping, encouraging someone, serving in a ministry, or mowing the lawn. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
Jesus is the best example we have of one who worked fulltime for God. He knew He was God’s Son and also His Slave. “Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave.” (Phil. 2:5-6). To His disciples, Jesus said, “I am among you as One who serves” (Luke 22:27). To the Jews, Jesus said, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17). And Jesus worked like no man has ever worked - crisscrossing the nation of Israel, He was continually teaching, healing, praying, meeting needs, and training His disciples.
Jesus willingly and faithfully worked for and with His Father. He truly loved His Father and really wanted to please Him, and therefore loved to work, doing exactly what His Father asked Him to do. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:24). Jesus was energized both by His Father’s love and by doing the very work His Father wanted Him to do. At the end of His earthly life, Jesus told Him, “I brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4). Jesus was overjoyed that He could work for His Father, thereby fulfilling His earthly mission.
Jesus’ example and this John 17:4 verse greatly motivate me. And through all the years, God has given me plenty of work to do. Now I have not been a perfect worker, but Paul’s example from Phil. 3:13-14 helps me - “One thing I do - forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” No matter my age, or what I have done, or what has taken place, or my weakness or sin, I am to say, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12). What a privilege to be able to work for God, to do what He planned for me to do, and trained me to do. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Now that we are in the end-times, we should be very thankful and excited that we can use our spiritual gifts to serve the Lord, that we can do our part, that we can help build the church and make disciples. We are on the very last leg of this ~2000-year church-age race, and it’s our turn, our time to run for Christ (Heb. 9:27-28, 12:1-3). It won’t be long before we cross the finish line, for in a very little while, we will either physically die or be raptured by Christ. Hebrews 10:37
These three end-time passages should encourage you in doing God’s work:
* Luke 12:42-43 - “Who is the faithful and sensible slave who His master put in charge of His household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom His master finds so doing when He comes.” Your heavenly Master wants you to faithfully serve those in the church.
* Luke 19:13 - “He called ten of His slaves and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’” You are to use the gifts God has given you to do the work He wants you to do, right up until the return of His Son.
* 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - “They themselves report… how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven…” You are to be serving God while waiting for Christ.
Might you keep serving your heavenly Father to the very end, and then you will be able to say to Him, “I brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do” (John 17:4). And Jesus will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:21
P.S. The immigration issue is an important one - and how does God want us to think? Here is a post that will help - "Immigration: As It Is, They Desire a Better Country." And Covid-19 is important too. In fact. I am just getting over it - thankfully. And what does God want us to think about it? Here are two previous posts: "From the Coronavirus to Christ's Coming and the Rapture" and "The Coronavirus: Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #228 ~
As you know, life can be difficult and, at times, extremely difficult. There are internal struggles, the fight against sin, and relational conflicts. There are problems at home and at work. There is sickness, chronic ailments, and old age. There is government oppression. There is slander, persecution, and attacks from the devil. There are the daily challenges of living in an evil and fallen world. Add to this the normal trials of life. And the Antichrist isn’t even here yet, and with him, the great tribulation Christians will go through. How do we keep going? How are we to keep loving God and living for Him? How are we to persevere?
God will keep you going to the end. “I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand… You will take me into glory” (Ps. 73:23-26). “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8). “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:8). God promises you that He will keep you going. He is your spiritual Father, and He won’t let you slip and fall by the wayside and fail to make it to your heavenly home. But what part do you play in persevering for the Lord? What are the divine means by which you can victoriously keep going through all the years of your life? Here are some keys, some God-given truths that will enable you to endure to the end.
1. The word of God. Knowing, believing, and holding on to God’s word is essential if you are to persevere and be a successful, God-glorifying Christian. “His delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night… Whatever he does prospers” (Ps. 1:2-3). As for me, I love Psalm 119, for it explains in great detail the benefits of loving and living by God’s word. “I have hidden Your word in my heart” (Ps. 119:11). Matt. 4:4, John 8:32, 2 Tim. 3:16-17
2. Your relationship with God is all important. You need to know that God is your Father, and you are His child, His chosen and holy one. Walk with God and, as you do, you will love Him, listen to Him, pray to Him, enjoy Him, and obey Him. “Let him who boasts, boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth” (Jer. 9:23-24). “This is eternal life, that they may know You.” John 17:3
3. Knowing Jesus Christ is vital. First and foundational you need to believe that Jesus Christ died to pay for all your sins. That’s just the beginning, for then you are to love Him, trust Him, and grow in your relationship with Him. He is to be your best friend. “I know My own, and My own know Me” (John 10:14). “I want to know Christ” (Phil. 3:10). “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3
4. Having a close relationship with the Holy Spirit is critical for perseverance. It is truly miraculous that the Spirit is in you, and that He is with you forever. (John 14:16). And He wants to lead you (Rom. 8:14), comfort you (John 14:16), teach you (John 14:26), strengthen you (Eph. 5:18), keep you holy (Gal. 5:16), and have fellowship with you (2 Cor. 13:14). He is a perfect and precious gift from God, a daily companion and helper, One you can always count on.
5. God’s grace is indispensable. Grace is a general word that speaks of God’s generous gift to you, the divine power and enablement you need every day in every area of your life. Only by God’s grace can you live and keep going for Him. Paul wrote extensively about this - “Grace to you” (Eph. 1:2). “God is able to make all grace abound to you” (2 Cor. 9:8). “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). “I became a servant… by the gift of God’s grace.” Eph. 3:7
6. Knowing God’s great love is necessary for perseverance. This love is personal, from God to you, for it’s what you need and when you need it. His love is powerful and energizing. His love is specific, for it's forgiving, patient, good, compassionate, and gentle. Because the Christian is strengthened by God's love, he can continue on to the very end. “Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). “Keep yourself in God’s love.” (Jude 21). “His love is everlasting.” Psalm 136
7. God’s purpose enables you to stay on the highway to heaven. Believing you have a purpose motivates you, keeps you forward-looking, and results in God being glorified and people being blessed. It’s by knowing and obeying God’s commands that you have purpose, direction, and a reason to live. Paul was passionate about fulfilling his purpose (Acts 26:14-18) - might we be like him. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
8. God’s promises are a means to persevere. God’s commands tell you what to do for God, but His promises tell you what He will do for you. Knowing God’s promises is a daily source of His love, life, and grace, and are needed for progress, joy, and endurance. Here are three: “He will lead you in the way you should go” (Ps. 32:8). “I will never leave you” (Heb. 13:5); “Those who wait for the Lord… will run and not get tired… will walk and not get weary.” Isaiah 40:30-31
9. Be in a godly church, a church where there’s good teaching, agape love, true holiness, real devotion, where there’s faith, fellowship, friendships, and encouragement, and where you can use your gift to serve others. Be an active part of the body of Christ. “Christ Jesus… in whom 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.” Eph. 2:20-22, 3:14-21, 4:11-16
10. Walk by faith. Faith is needed for every facet of your life. It’s believing God and relying on His word. It’s central to your relationship with God, experiencing His grace, knowing His love, and fulfilling your purpose. Faith isn’t based on feelings (2 Cor. 5:7) but comes from God and His word (Rom. 10:17). Learn from others who, by faith, pleased God and gained approval from Him (Heb. 11). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Prov. 3:5). “Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22
11. Hope is essential for perseverance. Hope is knowing that the future is infinitely better than the present, that living for God on earth results in eternal blessings in heaven. Hope is being excited about being with Jesus, being in heaven, being with friends, and being glorified. Hope is looking forward to the future, to receiving your inheritance and all these rewards. “We have this hope as an anchor of the soul.” (Heb. 6:19) “… You will abound in hope by the power of the Spirit.” Romans 15:13
12. Remember the past. “I will remember the deeds of the Lord… I will meditate on all Your works” (Ps. 77:10-12). You are not to focus on the past, but you are to think about it and thank God for what He has done for you. This is encouraging, for you will more clearly understand how God has wisely, lovingly, faithfully, and sovereignly worked in your life. Then you will see the continuity of your life, that what God has done in the past connects to the present, and this helps you to persevere, to keep moving ahead into the future. “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Sam. 7:12). “Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles.” (Ps. 77:13-14). Psalm 18:30-32
All these truths are keys to persevering, to going strong and successfully to the end. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13). It is by God’s grace that you do your part and work out your salvation, which means it is God who keeps you persevering, who enables you to endure all the way to heaven. “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me… I press on to toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.” (Phil. 3:12-14). “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jude 24-25
P.S. The Christian life is truly a marathon. You need to learn to persevere for God, to keep going day after day and year after year. Look to God, pray to Him, and He will help you to endure to the end. Then finally, you will see the Lord Jesus face to face. Another similar and helpful post is "What Keeps Me Going to the End?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #229 ~
Very bad things are taking place in the United States! There’s the border crisis, growing inflation, continuing Covid-19, problems in schools, the supply-chain dilemma, drugs and death, the tragic Afghani situation, loss of global status, increasing crime, atheistic philosophies, and false teaching. These are all major problems, and they are not just random or accidental. God has sovereignly directed them and are His way of judging our country. “In those days… God was troubling them with every kind of distress” (2 Chron. 15:5-6). “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people.” Rom. 1:18
Why are these bad things happening? Why does God cause / or allow them to occur? Why does He want us to suffer like this? Because God is holy, and He wants to wake us up to the fact that we’re sinning against Him, and that sin is our primary problem. As a country, we’ve turned away from God, and are not loving our Creator, but instead, are idolatrous, are loving the creature, are greatly sinning. Rom. 1:19-25
A massive amount of sin has infiltrated every city and town of the United States, and it’s worse than ever been before. You know that cancer can kill - well our sin is like a malignant cancer that’s close to killing our country. We are in critical condition! And sadly, most people, even some Christians, don’t realize that sin is our main problem. This country has been very concerned about Covid-19, the physical virus that has infected 100’s of millions of people all over the world. But what should really upset us is sin, that deadly spiritual virus that has affected every single soul on this planet and is terribly and eternally worse than Covid-19.
What exactly is sin? God’s word explicitly and continually describes sin. That’s because God wants us to know exactly what it is, and convince us that it’s our most serious problem. And it must be dealt with or else there will be horrible consequences. Today I want you to look at some verses on sin. Read them slowly, for its vitally important that you understand this subject of sin, for its our root problem, our #1 enemy, one that attacks the soul and the mind.
First, here are some verses about sin in general:
* Exodus 20:3-5 - “You shall have no other gods before Me… you shall not make for yourself an idol… you shall not worship them.”
* Psalm 14:1 - “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable idolatries.”
* Psalm 36:1, 3 - “There is no fear of God before his eyes… he has ceased to be wise.”
* Psalm 78:22 - “They did not believe in God and did not trust His salvation.”
* Isaiah 5:24 - “They rejected the law of the Lord… and despised the word of the Holy One.”
* Jeremiah 2:5 - “They went far from Me and walked after emptiness and became empty.”
* Romans 1:21, 24, 26, 28 - “They did not honor Him as God or give thanks… (they) exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man… God gave them over to sexual impurity… to degrading passions (homosexuality)… to a depraved mind.”
* 1 John 3:4 - “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness.”
Here are a number of verses that specifically describe this sin:
* Exodus 22:21 - “You shall not wrong a stranger… you shall not afflict any widow or orphan.”
* Exodus 23:1-3 - “You shall not bear a false report… you shall not follow the masses in doing evil… nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.”
* Psalm 10:3 - “The greedy man curses and spurns the Lord… his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’”
* Psalm 119:69-70 - “the arrogant… Their hearts are callous and unfeeling.”
* Proverbs 6:16-19 - “There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven… haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and a man who stirs up dissension.”
* Proverbs 19:15 - “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.”
* Isaiah 3:16-26 - “The daughters of Zion are proud and walk with heads held high, flirting with their eyes, going along with mincing steps… In that day the Lord will take away the… headbands, crescent necklaces, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils… finger rings, nose rings, festal robes, capes, cloaks, purses, and mirrors… destitute, she will sit on the ground.”
* Isaiah 5:20 - “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.”
* Isaiah 5:21 - “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes.”
* Isaiah 5:22-23 - “Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine… who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right.”
* Jeremiah 5:27-28 - “They have become great and rich. They are fat, they are sleek, they also excel in deeds of wickedness.”
* Jeremiah 23:31 - “I’m against those who prophesied false dreams… and led My people astray.”
* Ezekiel 16:15 - “You trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame.”
* Ezekiel 16:49 - “… the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughter were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and the needy.”
* Hosea 4:2 - “There is no… knowledge of God in the land… There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
* Amos 6:1-5 - “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion… who recline on beds of ivory and sprawl on their couches and eat lambs from their flock… they have composed songs for themselves… they anoint themselves with the finest of oils… they have not grieved over the ruin of Joseph.”
* Malachi 2:7-8 - “The lips of a priest should preserve knowledge… but as for you, you have turned aside from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble.”
* Malachi 2:14-16 - “You have broken faith with her, though she is your wife… I hate divorce.”
* Matthew 7:15 - “Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
* Matthew 12:36 - “Every careless word that people speak, they shall give an account for it on the day of judgment.”
* Mark 7:21-22 - “Out of the hearts of men proceed the evil thoughts, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”
* Luke 6:24-26 - “Woe to you who are rich (fortune)… who are well-fed (food)… who laugh now (fun)… woe to you when all men speak well of you (fame).”
* Luke 12:15, 19 - “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions… ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’”
* Romans 1:29-31 - “They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.”
* 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - “Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards… will inherit the kingdom of God.”
* Galatians 5:19-21 - “The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry… strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger… envying, drunkenness, carousing.”
* Ephesians 5:4 - “There must be no filthiness, silly talk, or course jesting, which are not fitting.”
* Philippians 2:14 - “Do all things without grumbling or complaining.”
* Colossians 3:18-22 - “Wives, be subject to your husbands… Husbands, love your wives.”
* 2 Timothy 3:2-4 - “People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
* James 5:5 - “You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure… you have condemned and put to death the righteous man.”
Each of these verses describe the sin in our country, and help you understand the heart of our problems. Indeed, the United States is sick with sin, so sick that she’s on her death bed. This is extremely sad and sobering and should greatly concern every single person in this country. What’s really wrong with our country is not climate change, the schools, the economy, crime, guns, the police, the politicians, the government, or the Russians or the Chinese. Our #1 problem is our sin, and it’s directly related to everything else that’s bad in our country.
Thankfully, there’s an answer to this deadly sin, and it’s the person of Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23). That’s because He dealt with our sins by dying on a cross, thereby paying for them. And only those who admit they have sinned, and repent of their sins, and believe that Christ died to pay for them will be forgiven, be perfectly holy, and be forever with God in heaven. “God made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
I’ve been observing things as a Christian for close to 50 years now, since the early ‘70s, and it’s obvious that our country is spiritually and morally much worse - and I don’t see things getting any better. It’s quite clear that the people “do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken” (Ps. 82:5). Look at our churches, families, schools, and culture - generally speaking, they have been going downhill, and are now in very bad shape. Not only that, but we live in the end-times, the last years before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church, when the Bible tells us that “lawlessness is increased.” Matt. 24:12
Dear friend, these are extremely dark and difficult days, and increasingly so. There’s going to be more sin, evil and wickedness in this world, and yes, God will keep judging it. But what a time to be alive, to live for God, to share the gospel, and do our part in ushering in the kingdom of God! “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10). “Come Lord, Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. The United States is quickly and tragically going downhill, and it's all part of God's end-time plans. Here are two other posts that will help you understand His plans for this country at this time in history: "Afghanistan and America - Lessons to Learn" and "The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #230 ~
What’s wrong with this world? The problem is SIN. It’s not the economy, guns, the climate, schools, police, lack of food, corrupt leaders, or bad laws. The root problem, the real problem is sin, a spiritual cancer that corrupts (Rom. 8:21) and kills. “The soul that sins will die” (Ezek. 18:4). And it’s related to all our other problems. Here are some important lessons to learn about sin:
Sin, the sinner, and its consequences:
* Sin is not worshiping God, the Creator, but instead, is worshiping the creation. Sin is idolatry. It’s rebellion. It’s disobedience. It’s pride. It’s not trusting God. It’s trusting self. Sin is evil, vile, sickening, wicked, wrong, revolting, devilish, and deadly. Deut. 5:7-9; Jer. 2:5, 13; Rom. 1:20-23
* Sin starts in a person’s heart, in his soul, in his innermost being. A sinner’s soul is spiritually blackened, thoroughly dirty, altogether disgusting, and completely detestable to God. Sin is revealed in a person’s thoughts, words, and actions. Ps. 10:3-11, 36:1-4, 51:5-6; Rom. 3:10-18
* The root sin of not loving God is manifested in many ways. In His Word, God describes 100’s of specific sins because He wants us to know what they are and the consequences of committing them. Mark 7:20-23, Rom. 1:28-32, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, 2 Tim. 3:1-4, etc.
* God demands a payment for a person’s sin, and it’s death. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Sin, the most serious crime, is against God Himself, and He must punish it, and its death. This death is spiritual, physical, and may be eternal (the person who never turns to Christ is forever punished and separated from God). “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of God” (2 Thess. 1:9). “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire.” Matthew 25:41
* Some people are inwardly sinful but appear outwardly righteous. “You are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness… hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matt. 23:27-28, Luke 18:9-14). Other people are inwardly sinful and outwardly sinful. “There was a woman in the city who was a sinner” (Luke 7:37). Either way, sin is utterly deadly and must be dealt with, or else there will be hell to pay.
* Many people do not believe in sin. The world often classifies sin as a person’s personality, an addiction, mental illness, or behavioral disorder (anxiety, eating, conduct, etc.). Yes, some people’s problems are strictly mental in nature, but most are spiritually based. Most sinners want to forget, excuse, ignore, or gloss over their sin, for admitting it would mean that God exists, and that they are guilty and deserve to be judged. “If we say that we have no sin… the truth is not in us… if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar.” 1 John 1:8, 10
* God judges a sinner at different times: 1) During his life on earth - “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18, note Deut. 28:15-68). 2) The day of the Lord - for those sinners living on earth at the end of the age (Rev. 8-9, 16). 3). In Hades after his life on earth (Luke 16:23). 4) In the lake of fire at the end of the millennial kingdom. Revelation 20:11-15
Jesus Christ is the only answer to sin:
* Jesus Christ pays for a person’s sins by His death on the cross, or a person pays for his own sins by being punished forever in hell. If a person repents and believes Christ died for him, then he’s forgiven, has eternal life, and goes to heaven. “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). “God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” Titus 3:5
The Christian’s response to sin, and his purpose in life:
* God commands you to keep yourself holy in this evil world. People clean their house, wash the dishes, take a shower, weed the garden, etc., but what’s most important is keeping your soul clean. By God’s word, by God's Spirit, and by being in a good church, you can live a holy life, and you need to, for only then can you please the Lord and be useful to Him. “Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord.” 2 Timothy 2:22
* Don’t focus on the sin in this world. Don’t be occupied by the bad news and bad things in this world. Don’t think much about the crime, corruption, and conflicts, or you’ll find yourself fretting and getting discouraged. Look to God, do what is good and right, and carry out the work He gives you to do - that’s what can make a difference, and what’s eternally important. “As for you, be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chron. 15:7, Neh. 6:1-4, Psalm 37:1-6
* As a Christian, be an ambassador for Christ. You are to be a bright shining light in this dark and evil world. Be a witness to the lost by your life and words. Share with people the gospel of Christ. Exhort them to turn from their sin and turn to Christ. Tell them that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. “We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20-21). “Repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15, Eph. 5:8-13, John 14:6
* To successfully get through life, you need hope. It’s eternally worth it to live for God during your short life on earth - He has a magnificent future in store for you. Your hope is that you will literally be with Jesus (John 14:1-3), that you will be in heaven where there’s absolutely no sin, that you will have an immortal, powerful, perfect, and glorious body (1 Cor. 15:40-42), that you will be with your Christian friends as well as all believers from all time (Heb. 12:22-24), that you will be greatly rewarded for serving God and suffering for Him (Matt. 5:11-12), and that you will be reigning with Christ during the millennial kingdom. Revelation 2:26-27, 5:10, 20:6
The nations, the world, and the end-times
* God judges an individual nation because of its collective and cumulative sin. God’s word gives many examples and history proves it. You should pray, “Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail. Let the nations be judged before You” (Ps. 9:19, Rev. 6:9-11). The final judgment of the nations, the outpouring of God’s wrath, occurs just after the rapture, during the day of the Lord. (Rev. 8-9, 16). “You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked.” Psalm 9:5
* Sin is the worst problem, engulfing the entire world, yet God is sovereignly causing all its evil to result in His purposes being fulfilled. God used Herod and Pilate to carry out the worst sin ever, the crucifixion of Christ, but it was the best thing that ever happened (Acts 4:27-28). So too, all this sin is part of God’s plan to bring about Christ’s return and the rapture, His wrath, and His 1000-year reign. “All the nations You have made will come and worship before You, O Lord; they will bring glory to Your name. You are great and do marvelous deeds. You alone are God.” Psalm 86:8-10
* The United States is being judged for her sin. Rom. 1:18-32 describes the reason for God’s wrath, a 4-stage progression of sin, which is what we have seen in this country over the past 60 years. We have gone from rejecting God to immorality to homosexuality to depravity (Isaiah 5:20). God has been righteously and severely judging our country, with the result that she is being diminished in power, and sometime in the future, Antichrist’s kingdom will be ruling this earth (Rev. 13). (And don’t ever think that the government, leaders, laws, capitalism or socialism, or conservatism or liberalism are the answers. Remember, sin is our real problem, and only Jesus Christ is the answer. And there's no doubt that we will see His victory over sin in this age and the next age). Psalms 67, 96; Phil. 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 19:11-21
* The world will become increasingly sinful as we get closer to Christ’s coming. For the Christian, this will be an extremely treacherous place to live. That’s because “lawlessness is increased” (Matt. 24:12); “the man of lawlessness (Antichrist) is revealed” (2 Th. 2:3); they “took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Th. 2:12); and “evil men… will proceed from bad to worse” (2 Tim. 3:13). And there will be great tribulation - “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matt. 24:9). Yet, this is the time God wants you to be alive. Remember, God will give you all the grace you need to be holy, to be a good witness, and to do the work He wants you to do (2 Cor. 9:8). “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12
You must understand this subject of sin, especially in the end-times, and here's why: #1, for your own life and conscience, and so you can be loving God with all your heart; #2, so you can be a “vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master” (2 Tim. 2:21-22), and a good witness to the lost; and #3, so you are not confused, upset, or discouraged by what’s going on in this terribly wicked world, but rather, are a good servant and soldier for Christ. “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do.” 1 Chron. 12:32
P.S. As Christians, this subject of sin must be understood, or you will have problems growing in the way God wants, and difficulty helping others, both saved and lost. I would encourage you to find the time to read these three articles, for they will be extremely helpful now and in the years ahead: Evildoers in the End-Times; A Little Suffering and A Lot of Glory; and Your Spiritual Service: A Member of The Special Forces.
By Steven J. Hogan
A Saturday Morning Post #231 ~
Some people think life on this planet will keep going for 100’s if not 1000’s of years. Others believe there are acts of man or forces of nature that will either gradually or suddenly destroy this earth. They talk about how a super virus, meteorites, a solar flare, climate change, or a nuclear war may devastate the entire world, or at least a major part of it. But what does God say? He has made it clear that this present age, as we know it, will come to an end, and He has told us exactly how that will happen - and it’s not what people are telling you.
God goes into great detail about this age, especially the last years of this age. That’s because He doesn’t want you to be surprised by what will be happening or be led astray by the lies and errors of non-Christians. “Where is the wise man?... Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Cor. 1:20). These sinners don’t know what they are talking about, but God does, and His word spells out the truth about the future. Here’s what He wants you to know about this present age, and how it will end.
* This age we live in is an evil age, a very sinful age. “… the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might rescue us from this present evil age...” Galatians 1:4
* This age started with the sin of Adam and Eve. Their sin resulted in this entire earth and all of mankind being cursed and corrupted. Genesis 3, Romans 8:20-22
* Satan rules the world during this evil age. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Yet God is sovereign over everything and everyone, including Satan. Daniel 4:34-35
* Most people living during this age are sinners, are unbelievers. “The gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” Matt. 7:13-14
* That there’s another age after this age means this one must come to an end. In Eph. 1:21, God says, “… not only in this age, but in the one to come.” Eph. 2:7 speaks of “the ages to come.”
* That the Jews are back in their land is the reason we know we live in the last years of this evil age, what is often called the end-times. Ezekiel 36-37, Daniel 12:4, Luke 20:24
* That we live in the end-times means it won’t be long before this age comes to an end. Matt. 24:3-42, more than any other prophecy passage, describes what the end-times will look like.
* God will announce when this age comes to an end with two earth-waking signs - cosmic events and a great earthquake. “… a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood… The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Rev. 6:12-14; Matt. 24:3, 29
*This present age will end when we feel this great earthquake and see these cosmic events. Thus, we must conclude that this age will not end because of a global flood, a nuclear war, a solar flare, or anything else. “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end (of the age) … all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” Matt. 24:6-8
* Many prophesied events will be taking place before this age comes to an end. There will be birth pains, an Israeli treaty, increasing lawlessness, temple sacrifices in Jerusalem, great tribulation, apostasy, the preaching of the gospel, and the Antichrist ruling the earth. “When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” Matthew 24:33
* Discerning Christians will physically see and spiritually sense that this age is coming to an end. By reading God’s word and observing what’s happening in the world, we will “understand the times” (1 Chron. 12:32) and “see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
* God wants Christians to be holy and obedient. We are “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:12
* As Christians, our primary purpose is to preach the gospel right up until the end of this age. “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end (of this age) will come.” Matthew 24:14
* Christians are to “make disciples of all the nations”, always remembering Jesus’ encouraging promise - “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
* Christians are to persevere to the end of the age. “The one who endures to the end (of the age), he will be saved (raptured and glorified).” Matthew 24:13 "* The present age ends during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, after the Antichrist has been revealed and has been ruling for a short while, and just before Christ returns to rapture the church and defeat that devilish man. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9
* Most unbelievers don’t believe what God says about the end of this age. They say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” They think everything is going to stay the same, and that they won’t be judged, but they are badly mistaken. “The present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:3-7
* After this age is over, God will judge the unbelievers still living on earth. “The tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age.” Matthew 13:38-39
* When this age is over, Jesus Christ will rapture the church, pour out His wrath, and redeem a remnant of Jews. Then the next age will begin, and Christ will reign as King upon a renovated and restored earth. Psalm 98, Matthew 19:27-29, Acts 3:19-21
As Christians, don’t be fooled or scared by what sinners are saying, for they are sadly and terribly ignorant of what God is planning to do. We need to wake up to the fact that we live in the last years of this age, and that it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world. Then the next age, Christ’s 1000-year reign, will begin. You can’t imagine how dramatically and wonderfully different everything will be during the millennial kingdom age. “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the ages.” (Rev. 15:3). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations of the earth. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:4-5
“God will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
P.S. Here are two other posts about how this age, and that it is going to end: "This Age Is Coming to an End, and Then the New Age Will Begin" and "The Big Picture: the Present Age and the Ages to Come." Here is an article about the importance of thanksgiving - "Being Thankful - the Character of a Christian."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #232 ~
As Christians, we need to see the big picture, where we have come from and where we are going, and how that fits in with God’s overall plans. Having this perspective of His plans for our lives and the world greatly affects how we think about life and live for Him. As you know, people have all kinds of ideas about what has happened in the past, and what they think will take place in the future. Personally, I believe there are four distinct ages, and we are now living in the second one. You may have a different opinion on this, but this is what I believe God says in His word. Let me explain what I mean by these four different ages and four different earths:
The first age was a perfect age and Adam and Eve, perfect people, were living on a perfect earth. There were no sins, problems, or imperfections affecting mankind, animals, or nature - everything was perfectly good. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’… God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:27-28, 31). Genesis 1-2 describes this age when God created this sinless world and Adam and Eve were perfectly ruling over it.
The second age is an imperfect age, an evil age (Gal. 1:4), the time in which we now live. It began with the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-7), sin which resulted in death (Gen. 2:17), and which spread to all people (Rom. 5:12-21) and to all generations, corrupting mankind, animals, and nature. “Cursed is the ground because of you… for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:17-19). “The creation was subjected to futility… the whole creation groans… even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:19-23). Adding to man’s sin is the fact that the devil rules the world during this second age. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 Jn. 5:19). Because of the devil and this deadly curse, life can be spiritually, physically, and relationally difficult for Christians living during this sinful age.
Most of the Bible, from Gen. 3 to Rev. 19, focuses on this evil age. During this long period of time, God has worked through the Jews, sent His Son to die for our sins, and is now building the church. As part of the church, it’s now our time to love God, live for Him, and be a bright shining light in this dark world (Matt. 5:16). We know this age has ended when we feel a great earthquake and see great signs in the heavens. Rev. 6:12-14
The third age is the millennial kingdom age, that 1000-year period when Jesus Christ, the perfect One, perfectly rules this world. This world will be restored (“the period of restoration of all things” - Acts 3:21), be regenerated (“in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne” - Matt. 19:28), and be set free from sin (“the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” - Rom. 8:21). Jesus Christ cannot rule over a corrupt earth, but only over one that has been restored and regenerated. There will be sin during this age, but there will be perfect justice, for Christ will rule this world with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9. Ps. 72). And yes, there will be death, but it will be rare, for “the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed.” Isaiah 65:20
This kingdom age, spoken of six times in Rev. 20, is described in detail in the Old Testament. There we read about the reign of Christ - “God is the King of all the earth (Ps. 47:7, Zech. 14:9), Jews and Gentiles being blessed - “God blesses us so that all the ends of the earth may fear Him” (Ps. 67:6-7, Gen. 12:2-3), and a renovated earth - “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” Psalm 98:8, Isaiah 65:25
It is at this time that “He (God) has put all things in subjection under His (Christ’s) feet” (1 Cor. 15:27, Ps. 2:6). Therefore, “God (Christ) reigns over the nations” (Ps. 47:8). Glorified believers (Rom. 8:23, 1 Cor. 15:40-42) will have inherited the earth (Ps. 37:11, Matt. 5:5), and will be reigning with Christ (Rev. 5:10, 20:6). “Then comes the end (of the kingdom age), when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule, authority and power. He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” 1 Cor. 15:24-26
The fourth age is the eternal kingdom age. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away” (Rev. 21:1). The new city of Jerusalem will come down to earth (Rev. 21:1-3). There will be no more sin and death, and the devil, along with all demons and unbelievers, will be gone from this world, for they are forever being punished in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:4, 8; Rev. 20:14-15). All believers will be completely satisfied by God (Rev. 21:5-7, Rev. 22:1-5), and be living with Jesus in the holy city of Jerusalem (Rev. 21:9-27). God will be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28). Heaven and earth will be filled with God’s glory (Is. 6:3). All believers will be eternally worshiping and serving God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 145:1-2, Rev. 22:3
There you have it, four ages and four earths. Each of these ages is associated with a distinct earth related to God’s purpose for that period of time. During the 1st age, when there is no sin and death, there is a perfect earth ruled by Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2). During the 2nd age, when there is sin and death, there is a corrupt earth ruled by Satan (Gen. 3 - Rev. 19). During the 3rd age, when there is still sin and death, there is a restored earth perfectly ruled by Jesus Christ. (Rev. 20, Psalm 67:4). During the 4th age, when there is no sin and death, there is a perfect heaven and perfect earth ruled by God and Jesus Christ. Rev. 21:1 - Rev. 22:5
Here are a few more points about these ages, particularly as it relates to the future.
1. Once this present evil age comes to an end, the church will be raptured, God’s wrath will be poured out upon this wicked world, a remnant of Jews will be saved, the Antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire, and the devil will be chained for 1000 years (Rev. 7-19). Then the next age (Rev. 20) will begin.
2. The fact that we live in the end-times means this age is almost over, and in a little while the millennial kingdom age will begin, and we will be reigning with Christ over this world.
3. 1 Cor. 15:20-28 speaks about the last three ages, this age (vss. 20-23), the millennial kingdom age (vss. 24-27), and the eternal kingdom age (vs. 28).
4. Eph. 1:21 and Eph. 2:7 also speaks of these three ages. Eph. 1:7 says, “… in this age but also in the one to come," which refers to this present evil age and the coming millennial kingdom age. Eph. 2:7 tells us, “… so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace,” which speaks of the millennial kingdom age and the eternal kingdom age.
5. Knowing what God says about this age and future ages helps you understand the errors of unbelievers, who say this earth may catastrophically come to an end by nuclear war, meteorites, climate change, etc.
6. Be encouraged and excited by the fact that we now live in the end-times of this second age, that it’s our turn to “run the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith....” Hebrews 12:1-2
7. It won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church and, shortly after that, we will begin reigning with Him over a restored and glorious earth. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Habakkuk 2:14
P.S. God wants you to know some things about the future, and it's an amazing and incredible future that He has planned out for you. Here are some very instructive and related posts - "The Big Picture: the Present Age and the Ages to Come," and "The Present Church Age and the Kingdom Age."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #233 ~
Christmas, one of the biggest holy days of the year, is celebrated by billions of people all over the world. And what’s it all about? We know it’s not about the food, presents, Christmas songs, or family get-togethers. As that oft quoted saying goes - “Jesus is the reason for the season.” The true Christmas message is not just about the baby Jesus, but about His entire life and purpose. Let’s look at some passages from God’s word that make this crystal clear.
Matthew 1:21-23 - “She (Mary) will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins… they shall call His name ‘Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.’” In this passage, the angel reveals to Joseph that Mary will be the mother of Jesus, and that He is not just her son, the son of man, but also the Son of God. Jesus is God in the flesh, and His purpose is to be the Savior, to pay for people’s sins, which He did when He died on the cross. Not only that, but Jesus is Immanuel, and He was with the people at His 1st coming, and He will be with us again at His 2nd coming. In fact, “... we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 5:17
Matthew 2:6 - “‘And you Bethlehem, land of Judah… out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’” Jesus was born in that little town of Bethlehem, and His purpose is to rule over the people of Israel. The prophet Micah tells us, “At that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace” (Micah 5:4-5). During this church age, Jesus is bringing peace to the hearts of individual people, and then during the millennial kingdom, He will bring peace to the whole world, at which time He will be a great and glorious King. “The Lord will be the King over all the earth.” Zechariah 14:9
Luke 1:31-33 - “You (Mary) will bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Again, we read that Jesus was a baby, and that He is both God and man. Jesus is great, and in the age to come, everyone will know He is the greatest person on the planet. That’s because He will be perfectly reigning over Israel and the entire earth, a reign that will go on forever.
Luke 1:46 - “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Luke 1:31-33 tells us that Mary knew she would be the mother of Jesus, the One who would be the eternal King. From Luke 1:47, we learn that she saw God as her Savior, for it was by the saving work of Jesus that her sins were forgiven. She also saw God (Jesus) as her Lord, the One who was Lord of her everyday life, and led her in the work she did for Him. Mary also understood the larger picture, that God did not just do great things for her but would do mighty deeds for all His people, earthly and eternal blessings based on the promises He made to Abraham - “As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” Luke 1:55
Luke 1:67-79. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us…” This is Zechariah’s song, a passage focused on three major promises God made to Israel that also relate to Gentiles. There’s the Davidic Covenant, God’s promise to David that an eternal King, Jesus Himself, would reign over Israel, and bring redemption, “salvation from our enemies” (Luke 1:71). Many 1st century Jews expected Jesus to deliver them from their Roman enemies, but the full realization of this promise will not be seen until He reigns as King during the 1000-year kingdom age.
There’s the Abrahamic Covenant, God’s promise to Abraham that He would greatly bless Israel, resulting in the whole world being blessed. (Gen. 12:1-3). This promise has a near and far fulfillment, for Israel was blessed in the past, but the lasting fulfillment will be seen in the ages to come. Finally, there’s the New Covenant, the promise to Jeremiah that God would save people from their sins. This promise is personal and is for those Jews and Gentiles who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus Christ died for them and rose again. These will experience the “knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.” Luke 1:77
All these promises are fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Only through Christ, the Lord, Savior, and King, can any person love God, live for Him, and be truly blessed. And only by Christ can this world be blessed, whether that’s now or in the coming kingdom ages. That’s why the main message of Christmas is Jesus Christ, whether that relates to the past, present, or future. As Zechariah concluded, “The Sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79
There’s much more to this magnificent, heart-changing, life-changing, world-changing story.
Luke 2:8. “There were some shepherds...” These lowly shepherds were wonderfully surprised that silent night by these angels. One angel told them about Jesus - “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Then there’s “the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (Luke 2:13-14). These lower-class shepherds didn’t just hear about Jesus’ birth, they got to see Him. They were doing the most important work, for they were witnesses of Jesus, worshipers of Jesus, and proclaimers of Jesus. Luke 2:15-20
Luke 2:25-35. “My eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:30). There’s Simeon, a godly old man, who was “looking for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). Simeon knew all about the promises to the Jews about this baby who would be the Messiah, the Savior and King who would bring salvation, blessing, comfort, and peace to both Jews and Gentiles. Simeon is super-blessed, for not only does He see the Messiah, but He is able to hold Him in his arms.
Luke 2:38. “... looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Anna was a godly old woman who was looking for the Messiah. The moment Anna saw Jesus, she knew He was the Messiah, the One she had been praying and fasting about for many, many years. She “began giving thanks to God” (Lk. 2:38), for she knew Jesus was the only One who could bring redemption, salvation, and great blessing to Jerusalem and the people of Israel, as well as to the entire world.
Revelation 12:5. “She gave birth to a Son, a male child, who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and His throne.” Speaking of the birth of Jesus and His ascension into heaven, this end-time’s, big-picture verse focuses on the fact that He will be a King and will rule the nations. This, of course, is speaking of the millennial kingdom age, when “God (Jesus) is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 47:7-8
The Christmas message is about Jesus, and not just the baby Jesus. It’s about Jesus being the Son of God and the son of man. It’s about who He is, His person, and what He does, His work. It talks about three key promises God made to man, and they are only fulfilled through Jesus Christ. It tells us that Jesus is the Savior, and He did His work as the Savior at His 1st coming. It tells us that He is the King, and He will do His work as the King when He reigns over the world at His 2nd coming. It tells us that He is the Lord, and He is always the Lord, over the world, over the church, and over our own lives. It tells us that Jesus is “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” And He is now with us through the Spirit, but He will be with us in the future, from that moment of the rapture, and forevermore. “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3
Isaiah 9:6-7 - “A Child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government shall 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, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”
P.S. Christmas is a most wonderful time of the year to think about the person of Jesus Christ, who He is, and all He has done for us. We should be so filled with love, joy, and hope. Here are three Christmas posts from the past: "First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming", "The Christmas Story and Christ's Second Coming", "The True Meaning of Christmas."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #234 ~
As Christians, we must look ahead and look forward to what God will do for us, what we are to do for Him, and what He will be doing in the future. It is this faith and hope in God and obedience to Him that energizes and directs our lives - otherwise, we will get stuck and stagnate, unable to spiritually move ahead in the way He desires. So what does God have in store for your life on this earth? What has He planned out for the world, the church, the Jews, and the unbelievers in the last years of this age and in the ages to come? In the following two sections, I will share with you what I and all Christians should be looking forward to.
In 2022 and in the years ahead, I am looking forward to …
* … experiencing and being satisfied by God’s love! Psalm 90:14
* … loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! Mark 12:30
* … keeping God’s commands and fulfilling His will day after day! Psalm 119:1-8
* … seeing God fulfill His promises and plans for me and others I know! 2 Cor. 1:20
* … God teaching me from His word! Psalm 119:33-34
* … God causing all things to work together for good! Rom. 8:28-30
* … seeing progress and joy in my life and the lives of others! Phil. 1:25
* … growing in the true knowledge of God! 2 Peter 3:18
* … having good, quality times with God on a daily basis! Psalm 63:1-5
* … walking and being led by the Spirit, and bearing fruit for God! Gal. 5:16-18, 22-23
* … using the gifts I’ve been given for the good of others and the glory of God! 1 Pet. 4:10-11
* … open doors and opportunities for the gospel and godly service! Col. 4:3-6
* … being fitted and built together with believers into a dwelling of God! Eph. 2:21-22
* … hearing that Christ is building His church all over the world! Matt. 16:18
* … seeing God supernaturally save people from sin, death, and the devil! Col. 3:13-14
* … being strengthened by the power of God when I'm weak, sick, or worn out! 2 Cor. 12:9-10
* … having warm and refreshing fellowship with Christians! Romans 12:10
* … God giving me all the grace and peace that I need! Eph. 1:2
* … saying no to sin and becoming more holy and Christ-like! 1 Peter 1:14-16
* … resisting and standing firm against the schemes of the devil! Eph. 6:10-11
* … God delivering me out of trials and trouble! Psalm 18:1-3
* … God protecting me from the enemy, and rescuing me from every evil deed! 2 Tim. 4:18
* … seeing God do amazing, marvelous, and brand-new things! Isaiah 43:19
* … needing the Lord and trusting Him as I go through life and hard times! 1 Peter 1:6-9
* … carrying out and completing the work God wants me to do! John 17:4
In the last years of this age and / or in the ages to come, I am looking forward to …
* … the gospel being preached all over the world! Matt. 24:14
* … the 70th week of Daniel, and all that God will be doing during that time! Daniel 9:27
* … prophesied events being fulfilled for Christians, Jews, and unbelievers! Matt. 24:3-33
* … cosmic disturbances and the great earthquake, the end of the age! Rev. 6:12-14
* … Christ’s coming and the gathering of believers to Himself! Matt. 24:30-31
* … physically dying or being raptured, and forever being with Christ! 1 Thess. 4:13-17
* … receiving a brand-new, immortal, powerful, and glorified body! 1 Cor. 15:40-42
* … that time when we will fully, always, and perfectly love the Lord! Mark 12:30
* … being with believing friends in heaven and in our heavenly homes! Heb. 12:22-24
* … when God will justly punish wicked sinners and evildoers! Psalm 37:12-15
* … seeing the salvation of a large remnant of Jews! Rom. 11:25-27
* … watching Jesus Christ rule and reign as King over the whole earth! Psalm 47:6-8
* … reigning with Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom! Rev. 5:10
* … seeing God spiritually and physically bless Israel during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 67
* … the rivers clapping their hands and the mountains singing together for joy! Psalm 98:8
* … seeing Christ enact perfect justice during the millennial kingdom! Psalm 72:8-14
* … all the nations worshiping and glorifying the Lord! Psalm 86:9
* … the whole world being full of God’s glory! Isaiah 6:3
* … the entire earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord! Hab. 2:14
* … every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Phil. 2:11
* … the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and on the earth! Eph. 1:9-11
* … the devil being cast into the lake of fire and being punished forever and ever! Rev. 20:10
* … when there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain! Rev. 21:4
* … being with Jesus and fulfilling our glorious and eternal purpose! Eph. 2:10
* … being with all the angels and saints and praising God forever and ever! Psalm 145:1-2
As Christians we should never say we don’t know what is going to happen. We don’t know all the details, but we know in general what will be taking place. Indeed, the purposes, plans, and prophecies of God will most certainly be carried out. This should encourage you and fill you with hope, for it means a future filled with blessings, and the satisfaction of knowing that God will be greatly glorified. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Be looking ahead, and be looking forward to 2022, to all the years of your life, and to the ages to come. And be like Paul who said, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
P.S. As we start this new year, here is an article that should motivate you to use the time God has given you - "The Time of My Life." Here is another post that tells us that God has predicted the future, and told us what needs to happen before Christ's return and the rapture of the church - "Bible Prophecy Enables Us To See the Future."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #235 ~
You would never think Ephesians 1 is about prophecy, but it is. In fact, it’s one of the best and most important big-picture prophecy passages in the Bible, going from eternity past to eternity future. It says you will be forever blessed (vs. 3), that you will always be in God's presence (vs. 4), that all things will be summed up in Christ (vs. 10), that you will receive an inheritance (vs. 11), that you will be glorified (vs. 15), and that Christ has all authority in this age and the next (vs. 21). God wants you to have hope, to be looking forward to “the surpassing riches of His (God’s) grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7). Your short life on this earth is only the very beginning of a magnificent eternal life. Let’s look more closely at Eph. 1, and as you do, I’m convinced you will be more hopeful and excited about the life God has planned out for you.
Ephesians 1:3. As a heavenly citizen, you have a heavenly Father who has and will continue to lavish you with indescribable blessings (1 Cor. 2:9). These spiritually based blessings affect every aspect of your present and future life, and result in you gladly and greatly blessing your Father.
Ephesians 1:4-8. In eternity past, God chose to make you perfectly holy so He could adopt you as His child, and so you could continually and always be in His sight, in His presence. Everything about your life on earth and in heaven was predestined, precisely and perfectly planned out by God. By the will of God, the grace of God, the wisdom of God, and for the glory of God, and through the work of Jesus Christ you were redeemed, and forgiven of all your sins. God sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to this world because He deeply loved you, and because He was determined to show you His love by blessing you on earth and in heaven, now and forever.
Ephesians 1:9-12. Your life on this earth is an infinitesimally small fraction of the glorious future God has for you. Not long from now, at the end of this age and in the fulness of the times, Christ will return to earth to rapture the church, punish the sinners, save a number of Jews, and begin His reign over this world. At that time, all things will be summed up in Christ, for He will be King over all the earth. “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 47:7-8
God predestined that you be justified, and that you receive eternal life, a special relationship with Him and His Son that lasts forever. He also predestined that you receive an inheritance, an extremely satisfying eternity of serving Him, and the most incredible spiritual, relational, and physical blessings you could ever imagine. “In your presence is fulness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Ps. 16:11). At the coming of Christ, which occurs in the fullness of the times, you will “obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled” (1 Pet. 1:4), and begin to experience what God planned out for you in eternity past.
Be assured that God “works all things after the counsel of His will.” God, by His power, wisdom, sovereignty, and in accordance with His eternal purpose, is working out all the details, every single aspect of your life. Not leaving anything to chance, He will make sure that you receive all that He has promised and planned out for you, that you will be spiritually, wonderfully, and eternally blessed. This results in “the praise of His glory”, in you eternally glorifying God.
Eph. 1:13-14. God continues to share His plans about the future, specifically as it relates to you. He says that if you have believed in Christ to save you from sin and death, if you have been born again, then you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. God did this, not just to establish and ensure His ownership of you, but to assure you that His plans for you will be fully carried out, that you will be physically redeemed, be delivered from your earthly body and glorified (1 Cor. 15:40-42), and that you will be given an eternal inheritance. The Spirit dwelling in you is a pledge, a guarantee from God that you will be completely saved, that you will receive your brand-new body at Christ’s coming, and that you will be a richly rewarded child of God.
Ephesians 1:15-19. As a Christian, you have been justified and you will be glorified. But at this time, you are being sanctified, and are to be spiritually growing and fulfilling God’s purpose for your life on this earth. Knowing this, Paul prays for three specific things, our relationship with God, and not surprisingly, our hope, and finally, the power we need to live the Christian life.
These three things are vitally important, and so pray this for yourself and others. Pray that you grow in your knowledge of Jesus, that you have a close relationship with Him. Pray that you have hope, that you understand and are excited about the glorious future God has planned out for you, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” (Eph. 1:18). And pray that you are experiencing and utilizing the power of God which is in you through the Holy Spirit. “All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14
Ephesians 1:20-23. God’s power was most clearly seen when He raised Jesus from the dead, then seated Him at the right hand of the Father. And so Jesus is now in charge - He is Lord and ruler over all powers and authorities, visible and invisible, including the devil and his demons. Thus, you have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. Jesus is ruling and reigning, and not just in this age, but in the coming age, the 1000-year kingdom age when He will visibly, righteously, powerfully, and gloriously be “King over all the earth.” Zech. 14:9
When you look at this chapter it’s obvious that God’s plans for this world, the church, and you, are being carried out. You were justified, you are now being sanctified, and you will be glorified. (Rom. 8:28-30). That we are living in the end-times means it won’t be long before all things are summed up in Christ, and every knee will bow and “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11
God wants you to have this hope that’s described in Eph. 1. Be excited about the unimaginable and untold blessings God has in store for you; be serving Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and be giving Him all the glory. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
P.S. I can't overstate the importance of having an eternal perspective, of seeing the big picture of your life. Here are two other posts that will help you understand God's overall plan for your life - "The Big Picture: The Present Age and the Ages to Come" and "An Overview of Your Christian Life." One more thing - this past week, Marv Rosenthal, a dear friend and mentor to me for the past 27 years sped off to heaven to be with the Lord. Marv's primary ministry was Zion's Hope - one that focused on end-time's prophecy and reaching the Jewish people with the gospel. I really encourage you to look at it - "Zion's Hope" - it is most instructive and encouraging.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #236 ~
Just recently, Marvin Rosenthal, a servant of God, and my friend, went to heaven to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Marv served the Lord for over 60 years. For the first part of that time, Marv was pastoring churches. Then he began leading ministries that proclaimed the gospel, especially to the Jewish people, and that taught about our hope, the glorious future God has in store for every Christian. There's no doubt that Marv, by the grace of God, affected and impacted countless numbers of people all over the world, and I was one of them. Let me tell you what happened.
In the summer of 1993, a friend gave me a book written by Marv Rosenthal, the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. I had always been interested in Biblical prophecy, and so I read it with great interest - and it made sense, particularly Marv’s view on Christ's coming and the rapture, which I now know is God’s view. What struck me and my wife the most was the first chapter, which showed Marv’s love for the truth, and his willingness and courage to teach it no matter the cost.
In the summer of 1994, my wife Marsha and I heard that Marv was doing a three-day prophecy conference at Sandy Cove, Maryland, not far from where we lived. We were excited to go and hear him speak, and his subject just happened to be the book of Revelation. Marv never made it through all 22 chapters, but I tell you, I was not disappointed. I loved his teaching, and his history lessons and stories, and that he patiently answered all my questions. In October of 1995, we were thrilled to be able to go back to Sandy Cove and again hear Marv teach on prophecy - and we learned so much.
My wife and I were so thankful that God wanted us to cross paths with Marv. And it was obvious that God had given us a love for Bible prophecy, and that he was using Marv to help us learn key truths about Christ's coming, and the rapture of the church. Then we started receiving Zion’s Fire, the magazine Marv and His staff put together. It contained important information about end-times' prophecy as well as truths about the gospel of Christ and the glory of God, along with encouraging stories about their mission work in Jerusalem.
Thanks to God, and to Marv’s example, I was extremely motivated to study Bible prophecy. Much of my free time in the mid to late 1990’s was spent carefully going over Daniel, Matt. 24, Luke 21, 1-2 Thess., and Revelation - I was learning about the end of the age, the 70 weeks of Daniel, great tribulation, the rapture, the Day of the Lord, and the Antichrist. I was growing in my understanding of our God-planned, God-prophesied future, and even taught a weekly Bible study at my church - and it was on the book of Revelation.
One of the biggest highlights of my life was when Marsha and I went on a Zion’s Hope sponsored tour of Israel in the spring of 1998, one led by Marv and his son David. What a phenomenal time, seeing and walking where Jesus lived, taught, and performed miracles. Of course, Marv was the main speaker, and a great speaker and teacher he was, helping us understand the Biblical significance of the places we visited. Then there was that time when we were sitting together with Marv and David on the roof top of our hotel in Petra, Jordan - we will never forget the specialness of that time.
In 1989, Marv, his wife Marbeth, and David moved to Orlando, Florida where they set up their ministry, Zion's Hope. Lo and behold, ten years later I was transferred to a church in nearby Tampa. How wise and good of God, for now we saw Marv more often, went to the Holy Land Experience, and attended prophecy conferences. Not only that, but the new church I was helping pastor (Hope Bible Church), began supporting their mission work in Israel. What a blessing that we could support a church located in Jerusalem that was reaching out to Jewish people.
Since Marv lived so close to Tampa, we started having him come to our church to teach an annual prophecy conference, which went on for nearly ten years. Our little church loved Marv and hearing him teach on prophecy. One thing Marsha and I looked forward to was going out to eat and having fellowship with Marv and Marbeth the night before the conference began. Marv was so loving and kind, for he would always ask how we, our children, and our small church were doing. He genuinely cared about us, which meant a lot to us. We also talked about what was happening in the world as it related to prophecy - Marv had so much insight and discernment, and we were thankful that we knew him personally, and could learn from him.
At a couple of those Sunday morning sessions at our church, he talked about being a servant of God, and truly, that was not just how he thought of himself, but how he lived his life. Over the years, I have witnessed it myself. Ever since he was saved, he has sacrificially served the Lord, used his talents and time to advance the cause of Christ, proclaimed the truths of Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, gave glory to God, and helped men like myself.
More than anyone else, Marv motivated me to serve the Lord by teaching on prophecy. About 12 years ago, I started a prophecy Bible study at our church - it was on the first Wednesday of every month, and it continues on today. I was glad to be in a position where I could keep studying prophecy and keep teaching it - it was good for me, and I am sure for all the people who have come to it over the years. And it was exactly five years ago, January of 2017, that I began this blog site, ChristsKingdom.org. Like Marv, my desire is for people to know what the Bible says about Christ's coming and His kingdom on earth. I am absolutely convinced that we are living in the end-times, and I want people to be excited about living for God in these last years before Christ’s return and the rapture of the church.
I am very thankful that God wanted me to meet Marv so I could learn from him, have him as a mentor, be encouraged by him, and know him as a friend, and as a fellow servant of God! What an immense blessing he has been to me - what a precious gift from God! And yes, it wasn’t Marv alone, but God working through Marv, for he saw himself as a weak and humble vessel, and yet one who was filled, empowered, and led by the Holy Spirit.
Just last week, it was time for Marv’s departure from this earth, for the days God had ordained for him came to an end (31,497 days). His work was finished, and so he went home to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How happy and excited Marv must have been to suddenly leave this earth and immediately be in heaven. “How precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Ps. 116:15). I am sure Jesus was glad to meet Marv, and upon his arrival, tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:23
Just think, on January 8th, 2022, the truth of Heb. 12:22-24 became a life-changing reality for Marv - “You have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” It is so encouraging to know that Marv is literally in heaven, with Jesus who loves him so, so much, with all those angels, and with all the saints who have gone on before him.
Marv is undoubtedly filled with love, joy, and peace, and the satisfaction of knowing that he lived a meaningful and God-glorifying life, that he fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). And it won’t be long before we will all be in heaven with Jesus, Marv, and all the saints. Those great rapture verses tell us what will happen - “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18). “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”… “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.” Revelation 19:5-6
P.S. I would encourage you to check out Zion's Hope, the ministry Marv began - you will find it most instructive and encouraging. Let me also mention three articles I have written that focus on our hope, our wonderful and glorious future - "You Have to Have Hope", "Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body" and "Why Do Believers Die?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #237 ~
Most of the epistles contain verses or passages on end-time’s prophecy, on the future God has for you and the church. Some epistles, like 1-2 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians, contain entire passages; others, like Ephesians, Philippians, and 1 Peter, have verses here and there, prophetic truths weaved in the fabric of the text, sovereignly and purposely placed there by God.
Many Christians read their Bible but skip over and ignore verses like these that speak of our future on earth and in heaven. Why? Maybe they don’t know what they mean, or don’t see how they fit in the context of the passage, or just don’t think they are relevant. But these verses about our future are critically important for how we live our current life on earth. That’s because a key ingredient for how we live in the present is having hope for the future.
Life can be very difficult, stressful, and wearing, and hope helps you to be encouraged, energized, and to keep persevering. What does it mean to have hope? You are convinced that the best is yet to come; you believe that God has the most wonderful future planned out for you; you are expecting God to bless you, to pour out His goodness upon your life in the ages to come; you are looking forward to being in heaven with Jesus and fellow believers and in a new glorified body.
As a Christian, you need hope, you need something to look forward to. That’s why God placed all these prophecy verses in His word, ones that enable you to see the future and that motivate you to keep living for Him. It’s worth it to sacrifice your life for God, to carry out His work, for it brings glory to Him and results in you being rewarded in the future. Your life on earth has direction and a destiny, and hope keeps you hopeful, keeps you looking ahead to a much more glorious time.
I think of athletes running a race, and they are looking ahead. They are running for a reason. They have a goal, there’s a finish line, an end to the race. They know there’s a prize, a trophy, if they stay on track, if they compete “according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5), and win the race. Paul talks about this when he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.” 2 Tim. 4:7-8
So too, the Bible talks quite extensively about your life in the future, for God wants you to know how He will bless you for running “the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). That’s why it’s necessary for you to understand prophecy passages and verses. Today, we will be looking at all the prophecy verses in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, ones that I am sure will instruct and encourage you.
Philippians 1:6 - “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” This gives the big picture of your salvation, that it began at a point in time (justified), and will be carried out, will be completed on the Day of Christ (glorified). When God saves, He justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies - He saves completely and eternally. Rom. 8:28-30
Philippians 1:9-11 - “… so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ, having been filled with the fruit of righteousness…” Living for God means being holy and making wise decisions, resulting in you being fruitful now, and being rewarded in the future, on the day of Christ. 2 Cor. 5:10
Philippians 1:20-23 - “… to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.” There’s a spiritual tension you experience in life, continuing to live for Christ on earth, which means bearing fruit for Him, or wanting to be with Christ in heaven, which is better for you. Either way, whether you are on earth or in heaven, Christ will be exalted and you will be blessed.
Philippians 2:9-11 - “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus Christ is now exalted over all powers and beings, but only in the future will they all bow down to Christ and confess Him as Lord. This will take place during the millennial kingdom, when “the Lord will be King over all the earth.” Zech. 14:9
Philippians 2:14-16 - “Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation… so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain.” We will know that our earthly work was successful on the day of Christ, that people we loved and influenced lived godly lives, and then we will rejoice.1 Cor. 15:58
Philippians 3:11 - “… in order that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.” Paul was looking forward to the resurrection of the dead, which occurs on the day of Christ, for then he and all believers would be glorified, would become like Christ, and be with Christ. Phil. 3:20-21
Philippians 3:14 - “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” At some point in the future, God will call you home to heaven, either when you physically die or are raptured. You are to keep pressing ahead, to keep working for Christ until that time, knowing that it will be worth it, for then you will be supremely blessed and rewarded. 2 Tim. 4:6-8
Philippians 3:20-21 - “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conforming with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” You don’t know whether you will physically die and go to heaven or be raptured and go to heaven. Either way, at the coming of Christ, you and all believers from all time will be glorified, will receive brand-new bodies, ones like Christ’s. 1 Cor. 15:21-23, 40-42
Philippians 4:4 - “The Lord is near.” This can mean that the Lord is near in a spiritual sense, or that the Lord is near in a physical sense. That we now live in the end-times means both are true. We can say that Christ is near, and that the day of Christ is near. Amen! John 14:1-3, 16-17
Living for Christ (witnessing - Phil. 1:12-13, suffering - Phil. 1:29, serving - Phil. 2:3-4, being holy - Phil. 2:14-15, pouring out your life - Phil. 2:17, pressing on - Phil. 3:14, praying - Phil. 4:6, going hungry - Phil. 4:12) is to be done with hope in mind, in view of the fact that this part of your life will soon be over, that Christ will return, rapture the church, glorify the believers, give out rewards, judge the sinners, save a remnant of Jews, and begin reigning over the world with you. Hope needs to be an essential part of your daily thinking, for having hope will help you to truly live for Christ, bear fruit for Christ, and bring glory to Christ. Jude 24-25
P.S. Sad to say, but many Christians don't understand hope, and how successfully running the race for Christ relates directly to knowing the wonderful future God has in store for you. Might God increase your hope, and then you will have a more fruitful and God-glorifying life. Here are three good posts about hope - "In a Wicked World, You have to Have Hope" , "Your Great Hope and Most Glorious Future" and "Hope: the Who, What, When, How, and Why".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #238 ~
Do you ever notice verses about hope right in the middle of a Bible passage? It happens many times in the New Testament, and nine times alone in the book of Philippians. There’s no doubt that hope, looking forward to our future in heaven, greatly motivated Paul to keep living for the Lord on earth. What can you learn from Philippians about living for God and the need for hope?
Philippians 1:6 - “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” This one verse is incredibly instructive and encouraging.
1. Your salvation, from beginning to end, is the gracious work of God. He began His work in you - He justified you, and He will complete it - He will glorify you. Your salvation is not by your effort, but by Christ’s work on the cross and the Spirit’s work in you. God gets all the credit and glory.
2. Since your salvation is God’s work, then you can be confident that what He started in you, He will finish in you. No person or power can stop God from completely and eternally saving you. When He saves, He justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies. “These whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Rom. 8:29-30, John 10:27-29, 1 Cor. 1:8-9
3. Your salvation is not completed when you are justified, when you are born again; and it’s not completed if you physically die and go to heaven. It’s only completed on the day of Christ Jesus, when He returns, for that’s when the salvation God planned for you way back in eternity past will be perfected, and you will be glorified and be like Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2
4. One thing that helps you get through trials is remembering the end of the story, that God will finish the work He started in you. If God will glorify you, then surely He will enable you to endure and overcome all the little problems of life. “If God is for us, who is against us?... In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:31-39
5. The day of Christ Jesus, a key prophecy phrase, refers to the time when you will be glorified, when your salvation will be complete, which happens just before the day of the Lord, a related phrase that refers to God’s judgment of the unbelievers. The glorification of believers occurs on the day of Christ Jesus, but the punishment of unbelievers takes place soon afterwards, during the day of the Lord. Luke 17:26-30, John 6:44, 1 Thess. 4:15 - 5:1-11
6. Paul was convinced of God’s saving work in himself, and here he expresses his confidence that God would complete His saving work in the Philippian saints. So too, be confident of God’s work in you, and encourage others by expressing your confidence of God’s work in them.
7. This truth that God will finish what He started in you appears at the beginning of Philippians. That’s because having assurance, being confident that God will complete your salvation, is foundational to all that Paul goes on to tell you about being a growing and fruitful Christian. If you have assurance of your salvation, then it means you are convinced that God truly and eternally loves you. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6, Romans 8:35-39
Philippians 1:9-11 - “This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless, until the day of Christ Jesus, having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
1. This is an important big-picture prayer. It’s about living for God, and knowing that how you live for God will be revealed at the end of this age, on the day of Christ Jesus. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory.” Col. 3:3-4, 2 Cor. 5:10
2. You are to pray that you have an abounding love for God by having His word in your heart. This results in making wise decisions which results in living a righteous, holy, and fruitful life. We can say it this way - “To live is Christ… will mean fruitful labor.” Phil. 1:21-22
3. You are to live for Christ until you physically die or are raptured. Then, on the day of Christ, you and all believers will be glorified and gathered together to meet Christ. (Matt. 24:29-31). Christ is looking forward to this most special day, and so should you. He told you, “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12). The day of Christ is very important, for all believers will be with Christ, and all who truly lived for Christ will be rewarded. “Each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” (1 Cor. 3:8-15). “Each man’s praise will come to him from God.” 1 Cor. 4:10
4. The ultimate aim, the overall purpose of your life is “for the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:11, Phil. 2:9-11). “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit.” John 15:5-8
Philippians 1:21-24 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better, yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”
1. “To live is Christ” - this sums up your life on earth. Christ is to be the center of your life, and it’s by His power and for His purposes that you can live for Him. Living for Christ means you are living for others. And living for others means you are loving them, serving them, praying for them, and telling them the Truth. The result is spiritual fruit that remains forever. John 15:16
2. Living for Christ can be difficult - there are trials, sadness, and suffering, and you get sick, old, weak, and tired. And there will be times when you want to leave this world so you can live with Christ. But is this not your God-appointed time to live on earth? And like a vapor, it will soon be over - and so make the most of it. (Eph. 5:15-17). It’s infinitely worth it to sacrifice your short life for God - it’s for the eternal glory of Christ, the eternal good of others, and your eternal blessing.
3. “To die…” The vast majority of Christians die during this church age, but I believe some of us will be raptured on the day of Christ Jesus. Just think, you may never die, but be “caught up together with them (those who have died) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:17
4. “To die is gain.” To die - that’s wonderful! It means no more sin, pain, sickness, or sadness. It means your hopes are beginning to be realized. It means the next phase of your eternal life has begun. It means you are in heaven, an utterly magnificent place. Most importantly, it means being with Jesus Christ, the One who loves you far more than anyone else. Job 19:25-27, Rev. 21:3-7
5. At times you feel hard-pressed - you know the importance of staying on earth, but you really want to be in heaven with Jesus. And that’s a godly feeling, a good tension, a righteous desire. But now you are alive, and you have more work to do. It won’t be long before you leave this earth and are in heaven with Jesus, “… that where I am, there you may also be.” John 14:3
Living on this earth is to be God-exalting, is for the progress and joy of others. While you live on earth, be filled with hope, with the amazing truth of God's future for you in your heart, and “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
P.S. Might God help you notice all the hope verses as you read through His word, and see how they fit in the text and fit in with your life. Here are two recent posts on this same subject - "Philippians - Running to Win the Race" and "Ephesians 1 - A Big-Picture Prophecy Passage." I encourage you to read them, and I am sure they will be instructive and encouraging.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #239 ~
Another war is taking place! This time it’s Russia invading Ukraine! None of us know what this is leading to, but humanly speaking, it doesn’t look good. How will this affect Asia, Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world? Only God knows - and I say that sincerely, for it’s the truth. And it’s not just that God knows what will happen, but that what will happen is part of His overall purpose and plan for the world at this time in history.
We live in the end-times, the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church and take over the world. And Christ told us there would be wars during this time. He said, “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matt. 24:6-7
But there’s a lot more than just wars taking place before the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:7 goes on to tell you that there will be famines and earthquakes. And further on in Matt. 24, and in other Bible passages, we discover that much more needs to happen. In fact, Christ said, “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). What then does Christ want us to know? The following, from God’s word, is a detailed list of signs and events that need to take place, and conditions that need to be met.
1. Jews are once again living in Israel – Ezekiel 36-37
2. False christs and false prophets are deceiving people – Matt. 24:5, 11, 23-24
3. Wars – Matt. 24:6
4. Famines – Matt. 24:7
5. Earthquakes – Matt. 24:7
6. Plagues (like Covid 19) – Luke 21:11
7. Financial problems (includes inflation) – Rev. 6:6
8. A desire for globalism, a one world order (God’s global reset) – Dan. 7, Rev. 13
9. Nations reformed and realigned (God’s new world order) – Dan. 2, 7
10. Increasing Anti-Semitism – Matt. 24:15-26, Luke 21:24, Rev. 12:6-16
11. Increasing sin and lawlessness – Matt 24:12, 2 Thess. 2:3, 2 Tim. 3:1-5
12. A very unloving and hostile world – Matt. 24:12
13. Confirmation of a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist – Dan. 9:27
14. Offering sacrifices in a newly built temple in Jerusalem – Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4
15. Great apostasy, a falling away of so-called believers – Matt. 24:10, 2 Thess. 2:3
16. The decline of global powers before the Antichrist rules (e.g., the United States) - Rev. 13
17. The rise, revealing, and rule of the Antichrist – Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-9, Rev. 13:3-7
18. The desolation of the temple by the Antichrist – Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4
19. The use of modern technology by the Antichrist to help him rule the world – Rev. 13:15-17
20. Powerful signs and false wonders performed by the 2nd beast - 2 Thess. 2:9-10, Rev. 13:13-14
21. Two godly and powerful witnesses in Jerusalem – Rev. 11:3-12
22. Great persecution of Christians and Jews – Matt. 24:9-10, 21-25; Luke 21:12-19; Rev. 13:7
23. The gospel being preached to all the nations – Matt. 24:14, Matt. 28:19-20
24. The sign of the end of the age, the signs in the heavens – Matt. 24:3, 29; Rev. 6:12-14
25. The sign of the Son of Man – Matt. 24:3, 30
!!THE COMING OF CHRIST AND THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH – Matt. 24:31, 2 Thess. 2:1!!
Let me share some thoughts about this:
1. Much needs to happen before Jesus Christ returns to rapture of the church. Wars are only one of 25 different things. God wants you to see the big picture, to know all that needs to take place before He sends His Son back to this earth.
2. Conditions in this world are going to get much worse before they get better, that is, before Christ comes back to rapture us, and begin His reign over this world. Psalms 2, 46, 67
3. Don’t be afraid. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… Cease striving and know that I am God… I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46). Have promises, trust in the Lord, walk in the Spirit, depend on God’s grace, be in a good church, and have good fellowship.
4. God is sovereign, is completely in charge. The world and all that needs to occur before Christ’s coming is like a giant trillion-piece puzzle being put together, and every piece is an integral part of God’s end-time’s plan. He is divinely and wisely directing every thing, every person, and every event in just the right way at just the right time, and it’s all leading to Christ’s return. This war Russia is having with Ukraine, and all that results from it and how it affects the world is part of this puzzle, part of His perfect end-time’s plan. It may now look confusing, but when the church is raptured, the Jews are saved, the world is judged, and Christ begins to reign, it will be beautiful and glorious. “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God. “ Rom. 8:28, Eph. 1:9-11, Isaiah 46:9-11
5. It’s imperative that you have a clear understanding of Biblical end-times prophecy. Don’t be naïve, mistaken, or in error. And be careful that you don’t watch too much news, for it can lead to fear and wrong priorities. What’s most important is not what people say, but what God has declared in His word, for what He says is altogether true and will come to pass. (Matt. 24:25). I encourage you to read the posts I have written, and look at the charts, for they will help you understand what is to happen and how then you are to live. But take the time to study this out yourself, especially Matt. 24, Luke 21, 1 Thess. 4-5, 2 Thess. 1-2, and Revelation. Then tell your family, friends, fellow church members, and others. “I have appointed you a watchman.” Ezekiel 3:17, 1 Chronicles 12:32
6. God predetermined and predestined you to be alive at this time in history, in the last years of this church age, just before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. God wanted you to be alive "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14), in this place, with certain people, and to do your part. Love God, love people, be faithful, be diligent, and do all the work God wants you to do. “Do business until I come back.” Luke 18:13
7. Be filled with hope. As you work for God, keep looking forward to the future, to the return of Jesus Christ, to seeing Him face to face, and being forever with Him and all the believers. “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
8. Keep praying for the Christians in Ukraine as they go through what is most likely the toughest, most challenging time of their life. Pray that God would give them an extra measure of grace, peace, wisdom, and protection, and use them for His special purposes. Pray too for the lost, that many would turn to the Lord, and be saved.
P.S. Our church had a special guest this past Sunday who spoke on 2 Thessalonians 2. It was an excellent message on the timing of end-time events, and I really encourage you to listen to it.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #240 ~
There’s a war in Ukraine, and it’s terribly evil, unbelievably cruel, sadly tragic, utterly heart-breaking, and deadly. I’m not going to comment on it militarily, politically, or societally. I leave that up to others, to the so-called experts. My desire is to help you know how to think spiritually, to help you realize that this war in Ukraine relates to you as a Christian, and to point out that Jesus prophesied that wars like these would happen in the end-times, the final years leading up to His return to earth. So what do we need to know and do?
1. God is in control, He is in total charge of this war. God is not surprised by what is taking place in Ukraine. He is sovereign over all things, even that most evil Russian ruler. And you can’t understand the ways of God, why He allows this evil to happen, but we do know He is holy, righteous, purposeful, and merciful. (Lam. 3:37-38; Isaiah 40:12-26, 55:8-9; Rom. 8:28, 9:17). What we also know is that we live in the end-times, which means this Russo-Ukrainian war is directly related to Christ’s return to earth to rapture the church. Christ told us that it’s one of the "birth pains" we will be “hearing of”, that it “must take place”, but that it “is not yet the end.” Matt. 24:6-8
2. Be at peace and give glory to God. Knowing that God is sovereign over this war, that it's part of His end-time purposes, should give you hope and peace. Trust God, for He will help you, watch over you, and protect you and all Christians from evil. (2 Tim. 4:18). God is now receiving glory through all that is going on, and will receive even more glory in the future, when Christ comes back to take over and reign over this world (Ps. 72:19, Phil. 2:9-11). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth… cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.” Psalm 46:1, 8, 10
3. Jesus Christ is building the church. With this war dominating the news, you may have forgotten that Jesus Christ is still building the church, whether it’s in the United States, Colombia, Nigeria, Romania, China, Russia, or anywhere else in the world, even Ukraine. This war will not stop Christ from doing His work in Ukraine but, in fact, is part of His plan to build the church. Remember Jesus’ promise - “I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18
Here are three examples: 1) Last week, I read about a Christian ministry that has trained 900 men to be pastors in Ukraine since 1991, men who have gone to all parts of Ukraine. That’s extremely encouraging! 2) Franklin Graham explained this past Sunday how his organization, Samaritan’s Purse, is working with 3200 churches in Ukraine which have been distributing 660,000 gift boxes to children. Pray that the children receive them and, along with their parents, are greatly moved and affected by them! 3) I remember two mission trips I took to Kiev in 1994-1995. I can still see some of the faces of the people we ministered to, and I believe God is still working in their lives. (John 15:16). In the future, we will hear many stories of how Jesus Christ, through His church, caused light to shine in darkness, brought good instead of evil, showed mercy instead of wrath, and defeated the devil. Matthew 28:19-20
4. There’s spiritual warfare in Ukraine. You see the physical warfare, the soldiers, hurting people, and bombed out buildings, but more-so, there’s spiritual warfare, a struggle not against “flesh and blood, but … against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness” (Eph. 6:10-12). Whereas you are not actually engaged in the physical fight, you are a soldier for Jesus Christ, and are engaged in a spiritual fight, a fight for the truth, the gospel, and the souls of men and women. Yes, you should care if people physically die but, most importantly, you should care about people who are spiritually dead, who are spiritually separated from God and, if they physically die and are without Christ, will be apart from God forever. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him.” Luke 12:4-5
5. Pray for the church in Ukraine. “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations” (Mark 11:17). Pray for a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Pray that the Christians would draw close to God (Psalm 23, Eph. 1:17). Pray for God to supernaturally protect the believers. Pray He would give them a great abundance of grace and an extraordinary amount of peace. Pray for the Christians' faith, and that they are strong and courageous. Pray they have a deep love for one another and encouraging fellowship. Pray they have hope, that they understand what Christ said about His return, how they will soon be glorified and be in heaven with Jesus. Pray they are not afraid to die, however that may happen, that they know that to die is gain, is the best thing that ever could happen to them. Pray they would be sharing the good news of Christ. Pray they understand that any affliction is momentary and light and is producing for them an eternal weight of glory. Pray that God leads the pastors and church leaders, gives them much wisdom, a special love for the people, and the truth their flock needs to hear. Pray for the parents, for grace, wisdom, and endurance, and for the children, that they would look to God for help and mercy. And pray for all their needs to be met, both physical and spiritual. Matthew 6:9-13
6. Pray for the lost, the unsaved in Ukraine, for those who don’t know the mercy and love of God. Pray they would see the love of the saints, that they would be convicted of their sin, that they would understand the truth of the gospel, that they would realize that the physical problem of the war is small compared to their spiritual problem of sin, and that it must be dealt with, or they will pay “the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess. 2:9). Pray that many unbelievers turn from their sin, turn to Jesus Christ, and trust Him for forgiveness, eternal life, and peace. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
7. Share God’s truth with your friends, family, fellow church members, and others you happen to meet. This is a special moment in history, and God has ordained the present events in Ukraine to wake people up, to not be worldly, but to be spiritually minded, to be humble, to get them to look to Himself for truth, life, joy, and peace. As a Christian, you are to share the truth, whether it’s gospel truth for the lost or comforting truth for the saved. Be ready to tell both Christians and non-Christians about Christ’s 2nd coming to rapture the church and judge the world. Tell them that real peace on earth takes place during Christ’s 1000-year kingdom, when He is righteously and perfectly ruling over the world. Take advantage of the opportunities God gives you - He wants to use you in a special way at this time. “Conduct yourself with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity,” Col. 4:2-6, Eph. 5:15-17
In dark times like these, God wants you to spiritually shine, to be lights in the world, to be holy and loving truthtellers, to be doing your part. Know that God is causing all these events that are happening, whether it’s in this country or other parts in the world, to hasten the return of His Son. "Since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ... Therefore, encourage one another, and build up one another." 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
P.S. I encourage you to read my last post, "Russia at War Against Ukraine - Matthew 24:6". Here are three other articles you should read sometime - "Matthew 24 - The Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible", "The Father's Love For His Children", and "The Coming of the Antichrist - the Devil's Man on Earth."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #241 ~
It’s heartbreaking to see the horrific results of this war in Ukraine. Through the media, the reality and brutality of it is being brought into our homes - and into our hearts. There’s unbelievable damage and destruction, and the horrendous human toll, the shattered lives and refugees. “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, for they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36). Might we too feel compassion for them and be praying for them. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Mark 11:17
Then there are the deaths, the deaths of men and women, of adults and children, of soldiers and civilians. And yes, people have been dying since the creation of the world - that people die is a fact of life. We see it with family members, friends, and in our churches, and we see it in the Bible and history books. Do you remember reading about the flood, when everyone in the world drowned, except eight people? Did you know that nearly 15 million Ukrainians died during World War II? But this present war is in our time, and it’s hard because the horrors of it are fresh in our minds, and because “innocent” people are dying - suddenly, senselessly, tragically, and mercilessly.
Did you know Jesus predicted there would be wars like this in the end-times, in the years leading up to His return to earth? And now we actually live in the end-times. Jesus also warned us that there would be earthquakes, plagues (pandemics), famines, and financial problems (Matt 24:4-8, Mark 13:5-8, Luke 21:8-11, Rev. 6:1-8). Then He tells us that large numbers of people will die because of these catastrophic events - “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Matt. 24:28). What a shocking, sobering verse, one that’s right in the middle of Matt. 24, a key prophetic chapter. Just think, there will be all these corpses, these dead and unburied bodies, which leads us to conclude that vast numbers of people will die in the last years of this age.
Revelation 6:8 tells us the same thing, that massive numbers of people will die during this time. “Behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them (four living creatures) over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” There’s death, and Hades, which is where unsaved people go after they die. A fourth part of the earth is affected, which is either numerical, the actual number of people who die, or geographical, that one fourth of the earth’s land mass is severely impacted by these events. Regardless, millions if not billions of people will die and meet their Maker during the final years of this age.
We are talking about the physical deaths of people in the end-times. But God wants us to know that a person’s physical death is not his primary problem - it’s not dying because of war, disease, starvation, an earthquake, sickness, or old age. A person’s #1 problem is spiritual death which is a result of his sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Every person is spiritually dead, is separated from God, and therefore, is not worshiping God and not experiencing His love, joy, and peace. Sin and spiritual death is by far a person’s single greatest problem.
Spiritual death is infinitely worse than physical death, for if you are spiritually dead when you physically die then you will be eternally dead - spiritually dead and forever in hell. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5; Matt. 25:41, 46). Don’t worry about whether someone can kill you, but be dreadfully alarmed if you are not right with God before you die and are then cast into hell! “It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31
Now if you are spiritually alive when you physically die, then you will be eternally alive, you will be spiritually and forever alive with Jesus in heaven. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will (spiritually) live even if he (physically) dies. And everyone who (physically) lives and believes in Me will never (spiritually) die” (John 11:25-26). But how can Jesus save us from sin, death, and an eternity in hell? What did He do to enable us to live forever? Let me explain.
Jesus Christ came to earth, became a Man, and was God in the flesh. He lived a perfect life and then died to pay for the sins of people. “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18, Rom. 5:8, 2 Cor. 5:21). “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). God grants complete forgiveness and an eternal, super-abundant life to all who repent of their sins and believe that Christ died to make the full and final payment for their sins.
All who turn from their sin and turn to Christ for mercy become children of God, are righteous in His sight, and will soon be with God and Christ in heaven. This is the absolute best news in the world! Indeed, Jesus is the only answer to this problem of spiritual death, and therefore, physical death. Jesus told us, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). If Christ isn’t your Savior, if you have not been forgiven of your sins, go to God now and ask Him to save you from sin and death and give you eternal life, and He will. “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24
Here is more good news! Salvation is not just being saved from sin, death, and hell, but it’s also receiving a brand-new body. Our bodies are sinful, imperfect, and perishable, but when Christ returns, He will give every true believer a glorified, perfect, and immortal body. “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” Philippians 3:20-21
The last years of this age are extremely important! Be thankful that you are alive at this time in history, and that you are on earth for a reason, “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14). People are dying and will continue to die in the end-times, and in much greater numbers. As a Christian, you have the only answer to a person’s spiritual and physical problem of death, and it’s Jesus Christ. Love and pray for the lost, and be in a church which is committed to telling people the good news about Jesus. And remember Jesus' promise, that He's with you to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20). “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
P.S. As a Christian, you must not be sullied and dulled by the world, but you are to stay close to God, be holy, and remember that your purpose is to love and serve Him with all your heart. Here is an article that summarizes how God wants you to live, now and to the end of this age - "What Does God Want Me to Do in the End-Times?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #242 ~
Wow! Do you see what’s going on? Difficult and distressful things are happening all over the world! There was a pandemic, and now there’s war in Ukraine, higher prices in the U.S., a famine in Afghanistan, and recently, an earthquake in Japan. These are but a few examples that the world is having birth pains. But they aren’t just happening - God is at work! “… God troubled them with every kind of distress” (2 Chron. 15:6). The Bible talks extensively about these birth pains, and it’s vitally important that you know how they relate to the future, to the end-times and the coming of Christ.
1. What are these birth pains? Wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes, and financial problems. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus told us there would be these catastrophic and calamitous events taking place before the end of this age, before His coming. Matt. 24:3-8, Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:7-11, Rev. 6:1-8
2. Why are these birth pains happening? We live in an evil age, and in a very sinful and evil world (Gal. 1:4). Our holy and mighty God is sovereignly allowing these birth pains, these troubling events, to get our attention, so that we humble ourselves and turn from our sin and trust in Him. They are also signs, designed by God to wake us up to the fact that we live in the end-times, and to let us know that it won’t be long before His Son returns to earth.
3. These birth pains won’t be experienced by every person on the planet. “You will be hearing of wars… in various places there will be famines and earthquakes” (Matt. 24:6, 7). Many people will be hearing about these birth pains but won’t be affected by them. And they won’t be happening in every country but only in various places. Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:9-11, Rev. 6:8
4. These birth pains affect Christians and non-Christians. These birth pains are not part of the day of the Lord wrath that will be experienced by unbelievers. We know this because Rev. 6-9 tells us that the birth pains come before the day of the Lord. The birth pains, affecting both saved and lost, are discussed in Rev. 6:1-8; the rapture, which is for Christians, is referenced in Rev. 7:9-14; and the day of the Lord, which afflicts only non-Christians, is described in Rev. 8-9. Thus, we can conclude that Christians will be here for the birth pains, but not for the day of the Lord.
5. A great number of people will die because of these birth pains. Rev. 6:8 informs us that these birth pains will impact one fourth of the earth, but it’s not clear whether one fourth is numerical or geographical. Either way, millions and millions of people will die. Matt. 24:28
6. These are beginning birth pains. “All these things are merely the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:8). That these birth pains are happening doesn’t mean this age is coming to an end right away. “When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately” (Luke 21:9). Many more things need to occur before Christ comes back (Matt. 24:9-25). As bad as these beginning birth pains are, they will only increase in frequency and intensity - it’s going to get worse before it gets better, before Christ returns to rescue us from this wicked world and the wrath to come. 1 Thess. 1:9-10
7. What are these other events that must happen, and conditions that must be met, before this age comes to an end? There will be a great apostasy, the confirming of a treaty between the Jews and other nations, the Jews building their temple, many false teachers, increasing sin and lawlessness, a great persecution of Christians and Jews, the desolation of the temple, the evil rule of the Antichrist, false wonders, most people taking the mark of the Antichrist, cosmic signs in the heavens, and a great earthquake. Matt. 24:9-26, 2 Thess. 2:1-12, Rev. 6:9-17, Rev. 13
8. It’s 2022, and the world is now in the birth pain stage. As we think of the timeline of earth’s history from the creation of the world to Christ’s coming, we must realize that we are now in the birth pain stage. God has given us these birth pains so we can know where we are at in the big scheme of things and, specifically, where we are at in God’s end-time’s plan for the world. Why else would God give us so much information about the end-times (Matt. 24, Luke 21, Mark 13, 1 Thess. 4-5, 2 Thess. 1-2, Revelation)? As a good watchman, you need to understand God’s prophetic word and see how it is presently being fulfilled in the world. Then you are to tell others what is happening, and what is yet to come, “… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
9. Our world is changing, leading to the coming of the Antichrist and his devilish control of the world. “Wisdom and power belong to God. It is He who changes the times and the epochs. He removes kings and establishes kings (Dan. 2:20-21). There’s Xi Jinping, Putin, Zelenskyy, Macron, Biden, etc. There’s the rapid and visible decline of the United States. There’s the realigning and reshaping of nations. There are global energy problems. There are rulers forcing their policies upon the people. There’s the growth of artificial intelligence. There’s talk of a great reset, a one world order. There’s global control and conformity. There’s increasing evil and wickedness. There’s all this plus all the birth pains! It’s obvious that this world is changing right before our eyes. And only God knows exactly how all this relates to His Son's returns to rapture the church, judge the world, and then set up His kingdom on this earth. Revelation 6-20
10. Without question, this is a very tough time to be alive. It is easy to wonder and worry about this confusing and crazy world we live in. But God’s prophetic word has told what we need to know about the condition of the world in the years leading up to coming of Christ. God has given us the big picture, the general outline of what He is doing in the last years of this age, and how things will end. How then should we think, and how then should we live at this time in history?
* Learn what God says about the end-times, Christ’s coming, the rapture, and the age to come.
* Do not be afraid. Be at peace. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea… the Lord of hosts is with us… He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth… Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted above the nations.” (Psalm 46). “Peace I leave with you… do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27
* Know that God is sovereign, He is completely in charge. He is working out every detail, every event, working through every person, carrying out His grand plan to bring about the return of His Son “… with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ… we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Ephesians 1:9-11
* Do your job, do the work God wants you to do. “Do business with this until I come back” (Luke 19:13). “Do not be worried about your life… seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:25, 33
P.S. God gives us a lot of information about the start of the church in Acts and the Epistles, and a lot of information in the Epistles and Revelation about how this church age will come to an end. Learn what God wants you to know. Do read the posts on Ukraine, "Russia at War Against Ukraine - Matthew 24", "God, You, and the War in Ukraine". I also encourage you to read the article, "Matthew 24 - the Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #243 ~
Paul lived every day for Christ while also looking forward to the day of Christ. During his life, he suffered greatly for the Lord and, without question, had “far more labors… far more imprisonments” than other believers. (2 Cor. 11:23-30). How did Paul do it? He was motivated by love, strengthened by grace, and he had hope. It was worth it to Paul “to be poured out as a drink offering” (Phil. 2:17) for he knew God would greatly reward him in the future.
In his short letter to the Philippians, Paul speaks about hope nine different times! He wanted the Christians to truly understand their hope. “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us...” (Rom. 8:18-25, Eph. 1:18). In a recent post, I looked at Paul’s first three references to hope, those in Phil. 1:6, 1:9-11, 1:21-24. Today, I will look at the next three, those in Phil. 2:9-11, 2:14-17, 3:7-11.
Philippians 2:9-11 - “God highly exalted Him… at the name of Jesus every knee will bow… every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
1. Christ was highly exalted by His Father because He humbled Himself by dying for sinners, for those who repent of their sins and trust in Him and His sin-defeating work on the cross. After His life on earth, Jesus went to heaven and was “exalted to the right hand of the Father.” Acts 2:33
2. The ultimate, most important aspect of hope is that God will be greatly glorified, and that we will be part of the God-worshiping heavenly assembly of saints. More than anything else, this is what we should look forward to. As Paul said, “we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:3
3. All believers are worshiping Christ, our single greatest duty and joy. But unbelievers are deceived and are not loving the Creator, but loving the creation - themselves, others, animals, and things.
4. In the future, “every tongue will confess” and “every knee will bow”. This universal exaltation of Christ will be seen during the millennial kingdom. All people, saved and unsaved, and all spirits, angelic and demonic, will confess, will admit that Jesus Christ is Lord. For the unsaved, it will be feigned obedience - they will have no choice but to bow to Christ, the King of the world.
5. This world is becoming increasingly corrupt and devilish. Rulers, false teachers, and sinful people are doing and saying some of the most evil things. Don’t be discouraged, for Christ will bring all this evil to an end - He will soon return to rapture the Christians and judge the sinners. Then He will reign over the world, and there will be “an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:10
Philippians 2:14-18 - “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God… holding fast the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”
1. Paul did not want to waste his life, to “toil in vain”. He wanted his life to count for Christ, to be purposeful and God-glorifying, and this meant sacrificially living for others. He had just said, “I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith” (Phil. 1:25). Paul was looking forward to the future, to the day of Christ, for that’s when he would really know the lasting fruit of his labors. “Who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?” 1 Thess. 2:19-20
2. That Paul’s life was counting for Christ meant the lives of others were counting for Christ. Paul deeply loved the believers, and therefore exhorted them to work out their “salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), to be blameless, live by God’s word, and be lights in this evil world. He wanted them to know that they would see the eternal value of their earthly life on the day of Christ, and would rejoice with him for having lived victoriously for Christ.
3. Birthdays, graduations, and weddings are special days. But the day of Christ is infinitely more special, one of the most important times in history. When Christ returns, there will be the day of Christ, the conclusion and climax of this present age. Then all believers will be glorified; the fruit, the result of our earthly lives will be seen; we will be rewarded; and sinners will be punished. “The Lord works out everything to its proper end - even the wicked for a day of disaster." Prov. 16:2, Col. 3:4
1 Cor. 3:12-14 speaks about this day of Christ - “If any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire… if any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.” Matt. 6:4, 16:27; 1 Cor. 4:5, 5:10; Col. 3:24; Rev. 2:26, 22:12
Philippians 3:10-11 - “… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings… in order that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.”
1. Paul was sharing his testimony, making it clear that he wasn’t saved by his own works, but by the righteous and sufficient work of Jesus Christ.
2. Because Paul had gained Christ’s righteousness, then he could live a righteous life. He could experience the best and most blessed life possible, a life for and through Christ. Paul knew Christ, loved Christ, trusted Christ, lived for Christ, suffered for Christ, and then died for Christ.
3. The culmination of Paul’s life on earth is the day of Christ - then he will attain to the resurrection from the dead, receive a glorified body, and see the result, the full and cumulative effect of all his work.
4. Paul knew he would attain “to the resurrection from the dead.” I believe Paul was thinking that he would physically die and go to heaven, and then be glorified on the day of Christ. When Paul said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21), I believe he was thinking, not just about the death of others, but his own death. And he knew the immediate benefits of dying and being in heaven, but he also knew his salvation wouldn’t be complete until the day of Christ, which is still future. John 5:29
How do we live the Christian life? By living for Christ and living for others, and by having hope, by looking ahead to the most incredible and excellent future. We have looked at three essential elements of this hope, knowing we will be glorified on the day of Christ, knowing we will see the fruit of our labors on the day of Christ, and most importantly, knowing that God will be supremely and eternally glorified in the coming ages. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless You, and I will praise You forever and ever… Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.” Psalm 145:1, 13
P.S. We ought to think more about the day of Christ, for it is that time when Christ returns, and completes our salvation by glorifying us, and when He reveals to us the results of our lives, hopefully ones that were lived full out for Him. Here are two good posts about how God wants to reward you for how you lived your earthly life for Him - "God Really Wants to Reward You", and "Earthly Work that Results in Heavenly Rewards."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #244 ~
The second worst problem in life is death, is that people physically die. The old and the young die. The rich and the poor die. The wise and the foolish die. People die because of alcohol, drug overdose, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, influenza, and accidents. They die because of war, famine, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and pandemics. They die suddenly and they die slowly. And many people are afraid to die because they don’t know what happens after they die. Does death mean they cease to exist? Does death lead to something better, or something worse? What about heaven and hell? Will they see their loved ones again? What about reincarnation - is it true or just a lie from the devil? Is there any way to defeat physical death and keep living?
Doctors and nurses, with their treatments and medicines, can often help people physically live longer. But they can’t help people live forever by keeping them from dying. Recently, we have been hearing about transhumanism, about scientists tapping into a person’s mind and trying to hardwire it onto some microchip, so that when he dies, “he”, now a robot, can continue to “live.” Some call this a new version of eternal life, but is this “person” really living, and can “he live” forever? No! What about a person who is made in God’s image, and who, sooner or later, will die? Can this person really and truly defeat death?
Yes! Yes! Yes! God, who created man, has the answer to death. But before we can understand His answer, we must know why people die? And the reason people die is because of their sin - "The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Sin is defined as not loving God, idolatry, greed, pride, disobedience, immorality, malice, selfishness, lying, etc. And sin always results in death, which is both physical and spiritual in nature. People physically die because of their sin (the exception are Christians alive at the end of the age who are raptured). And people are spiritually dead, are spiritually alienated from God because of their sin and, therefore, do not have the life of God in them. Without question, spiritual death is a person’s worst problem. “The soul who sins will die.” Ezekiel 18:4
You must realize that God can’t ignore sin - He can’t forget about it, He can’t just let it go, He can’t say it’s no big deal. God is holy, perfect, and righteous, and He has to punish sin. And this punishment is painful, eternal, and deserved. Jesus will say to the unsaved, “Depart from me accursed ones into the eternal fire” (Matt. 25:41). “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25:46). “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power.” 2 Thess. 1:9
What is the answer to sin and death? How can you escape being eternally punished? How can you be saved from God’s judgment, get victory over sin, and live forever? The only answer is Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). It’s only through God’s Son, through Christ, that you can defeat sin and death, and won’t perish, won’t be punished, won’t go to hell, but will receive eternal life, will spiritually and physically live forever. 1 John 5:11-13
And what did Jesus Christ do? He died and rose again. He took your place and died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, enabling you to be forgiven - “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). And He was raised again, thereby defeating death, enabling you to live forever. “God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Acts 2:24
Forgiveness of sins and eternal life is only for those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus, that He died to pay for their sins, and then rose from the dead. Jesus told us, “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). If you have not turned from your sin and turned to Christ, then now is the time to do it. God really wants to show you mercy, and give you eternal life, and it’s only through Jesus Christ. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Much more needs to be said about the resurrection, vital truths that relate to your own life.
* The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central and essential truth, foundational to all of Christianity, to the entirety of your life, now and forever. 1 Cor. 15
* Since death is caused by sin, then Christ rising from the dead proves His resounding victory over both death, and the sin that caused it. Acts 2:22-33
* Christ's resurrection validates His work, His death on the cross, showing that God is satisfied with Christ's death, for it is a completed and all-sufficient payment for our sin.
* A person receives spiritual life when he is saved, when he is born again during his life on earth. But his spiritual life is hindered because he lives in a physical body that’s still tempted and prone to sin.
* A person is given a physical, spiritual, and glorified body at Christ’s coming, at which time believers on earth are raptured, and believers who have died are resurrected. Once a person has a new body, then he can spiritually and physically live a perfect life, just like God planned for him. 1 Cor. 15:42-44
* Christ speaks of the resurrection of life and the resurrection of judgment (John 5:29). The resurrection of life is for believers, occurring at the end of this age, at Christ’s coming. The resurrection of judgment is for unbelievers, and takes place at the end of the millennial kingdom. 1 Cor. 15:23, Rev. 15:11-15
* The resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity for, without it, your preaching is worthless, your faith is useless, you are still in your sins, you do not have eternal life, you have no hope, you “are of all men most to be pitied”, and worst of all, you will be punished forever. 1 Cor. 15:12-19
* The resurrection is a message of hope, for it means you are victorious, you will be in heaven, you will receive a brand-new body, and you will be given a fantastic future. Rom. 8:18-30
* The truth of the resurrection means your short life on earth is only the beginning of an amazing and incredible life, of an endless and unbelievable eternity. 1 Peter 1:3-4
* Because of the resurrection, you were justified (Rom. 10:9), are being sanctified (Rom. 6), and will be glorified, will possess a perfect and immortal body. 1 Cor. 15:42-44
* Through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection, you have all the power you need to live every minute and every day for Him, now and forever. Eph. 1:19, Phil. 3:10
* Because of the resurrection, you do not need to fear death but, in fact, should look forward to it, knowing that you have already defeated death, and that the best is yet to come. Ps. 23:6, Heb. 2:14-15
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). That Jesus Christ died and rose again is the best news in the world, the news that will impact and change your life more than anything else! What a God we have who loves us so much that He gave us His Son to die for us so we can live forever with Him!! Thanks be to our great God and heavenly Father!!!
P.S. Here are three encouraging things to read that relate to this subject: something about the resurrection - "The Resurrection and Rapture of the Believers", something about the present - "Death and Life in the End-Times", and something about your future - "Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #245 ~
It always amazes me when I read about Paul’s life. How did he do all that he did? How did He endure all that suffering? (2 Cor. 12:23-28). There’s no doubt it was by grace (1 Cor. 15:10 - “by the grace of God I am what I am.”). But it was also by hope. One reason we know hope was so important to Paul is the book of Philippians, for it contains nine specific references to the future, which means hope was a key factor in him persevering to the end. In two previous posts, #238 and #243, we looked at the first six references - Phil. 1:6, Phil. 1:9-11, Phil. 1:21-23, Phil. 2:9-11, Phil. 2:14-16, and Phil. 3:10-11. Today, I will look at the last three, found in Phil. 3:12-14, Phil. 3:21-22, and Phil. 4:5.
Philippians 3:12-14 - “… I press on so that I may lay hold of that which also I was lay hold of by Christ Jesus” This important prophecy passage focuses on how, and how long you should run your race for God. What do we learn from these verses?
- First, if you are reading this, then it’s obvious you are still alive. As a Christian, you are to keep pressing ahead until the end of your life, until you die or are raptured.
Second, you are to press on, which means to run, to follow after, to earnestly and energetically speed on toward the goal. It’s believing (Heb. 11:6), working (2 Tim. 2:6), struggling (Eph. 6:11), suffering (Matt. 6:10-11), and persevering (Matt. 24:13). The Christian life is not easy, for there are many trials, challenges, conflicts, ailments, persecutions, and devilish attacks - and whether you feel like it or not, you must press ahead. Diligently and faithfully, keep doing the work God has given you to do and, soon enough, you will cross the finish line and be in heaven.
Third, Paul says, “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet” (vs. 13). If you are alive, then you have not yet completed your earthly work. Eph. 2:10 tells us, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand...” Christ Himself has taken hold of you, and for good and godly reasons. You’re to love God and all the people He puts in your life; you’re to be a witness to the lost; you’re to make disciples; and you’re to use your spiritual gift. Wholeheartedly serve the Lord, doing all He wants you to do. Col. 3:23-24
Fourth, you are “forgetting what lies behind” (vs. 13). Successful Christians forget the past. Everyone makes mistakes and has missed opportunities and regrets. I'm sure you have experienced good and bad things, had achievements and failures, and you need to forget them. A basketball player must quickly forget both the shots he misses and the shots he makes, and keep playing until the end of the game. Older Christians may reminisce, rest on their laurels, and think their race is done. They too must forget what lies behind. If you are in an 8-lap race, and you just finished the 7th lap, then you are not to think about the 7 laps you just ran, but the one lap that remains.
You are “reaching forward to what lies ahead” (vs. 13). What is reaching forward? It conveys the idea of stretching a muscle to it’s limit, of a runner pushing himself, striving to win the race. For the Christian, it’s looking ahead and focusing on the future, it’s running with desire and giving maximum effort. It’s being in a race, and no matter how far you have gone, you are continuing to run, you are going forward, and finally, you will cross the finish line.
Fifth, you are to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (vs. 14). You are not just pressing on to do the work God wants you to do (vs. 12), you are pressing on toward the goal. There’s a finish line and a prize to be won when you reach the finish line, and you need to keep running until your race is over. A major aspect of hope is looking forward to receiving a generous prize for how you run the race, for competing “according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5), and for finishing the race. This prize, this eternal blessing for your earthly work, is also described as treasures (Matt. 6:20), recompense (Luke 14:15), rewards (Col. 3:24), crowns (2 Tim. 4:8), and inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4).
Here are more important points about this passage:
1. No matter who you are, wherever and whenever you live, how old you are, how long you have been saved, God has a race for you to run. “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2
2. Our culture talks a lot about retirement, and what you can do after you retire. Now maybe you are done working at a “job”, but you are never done with your heavenly work. Don’t let the “eat, drink, and be merry” attitude (Lk. 12:19) of many retirees affect how you live for God. Your work and your pace may change, but you need to complete the work God wants you to do. Acts 13:36
3. That we live in the end-times gives added weight to this passage. Just think, you may be raptured. If that’s true, then finishing your earthly race will coincide with Christ’s return to rapture the church. Here’s a hypothetical: if Christ comes back in 20 years, then you only have 20 years left to live and work for the Lord. If you’re now 25, then you will be 45 when Christ returns, or if you’re now 50, then you will be 70. In these end-times, don’t be so naïve to think that you will live what is thought to be a full life, to 70 or older. Whatever happens, keep pressing, keep doing God’s work until the very end - “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
4. Ask God to give you the grace to finish strong, to keep racing until you “break the tape”, whether that’s by death or by rapture. Might you then say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. In the future, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me that day, and… to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
5. God Himself will call you home to heaven. Whether you physically die or are raptured, it will happen soon, and be the best day of your life (Eccl. 7:1). Look forward to seeing Jesus, your Savior and Lord, the One who loves you more than anyone else!
Philippians 3:21-22. “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory…” Our bodies get old, tired, and weak, and we still sin. But remember, your salvation is not yet complete, but it will be when Christ comes back, for then you will be wonderfully transformed. Your brand-new body will be like Jesus’ body - it will be beautiful, powerful, immortal, glorified, and perfectly fit for an eternity of worshiping God, of serving Him, reigning with Him, fellowshipping with saints, and experiencing His glory and His love. 1 Cor 15:42-44, 53-54; 2 Cor. 5:1-5; 1 John 3:2-3; Rev. 21:3-7
Philippians 4:5. “The Lord is near.” The word “near” can be defined as near in space or near in time. This two-fold truth is most encouraging, for we live in the end-times. Thus, we know two things, that the Lord is always and literally with us in a spiritual sense, and that it won’t be long before we will physically be with Him. “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
Grace and hope must be an essential part of your daily life. The last two verses in the Bible remind us of this - “‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:20-21
P.S. What a privilege that God has called us to run in the greatest of races, the Christian marathon - a lifetime of serving the Lord. I would encourage you to read these two articles that I believe will help you successfully run for Him and carry out the work He wants you to do - "Your Spiritual Service: A Member of the Special Forces" and "The Excellent End-Times' Worker."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #246 ~
We live in a sinful crazy world, and we often wonder where things are going! But as Christians, we are not to worry or be afraid. God wants us to know that He’s in charge, and everything that’s been happening on this planet is part of His sovereign plan, and it’s all leading to Christ’s return to earth. What’s amazing and so encouraging is that God has told us all you need to know about His Son’s coming and the end-times. He has not given us all the details of a future leading up to the rapture of the church, but a very good outline. “Behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23
The most important prophecy passage in the Bible is Matthew 24:3 - 25:31. It starts in vs. 3 with the disciples asking Jesus, “What is the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”, and He answers them by giving the big picture of the end-times, and how then we should live. He tells them, and us (Matt. 24:15b), God’s plans for the Christians, Jews, and unbelievers. Here is a short summary:
The birth pains - Matt. 24:4-8. There will be “birth pains”, different events and conditions signaling that Christ’s coming is getting closer. God is telling the world to wake up! These “birth pains” are false Christs, wars, earthquakes, famines, and plagues, and for some people, financial problems. All these things are now taking place and will continue, evidence that we are living in the end-times. Now they won’t be happening all over the world but only in various places - some people will experience them, and others will just hear about them. Matt. 24:4-8, Rev. 6:1-8
God’s work with the Christians - Matt. 24:9-14. Whereas the “birth pains” affect both Christians and non-Christians, vss. 9-14 is particularly relevant to Christians. These verses describe a most difficult and dangerous time for believers living on this earth in the coming years. What do we learn? First, Christians all over the world will undergo great tribulation - they will be hated for their faith, for loving Jesus, and many will be martyred. Second, there will be a great apostasy. Many so-called Christians will fall away, will defect, and will turn against Christians and turn them in to the authorities. Third, there will be false prophets, deceivers trying to trick true believers. Fourth, the world will be an exceedingly sinful place - lawlessness will cover the earth. Fifth, many Christians will persevere to the end, and be saved, that is, be raptured. Sixth, Christians are to keep preaching the gospel to all the nations, and then this age will come to an end. Jesus promised us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:19-20
God’s work with the Jews - Matt. 24:15-27. These verses are about the Jews, and what happens to them directly impacts the Christians. Luke 21:20-24 gives a historical overview of the Jews, from being scattered (70 AD), persecuted, and then regathered (1880’s - present). That the Jews have been returning to Israel is the #1 reason we know we live in the end-times. From Matt. 24:15-26, we learn four major things that will affect the Jews. First, there will be the “abomination of desolation”, which is the Antichrist desecrating the temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 9:27). Second, the Antichrist will chase after the Jews but many will miraculously escape (Rev. 12:13-16). Third, there will be great tribulation, a great persecution of Jews starting in Israel and spreading to the world, with that evil Antichrist also making war with the Christians (Rev. 12:17, Matt. 24:9). Fourth, false Christs and prophets will try to deceive the Jews, saying the true Christ is on earth - but we learn that He will come from heaven. “Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matt. 24:27
Death - Matt. 24:28. “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Because of the birth pains and great tribulation, both Christians and non-Christians will be dying in the years leading up to Christ’s coming. “Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the beasts of the earth… I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of God’s word.” Rev. 6:8-9
The end of the age - Matt. 24:29. This age is coming to an end. In the near future, during Daniel’s 70th week, and after the coming of the Antichrist, the skies will grow dark - “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” This, along with a great earthquake, are God’s signs that this age has come to an end, and that the day of the Lord is at hand. Rev. 6:12-17
Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church - Matt. 24:30-31. Immediately after the end of this age, Jesus Christ will return to earth. His coming will be visible and obvious to all who are still alive, for the whole world will be lit up by His glory. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” The skies will suddenly go from dark to light, and Christ will be seen coming in the clouds. A split second later, Christians on earth will be raptured and together with believers who previously had died and gone to heaven, be glorified and gathered to Christ. 1 Thess. 4:15-17, 2 Thess. 2:1
The timing of end-time’s events - Matt. 24:32-34, 36. Two timing truths are given in these verses. First, we are to know the general time of Christ’s coming. The events prophesied in Matt. 24:4-29 will occur in the years leading up to the end of the age, making it clear that we are getting closer to Christ’s return to rapture the church. Heb. 10:25 says we will “see the day drawing near.” Second, we do not know the specific time of Christ’s return, for “of that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son, but the Father alone.”
Daniel’s 70th week relates to Matt. 24-25, helping us understand the timing of end-time events - Daniel 9:24-27. These verses talk about 70 weeks, each week consisting of 7 years. The 1st week began with the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem (444 BC), and the 69th week ended with Jesus being cut off, that is, crucified (30 AD). The 70th week, a most important prophetic period, has not yet started. At the beginning of the 70th week, a covenant (treaty) will be confirmed, allowing the Jews to build their temple in Jerusalem. At the midpoint of this week, this temple is desolated by the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27), at which time He is revealed as the "man of lawlessness" (2 Thess. 2:3-4). At the end of this 7-year period, a large remnant of Jews will be saved. It’s during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, at a time unknown to us, that Christ returns to rapture the church. Matt. 24:30-31
Unbelievers do not believe that Christ is coming back - Matt. 24:37-41. The unbelievers, the unsaved living in the end-times, are unaware of what will soon take place. The days of Noah and Lot illustrate how they are living in the years leading up to Christ’s return - “They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage” (Matt. 24:38); “They were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building” (Luke 17:28). In fact, many unbelievers will mock Christians with regards to Christ’s return - “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Pet. 3:4). But when the earth begins to shake and the skies grow dark, these evil unrepentant unbelievers will be scared to death, for they know that God’s wrath has come (Rev. 6:12-17). And suddenly the Christians will disappear, flying up into the skies. “One will be taken, and one will be left.”
How Christians should live during the end-times - Matt. 24:42 - 25:1-13. Christians must be ready, be expecting, be looking for Christ’s return (Matt. 24:44). We must be sensible and faithful (Matt. 24:45), doing God’s work by serving the saints and witnessing to the lost. We must be prudent and wise (Matt. 25:2). We must be alert, spiritually sensitive to the Spirit, and physically aware of what is happening around them. “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do.” (1 Chron. 12:32). We must be living lives filled with faith, hope, and love. “Let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:8-9
The certainty of Christ’s coming - Matt. 24:35. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” This verse, conspicuously placed in the middle of this prophecy passage, is an exclamation point to all that Jesus said. What He told us is the absolute truth, truth you need to know inside and out, for what He said will dramatically affect all those living on this earth, both saved and lost. And you will literally see Christ’s words come to pass. What an exciting time to be alive! “Behold, I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:20
P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of understanding Matthew 24-25. Please read it, study it, and learn what it says, for your sake, your family, and your church. I strongly encourage you to read "Matthew 24 - the Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible", and "What is the Main Message of Matthew 24?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #247 ~
I never would have thought there would be a baby formula shortage in our country. Indeed, we live in a strange new world. So much has happened in our country and in the food industry in the past year that’s contributing to this specific problem. On a broader scale, we are hearing about increasing food scarcity around the world, and this could lead to famines, which God predicted would increase in the end-times.
Let me share why many people are thinking there could be food scarcity and famines:
* There’s the Russia / Ukraine war, which directly affects the growing of wheat, one of the most important foods in the world, and Russia is one of the primary exporters of wheat. Not only that, but wheat prices have doubled in the past two years.
* Russia has also been a leading producer and exporter of fertilizer, and because of the war, it’s harder to get, and when people do get it, it’s much more expensive. This is severely impacting farmers and their ability to grow all the food that people need.
* Fossil fuel shortages are resulting in greatly increased fuel prices. And farmers need fuel for tractors, and shippers need it to run their trucks and trains. These growing fuel costs lead to increased transportation costs, which lead to higher food costs.
* Supply chain issues are dramatically affecting the shipping of food ingredients, parts, computer chips, cars, commodities, etc. More than ever before, we live in an interconnected world, and no nation can exist on its own - one country depends on the goods and services of other countries.
* Inflation is the worst it’s been in forty years, and it’ affecting everyone, especially the poor. There are many reasons for this inflation, but the net result is rapidly increasing prices for food, gas, and most everything else. And this inflation is being seen in most countries around the world.
* Even our own President said there would be food shortages, and this was back in March. And just a few days ago, Bloomberg News said, “the age of scarcity begins...”
We are seeing the perfect storm as it relates to food shortages. The supply of food is going down - there’s food scarcity, and the price of food is going up - there’s food inflation. This is a huge problem. This is when we see empty shelves. This is when we see food protests, which has been happening in Sri Lanka and Chile. This is when we see famine. Now food shortages, food inflation, and famines are a greater problem in poorer countries, for there isn’t as much food to begin with, and a greater percentage of a person’s income is spent on food.
I readily admit that I don’t know for sure what’s going to happen with respect to these food problems. It may not end up being that bad, but it could be catastrophic, particularly in poorer countries - only God knows. What I do know is that there have always been food shortages and famines. What I also know is that God prophesied that there will be more famines in the end-times. And if it weren’t for the fact that we now live in the end-times I wouldn’t even be writing this post.
How do we know we live in the end-times? Because God's word tells us. That the Jews have been gathering back to Israel, from about 25,000 people in the 1880’s to 6.9 million in 2022, is evidence that we live in the end-times. (Ezek. 36-37, Luke 20:21-24). During these final years leading up to Christ’s coming, there will be “birth pains.” Jesus tells us, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places, plagues and famines.” (Matt. 24:6-7, Mark 13:7-8, Luke 21:10-11, Rev. 6:1-8). As we look at the world around us, it’s obvious that we are having “birth pains.” We shouldn’t be surprised by the recent plague (Covid), the present war (Russia - Ukraine), the present food scarcity and famines, and by future earthquakes.
There is much more that needs to be said about famines in the end-times:
* These famines won’t occur all over the world, but only in various places. What happens in the United State will probably be different than what happens in other countries. Matt. 24:7
* Birth pains are not always independent of one another. For example, wars, plagues, and earthquakes can contribute to and exacerbate famines.
* Famines often occurs in conjunction with inflation. With regards to famine in the end-times, Rev. 6:6 says, “A quart of wheat for a denarius.” This means wheat, and all foods, will be very expensive, for in the 1st century, a denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages.
* In reference to the birth pains, which includes famines, Jesus says, “All these things are merely the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:8). Many more birth pains and, therefore, many more famines, will be taking place before Christ returns to rapture the church and then judge the world.
* Famines affect the poor more than the rich. That’s because poor people don’t have the money or the means to get the food they need when there’s famine. Rev. 6:6, in the context of famines, says, “do not damage the oil and the wine.” Oil and wine are considered luxury foods, and the idea is that a rich person can buy whatever he wants during a famine, but not a poor person.
* Many people will die because of these famines. “Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence.” Rev. 6:8
* Both believers and unbelievers will be affected, and will suffer and die because of famines.
* God wants famines to wake up the world, to alert Christians about Christ coming to rapture the church, and to warn unbelievers about Christ judging the sinners who are left behind on earth.
What should Christians do with regards to what’s happening in our world at this time?
* Be awake and alert, for it won’t be long before Christ returns, and in the meantime, you have work to do. 1 Thess. 1:9-10, 1 Thess. 5:4-9
* Be prayerful and very thankful with regards to food, and how your heavenly Father graciously meets your needs. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Matt. 6:11, 1 Thess. 5:18
* Stock up on food, especially canned goods and dried goods. This is a very easy and important thing to do. In fact, the expiration date for most canned goods bought today is 2024. 1 Chron. 12:32 - “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do.” Prov. 6:6-11 - "Go to the ant..."
* Store up food, not just for yourself, but for others. When times are difficult, you want to be in a position where you can help others, especially those who are poor. Acts 20:35, Gal. 2:10
* Remember what’s most important. What people need more than anything else is spiritual food. Share with people the word of God. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Be satisfied by Jesus, who said, “I am the bread of life.” John 6:48
* Share the gospel with the lost. "Jesus said, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst'" (John 6:35). “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” Matthew 24:14
P.S. This is the time that God has chosen for you to be alive, and to do the work He has planned out for you. Therefore, it's important that you know that we are now in the birth-pain stage of the end-times. I want to encourage you to read these two other posts, "The World is Having Birth Pains" and "How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #248 ~
Isn’t it true that you see, hear, and feel the sin most all the time? And you may be thinking it’s getting worse in this world, and it is. Then you may wonder why this country, along with other nations, are becoming so sinful, so evil, so wicked. What are the reasons for this?
Five things are currently contributing to and compounding the sin and the evil in our country:
* First, all people are sinners, and because they’re sinners, they sin. The following passages each give a list of specific sins - Mark 7:20-23, Rom. 1:28-32, Gal. 5:19-21, 2 Tim. 3:2-4, and Rev. 21:8.
* Second, we live in an evil age which is why we live in a sinful world. This age started with Adam’s sin and ends with cosmic disturbances suddenly darkening this entire planet. Matt. 24:29, Rev. 6:12-14
* Third, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The devil wickedly and greatly affects every part of this world. And though not responsible for a person’s sin, he tempts and entices him to sin. “… the snare of the devil…” 2 Tim. 2:26, Gen. 3:1-5
* Fourth, from the 1960’s until now, there’s been a dramatic decline in our country’s character, and a corresponding increase in sin. People have been saying, “God is dead,” children have been told they can’t pray in school, evolution has been publicly taught, and there’s a steady decline in church attendance. Rom. 1:18-32 explains what’s happening, from rejecting God to immorality to homosexuality to depravity. God has given this country over to her sin and has also given the devil more freedom to fulfil his evil plans (Job 1:6-12). 2 Tim. 3:12 sums it up, “Evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse.”
* Fifth, we live in the end-times, and Christ told us that during this time, evil will increase. (Matt. 24:12). And don’t forget that the “man of lawlessness”, the Antichrist, is coming, and he will further fuel this sin, injecting evil into our world like never before. 2 Thess. 2:3, Rev. 13:7-8
As Christians, we should never be surprised by all the evil in this increasingly sin-sick world. What took place during the time of Judges aptly describes what’s now going on - “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). And we can’t deny that it’s difficult to live in a world that hates God and hates us. The Bible gives examples of this: Lot was “oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men… (Lot) felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds” (2 Pet. 2:7-8). David was harassed by sinners - “Evils beyond number surround me” (Ps. 40:12). Paul was persecuted by evildoers - “Jews… stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.” Acts 13:9
Then there’s Jesus Christ, a “Man of sorrows.” And why? The Son of God knew and felt the core problem of our spiritually dark and dirty world far more than anyone else. Can you imagine how troubling it was for this perfect Man to live on this unholy earth? But He knew He was the Light of the World, the Savior, the Answer to our problem, the Victor over all sin and all sinners. As a Christian, be extremely thankful that Christ loved you and saved your soul from sin, death, the devil and hell! “You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” Psalm 86:12-13
But we’re still in this world, and being surrounded by all this sin is like like living in a filthy-dirty, clutter-filled house, and only much worse. This is when you need to understand that God is sovereign over sinners, and uses them for His eternal purposes and glory. Here are some examples:
* God sovereignly used sinners to bring about the death of His own Son. “This man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to the cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death, but God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 2:23-24). Back in eternity past, God planned that certain evil men would kill His Son, and they did, resulting in the salvation of millions, if not billions of sinners, and God being eternally glorified. Acts 4:27-28
* God raised up that wicked Pharoah, using him to terribly oppress the Jews, which led to their freedom, their exodus out of Egypt. “For this purpose, I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” Romans 9:17
* God wanted Paul to be persecuted and put in prison for the preaching of the gospel. “… my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard.” Phil. 1:12
* In the future, God will sovereignly direct that most devilish man, the beast, the Antichrist, to carry out His plans. “God has put it in their hearts (the ten horns and the beast) to execute His purpose by having a common purpose.” Rev. 17:16-17
* Be encouraged by God’s power over sinners, for it relates to your life, and to all of life. Sinners will only do what God desires, what He allows them to do. Even today, the rulers in our country are fulfilling His purposes. “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21:1). And yes, there are murderers and mass murderers, liars, rapists, robbers, cheaters, and false teachers, but God is sovereignly and wisely using them for His purposes. And don’t forget that God is just, and that all evildoers who never repent of their sins will be severely and eternally punished in the lake of fire. Matt. 25:46, Rev. 20:11-15
What about your own life? I am sure you are affected by sinners and their sin in a way that’s troubling, tiring, saddening, and yes, maddening. Seeing and hearing about their pride, anger, hate, and sensuality, makes you want to leave earth and go home to heaven. And this sin will only get worse the closer we are to the end of the age. 2 Thess. 2:9-12 says the sinners “took pleasure in wickedness.” Matt. 24:9 informs us, “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Luke 21:16 warns us, “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” Rev. 13:7 soberly says, “It was given to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints.”
Woe! This doesn’t sound good, but it’s true, and it’s what God wants you to know. When it comes to suffering, Jesus told you: “Remember the word I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than His master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). He also said, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great” (Matt. 5:10-12). Do look at 1 Peter, a needed epistle for the end-times, one loaded with truth about suffering for Jesus - 1 Pet. 1:7-8, 1 Pet. 2:20-24, 1 Pet. 3:13-18, 1 Pet. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:12-19, 1 Pet. 5:8-11.
But it’s not just about suffering for Jesus - it’s about serving, soldiering, and sharing the gospel. A great many sinners will be saved and become saints in the last years of this age. Hallelujah! Know too that God is raising up an army of spiritually strong soldiers for the end-times, Joshuas, Deborahs, Davids, and Pauls, ones who will be bravely battling for God. They will stand firm (Eph. 6:10-13), be overcomers (Rom. 8:35-39), and be victorious (Rev. 7:9-12). God will give them and us all the faith, love, hope, courage, wisdom, grace, and peace we need to keep living and fighting for Him. “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.”
In all this, remember the good news. The good news is Jesus Christ and the gospel message of salvation from sin. The good news is that God deeply loves you all the time. The good news is that God, through the Holy Spirit, is always with you. The good news is that it’s not totally dark in this world, for the true church is a light for Christ, a light to the lost. The good news is that it won’t be long before this evil age comes to an end, and Christ returns to rapture the church, glorify the believers, take us to heaven, and then judge this wicked world. The good news is that Jesus Christ will perfectly and gloriously reign over this world for 1,000 years, and we will reign with Him. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
P.S. As a Christian, you must understand the nature of sin and sinners in the end-times, or you will get discouraged by what's happening. Here are two other posts that will also help you understand sin, sinners, and what's going on in our world today - "Living With Evil in the End-Times", and "What's Wrong With this World?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #249 ~
You may wonder why I keep talking about sin. Because it's accelerating, it's hyperactive, it's on overdrive in our country. And it's not just growing, it's becoming much more wicked and perverted. We see all this evil in our schools, government, families, media, music, movies, and yes, even in our churches. Depravity is on full display, and is being celebrated and applauded. (Rom. 1:18-32). As a Christian, you need to understand this subject of sin and sinners so that you spiritually survive, and so that you live a godly, fruitful, victorious life. Don't stop reading this post just because it's not one of those feel good subjects. You must hear these truths so you can know how to live in this wicked world.
Here are several things you need to know about sin and sinners.
1. Sin is our biggest problem, for it results in spiritual death, and ultimately results in physical death, and if not righteously dealt with, eternal death, forever and infernally being separated from the living God. (Ezek. 18:4, Rom. 3:23, Matt. 25:46). Our root sin, our central sin, is not loving and worshiping God, our Creator, but instead, loving and worshiping the creation. Jer. 2:5, 13; Rom. 1:19-25
2. If you don’t see that sin is the #1 problem in a person’s life and the world at large, then you will wonder why evil and devilish things are happening. You may feel sick to your stomach. You may be extremely sad. You may be disgusted. You may get discouraged as you see our country growing more sinful. You may get scared by what’s taking place. You may get angry at the evildoers. Or you may feel hopeless, and want to just give up. But what does God say? "The men of Issachar understood the times, and knew what they should do." 1 Chronicles 12:32, Isaiah 1
3. If you don’t realize that sin is our fundamental problem, then you may think that other bad things in our society are the real problems when, in fact, they are the result of sin. Rom. 3:23, 6:23
4. If you don’t know that sin is our real problem, then you won’t see the need for Jesus Christ, that He’s the only answer to sin. Christ came to earth to die on the cross to defeat sin and death. Only He can solve our sin problem, along with every other problem. Only He can set a person free from their sin. John 8:31-32, Rom. 5:8, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Pet. 3:18, Titus 3:3-8
5. If you forget that sin is the core problem, then you will forget the fact that Christ is the only answer, and get off track, and focus on fleshly and worldly solutions, things that may relate to education, racism, equity, inflation, the border, climate change, etc. But these are superficial answers, only band-aids, and they don’t get to the root, they don’t really solve our problem of sin. Psalm 146:3-5
6. Knowing that sin is our main problem should motivate you to fulfill a key aspect of God’s will for your life, which is being a witness for Jesus Christ, telling people how they can be delivered from sin, death, hell, and the devil, telling people how they can know God and Christ. Acts 1:8, 26:15-18
7. We live in the end-times which means this sin problem will get dramatically worse before the coming of Christ. "... lawlessness is increased..." (Matt. 24:12-13). Keep this in mind as you think about the future, as you carry out God’s purpose for your life, and as you persevere to the end of this evil age. 2 Thess. 2:3, Rev. 13
In this world of sin and sinful people, how should you think, how should you live?
1. Love God by living a holy life, by living like a child of God. Resist temptation, confess sin, walk in the light, and be a godly and righteous Christian. Rom. 6-7, Eph. 4, Col. 3, 1 Thess. 4, 1 John 1
2. Know that God is sovereign over sin and sinful people, over evil and evildoers. God allows and uses sin for His divine purposes and glory, and also for your good. Acts 2:23, 4:27-28; Rom. 8:28
3. As you live in this evil age, and in an increasingly sinful world, keep trusting God and keep looking to His word. Ps. 37, Ps. 119:81-88, Heb. 11
4. Be a light to the lost, be the salt of the earth, be Christlike in your words and actions. Show unbelievers what a believer looks like by being kind, gentle, patient, and forgiving. Matt 5:13-16
5. Love your enemies. Like Christ, be compassionate and patient towards sinners, for they are truly hurting - they’re lost, blind, empty, sad, deceived, and caught in their sin. Matt. 5:44, 9:36; 2 Cor. 4:4
6. Pray for sinners to be saved. Ask God to open their hearts so they see and are convicted of their sin and their need for Christ. Ask God to have mercy on their souls. Matt. 5:44, Rom. 10:1
7. Share the gospel with the lost. Tell them about sin, death, and hell. Tell them about Jesus, that He is the Lord, Savior, and coming King, that He is the bread of life and the light of the world. Tell them about His sacrificial and substitutionary death, and His resurrection. Tell them about heaven and hell. And share with them your testimony, what God has miraculously done in your life. Isaiah 53; John 1:12-13, 1:29, 3:16, 5:24; Rom. 3:23-26; Eph. 2:1-9; Col. 4:2-6, 1 Pet. 3:18
8. Don’t be angry with evildoers, with the wicked. Don’t be vengeful, don’t retaliate. God is closely watching each and every sinner and will deal with them in due time. He will either save them or judge them, show them mercy or show them wrath. Prov. 15:3; Rom 9:14-16, 12:19
9. Always stay close to Jesus. Be careful when you are with sinners, for you don’t want their sin to corrode your Christian life and result in you sinning against God. Psalm 63:8-10, 119:149-151; Jude 23
10. It’s an honor and a blessing to be persecuted by sinners, for Jesus was persecuted. “Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary...” Heb. 12:3, Matt. 5:10-12, John 15:18-25, 1 Pet. 2:21-23
11. A key to living in this devilish world is hope, is knowing Christ is returning to earth to rescue and glorify Christians, to put an end to sin and the evil doers who promote it, and to begin reigning as King over this earth. You must have hope, for it will help you live a holy life, and motivate you to keep going for God. Romans 8:18-25, Hebrews 11
12. God will justly punish sinners. Some of this may happen during this life. But for all who remain in their sin, who never repent of their sin during their time on earth, it will be a dreadful, deserved, eternal punishment in the lake of fire. Matt. 25:41, 46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 20:11-15
This last point, that God judges unrepentant sinners, is very important to understand. As I said, we should always love and pray for sinners, for those who don’t know God, for those who are opposed to Him and us (2 Cor. 2:14-17). But God won’t save every sinner, for many will stay in their sin, reject Christ, and forever be punished. What you must realize is that there are hundreds of verses about God’s righteous dealings with sinners, on earth and in hell. The whole Bible, book after book, talks about sin, sinners, justice, and wrath, especially the Psalms and Prophets, which are much more extensive in their discussion and detail of sin than other books.
Most of these Psalm verses are listed below. They talk about God’s present and future punishment of sinners. They educate you about God’s justice and wrath. They will help you be more holy and sober. They are an antidote to any wrong attitudes you may have about sin and sinners - like fear, worry, fretting, hopelessness, or unrighteous anger. And they remind you that sinners don’t win - they lose, and justly so. I strongly encourage you to read them, especially since we are living in a very sinful world, and are now in the end-times,
Psalm 1:6; Ps. 2:9-12; Ps. 3:7; Ps. 5:6-7; Ps. 6:10; Ps. 7:15-16; Ps. 9:3, 5-6, 15, 17; Ps. 10:15; Ps. 11:6-7; Ps. 17:13-14; Ps. 18:17-19, 48; Ps. 21:8-10; Ps. 25:19-20; Ps. 27:1-3; Ps. 28:3-4; Ps. 31:3-4, 8, 15, 17-18; Ps. 34:16; Ps. 35:1-8, 24-26; Ps. 36:11-12; Ps. 38:19-22; Ps. 40:14-16; Ps. 41:11-12; Ps. 44:4-8; Ps. 45:4-5; Ps. 52:1-7; Ps. 54:4-7; Ps. 55:15, 23; Ps. 56:4-7; Ps. 57:2-4; Ps. 58:1-9; Ps. 59:1-5, 12-16; Ps. 63:9-10; Ps. 64:6-8, Ps. 68:1-2, 21-23; Ps. 69:22-28; Ps. 70:1-3; Ps. 71:12-13; Ps. 73:16-20, 27; Ps. 75:7-10; Ps. 76:5-10; Ps. 78:42-52; Ps. 79:6-12, Ps. 81:13-15; Ps. 83; Ps. 91:5-10; Ps. 92:6-10; Ps. 94:1-11, 21-23; Ps. 97:1-3; Ps. 109:6-20, 29; Ps. 112:10; Ps. 119:21, 84, 118-119; Ps. 120:3-4; Ps. 125:5; Ps. 129:5-6; Ps. 135:8-11; Ps. 137:8-9; Ps. 139:19-20; Ps. 146:9; Ps. 149:5-9
Oftentimes, we read or hear about sinners in our country, sinners who are doing some of the most evil and perverted things, and who are encouraging others to do the same . And we want there to be justice, we want them to be punished for their sins. I encourage you to be patient, to pray for them, to ask God to have mercy on their souls. (2 Pet. 3:9-10). And if they don't repent, they will be punished, justly and eternally so (Ps. 73:18-19). Indeed, there are degrees of punishment in hell. Matt. 10:15, 11:21-22; Heb. 10:20
Psalm 1:6 - “The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Psalm 11:6-7 - “Upon the wicked He will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.”
P.S. This subject of sin must be understood so you can deal with it in your own life, and so you can know how to relate and respond to the world around you. I cannot stress this enough. That's why I encourage you to read and/or reread these other posts on sin and sinners - "Sinners and Saints in the End-Times", "Living with Evil in the End-Times", and "If the Foundations are Destroyed."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #250 ~
“Sing praises to Him” (Ps. 33:2). "Come before Him with joyful songs” (Ps. 100:1). “I will sing of Your love and justice” (Ps. 101:1). Christians are to sing to the Lord - and it's for His glory. Singing is also good for your life, for it positively affects you, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, instructing your mind and refreshing your soul. Without question, singing is a necessary and amazing attitude-adjuster - it is heart-tuning, soul-humbling, spirit-lifting, faith-restoring, joy-giving, and peace-producing.
Many examples of singing are found in the Bible. Judah’s army was marching to war and leading the way was the choir, and they were singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting” And their singing, their worship, was the key to God's resounding victory - “When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab… so they were routed” (2 Chron. 20:21-22). Just before He was arrested, Jesus was singing with His disciples (Matt. 26:30). When Paul and Silas were in jail, they were “singing hymns of praise to God” (Acts 16:25-26). Then there are the Psalms, the biggest book in the Bible, and the best songbook ever written. I strongly encourage you to regularly read and sing the Psalms, for they address and will impact all aspects of your Christian life.
As a Christian, you don't want to be distracted, defiled, and controlled by fleshly and worldly songs. That's why you need to be daily transforming your mind by heartily singing godly songs. “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises… I will awaken the dawn… I will sing praises to You among the nations” (Ps. 57:7-11). "Be filled (controlled) with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). Being in a godly-singing church is also instrumental in being a godly singer.
In these last years leading up to the rapture of the church, there will be tribulation and great tribulation, and singing to the Lord will be essential for your spiritual stability and success. I can't stress enough the importance of knowing good Christian songs or, at least, having them on your playlist. And don’t just play them, sing them, and not just with others on Sunday morning, but by yourself during the week.
On this blog site, chart #'s 130, 133, 138, 143, 147, 149, 153, 160 contain lyrics about the end-times and Christ’s second coming. And singing songs that speak about your future and hope will undoubtedly help you be a more encouraged, forward looking, God-glorifying Christian. Listed below are some of them:
* Christ the Lord is Risen Today - "Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia. Foll'wing our exalted head, Alleluia. Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia. Our the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia."
* There is a Redeemer - "When I stand in glory, I will see His face. There I'll serve my King forever in that holy place. Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son, and leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done."
* Be Still My Soul - "Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on, when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love's purest joy restored. Be still my soul, when change and tears are past, all safe and blest we shall meet at last."
* When the Roll is Called Up Yonder - "Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. When the roll is called up yonder..."
* That Where I Am, There You May Be - "If I go prepare a place for you I will come back again. If I go prepare a place for you I will come back again. You know I am the way, the truth, the life - keep My commands, that where I am there you may also be."
* Jesus Loves Me - "Jesus loves me, He will stay close beside me all the way; He's prepared a home for me, and some day His face I'll see. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so."
* On Jordan's Stormy Banks - "When shall I reach that happy place and be forever blest? When shall I see my Father's face, and in His bosom rest? I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the promised land; O, who shall come and go with me? I am bound for the promised land."
* It Is Well With My Soul - "And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul."
* All Hail the Power - "O that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall, we'll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all; we'll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all."
* Come Thou Almighty King - "To Thee, great One in three, eternal praises be, hence evermore, Thy sovereign majesty, may we in glory see, and to eternity love and adore." ----
* When We All Get to Heaven - "Onward to the prize before us, soon His beauty we'll behold; soon the pearly gates will be open, we shall tread the streets of gold. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory."
* Joy to the World - "Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ - while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy."
As you know, this blog post is all about the end-times, the return of Christ, and His reign upon this earth. My purpose is not just to tell you what the Bible says will be happening in the future, but to help you live successfully for the Lord in the last years of this evil age. And there's no doubt that singing to the Lord is a major key to your life as you journey on to the end. "I will praise God's name in song." Psalm 69:30
P.S. In a world saturated by secular and fleshly songs, it's imperative that you daily sing to the Lord. It's a way to worship God, a way to combat the flesh, and a means to working for God and living a victorious Christian life. As Christians, we are to worship and to work (Matt. 4:10). And I encourage you to read this article (#49) about work - "The Excellent End-Time's Worker".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #251 ~
When you think about everything that’s happening in this sin-sick world, remember, Jesus Christ is coming again - and He will make things better. When you think about your life and the future God has for you, remember, Christ is coming again. When you think about prophecy, the #1 thing to know is that Christ is coming again. When you think about all the evil rulers, don’t forget that Christ, the King of kings, is coming soon, and He will be the best ruler this world has ever seen! Psalm 47; Rev. 11:15, 19:11-16
Over a hundred Bible verses specifically talk about Christ’s coming, and that’s because it’s such an important subject, and all the more now that we live in the end-times. And God has told you about it ahead of time because He really wants you to know what’s going to happen, and how then you should live (1 Chron. 12:32, Mark 13:23). Listed below are some of these verses.
* Matthew 24:27 - “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” The coming of Christ will happen suddenly, like lightning, and be visible to everyone on earth. Luke 21:27, Rev. 1:7
* Matthew 24:36-37 - “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” When Christ comes back, unbelievers will be doing normal everyday things - they will be eating, drinking, buying, selling, building, and planting. They don’t believe Christ is coming, and when He does, they will be shocked, completely caught off guard. Luke 21:26-28, 1 Thess. 5:1-3, Rev. 6:15
* Matthew 24:42, 44 - “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” God wants you to know the season of His Son’s return, the general time of His coming, but you won’t know the day or hour, the specific time of His coming. Be ready and watching! Matt. 24:32-36, 1 Thess. 5:4-8
* Mark 13:26-27 - “They will see the son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then He will send forth the angels and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.” When Christ returns, He will be seen in the clouds above the earth. At that time, Christ will gather together all the believers, those who have died and are in heaven and those who are still alive on earth. Matt. 24:31, 2 Thess. 2:1
* Luke 17:29-30 - “The day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” Just after Christ is revealed and Christians are raptured, and on that same day, God’s wrath will begin, and be poured out upon this wicked world. 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Rev. 8:1-13, 9:1-21
* John 17:24 - “I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory.” One of the main reasons Jesus is coming back is so He can be with you. Much more than you realize, Jesus wants you to be with Him in heaven. John 14:1-3, 1 Thess. 4:17
* Acts 3:20-21 – “… that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things…” At Christ’s coming, He will renovate and restore this old earth, not perfectly so, like the new earth (Rev. 21:1), but much better than now. It’s during the coming age, the 1000-year kingdom age, that you will be reigning with Christ over this restored earth. Matt. 19:28, Rom. 8:21, Rev. 5:10
* 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 - “As in Adam all die, so also in Christ 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.” Christians are made alive, that is, are glorified, are perfected, at Christ’s coming. In fact, this is the first thing to happen at His coming. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:21-22, 1 Thess. 4:15-17
* Philippians 1:6 - “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Your salvation will be complete on the day of Christ, which is the day of Christ’s coming. This is a most special day, for then, all believers from all time, will be glorified. You were justified in the past, are being sanctified in the present, and will be glorified in the future.
* 1 Thessalonians 1:10 - “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who rescues you from the coming wrath.” Christ is returning to rescue believers from the wrath that He will pour out upon this sinful world. And from this day until He comes back, you are to be working and waiting for Him.
* 1 Thessalonians 2:19 - “What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes - is it not you?” A very encouraging aspect of your hope is that you will be reunited with Christians you knew on earth. 2 Sam. 12:23, 2 Cor. 4:14
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Christ’s coming will be announced with the shout of an archangel and the sound of a trumpet. Immediately after that, Christians on earth will be raptured and glorified, and joining up with all believers who had died in the past and were just glorified, they will together meet the Lord in the air. Matt. 24:31, 2 Thess. 2:1
* 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4 - “You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night… But you brothers are not in surprise.” The day of the Lord, and therefore Christ’s coming, will be a complete surprise to unbelievers, but not to Christians. Matt. 24:32-41
* 2 Thessalonians 1:7 - “To give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.” When Jesus Christ returns, believers will be going through great tribulation, but they will be given immediate relief, for they will be miraculously raptured, quickly taken from this earth to be with Christ.
* 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 - “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and being gathered to Him, we ask you brothers… do not let anyone deceive you in any way for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.” Christ’s coming, and the rapture, won’t happen until after the rebellion, the apostasy, and after the revealing and coming of the Antichrist, that devilish beast, that man of lawlessness. Matt. 24:10-31
* 2 Thessalonians 2:8 - “The lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming.” Christ is returning to defeat and destroy the Antichrist, which takes place at His coming, specifically at the battle of Armageddon. Then he will be “thrown alive into the lake of fire”, where he will be greatly and eternally punished. Rev. 16:13-16, 19:19-20
* Titus 2:13 - “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus…” This big-picture verse describes the entirety of your salvation. We can sum it up by saying that you are to live a holy life for Christ and are to look for His coming - and what a glorious, magnificent, and blessed appearance that will be. Luke 21:27
* James 5:7 - “Be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too be patient and stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near.” In the end-times, God will save multitudes of people from their sin. For your part, you must be patient with people, be sharing the gospel, and persevere to the end. Matt. 24:13-14, Mark 13:9-13
* 1 Peter 1:13 - “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Don’t ever set your hopes on the things of this earth, but on the fact that Christ is coming to deliver you from this devil-run world and bring you to Himself and to heaven, and to bless you like never before. Psalm 16:11, Rom. 8:18-25
* 2 Peter 3:3-4 - “In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing, and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this coming He promised?’” In the end-times, evil people will mock you, laugh at you, and think you are crazy because you are expecting Jesus Christ’s return, but you are not, for you know the truth and you love Jesus, and you are extremely excited to see Him.
* 1 John 2:28 - “Dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” You are to abide in Jesus and have a close relationship with Him. You do this by trusting His word, and by loving and obeying Him. The result of walking with Jesus is that you will be a bold and confident Christian. Acts 4:13
* 1 John 3:2-3 - “When He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” At Christ’s coming, you will receive a new body, just like Jesus’ body. Thus, you will be able to perfectly love Him, have wonderful fellowship with Him, and wholeheartedly serve Him. Eph. 2:10, Rev. 21:3-7
* Revelation 22:12 - “Behold I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what He has done.” You will be personally and greatly rewarded for your life of service for Jesus Christ - and this will happen when He returns to earth. Col. 3:23-24
* Revelation 22:20 - “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Christ is coming soon - it won’t be long from now! We know this because we now live in the end-times, and because second-coming signs are being fulfilled. Matt. 24:4-35
No matter what happens - no matter what happens to you - no matter what trials or conflicts you go through - no matter what happens to family members or friends - no matter what happens to this country or in this world, know that Christ is coming again to rapture the church, pour out His wrath, save a number of Jews, restore this earth, and begin His reign over this earth. You should be excitedly looking for and praying for Christ’s return. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of thinking about this glorious truth, that Christ is coming back, and soon. The benefits of having this truth in your heart are life-changing. I suggest that you read these two articles, for they will give you further understanding about Christ's coming - "Over 100 New Testament Verses on Christ's Second Coming" and "Thirty Important Truths About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #252 ~
We are living in the end-times, and it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church! It’s amazing how much information is in God’s word about the end-times, yet most Christians are confused, in error, and even ignorant about what’s going to happen. The purpose of this blog site is to help you understand and be encouraged by the future God has for you and for all His people.
I've tried to do this through blog posts and prophecy charts. In the charts, I’ve drawn out and displayed key prophetic truths on a Biblical timeline. I want to make it easy for you to see and understand the chronology of key prophetic events, and most importantly, Christ's coming, the rapture, and the ages to come. You need perspective, you need to see your life in view of the end-times, or otherwise, you can get discouraged and stuck in your own little world. God wants to encourage you, to keep you looking ahead, to give you hope, and these charts are a way to do that. In these end-times, you need to be educated and excited about the future God has for you, the church, and the Jewish people.
It's imperative that you see the big picture, where we’ve been, where we’re at now (the man in the charts), and where we’re going. And everything is going according to God's plan, His promises and prophecies (Isaiah 46:8-11). I strongly encourage you to study these charts, for I'm convinced they will help you understand the big picture, and how you are an integral part of what God is presently doing in this world.
There are 280 charts on this blog site, and each one is instructive and forward looking. But that 280 number can be overwhelming - that’s why I have listed out 30 key charts, and I suggest that you examine each of them. I’m convinced they will help build and cement the truth of God’s prophetic word in your heart and mind. And remember to download them, print them, and pass them on to friends.
* “The Kingdom of God” (#4) – God’s word tells us that we are living in the second of four ages, and it won’t be long before the start of the third age, when Christ reigns over the whole world.
* “A Biblical Prophetic Overview” (#6) – When we think about prophecy, it’s important to go back to the past, and see how that leads up to the present and future plans God has for us.
* “Daniel’s 70th Week” (#11) – End-times’ prophecy can only be properly understood when you learn about Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year time frame that will begin in the near future.
* “Luke 21” (#20) – See how God is concurrently working with both Jews and Christians in these end-times.
* “Matthew 24” (#21) – This detailed chart helps to illustrate the most important end-time’s prophecy passage in the Bible.
* “The Antichrist is Coming” (#23) – Christ is coming to rapture the church, but the Antichrist must come first. God’s plan and timing for the Antichrist is seen in this chart.
* “God’s Plan for the Jews in the End-Times” (#25) – God wants you to have a clear picture of how He will be working with the Jewish people in the coming years.
* “1 Thessalonians” (#29) – This chart focuses on the rapture and the day of the Lord.
* “2 Thessalonians” (#30) – This chart describes the coming of Christ and the Antichrist.
* “The Conflict of the Ages” (#54) – This chart pictures the past, present, and future spiritual battle between Satan and God - and God always, always wins.
* “Decline of the United States” (#62) – The United States is going down because of her sin. And this is all part of God’s plan, and soon enough, Antichrist’s kingdom will take over the world.
* “Harmonizing God’s word concerning end-time events” (#63) – God keeps telling us about the same coming events on earth - He wants you to be convinced about what will be taking place.
* “How Then Shall We Live?” (#64) – You need to know, not just what will be happening in these end-times, but how God wants you to live your life during this time.
* “The Rapture is…” (#65) – It’s amazing how many things must occur before the church is raptured. You must know them or otherwise, you will be caught off guard when Christ returns.
* “Tribulation for the Believer, Wrath for the Unbeliever” (#66) – It’s true that Christians will suffer in the end-times, but nothing compared to the deserved, hell-fire experience of unrepentant unbelievers.
* “Our Christian Hope” (#69) – This picture of your hope, of how God will greatly bless you in the future, is very encouraging! It’s eternally worth it to live this very short life on earth for the Lord!
* “Woe! Woe! Woe!” (#79) – This is a sobering view of the eternal pain and punishment for those non-Christians who reject God’s mercy, and don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ.
* “Why is Jesus Christ Coming Back?” (#91) – There are many good reasons why Christ must come back to earth, and knowing them helps you understand God’s purposes.
* “What Will Take Place at the Coming of Christ?” (94) – It’s unbelievable all that God is going to do when Christ returns - and He predicted it and planned it all out.
* “Living the Christian Life in the End-Times” (#108) – If you really want to know how to live for Christ in these end-time years, then look at all these second-coming verses.
* “Error or Truth” (#113) – There’s a lot of error when it comes to end-time’s prophecy, and you don’t want to be fooled, confused, or led astray. And so find out the truth.
* “God’s Promises to the Jews” (#115) – God makes three wonderful, world-changing promises to the Jews, all relating to you as a Christian, and they will surely come to pass in the near future.
* “The King of kings” (#131) – The prophesies in Daniel 2 and 7 regarding prominent kingdoms in our world all point to the return and reign of Jesus Christ.
* “The Regathering of the Jews to Israel” (#148) – Over the past 140+ years, God has been bringing the Jewish people back to their land, the clearest, strongest proof that we are in the end-times.
* “The Past, Present, and Future – Acts 3” (#177) – Just a few verses in Acts 3 give you the big picture of God’s past, present, and future working with the church.
* “The Remarkable Results of the Rapture of the Church” (#198) – You will truly be encouraged when you see all the immediate, life-changing results of being raptured.
* “Our Father Who is in Heaven…” (#215) – Visualize what the Lord’s prayer says about prophecy, for it helps you understand what you are praying, and it enables you to see the future.
* “What Needs to Take Place?” (#226) – This one chart spells out 15 different things that must happen before Christ returns to rapture the church.
* “World Peace is Coming” (#249) – Find out when world peace is coming, and it’s sure not happening in this evil age. Only Christ can bring world peace, and He will, in the next age, the kingdom age.
* “Jesus Christ, the Lord, is Coming” (#258) – Jesus Christ is coming very soon, and then you will see Him as a most glorious Savior, Judge, Redeemer, and King. Hallelujah!
Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year, God is leading, moving, working, and His goal is to bring about the return of His Son to earth. He has told us this sequence of prophesied events that need to come about, specific plans that will be precisely and perfectly carried out. "Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance" (Mark 13:23). God told us ahead of time everything we need to know about these end-times, these last years leading up to the coming of Christ. Might these charts help you to know what's coming, so that you will be excited and encouraged, "and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #253 ~
This blog site is about Christ’s coming, the rapture, and the glorious future God has planned out for you. These things should be on your mind and heart, personal and real to you. Do you think about meeting Jesus, being in heaven, seeing your loved ones, and reigning with Him over the earth? It’s important that you do, for this is your hope, giving you endurance and encouraging you to keep living for Jesus. Here are some things God wants you to be looking forward to:
* Literally seeing Jesus Christ. “From my flesh I shall see God, whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another.” (Job 19:26-27). You will actually see Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, One who is God in the flesh. And think about how you will see His pierced hands and feet, permanent marks of His great love for you, of how He died to pay for all your sins. “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see.” Luke 24:29
* Lovingly gazing upon Jesus’ face. “The upright will behold His face” (Psalm 11:7). You will see Jesus’ godly and glorious face, and His sweet and loving smile for you. “I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” Psalm 17:15
* Listening to Jesus’ voice, specifically that He is pleased with you. Won’t it be encouraging when Jesus comes up to you and personally commends you for how you served Him on earth? “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things - I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:23
* Living together with Jesus Christ. “We will live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:10b) in our heavenly home. “I will go and prepare a place for you… I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be” (John 14:2-3). And you won’t be with Jesus for just a short while - you “shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17, Rev. 21:10-22
* Looking at the incredible, unbelievable, magnificent glory of Jesus. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me.” (John 17:24). You will always be amazed by Jesus, eternally in awe of His glory, of His power, His wisdom, His love, His supremacy, His goodness, His righteousness, His splendor, His faithfulness, His truth, etc. Then you will say, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11
* Being gathered together with all the believers to meet Jesus. “We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17). This spectacular and thrilling onetime event will occur at Christ's coming - and you will be there! Can you imagine being with this exceedingly joyful assembly, with all the believers from all time, and together seeing Christ in all His power and glory? Matthew 24:30-31
* Being at one of the greatest worship services ever. “Behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands, and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.’” (Rev. 7:9-14) This describes what happens just after the rapture, and all the saints are together in heaven, proudly and wholeheartedly worshiping both the Father and the Son. I am really looking forward to this!!!
* Being with your believing friends and loved ones. “Who is our hope or joy or crown or exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19). You will be super-excited about your grand reunion with dear friends and family members you knew on earth. Just think about the soul-warming, God-glorifying times of fellowship you will have in heaven, and which will go on forever. You just can't imagine the extreme and exhilarating joy you will feel in your heart, and the profound and perfect love you will have for all the saints. “You have come to… the general assembly and church of the first born.” Hebrews 12:23
* Being “absent from the body and… at home with the Lord” - soon enough, you will be gone from this evil world and from your weak, sin-prone body. (2 Cor. 5:1-8). Every Christian should have “the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” than living on earth. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:25). You should long for that time when you will be with your heavenly Father, when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” Revelation 21:3-4
All believers who have physically died are now experiencing this heavenly perfection, this absence of sin, sickness, and pain, this freedom from fleshly and worldly problems and pressures. And I believe millions more Christians will die and ascend to heaven before Jesus descends to rapture the church, and you may be one of them. At the end of this age, Jesus will return to rescue His bride, and then all believers from all time, those in heaven and those just raptured from the earth, will be glorified. This is when our salvation is complete, when we receive our brand-new glorified body.
Then “we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). The Lord Jesus Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21). You will receive “an imperishable body… one that is raised in glory… raised in power… raised a spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:42-44). “We will be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52), wonderfully, beautifully, perfectly, powerfully, and eternally.
* Being with the angels. “You have come to… myriads of angels in festive gathering” (Heb. 12:22). All believers will soon be with all the angels, ones who are worshiping the Lord and perfectly “obeying the voice of His word” (Ps. 103:20). We will join the angels in giving praise to our Creator and King, and what a joyful, heart-gladdening time that will be! “I heard the voice of many angels… saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’ And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’” Revelation 5:11-13
As a Christian, you have this hope of a great and glorious future, of being in heaven in a new body with Jesus Christ and all the believers and all the angels. It’s imperative that you think about this soul-charging, super-encouraging, God-given hope. This is especially true at this time in history, for we are seeing God’s prophetic word being fulfilled in the world around us - which means it won’t be long before Christ comes and takes us home to heaven so we can forever be with Him. “‘Behold, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. Hope is so powerful and so important, and is especially needed when you go through tough times, and as you observe the devilish course of this world. I encourage you to also read this post, "The Rapture, a Love Story" (#6), and this article, "Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body" (#14).
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #254 ~
The whole world will be judged! That’s what God tells us, that’s what she deserves, and that’s what’s going to happen! Isaiah and Paul call it the “Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:6, 1 Thess. 5:2). John the Baptist says it’s the “wrath to come” (Luke 3:7). And this wrath won’t be a super volcano, global flooding, a nuclear war, EMP’s, or any combination of these things, but rather a series of disastrous, God-planned events specifically described in Revelation 8-9, 16.
Most people don't know about this, don't have even a clue of the catastrophic events that will soon devastate this earth. Or if they have heard about it, they don’t believe it’s going to happen - they are judgment deniers. (2 Peter 3:3-7). They don’t believe life on earth will be radically different, that this world, as we know it, will soon come to an end. Thinking that everything is going to stay the same, they will be eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting, and building. (Luke 17:24-28). Will they ever be shocked when God’s righteous hand suddenly strikes this earth.
Why is God going to punish this world? Because He’s perfectly holy. Rev. 4:8 sets the stage for this end-of-the-age wrath when it says, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” The Judge is sitting on His throne, and He has already told us His verdict, that this world is guilty of grave sins and a great many sins, and there must be justice, there must be divine retribution. “You have sat on the throne judging righteously, You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins.” Psalm 9:4-8
The vast majority of people don’t understand God’s holiness, that He demands perfection from every single person. Even in our own courts, a person shown to be guilty for one crime is pronounced guilty by the judge for that crime and must be punished (James 2:10). But that’s on a human level - here is God, the divine Judge, and He examines an individual’s entire life, and He knows all their evil thoughts, words, and actions, each one being utterly offensive to Him. (Hab. 1:13). Those who have not repented of their sins, not trusted in Christ, not believed He died to pay the penalty for their sins, will be guilty forever, and therefore perish, be punished forever. “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; Mark 1:15; Matt. 25:46
God cannot ignore sin, He cannot say it’s no big deal, He cannot forget it! God cannot excuse sin, not even one! Because God is altogether righteous, He has no choice but to pour out His wrath upon sinful people, and upon this entire world. The Bible gives us story after story about God judging individuals, families, cities, nations, and the world. Sinful Cain was a vagrant and a wanderer upon the earth (Gen. 4:12). The great, global flood destroyed an extremely wicked world in the time of Noah (Gen. 7). Fire and brimstone rained down upon those two evil cities, Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24-25). There were 10 punishing plagues poured out upon rebellious Egypt (Exodus 7-11). There was all Israel stoning and burning Achan’s family (Josh. 7:25). And look at the hundreds of warnings by the prophets! God’s word continually, clearly, and conclusively testifies to the holiness of God in history past. Might we learn from them, and be holy. Romans 15:4
It's quite obvious to spiritually minded Christians that sin is rapidly increasing in the United States and all over the world. Grievous sin is running rampant, corrupting countries and polluting the entire planet (Lev. 18:24-25). This was predicted in Matt. 24, the most important end-times’ chapter - “lawlessness is increased” (Matt. 24:12, 2 Thess. 2:7-12, 2 Tim. 3:1-4). God must and will punish the whole world, and very soon. “Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very quickly… a day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom.” Zephaniah 1:14-15
The day of the Lord was prophesied in many places - Isaiah 13:6-13; Joel 2:30-32; Amos 5:18-22; Obadiah 1:15; Zeph. 1:1-3, 14-18; Acts 2:19-21; 1 Thess. 5:1-4. These predictions, plus many other references to this final cataclysmic judgment are to warn the unbelieving world about what will be taking place. God is alerting believers as well, for we should be living holy lives, especially in these few and final years leading up to the coming of Christ. 1 Thess. 5:5-8, 1 Peter 1:13-16
It's now relatively calm in this world compared to the catastrophic judgments to come, the deserved and dreadful wrath of God that will be poured out upon this earth - hail, fire, blood, demonic locusts, malignant sores, extreme torment, scorching heat, darkness, and death (Rev. 8-9, 16). It’s calm because God is being patient with the lost (2 Pet. 3:9), wanting Christians to lovingly and urgently share the gospel with them before it’s too late, warning them of the destruction and death to come, begging them to be reconciled to God, to turn from their sin and turn to Christ, to receive His eternal life and love. 2 Cor. 5:21, James 5:7-11
If sinners remain unrepentant and are still alive on earth when Christ returns, not only will they go through the fiery day of the Lord, but they will also go to hell, first to Hades for 1000 years, and then to the lake of fire for all eternity. “Depart from me accursed ones into the eternal fire” (Matt. 25:41, Rev. 20:11-14). I hope you are seeing the big picture, the powerful, painful, and punishing wrath that evil unbelievers will experience forever and ever, and rightfully so. “Upon the wicked He will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. The Lord is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:6-7
Jesus Christ is returning to this earth to reign as King, but first, He must be a Judge and eradicate sin by punishing this evil world and casting out sinners. God is perfectly holy, and He has to clean house, He must purify this place - then Christ can begin reigning and ruling over this world. “He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity” (Ps. 9:8). Then we will all declare, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
Jesus Christ is also returning to rapture all Christians living on earth at that time (Hallelujah!), and this occurs just before God pours out His wrath. “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven… who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:9-10, 4:15-17). “God has not destined us for wrath" (1 Thess. 5:9). I cannot wait for this to happen! “‘Behold, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
P.S. This is a most sobering subject, and you need to learn from it and be holy. And be thankful for God's mercy on your soul, that He saved you from the wrath to come, and from an eternal hell. I encourage you to read these three other posts - "The Day of the LORD, the Wrath of God on Earth", "What About the Unrepentant Unbeliever in the End-Times?", and "Rescued from the Punishing Day of the Lord."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #255 ~
Throughout history, people have wondered how this world will come to an end. Some say it will just keep going for 1000’s of years, and others say it could end in the next decade or two. Some worry whether it will be destroyed by some catastrophic event(s). In the 1960’s, there was talk about nuclear war; in the 1970’s, it was an ice age; in the 1980’s, it was the ozone layer; in the 1990’s, it was global warming; and since the early 2000’s, there’s been talk about EMP’s, solar flares, super volcanoes, and climate change.
The truth is that God has already told us how this world, as we now know it, will come to an end. His word tells us that Jesus Christ will return to rapture the church, and then judge the earth, pouring out His righteous world-ending wrath. This is called the day of the Lord, and it will be destructive, deadly, and deserved. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness.” Psalm 98:9
The Bible talks extensively about the day of the Lord, and that’s because God doesn’t want us to be ignorant - He wants us to know what will happen, and warn others. Most importantly, we need to tell people to turn from their sin and turn to Christ, believing that He died to pay for their sins and rose again. If they do, they will be forgiven, receive eternal life, and won’t be here on earth when God pours out His wrath. And they won’t go to hell, where they would have been justly and eternally punished for their sins but, instead, will go to heaven, and forever be with God, Jesus Christ, and all the believers. “He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24
Here are some important questions and answers about the day of the Lord:
1. What is the “day of the Lord”? This phrase refers to a period of time when God judges sinful people living on this earth. It speaks of specific times in the past (recorded in the Old Testament) when God poured out His powerful and punishing wrath on people and nations. But there is another day of the Lord, a future, fiery, global judgment that will take place just after the end of this age. It is this eschatological day of the Lord that is the focus of this post.
2. Why must God carry out this “day of the Lord”? Because He is perfectly holy and must punish all sin. God has no choice but to judge people’s great and grievous sin. Not only that, but He also needs to clean up this sin-polluted world before His Son begins His holy and glorious 1000-year reign on a restored earth. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” Revelation 4:8, Acts 3:20-21
3. Does God predict this coming “day of the Lord”? Yes! “The day of the Lord is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation, and He will exterminate sinners from it… I will punish the world for its evil” (Is. 13:6-13; Joel 2:30-32; Zeph. 1:1-3, 14-18; Amos 5:18-20; Acts 2:19-20; 1 Thess. 5:1-4). These many references to the day of the Lord mean that God is deadly serious, that His coming judgment is most severe. Here we are in the end-times, not long before Christ’s coming and the day of the Lord, and God is now sounding the alarm with all these birth pains (Matt. 24:4-8, Rev. 6:1-8). God’s purpose is to wake up and warn people about His world-wide wrath that will result in massive devastation and destruction.
4. Are there other phrases that predict and describe this end-of-the-age eschatological wrath? Yes! Here are some of them: “judgment day” (Is. 10:3), “the day of His burning anger” (Is. 13:3), “the day of vengeance” (Is. 34:8), “the day of the Lord’s wrath” (Zeph. 1:8), “in those days” (Joel 3:1), “the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26), “the day of wrath” (Rom. 2:5), “the day of judgment” (2 Pet. 2:9), “the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6), “the great day of God” (Rev. 16:14). Again, there are many references to this time of judgment which means it's an extremely important subject, one that both the saved and the lost need to hear and understand.
5. Will Christians be physically affected by the day of the Lord? No, not at all! That’s because God will rescue Christians who are alive on earth from this crushing, cataclysmic wrath. God tells us “to wait for His Son from heaven… Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10), and that He “has not destined us for wrath.” 1 Thess. 5:9
6. How should the coming day of the Lord spiritually affect Christians? First, we should be very thankful that God’s Son was punished for us (Rom. 5:8), that God had mercy on us, that we will escape this end-times’ wrath, and not go to hell, but instead go to heaven (John 3:16). Second, we should be sobered as we think about our just God pouring out His wrath upon this wicked, super-sinful world (1 Thess. 5:5-8). Third, we should be motivated to live holy lives in these last years leading up to the day of the Lord. (Rom. 13:11-14, Rev. 18:4). Fourth, we should love the lost, warning them of the terrible wrath to come and sharing the gospel with them. Luke 21:12-17
7. How will unbelievers be living in the final years before the day of the Lord? They won’t be expecting this coming wrath - they will be living like everything is going to stay the same. “They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying… they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building” (Luke 17:27-28). They will mock the Christians - “… in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’” (2 Pet. 3:3). They will be greatly and grossly sinning - they “did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thess. 2:12). They will be persecuting Christians - “They will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you.” Matthew 24:9
8. What will be the response of unbelievers when they realize the day of the Lord is about to begin. They will be scared to death - “men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). They will be completely caught off guard - “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly… and they will not escape” (1 Th. 5:3). They will try to hide from God but they can’t - "The kings of the earth, the great men, the commanders, the rich, the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.’” Revelation 6:12-17
9. What events need to happen, what conditions need to met before the destructive day of the Lord? Birth pains (false christs, wars, famines, earthquakes, famines); increasing lawlessness; the signing of a treaty by the Jews; the building of the Jewish temple; a great apostasy; great persecution of Jews and Christians; the coming of the Antichrist and his desolation of the temple in Jerusalem; a ten-nation kingdom ruled by the Antichrist; the world worshiping the Antichrist; the false prophet doing great signs and false wonders; unbelievers taking the mark of the Beast, the Antichrist; and the gospel being preached to all nations. All these things must occur before Christ returns to rapture the church and pour out His wrath upon this ungodly world. Matthew 24:4-29, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10, Revelation 13
10. What will be the final warning sign before the day of the Lord? “I will grant wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come” (Acts 2:19-20). There will also be a great earthquake. Revelation 6:12-14
11. When does the day of the Lord begin? Sometime after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Let me explain. The day of the Lord begins just after the rapture of the church, the rapture being the first event to take place at Christ’s coming. (Matt. 24:29-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-5:2). And Christ’s coming occurs after the coming of the Antichrist. (2 Thess. 2:8-9) - and the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27). Therefore, we can conclude that the day of the Lord begins sometime, an unknown time, after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week.
12. What are the trumpet and bowl judgments? They refer to the two major aspects of the Day of the Lord (Rev. 8-9, 16). First, seven trumpet judgments begin during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. The first six speak of hail, fire, and blood thrown to the earth; part of the world being burned up; seas, rivers, and springs being polluted with blood; demonized locusts inflicting tormenting pain on the people; and a third of mankind being killed. It will be a most dreadful, devastating, and deadly time. At the end of this 7-year week, the 7th trumpet is blown, and voices in heaven proclaim, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev. 11:15). It is at this time that Jesus Christ becomes King of the world. Psalm 47, Zechariah 14:9
Second, seven bowl judgments begin just after the end of Daniel’s 70th week and the blowing of the 7th trumpet. Unbelievers are covered with ugly and malignant sores; the seas, rivers, and springs become blood, and all living things in them die; the unrepentant are scorched with fierce heat, and the Antichrist’s kingdom becomes totally dark (the sinners “did not repent of their deeds” (Rev. 16:11). The 6th bowl prepares the world for the climactic judgment of the nations and the Antichrist at the battle of Armageddon. The 7th bowl results in the greatest earthquake ever, and huge hailstones pounding the people on earth - and they still “blasphemed God.” And so “it is done” (Rev. 16:17) - the day of the Lord is over, and the righteous, catastrophic wrath of God is completed.
Never forget what God says about the day of the Lord. People have all kinds of wrong thoughts about the future - but now you know what God says about this coming wrath, the day of the Lord. Wake up, be sober, and don’t live for yourself, live for God! It won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church and pour out His wrath upon this evil world. Make sure you tell your saved friends about the day of the Lord. And again, warn the unsaved about this end-of-the age, world-ending wrath. Tell them to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus before it’s too late. Again, be very thankful that you won’t be here for the day of the Lord, but instead, will be in heaven with Jesus and all the believers, and in a brand-new body. “Surely, goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
P.S. You have been reading about the coming wrath of God, but you also need to be reading and thinking about hope, that you have a most glorious inheritance, and will be in heaven with Jesus and all your Christian friends. I encourage you to read these two posts - "You Need Hope to Get Through Life", and "HOPE: The Who, What, When, How and Why."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #256 ~
God is holy, holy, holy!!! God is the Holy One - He is sinless, blameless, and perfectly pure! And praise be to God that through the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, He has made us forever holy, righteous, and pure. And now that we are holy ones, we are to live holy lives. This theme of being holy is a most important message in the Bible and should be our constant and continual endeavor. Hundreds of verses instruct us to live holy lives, and wouldn’t you know it, many are in the context of Christ’s coming. And since we now live in the end-times, we must understand them, and see how they relate to our life, our purpose, and Christ’s return. Let’s look at some of them.
Revelation 4:8 - “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” The book of Revelation is about the end-times, Christ’s coming, and the ages to come. And Rev. 4 is foundational, for it focuses on worshiping the holy God, setting the stage for Christ’s return, the coming of the Holy One. Revelation teaches us that God wants a holy church to welcome His Son, and a holy earth upon which He will reign. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3, Acts 3:20-21
Romans 13:11-14 - “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is almost gone and the day is near. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light… put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh.” This age is coming to an end, the day of Christ is near, the time for the church to be raptured and for all believers to be glorified is at hand! And God wants you to be awake, alert, holy, and full of hope. The nearness of Christ’s return should greatly motivate you to be inwardly and outwardly holy. "Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart." Psalm 24:3-4
Ephesians 4:30 - “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” When you get saved, you are given the Holy Spirit, and one of His purposes is to protect you, to keep you safe until the day of Christ, the day of redemption, the day you are glorified. “… Having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit… with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession” (Eph. 1:13). Another purpose of the Spirit is to make you holy - so do not grieve Him, "do not quench the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19) - live a holy life. Eph. 4-6 explains what this looks like.
Philippians 1:10 - “I pray that your love may abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” How should you pray? That you grow in your love for God and others, which results from knowing God’s truth, making wise decisions, and living a holy and blameless life - and all this is in view of the day of Christ, for at that time “each man’s work will become evident, for the day will show it because it is to be revealed…” 1 Corinthians 3:13
Colossians 3:4-10 - “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore, consider the members of your body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry… put on the new self.” When Christ returns, He will immediately be revealed - and then you will be revealed with Him in His kingdom. In view of Christ's holy and glorious coming, say no to the old self, and “put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 16-17 - “This is the will of God, your sanctification… the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The coming of Christ is a major theme of 1 Thessalonians, and it too highlights the need for holiness. We are “sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness” (1 Thess. 5:5). Therefore, fervently desire to be “holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:27), especially since you will soon be seeing your Savior. Revelation 22:12
1 Thessalonians 5:23 - “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8 says the same thing - “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” You must recognize God’s role in making and keeping you holy. Yes, you are to do your part when it comes to being sanctified, to being holy, but ultimately it is God who enables you to live a righteous life. And again we see that living a holy life is connected to Christ’s coming.
Titus 2:11-13 - “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope, and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” How are you to live? You are to live a righteous and godly life by saying no to sin and by doing good deeds - and you are to be looking for Christ’s return and the revealing of His kingdom and glory which happen after the end of this present age. Matthew 24:3-31
1 Peter 1:13-16 - “Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in Spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” It cannot be any clearer, for again you are exhorted to be holy in the context of Christ’s coming, and you are to be obedient, and to have hope, to be excitedly looking forward to His return.
2 Peter 3:11 - “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” Why love this sinful world? Since this evil earth will soon be destroyed, why live like a sinner? Rev. 18:2-4, speaking of this wicked world, “a dwelling place of demons”, tells you, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins.” Knowing that Jesus is coming to rapture the saints and punish the sinners should greatly motivate you to live a holy life, and to share the gospel with the lost, thereby, hastening His coming.
1 John 3:3 - “When Jesus appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Jesus is glorious and perfectly pure, and when He appears, we will be like Him, perfectly pure, and altogether glorious. And having hope, wanting to see Jesus, has a positive, purifying, and powerful effect on your life.
Here are some key truths about holiness and how it helps you to live a holy, God-glorifying life.
* The best blessing of being holy is having a close relationship with God. Matt. 5:8, Heb. 12:14
* God is pleased, honored, and glorified when you are holy. Eph. 5:6-11
* To be useful to God, to be able to do His work, you must be holy. 2 Tim. 2:21
* If you are in sin, then repent and confess your sin. 1 John 1:5-9; Rev. 2:5, 2:12, 2:18, 3:1, 3:14
* God wants to bless you, but you need to be holy, obedient, and seeking Him. Psalm 119:1-8
* Learn from the epistles, for they will greatly help you to grow in holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24
* Share the gospel by living a holy life and by speaking the truth about sin and Jesus. Titus 3:1-8
* Living a holy life will result in being eternally rewarded. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
* God will keep you holy all the way to heaven, and enable you to “stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.” Jude 24-25
P.S. This past Monday was Labor Day, and so my Sunday message was Working for the Lord. I went into great detail about how, no matter our age, we are to always be working for the Lord. I shared 18 different points from God's word, ones that I believe will help you be a more successful worker for God in these last years before the coming of Christ. There is also a PDF text of my sermon notes available on that same page.
By Steven. J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #257 ~
In these past few weeks, three things came to my mind about rulers. First, there was the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth, and then this attention on King Charles III, a king with no real power. Second, there’s all this coverage about the coming midterm elections, with most candidates foolishly promising some kind of change. Third, there's all this evil being promoted, permitted, and protected by evil rulers, resulting in an increasingly corrupt and spiritually cancerous country. Our only hope is Jesus Christ, the true Savior and King! Only He can save us from our primary problem, sin and death, and then bring real peace and prosperity to this world, and that's in the kingdom age to come.
Today I want to focus on Christ Jesus the King. Here are some things God wants you to know:
* Psalm 2:1-3 sums up the present and future condition of this world with regards to kings and the King. At the present time, "the kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against His Anointed (Christ the King)” (Ps. 2:2). In a little while, God will carry out His plan, “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion” (Ps. 2:6). There are now all these kings and rulers on this earth, but it won't be long before Christ will be King over the whole world. “God is the King of all the earth.” Psalm 47:7
* Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Son of Man, the perfect person to be King and rule over this world. “You will bear a son… He… will be called the Son of the Most High.” Luke 1:31-32
* Jesus Christ has the right to reign over this earth, for by His death, He paid for our sins and defeated the devil, thereby giving Him the authority to be King of this world. “Grace to you and peace… from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us… Behold He is coming...” Revelation 1:4-8, 12-18
* God promised that His Son, Jesus Christ, would be King over this world, and He will keep His promise. “I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16
* Jesus Christ, our coming King, is the only hope for this world. No one but Christ can perfectly rule over this planet and bring true justice, joy, and peace. “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.” Psalm 67:4
* We now live in the end-times which means we are fast approaching the end of this evil age. Christ the King is coming soon, and when He does, the church will be raptured (Matt. 24:31), the world will be punished (Rev. 8-9), the Antichrist will be defeated (Rev. 19:20), a Jewish remnant will be saved (Rom. 11:25-26), and Christ will begin reigning over this earth. “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” Rev. 11:15, Zech. 14:9
* Jesus Christ will be a perfect, holy, truthful, wise, powerful, loving, merciful, sovereign, and all-knowing King (Jer. 10:10). “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure… He has sent redemption… Holy and awesome is His name.” Psalm 111:7-10
* Christ’s reign in the coming kingdom age will last for exactly 1000 years. Revelation 20:1-6
* True believers will be glorified in body, soul, and spirit, and will reign with Jesus Christ in the kingdom age, helping Him to establish His righteous rule over this earth. Revelation 5:10, 20:6
* Jesus Christ will reign over the entire world from the city of Jerusalem. Psalm 48
* Every person who has ever lived will bow down to Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and King. He will be feared by all people, and loved and worshiped by all believers - and this will take place during the millennial kingdom. “Every knee will bow… and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11; Psalm 72:5-11
* During the millennial kingdom, the entire earth will be full of Christ’s glory. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
* During this kingdom age, it will be obvious to all that Christ is the greatest King this world has ever seen. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2
* In this coming kingdom, believers will be giving thanks to Christ, singing praises to Him, and shouting for joy. And why? Because of their salvation (Is. 12:1-2), because Christ is defeating their enemies (1 Cor. 15:25), because they are experiencing His incredible blessings (Ps. 67), and because He is “a great King over all the earth.” Psalm 48:2
* During Christ’s kingship, the nation of Israel will have a special place and role on this earth. Christ will rule from Israel (Ps. 48). He will bless Israel in such a way that they are a blessing to the whole earth (Ps. 67:1-2, 7). Salvation in Christ will be proclaimed by the Israelites to all the world (Ps. 96:1-3). “Their (Israel’s) offspring will be known among the nations” (Is. 61:9). Nations will come to Israel because she is so blessed by Christ (Is. 60:3). “The wealth of the nations will come to you (Israel).” (Is. 60:5). Jerusalem will be the most renowned city in the world - “They will call you the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 60:14
* During His millennial kingdom reign, Jesus Christ will defeat all His enemies, and this includes death. “The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:26, Revelation 20:14
* At the end of this 1000-year kingdom age, Jesus Christ, the King of the earth, will hand “over the Kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and authority… when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
* God commands us to pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
Look at the world around you! For the most part, it’s a wicked planet ruled by evil leaders, by evil “kings.” Doesn’t this make you long for the true King, for Jesus Christ to return and reign over this earth? I can’t wait to see King Jesus ruling over this earth, for then there will be perfect justice, love, peace, and glory to God like never before. But for now, keep working and waiting for our Lord, and soon enough He will return, judge the world, and then we will join Him in reigning over this earth. “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). “Then all nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed… may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.” Psalm 72:17-19
P.S. In this world of politics, rulers, and corruption, you must understand what God says about His spiritual kingdom, and the kingdom ages to come. Here are four related posts I would encourage you to read - "The Kingdom of God", "The King in Your Heart and His Kingdom on Earth", "Kingdom Instructions for the Church", and "The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #258 ~
A huge, potentially catastrophic storm could be heading to Tampa, the worst in over 100 years. Here in Tampa, we are listening to meteorologists, and looking at spaghetti models, storm tracks, wind speeds and possible rain amounts, etc. But only God knows exactly where it will go and what will happen, and that's because He has planned it all out - it is His storm and it is for His purposes and glory. And what God really wants is for both believers and non-believers to get their eyes off the storm and on Him, to see that He is God, that He is powerful and holy, and that He can do whatever He wishes. And He wants us to bow down to Him, to humble ourselves in His presence. So pray for us in west central Florida that we would be humble, would draw close to Him, would trust Him, and that He would protect us, and show us His mercy and grace.
I have printed out Job 37 which, in my opinion, is the best weather chapter in the Bible. I love it, for it tells us about God, the weather, and lessons we need to learn. I strongly encourage you to read the entire chapter, and note what it says. In particular, look at vs. 7, that God stops us in our work, and that is sure true in Tampa. Look at vss. 12-13, that God brings the storm to either punish or show love. Look at vs. 14, that God wants us to stop and consider His wonders, to think about Him and His awesome power and glory. Look at vs. 24, the bottom line, the most important lesson, that God wants the weather to cause us to revere Him, to fear Him.
JOB 37
“At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of His voice,
to the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After that comes the sound of His roar;
He thunders with His majestic voice.
When His voice resounds,
He holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
He does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7 So that everyone He has made may know His work,
He stops all people from their labor.
8 The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;
He scatters his lightning through them.
12 At His direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever He commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water His earth and show His love.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes His lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of Him who has perfect knowledge?
17 You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18 can you join Him in spreading out the skies,
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19 “Tell us what we should say to Him;
we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20 Should He be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north He comes in golden splendor;
God comes in awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress.
24 Therefore, people revere Him,
for does He not have regard for all the wise in heart?
P.S. Here are four previous posts that all relate to hurricanes, storms, and difficult times, and the purposes God has for them. "A Hurricane is Coming - Be Ready, Watching, and Working", and "The Alarm is Ringing! Wake Up America! The Storm is Coming!", and "A Big Storm is Coming, and I Don't Mean Hurricane Irma", and "When the Storms Come, Don't Be Afraid."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #259 ~
What does this country need? It needs men of God, men of faith, holy men, men of courage, men who love God and His word, who know that the only answer to a person’s problems and this country’s problems is God’s word and Spirit. And these godly men need to be abounding in the work of preaching the word of God, of proclaiming all the truths of God.
This country is ensnared in the deadly lies of the devil, lies that are destroying lives, marriages, families, schools, churches, government and, to be honest, our entire society. And godly men need to be preaching and teaching God’s word. We don’t need pastors who are entangled in the affairs of the world. We don’t need ministers who are men-pleasers, who are tickling ears and sharing fluff. We need men who are holy and wholehearted for God, who know that only His truth and His Spirit can defeat the lies of the devil and give us the life and purpose God wants us to have.
This country needs God-loving men teaching the basic truths of the Bible, summed up in Eph. 4:4-6 - one body (church), one Spirit, one hope (our future), one Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith (God’s word), one baptism (salvation), and one God and Father. Truth-loving men need to be faithfully, strongly, and clearly teaching about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the truth of the gospel, the truth about man’s sin and the death-saving death and life-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the truth about the church, righteous living, and our glorious hope.
There are many examples in the Bible of men faithfully teaching and preaching God’s word:
* Be like Ezra and set your heart on studying, practicing, and teaching the word of God. Ezra 7:10
* Be like Jeremiah and fearlessly warn people of the wrath to come. Jeremiah 1:11-19
* Be like Ezekiel, a watchman, a man aware of the times, who upon hearing God’s word, spoke to the people and warned them of what was to come. Ezekiel 3:17
* Be like John the Baptist and courageously make ready the way of the Lord. Luke 3:4
* Be like Apollos and boldly, accurately, and fervently be teaching about Jesus. Acts 18:24-26
* Be like Paul, who testified solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God to the lost, and who preached the whole purpose of God to the saved. Acts 20:24, 27
* Be like Paul who knew the importance of the entire word of God, that “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17. “The sum of Thy word is truth.” Ps. 119:60
* Be like Paul, who was ready in season and out of season to preach the word and, note this, always in view of Christ’s appearing and His kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:1-4
* Don’t ever be deceived and led astray by false teachers. 2 Thess. 2:1-4; Matt. 24:4, 11, 24
These last few verses about not being in error are given in the context of the end-times and the Biblical hope God has given us. I plead with you pastors, in the final years of this church age, to preach on hope! I cannot say this strongly enough! Now is the time, in the calm before the storm, to clearly tell believers what God has planned out for our future. The Jews are back in Israel, birth pains are happening, lawlessness is increasing, and persecution is growing - these are all signs from God that it won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church.
Like never before, God’s prophetic word is pointing to the soon return of Jesus Christ. Sadly, most believers don’t have a good understanding of what God says about their future and the future of this world. Way too many Christians are confused, ignorant, or in error when it comes to what the Bible teaches about the end-times, the Antichrist, the coming of Christ, the rapture of the church, the day of the Lord, and the millennial kingdom - and this should not be. It’s not like God doesn’t say much about our hope. He does! It’s a huge subject with hundreds of New Testament verses. Pastors need to teach their people what the Bible says will surely come to pass, and what may take place in their lifetime.
Here are some more thoughts for you pastors, preachers, and teachers:
* Get quality time alone with God. This is the number one thing that has kept me going for God through all the years. “When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2, Mark 6:31
* “Take heed, behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). Jesus told you ahead of time what He wants you to know about end-times’ prophecy, and you should find out everything He wants you to know, and then sensibly and faithfully teach others. Matthew 24:45
* Here are some key prophecy passages you should study and then teach your church: Daniel 7-12; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 17:22:37, 21:5-36; 1 Thess. 4:13 - 5:9; 2 Thess. 1:5 - 2:12; 1 Peter 1:3-13; 2 Peter 3:3-13; Revelation. And I would encourage you to start with Matthew 24.
* “Present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) and, in this case, about prophecy, one of the most relevant, practical subjects in the 21st century. It’s your duty and responsibility to teach your church about our God-planned future. You don’t want to keep the truth from the sheep. You don’t want them to be naïve, confused, scared, or in error, but instead, to know and understand what God is now doing right before our very eyes. You want them to smile at the future, to be looking for the city which has foundations, to be desiring a heavenly country.
* Be humble and learn from godly and studious men on this subject of Biblical prophecy.
* Be “men who understand the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1 Chr. 12:32). Not only should you teach on prophecy, but on how it relates to what’s taking place in the world and what the church should be doing.
* Properly taught Christians will realize that God’s prophetic word is being fulfilled, is unfolding before their eyes, and then see that Christ’s coming is drawing near. That Christ is returning soon is the most encouraging news in the whole world! Hebrews 10:25
* Explain to your people that the church will encounter great tribulation, and that they need to be willing to suffer, but God will give them all the grace they need. 1 Cor. 1:8-9, 2 Tim. 4:18
* Be more than just a teacher - be a pastor, one who cares, and a leader, one who is taking charge, fearlessly out front, courageously forging ahead. Joshua 1:6-9, John 21:15-17
* Completing the work of the church relates directly to the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:14 - “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt. 28:19-20 - “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” You can’t miss it - when the work of the church, preaching the gospel to a lost world and discipling believers, is finished, then this age will end, and Jesus Christ will return.
* All the qualities listed below are essential to being a strong Christian, and what’s amazing is that each one is in the context of the end-times, and therefore, is necessary for godly living in the end-times. Preaching (Matt. 24:14), readiness (Matt. 24:44), discipling (Matt. 28:19-20), having faith (Luke 18:8), not worrying (Luke 21:14), serving (1 Thess. 1:9), being alert (1 Thess. 5:6), waiting (Titus 2:13), patience (James 5:7), fellowship (Heb. 10:25), encouraging (Heb. 10:25), hoping (1 Pet. 1:13), praying (1 Pet. 4:7), loving (1 Pet. 4:8), being holy (2 Pet. 3:11), overcoming (Rev. 2:7), not fearing (Rev. 2:10), and persevering (Rev. 13:10).
What a time to be alive! Just think, the end-times is our time! God put you on this earth “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14). Don’t be asleep, be awake, be alert, and be doing your job. Teach prophetic truth to your people so they know what will be taking place, so they are equipped, encouraged, and filled with hope, so they are serving God and waiting for His Son from heaven. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Matthew 24:30-31
P.S. I know what some of you might be saying, "I'm not pre-millennial like you. I'm post millennial, a-millennial, and don't believe God has a future for the Jews, or something else, and I can't even begin to think of teaching my church about Christ's coming and the rapture, followed by His kingdom on earth." If that's the way you think I would suggest you read the following articles, and maybe you will see more clearly the truth of the pre-millennial position: "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 1", "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 2", "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 3", "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 4", "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 5 - (Why People Have Believed This Error.)"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #260 ~
The Old Testament talks extensively about the Jewish people - and it’s both historical and prophetical. But some say His promises and plans for them are null and void, that God cancelled them, and that because of the Jew’s rejection of Christ, God rejected them. But that’s not true! Here are three reasons why God’s plans for the Jews are still valid. First, God keeps His promises, He doesn’t go back on His word. “Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it” (Is. 46:11). Second, the Jewish people have regathered to Israel just as God predicted, which means He still has plans for them. (Ezek. 36-37). Third, 20 different passages in the New Testament directly and indirectly refer to the Jews. The mere fact that there are all these passages in the New Testament about the Jews must mean something - and they need to be examined and understood. My purpose in this post and the next one is to look at all these verses.
* Matthew 5:17-19 - “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill… not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished…” The Law and the Prophets are primarily about Jesus and the Jewish people. Jesus wants us to know that all that is said about Himself will come true, and that He will accomplish all His promises to the Jews. And some of these have been fulfilled in the past and the rest will be fulfilled in the future.
* Luke 1:31-33 - “You shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High… He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom will have no end.” The angel is referring to and reminding Mary of the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-13, 16), and telling her that God’s Son will be her Son, One who will rule forever over the Jewish people, His chosen ones, and as we know now, over all believers in Christ. Psalm 89:1-4, 19-29, 34-37
* Luke 1:54-55 - “He (God) has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our Fathers, to Abraham and His descendants forever.” God tells Mary, and us too, that He will fulfill His promises to Abraham and to Israel, some of which have already come to pass, and others which will be carried out in the future, ones that will affect all His descendants, both Jewish people and Gentiles. And you see that these promises are eternal, that they will last forever, which means they cannot and will not be revoked. Gen. 12:1-3, Gen. 13:14-17, Gen. 15:4, and Gen. 17:1-8
* Acts 3:20-21 - “… that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” The prophets made many predictions about the Jewish people, which have been and will be coming true. One in particular is the “restoration of all things”, which will be an incredible blessing to both Jews and Gentiles who are living on this earth during the millennial kingdom. Psalm 98, Isaiah 65:17-23, Matthew 19:28, Romans 8:21
* Luke 24:25-27 - “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken… Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:44 - “All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Jesus used the Old Testament Scriptures to prove to His Jewish disciples that He was the Messiah, both Savior and King. But note that it says, “All things which are written about Me.” Christ wanted them to know that all the prophecies about Himself were valid, some of which they had already seen come true. The rest will be fulfilled in the future, many of which speak of Christ’s reign over the Jewish people, and over the entire world. Look at Psalms 22:27-31, 47, 48, 67, 72 and 102:18-28.
* 2 Thess. 2:3-4, 8-9 - “The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 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, displaying himself as being God… 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.” This prophecy predicted that the Jewish people would be in Jerusalem, which has now come true, and that they need to build a temple, which will happen soon. Not long after the Jews begin to offer sacrifices, this man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, will desolate their temple. Then that most devilish man will meet his Maker and be thrown into the lake of fire. Rev. 19:20
* Acts 28:17, 20, 23, 30-31 - “Paul called together… the leading men of the Jews… for the sake of the hope of Israel… He was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets… he stayed two full years… preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul was in Rome talking to the Jewish leaders about Jesus, the Kingdom of God, and the hope, the future of Israel. He explained that Jesus was Lord and Savior of all who believed in Him, both Jewish people and Gentiles, and that in the future, He would be King over the whole world. (Is. 2:1-4, 9:6-7; Ezek. 40-48; Zech. 14:9). Paul’s time in Rome occurred about 10 years after he had written his prophecy-laden letters to the Thessalonian church, where He spoke of the Antichrist, the desolation of the temple, Christ’s coming, the rapture and the day of the Lord. I’m sure he explained to them how this related to the salvation of a remnant of Jews, and Jesus Christ ruling from the city of Jerusalem and establishing His kingdom on this earth.
* Matthew 23:37-39 - “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets… Behold, your house is being left to you desolate. For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.'" Jesus tells the Jewish people the bad news, that their city is being destroyed and left desolate, which happened in 70 AD. Then He tells them the good news, that in the future they will recognize Him as their Lord and Savior, which occurs at Christ’s 2nd coming, at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Psalm 118:22-29, Daniel 9:24-27
* Matthew 24:15-26 - “When you see the abomination of desolation… standing in the holy place… then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains… pray that your flight will not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation… just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” This too tells us that the Antichrist will desolate the temple, the holy place. That most evil man will then go after the Jewish people and bring great tribulation but, mercifully for them, Christ will cut it short. Then everyone on earth will see Christ coming in the clouds, at which time He will rapture the Christians, and a short while later, redeem a remnant of Jews. Matt. 24:27, 30-31
* Revelation 12:5-6, 13-17 - “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness …” Rev. 12:13-17 - “The dragon… persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (3½ years), away from the presence of the serpent… the dragon was enraged with the woman…”
The woman is referring to the Jewish people, who brought Jesus into the world (vs. 5). You realize that there’s close to a 2000-year gap between vs. 5 and vs. 6, and now we’re in the end-times, the last years of the church age. Not long from now, the Jews will be fleeing into the wilderness (vs. 6). As 2 Thess. 2 and Matt. 24 tell us, the Jews will be persecuted by the Antichrist. But she will miraculously escape, be physically saved by the power of God. Shortly after her escape, she will be spiritually saved by Christ and, in fulfillment of God’s promise to David, He will become their King and rule over them and all the nations. “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
Think about all these verses, all these prophecies and promises, and they all relate to the Jewish people. You can’t just skip over and ignore these verses, or take them allegorically - they are true, and are relevant to the present day, to the 21st century, and to both Jewish people and Christians. Next week, we’ll look at ten more passages. Surely, the Jews have not been forsaken and forgotten, for God has a future for them, a future that relates directly to His plans for the church. “None of them (Old Testament believers) had received what was promised. God had planned something better for us (Christians) so that only together with us (Christians) would they (Old Testament believers) be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:39-40
P.S. There is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the Jewish people and prophecy, and it's vitally important for you, the Christian, to know what God has clearly told us in His Word. I strongly encourage you to read these previous posts about the Jewish people - "A Short Summary of God's Working With the Jews", "A Jewish Reading Lesson", and "Clear New Testament Confirmation of God's Plans for the Jews."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #261 ~
Some people think God’s plans for Israel were invalidated by their crucifixion of Christ, but that’s just not true! God’s plans are still valid, and one of the primary reasons we know this is because He has already carried out His promise to bring back the Jewish people to their land, and this sets the stage for the fulfillment of the rest of His promises to them. And what happens to the Jews relates directly to what happens to the church. Matt. 24:4-22, Luke 21:10-28, 2 Thess. 2:1-19, Rev. 7:1-14, Rev. 12:13-17 all show God’s side-by-side plans with the Jews and the Christians in the end-times.
Another reason we know God has not given up on His plans for the Jewish people is that there are at least 20 New Testament passages that talk about their future. And these passages are in the New Testament because they're part of God's church age / kingdom age plans. Last week we looked at 10 of them and today we will look at 10 more. These verses, in addition to a large number of other Old Testament prophecies, prove that God will fulfill His promises to the Jews. Let’s go over them:
* Luke 21:20-24 - “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near… these are days of vengeance… they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Jesus predicted the future of the Jewish people, that Jerusalem would be destroyed, which happened in 70 AD, and that the Jews would be scattered all over the world. But in the last 140+ years, a great multitude of Jews have miraculously come back to their land. That means the times of the Gentiles will soon be fulfilled, and that a large remnant of Jews will soon be saved. Ezek. 36-37, Rom. 11:25-27
* Matthew 19:27-28 - “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Jesus tells the apostles their reward for being His followers, that they will rule with Him, specifically that they will be judging the 12 tribes of Israel. This occurs during the millennial kingdom, “in the regeneration” (physical new birth - Rom. 8:20-21). This is more evidence that God has a future for Israel and the Jewish people, as was promised in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms and Prophets. Psalm 37:9, 22, 29; Psalm 105:6-11; Ezekiel 37:21-28
* Romans 11:25-27 - “A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved, just as it is written ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” During this church age, the Jewish people are experiencing a partial hardening of heart and, therefore, are not as receptive to the gospel as the Gentiles. At the end of this age, “the fulness of the Gentiles” will have come in, Christ will return, the church will be raptured, the world will be judged, and a large number of Jewish people will be saved. Psalm 130:7-8, Isaiah 45:17
* Romans 15:7-13 - “Christ has become a servant to the circumcision (the Jews) on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers (Abraham, etc.), and for the Gentiles to glorify God… ‘Therefore, I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Your name… Rejoice O Gentiles, with His people… Let all the people’s praise Him… He (Jesus) who arises to rule over the Gentiles…’” The Jewish people have a magnificent future, and that’s because God will carry out His incredible promises for them. Vss. 7-13 speak of a very important aspect of their hope, and Gentile Christians will share in that hope, which is that all believers, both Jew and Gentile, will unitedly be worshiping the Lord Jesus in the ages to come. Might God fill your heart with this hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Hebrews 8:8-12 - “‘Days are coming’, says the Lord, ‘when I will affect a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah… I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be My people… for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.’” The book of Hebrews was written to Jews, many of whom were wondering about God’s plans for them. The New Covenant, the key part of these plans, first written down in Jer. 31:31-34, is quoted here in Heb. 8. It’s true that God made this covenant with Israel, with the Jews, but during this church age, its primary beneficiaries are the Gentiles. God wanted the Jewish people back then and throughout this age to know that He has not forgotten His promise to them. And at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, which isn’t long from now, all Israel, all Jews, will share in this “new covenant” promise, and be saved, be forgiven of all their sins. Daniel 9:24-27, Isaiah 45:17, Ezekiel 37:21-28
Hebrews 11:13, 39-40 - “He (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise… for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God… All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance… all these… did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” God continues to assure the Jewish people that He has not cancelled His plans for them. Heb. 11 speaks of believers who were, and still are, expecting the fulfillment of these plans. And in this church age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are looking forward to that time when Christ comes back, when all believers will be “blessed by Him” and “will inherit the land” (Ps. 37:22, Matt. 5:5). Vss. 39-40 tell us an amazing truth, that promises to the Old Testament saints will be carried out in conjunction with His promises to the church. God wants you to know that His plans for all His people are converging, are coming together in the end-times. Matthew 24:15-31
* Revelation 7:1-8 - “I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: from the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed…” In the future, a large number of Jewish people, exactly 144,000, 12,000 from every tribe, will be sealed and set apart for Jesus Christ. This occurs during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week, close to the time of the rapture. We know this because Rev. 7:9-14 goes on to talk about the rapture, how a great multitude of Christians will come out of great tribulation and then be in in heaven worshiping God and Christ. Then Rev. 14:1-5 tells us that these 144,000 Jews become devoted worshipers and servants of Christ - “The Lamb was standing on Mount Zion and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”
* Revelation 11:1-15 - “Get up and measure the temple of God… they will tread underfoot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days.” This is another informative passage about the future of the Jewish people in the end-times. Here are the main points:
- The events talked about in this passage take place in the holy city, the city of Jerusalem.
- The Jewish temple is to be measured, which means it will be rebuilt sometime in the future.
- Two godly, God-protected witnesses, probably Moses and Elijah, are performing miracles, and are prophesying, that is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The beast, the Antichrist, kills the witnesses, but after 3½ days, God raises them from the dead.
- The time frame for these events is forty-two months or twelve hundred and sixty days, which is referring to the second half of Daniel’s 70th week, the last 3½ years.
- Immediately after these events, the seventh trumpet is blown, and soon after that, Jesus Christ, from the city of Jerusalem, begins His 1000-year reign upon the earth.
* Revelation 20:2,3,4,5,6 - “… a thousand years… the thousand years… a thousand years… the thousand years… a thousand years… the thousand years.” Many Old Testament promises to the Jewish people speak about the Messiah, the Christ, reigning over His kingdom. (2 Sam. 7:16, Psalm 2). These verses in Rev. 20 repeatedly and clearly tell us that the first part of Christ’s coming reign will last exactly 1,000 years. Immediately after that, there’s the eternal kingdom, when Christ and His Father reign over the world forever and ever. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
* Revelation 21:10-14 - “… the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God… it had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.” This describes the holy and eternal city, the new Jerusalem. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are written on the twelve gates, which means the Jewish people are eternally important, and that God’s promises to them will come to pass. All believers from all time will be living together in this holy city, and be eternally worshiping and serving God.
At least 20 New Testament passages talk about the future God has for the Jewish people. You can’t ignore them, or say they’re not important, or that they’re not true for Jews. Go back over them and study them. Might you see their relevance to both Jews and Gentiles, to believers from Old Testament times and the church age. Since we live in the end-times, we know these glorious plans for God’s people will soon come to pass. And as a believer, you will see it all happen. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning… saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure’; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11
P.S. I have many charts that really help you see the big picture for the Jewish people and God's plans for them. Here are four I would encourage you to look at: "God's Plan for the Jews", "Promises for the Jewish Remnant", "Micah and the Millennial Kingdom", "The Regathering of Jews to Israel".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #262 ~
We live in a world where there are all kinds of wicked and evil rulers. “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed” (Ps. 2:2). But how are you to live in view of this? And what does God tell you about the age to come, and how His Son, Jesus Christ, will be the greatest King ever?
What God says about living in the present age:
* Know that God will give you all the grace, peace, and wisdom you need to live in this world, even when the Antichrist is ruling over this earth. Revelation 1:4, 13:18, 22:21
* Remember that God is sovereign, that He selects the rulers (Ps. 75:6-7), that they can only do what He allows them to do (Pr. 21:1), and that He raises them up for His purposes. Romans 9:17
* Know that during this evil age, Satan has a limited rule under the sovereign hand of God (1 Jn. 5:19), but in the coming age, Christ will have absolute rule over this world. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
* Don’t focus on the kingdoms of men, but seek first the kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom (Matt. 6:33). Join with Jesus Christ in building the church, in making disciples. Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19
* Yes, you can vote and help elect rulers but, most importantly, pray for them. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
* Have hope! Live life in light of the future! Be excited about what God has in store for you! Yes, life can be difficult, but it won’t be long before Jesus Christ, the King of kings, will come back and make everything better. Philippians 2:10-11
What God says about the KING and living in the coming kingdom age:
* The coming of the KING and His kingdom: 2 Samuel 7:16 - “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” Psalm 2:6-8 - “As for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain… I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.” Psalm 89:27-28 - “I shall also make Him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth… I will establish His descendants forever and His throne as the days of heaven.” Isaiah 9:6-7 - “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, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” Jeremiah 23:5 - “I will raise up for David a righteous branch, and He will reign as King and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.” Micah 5:2, 4-5 - “As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel… at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace.”
* The establishment of the KING’S kingdom: Ezekiel 37:21-28, 22 - “I will make them one nation in the land… one King will be king for all of them, and they will no longer be two nations… My servant David will be King over them.” Daniel 2:44-46 - “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all those kingdoms, but it will endure forever.” Daniel 7:14 - “… one like a Son of Man was coming… His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” Zechariah 14:9 - “The Lord will be King over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only One.” 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 19:15-16 - “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron… on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, ‘King of kings, and Lord of lords.’”
* The KING will reign: Psalm 10:16a - “The Lord is King forever and ever.” Psalm 22:27-28 - “All the families of the nations worship before You. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” Psalm 29:10 - “The Lord sat as King at the flood; yes, the Lord sits as King forever.” Psalm 45:6 - “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” Psalm 47:6-8 - “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations.” Psalm 48:1-2 - “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 93:1-2 - “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty… Your throne is established from of old, You are from everlasting.” Psalm 95:5 - “The Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 145:13 - “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.” Isaiah 43:15 - “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” Jeremiah 10:10 - “The Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.”
* The nature of the KING’S kingdom: Psalm 67:4-5 - “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the people with uprightness and guide the nations of the earth.” Psalm 72:6-13, 19 - “In His days, may the righteous flourish… May He also rule from sea to sea… let all the kings bow down before Him, all nations serve Him… He will have compassion on the poor and needy.” Psalm 102:21-22 - “That men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.” Isaiah 2:2-4 - “The law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between the nations and will render decisions for many peoples... Nations will not lift up sword against nation and never again will they learn war.” Isaiah 61:11 - “The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.” Joel 3:17-18 - “I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain, so Jerusalem will be holy… and in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk…” Zephaniah 3:15-17 - “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst… a victorious warrior, He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Malachi 1:11 - “From the rising of the sun to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to My name…” 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 - “Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and authority. He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” Revelation 1:5-6 - “… from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us… He has made us to be a kingdom.”
* Glory to the KING: Psalm 72:19 - “Blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” Isaiah 6:3 - “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of His glory.” Habakkuk 2:14 - “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” 1 Timothy 1:17 - “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
* O Worship the KING: Psalm 98:4-6 - “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Break forth and sing for joy… With trumpets and the sound of the horn, shout joyfully before the King.” Psalm 145:1-2 - “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.” Isaiah 12:6 - “Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in Your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Keep loving God and living for Him. Keep waiting and looking for Jesus, the coming KING. And keep praying, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10
P.S. We can get too concerned about politics and rulers, and we need to focus on Jesus Christ, His present purpose with the church and His future rule over the world. Here are two good posts about the kingdom - "The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age", and "Kingdom Instructions for the Church." And here's an important article on thankfulness - "Being Thankful - The Character of a Christian."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #263 ~
I’m so glad to be alive at this time in history, in these end-times, for we know that Jesus Christ is coming soon! Some say His coming is imminent, that He can return at any moment, but that’s not true, for God has told us many things that must occur before the end of this age and before the return of His Son (Mark 13:23). I’ve told you these things in the past, but I will share them again, for God’s plans for the future need to be firmly planted in your mind and heart.
Here is God’s end-times’ outline, what needs to happen before Christ comes back:
* There will be more false Christs, false teachers, and false prophets. Matt. 24:5, 11, 24
* Birth pains (earthquakes, famines, plagues, and wars) will be occurring. Matt. 24:4-8
* There will be a great apostasy resulting in believers being betrayed. Matt. 24:10, 2 Thess. 2:3
* Lawlessness will be increasing all over the world. Matt. 24:12, 2 Thess. 2:11-12
* A Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem. Matt. 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:4, Rev. 11:1-2
* This temple will be desecrated - there will be “the abomination of desolation.” Matt. 24:15
* The Antichrist (beast) will be revealed, worshiped, and begin ruling the world. Rev. 13:3-8
* The Antichrist will cause people to worship his image and take his mark. Rev. 13:11-17
* The gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached to all the nations. Matt. 24:14, 28:19-20
* Both Jews and Christians will be greatly persecuted. Matt. 24:9, 16-22; Rev. 12:14-17
* Millions will be dying because of “birth pains” and “great tribulation”. Matt. 24:28, Rev. 6:1-9
* The end of this age will be marked by a massive earthquake, and by great signs in the heavens which will result in the world going dark. Matt. 24:3, 29; Rev. 6:12-14
* The coming of Christ and the rapture of the church will happen immediately after the end of the age. Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17
God wants you to know these prophecies that must occur before Christ’s coming. As I’ve been watching the world around us, some of these things have already been happening. And I’ve been seeing other things that relate to, connect, or must precede the above signs, events, and conditions, things that are filling in this end-time’s outline. And I’m saying, “Wow!!!” More than ever before, God’s prophetic word is being fulfilled, giving us confidence that it won’t be long before Christ appears. (Heb. 10:25, 37). Here are some things I’ve been seeing and hearing:
* “Nation will rise against nation… There will be great earthquakes and in various places plagues and famines” (Luke 21:10-11). Fuel, fertilizer, and labor shortages, along with supply chain issues are leading to food shortages and famines in various parts of the world. Wars will continue to exist and there will be more earthquakes and plagues, just like God said in His word. Matt. 24:25
* “Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13). Our country has become terribly and increasingly sinful and lawless in the past 20 years. Vicious assaults occur in broad daylight. Blatant smash and grab robberies are happening. The unborn are still being killed. There are more murders. There’s a tremendous lack of respect for people. Human trafficking is increasing. Massive government corruption is occurring. Women are becoming men and men are becoming women??!! There’s hate and greed. Truth is lacking, and there are all kinds of lies. Most people don’t love God, but instead love themselves, money, food, sports, pleasure, and all kinds of idols. And it will only get worse. Is. 59:14-15, Amos 6:4-7, 1 Cor. 10:7, 2 Tim. 3:1-4
* “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power…’” (Job 1:6-12, 1 John 5:19). Seeing the escalating evil makes me think that God has given Satan more freedom to promote sin and carry out wickedness. And it’s God’s judgment upon our country, and part of His end-times’ strategy. The other day I read a flyer promoting an elementary school club in Chesapeake, Virginia. It said, “Hey kids, let’s have fun at (an) after school Satan club.” But remember, God is sovereignly and purposefully allowing Satan to do what He wants him to do. Romans 9:17
* “God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity… to degrading passions… to a depraved mind” (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). Sexual perversion of the worst sort is occurring in our country, the sodomization of our society, and our children too. This gross and grave sexual sin is accepted and applauded by many, promoted by a few, and legalized by our lawmakers. It’s clear evidence of the depravity in our country, and that we will soon be removed from our position as the world’s #1 superpower. As most of you know, the moral decline and downfall of the United States must take place before the Antichrist can come to power and begin ruling the world.
* “He causes all… to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark” (Rev. 13:16-17). Nations are becoming more authoritative and totalitarian. And their plan is to use recent technological advances to control people, advances that have to do with artificial intelligence, smart phones, digital ID’s, vaccine passports, surveillance systems, chip implants, social credit scores, and digital currencies. (The United States recently began working on an experimental currency, the Central Bank Digital Currency). Don’t you think this technology will sooner or later lead to the development and implementation of the mark of the beast, the means by which the Antichrist will control people? Isn’t it also true that people will get use to these advances in technology, for they will seem like they are necessary, and are making life easier? As one person recently said, “The time will come when we can’t live without the mark of the beast.”
* “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matt. 24:9). In the past few years, we’ve been witnessing the arrests and jailing of political enemies, of “domestic terrorists”. It won’t be long before Christians, labeled as “Christian nationalists” or “Christian terrorists”, will be looked upon as one of the main reasons for our country’s problems. It’s obvious that the stage is being set for an open war on Christianity, for the predicted and unjust persecution of Christians. Matt. 24:9, Rev. 6:9-11
* “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another (the Antichrist) will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones” (Dan. 7:24, Rev. 13:1). In the end, there will be a kingdom of ten nations controlled by the Antichrist, the power base by which he will rule the world during Daniel’s 70th week. Bill Wilson, Koenig International Senior News Analyst, said this about our present global situation - “The G20 is a group of 19 nations plus the European Union committed to coordinating global economic, health, and travel policy... Among the G20 initiatives is the World Health Organization which at the last G20 meeting gained approval of its global authority to act as a ‘health’ control mechanism for international travel, pandemic management, food growth and distribution, and climate control. The G20 nations appear to have empowered themselves to build the vehicle that can be driven by an oligarchy of unelected leaders or a single leader to control the world and enslave its inhabitants.”
Then you read about the United Nations, the Global Reset, the World Economic Forum, and that political, financial, and tech leaders have this goal of globalization, of a one world order. I believe this kind of international coordination and control will eventually lead to the coming of the Antichrist and his dictatorial rule of the earth. No one knows exactly how and when this comes about but it will, and sometime after the United States has been dethroned from her position of power. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast (the Antichrist) for one hour.” Revelation 17:12
Never forget that God “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11) with “a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ” (Eph. 1:10). God is directing the affairs and activities of the world, He is causing signs and events to happen, and He’s moving the pieces, the nations, rulers, and people into place. Be awake and alert. Be working and waiting. Be like the “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chron. 12:32). And soon enough, we "will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:27
In a recent Zion’s Fire article, David Rosenthal said it this way, “The Author of the Universe has already written the last chapter. The epic conclusion will take place at His appointed time, and in harmony with His Sovereign purposes. When everything is aligned in accordance with His will, He will initiate the events of the Last Days and bring all things to a just and righteous consummation. I believe we are seeing the shadows of the coming alignment taking shape in the world today. Our responsibility as followers of Christ is to remain faithful, keep watching, be discerning, and be prepared.” Amen!
P.S. I get excited knowing what needs to happen before Christ returns, but saddened knowing that many don't have a clue as to what will be taking place. That's why I write this blog post, to help you understand God's plan for the future. I strongly encourage you to read "Matthew 24 - the Most Important Prophecy Chapter in the Bible." One more thing - as you know, we live in a world of sadness, sorrow, and depression. Here is last Sunday's message, and it's all about rejoicing in the Lord, and receiving His heart-lifting joy.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #264 ~
I think of Jesus Christ when I think of Christmas, not the worldly, materialistic, and made-up one. And Christmas is not just about baby Jesus - there is so much more…
I think of Christmas being about Jesus Christ, not food, family, presents, vacations, and secular songs. That “the Word became flesh” means that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of man, an amazing, wonderful, most important miracle. John 1:14
I think of a world that does not know Jesus, and does not understand the spiritual truth and relevance, the real meaning of Christmas, but instead uses this special season for physical and commercial purposes, for the fleshly desires of man instead of for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31
I think of how Jesus was like each of us, a little baby, 7 or 8 pounds or so, with arms and legs and fingers and toes - and He was dependent on His mother and father, but much more so, on His heavenly Father. Psalm 22:9-10, Luke 2:7
I think of Jesus, and He was not like us, for He was God in the flesh. And not having a sin nature, He never sinned. As the “Holy One”, He was perfect in all He thought, said, or did. Mark 1:24
I think of Jesus existing in the “form of God” since eternity past, but on Christmas He “became flesh”, was “made in the likeness of men”, an incredible miracle we call the incarnation. And that was just the beginning, for Jesus humbled Himself and became a “bond-servant”, a slave, and in fact, the lowest of men, for He died in the worst way, as a criminal and on a cross. But it was for a reason, to save man from his sins and from eternal death, with the result that Jesus was “highly exalted” and His Father was greatly glorified. Philippians 2:5-11
I think of how Jesus was born to live with man, One we call Immanuel, “God with us”. He went from being a baby to a toddler to a young boy to a teenager to a young man to a man. For three years, Jesus ministered to people, He “dwelt among us, and we saw His glory”. Then He died for us, rose again, and ascended into heaven to be with His Father. It won't be long before Jesus comes back to earth, and then we will see Him and be with Him forever. Hallelujah! Matt. 1:23, John 1:14, John 14:1-3
I think of God’s character being clearly displayed at Jesus’ birth and during His first coming - His love, power, holiness, goodness, wisdom, sovereignty, etc. Therefore, God was glorified and worshiped! Luke 2:9, 14, 20, 32
I think of Jesus becoming a baby, becoming human flesh, and how it shows the great and marvelous love of God for each one of us. “For God so loved the world, that He gave us His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
I think of Jewish people in those days looking for a King, and they were correct in their understanding of Jesus being a King, and were excited about the prospect of Jesus being their King (Luke 19:38). But most did not recognize Jesus as their Savior, as the only One who could take away their sins. “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
I think of Satan's strong and continued opposition to Jesus' birth, summarized in Rev. 12:1-5. Six different evil empires over the course of 2,000 years tried to wipe out Israel, but they were all unsuccessful. God’s plans for the birth of Jesus were never thwarted, for Israel “was with child, and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth… but she gave birth to a son, a male child.” Psalm 33:10-12
I think of those God chose to be involved in Jesus’ birth and early years on earth. There were the angels, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, and the Magi, and many others we don’t even know about. All were blessed to be part of the most important birth on earth - but consider this, that those of us alive at this time are also blessed, for we are God’s chosen servants in these last years leading up to Christ’s 2nd coming. Mark 13:34, John 15:16
I think of Christmas being about baby Jesus, but more than that, it led to His ministry years on earth, to His death, resurrection, and ascension, to shepherding the church - and at this time, to His return to rapture the church, judge the wicked, reign over the restored earth during the millennial kingdom, and over the new heavens and earth with His Father in the eternal kingdom. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Matt. 19:28
I think how we are much, much closer to Christ’s 2nd coming than His 1st coming. But keep both in mind, remembering that Christ’s work to save souls at His 1st coming will result in their salvation being completed at His 2nd coming, at which time God will give all believers glorified bodies. Jesus was born to die, but was raised again to redeem sinful man, and “when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 40-42
I think how God had all the details of His Son’s birth planned out, the time, the place, Joseph and Mary and many others, the census, the Satanic opposition, etc. Nothing was left to chance, for it was all part of God’s wise, holy, perfect, and glorious plan. Isaiah 46:9-11, Luke 2
I think how God predicted specific aspects of His Son’s birth long before it happened, for He wanted His people to be looking forward to His coming (Gen. 9:10, Deut. 18:15, Is. 7:14, Is. 9:6a, Mic. 5:2). So too, God has predicted many aspects of Christ’s 2nd coming, for in these days, He wants all Christians to be looking forward to His return. Matt. 24:3-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, Rev. 7:9-14
I think how in these end-times, all true Christians rightfully and joyfully look back at Christ’s first coming and see Jesus as a Savior, but sadly, most Christians are not expecting and looking forward to His second coming, to seeing and being with Jesus the King. Might we rightfully and joyfully sing - “Joy to the World, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King... Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ... No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground... He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love." From "Joy to the World"
I think how the Son of God, as a baby and a servant, came humbly, quietly, and secretly to the little town of Bethlehem. And the Son of God will come again, as a man and a King, this time in the sky and in power and great glory, with the trumpet of God and the voice of the archangel, and “every eye will see Him” (Rev. 1:7). “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” Rev. 12:5, Matt. 24:30-31, 1 Thess. 4:16
I think how Jesus was born to be a Savior (Psalm 22), but also to be a Shepherd (Psalm 23), a King (Psalm 24), and a Judge (John 5:22, Acts 17:31).
I think of how Christmas needs to be personal, and it is to me, for Jesus is my Savior, my Lord, my Shepherd, and my King. And I do love Him and rejoice in Him and trust Him and learn from Him and submit to Him and talk to Him and pray to Him and thank Him - and I cannot wait to see Him. "After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" Job 19:26-27
Think about Christmas and Jesus Christ, and what it really means, how it should greatly affect your life, the church, and the world. And think how it won’t be long before Christ's second coming, and all believers will forever be with Him in heaven and on earth (Rev. 21:1-7). “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men!” Luke 2:14
P.S. Here are some Christmas posts from the past - "First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming". "The Christmas Story and Christ's Second Coming", "Christmas is More than Baby Jesus", "The True Meaning of Christmas". May the Lord bless you and your family during this Christmas season, in the new year, and forever more. Psalm 23:6
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #265 ~
What will God do in 2023? He will carry out His plans for you and every person, family, church, and country in the world. He knows exactly what He’s going to do, and it relates directly to His word, and to His will, what He decreed in eternity past. “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure” (Is. 46:10). That God will do what He has planned to do is so important and extremely encouraging. We can’t trust people, but we can trust God. More than you realize, God will fulfill His plans for you, the church, Israel, and the entire world. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations… the counsel of the Lord stands forever.” Psalm 33:10-11
What God does this year must be seen in view of the fact that we live in the end-times. The two-minute warning has already been given. All that God does, every single thing that happens, somehow relates to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. God is continually and carefully putting each piece of His global end-times’ puzzle into place, and soon enough we “will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27
I am going to tell you what God will be doing in 2023, and I’m not saying I had a special vision from God, I’m not sharing something “new” that no one else knows. I’m only passing on to you what God has specifically told us in His word, or that which is a necessary prerequisite to the fulfillment of His prophetic word. Here are some of God’s plans with regards to four areas, the unsaved, the saved, the church, and the world.
The unsaved, the sinners, the unbelievers
* In eternity past, God chose who would get saved, who would become His children. This year many unbelievers, because of their repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, will be born again and become members of God’s family. John 3:1-21, Eph. 1:4-7
* Most unbelievers will continue in sin and continue to harden their hearts against God. But God is sovereign, allowing them to sin only in the way that He wants, only in a way that is part of His end-times’ plan for planet earth, and only that which results in Him being glorified. Romans 9:17
* Sinners will be used by God to help fulfill His work on this earth. For example, they will play a key role in God’s spiritual training of the saved, for the saved will learn to love and trust God, to share His truth, and to be forgiving, patient, persevering, and hoping. Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:28
* Some of the unsaved who remain unsaved will physically die this year and be immediately taken from this earth. They will go straight to hell, a place of indescribable pain and the blackest darkness. Matt. 25:30,41,46; Luke 16:24
The saved, the believers, the Christians
* God will be raising up worshipers and workers. Psalm 145, Matt 9:36-38
* Believers are God’s workmanship. He will daily and faithfully work in their lives, teaching and enabling them to love Him, be fruitful, and be God-glorifying. Psalm 115:1, Eph. 2:10
* God will help believers grow in faith, love, hope, holiness, and wisdom. 1 Thess. 5:8-22
* God will teach Christians to walk with the Spirit, be filled with the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, and have fellowship with the Spirit. Gal. 5:16, Eph. 5:18, Rom. 8:17, 2 Cor. 13:14
* God will be teaching individual Christians truths from His word. John 8:32, 16:13, 17:17
* God will train Christians to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and He will open many doors for the gospel. Matt. 5:13-16, Col. 4:3
* God will ordain specific trials for believers, to discipline them, teach them His word, and provide opportunities for the gospel. Deut. 8, Ps. 119:71, Phil. 1:12-14
* God will sovereignly allow millions of believers around the world to be persecuted, and it’s all according to His plan and for His purposes and glory. 1 Peter 2:20-22, 3:14, 4:12-19, 5:10
* God will take many of His children home to heaven. Psalm 116:15, Phil. 1:21
The church, the body of Jesus Christ
* Jesus Christ will build His church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Matt. 16:18
* Christ will raise up leaders for His churches, ones who shepherd the believers and teach them His word. Eph. 4:12-13, 2 Tim. 4:1-4, 1 Peter 5:2
* Christ will be working in His churches, teaching them to be holy, united, and loving. Eph. 4:1-24
* Christ will give His churches grace and peace, and enable them to go on in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Spirit. Acts 9:31, Ephesians 1:2
* Christ has ordained that some of His churches be greatly persecuted. 1 Peter 4:12-19
* Christ will enable churches around the world to be preaching the gospel and making disciples, resulting in the growth of the church. Matthew 16:18, 24:14, 28:19-20
* The entire church, the spiritual dwelling of God, will continue to be fitted and built together by Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
* Christ will be protecting individual believers and His churches from the enemy. 2 Timothy 4:18
* By Dec. 31, 2023, we will be one year closer to the end of the age and to that time when the church is raptured from this earth and taken to Christ. Matt. 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:17
The world
* We will continue to hear about birth pains in various parts of the world - and some will experience them, these wars, earthquakes, plagues, famines, and economic distress. And many will die because of them. Matt. 24:4-8, 28; Luke 21:9-11; Rev. 6:1-8
* Lawlessness will continue to increase in countries all over the world. Matt. 24:12, 2 Tim. 3:13
* There will continue to be a reshaping, realigning, and repositioning of nations. The United States, because of all her sin, is now being judged by God and therefore, will keep declining in power. This will eventually lead to an Antichrist-led empire that will rule the entire world. Dan. 7:23-27, Rev. 13:1-8, Rev. 17:11-13
* There will be continued and increasing persecution against both Jews and Christians. But God will enable the Christians to endure, to persevere. Matt. 24:9-28, Mark 13:9-13
* God, “with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on earth”, will continue to work “all things after the counsel of His will to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Eph. 1:9-11, Romans 8:28-30. Notice that it says, "all things", which means God is sovereignly working through all events, people, animals, things, leaders, and countries to the end that Christ will be glorified in the entire world. Isaiah 46:9-11
God, because He is holy, faithful, loving, powerful, and sovereign, will be fulfilling His word and His will this coming year. He will be carrying out His above stated plans in the lives of believers, unbelievers, the church, and the world around us, all leading to Christ’s return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His glorious reign on earth. I pray that you are excited about seeing God’s work in 2023, and that you keep working for Him, keep watching what’s He’s doing in the world, and keep waiting “for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thess. 1:10, Mark 13:34
P.S. As we start a brand new year, here are a few other posts to read that talk about the future: "Prophecy is Predicting the Future", "Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future", and "Forecasting the Future of the World." Have a most blessed and God-glorifying year.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #266 ~
This elongated post is different than all the others for it's a site directory, an alphabetized list of 25 subjects, followed by the titles of most of the posts I've written on each one. There are three reasons for this post:
1. If you are new to this blog site, you may be somewhat overwhelmed by all the different blog posts. Looking at the different subjects should make it easier to decide where you want to start reading.
2. This post is designed to help those interested in studying out one particular prophecy subject, whether that it's in the present or the future.
3. To help you grow in your personal life as a Christian. Under "Living for God in the End-Times" you will find a number of posts specifically written to help you be living a godly life in these final years leading up to Christ's Coming.
Under the "Archives" tab, you will find another subject index, and this too will be helpful in your study of end-times' prophecy. May the Lord continue to teach you truths from His word on this most important subject. Then you will be a better watchmen, and more equipped to pass these timely truths on to others. "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes." Matthew 24:45-46
Antichrist: (42) “The Antichrist is Coming Soon, and It’s Before the Coming of Christ”, (45) “From Many Religions to the Antichrist and One-World Religion”, (78) “That Evil Antichrist and His Short Rule on Earth” , (79) “Reasons for the Rise and Rule of the Antichrist” , (80) “The Mark of the Beast” , (121) “Antichrist Revealed and Then the Rapture” , (122) “The Antichrist Tries to Take Christ’s Place” , (123) "Presidents, Prime Ministers... Antichrist and Jesus Christ", (193) “Questions and Answers About the Antichrist”
Bible Prophecy Passages: (175) “Psalm 2”, (179) “Psalm 11”, (134) "Psalm 47", (148) “Micah”, (10) “Matthew 24”, (62) “Matthew 24”, (144) “Luke 21”, (197) “Romans 8:17-39”, (181) “Romans 11”, (235) “Ephesians 1”, (237) "Philippians", (104) “Colossians 3:3-4”, (188) “1 Thess.”, (118) “1 Thess. 4:13-18”, (119) “1 Thess. 5:1-11", (120) “2 Thess. 1”, (121) “2 Thess. 2:1-4”, (122) “2 Thess. 2:3-7", (152) “Hebrews 11”, (147) “1 Peter 1:3-13”, (145) “Revelation 2-3”, (11) “Revelation 6”, (84) “Revelation 12”
Big Picture: (23) “The Divine Time-Table - Daniel’s 70 Weeks”, (38) “World History and International Studies”, (49) “First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming”, (66) “The Big Picture - The Present Age and the Age to Come”, (140) “From Earth to Heaven and Back Again”, (232) “Four Ages and Four Earths”, (235) “Ephesians 1 - A Big Picture Prophecy Passage”
Christmas and Prophecy: (49) “First Coming to Second Coming to Church Age”, (99) “The Christmas Story and Christ’s Second Coming”, (149) “Christmas Is More than Baby Jesus”, (201) “The True Meaning of Christmas”, (233) “It’s Not Just About Baby Jesus”, (264) “When I Think of Christmas…”
Church: (25) "Why the Jews Are Important for You and the Church", (41) "The Gospel Will Be Preached to All the Nations - Then Christ Will Return", (107) "Christ and the Church in the End-Times", (128) "The World, the Church, and the King", (143) "Why Don't Churches Teach on Prophecy?", (145) "End-Times' Instructions for the Church"
Coming of Christ: (1) “Christ is Coming Again and He’s Coming Soon”, (46) “The Coming of Christ and the Triumph of the Church”, (69) “When is Christ Coming Back?”, (75) “What Will Happen When Christ Comes Back?”, (77) "Why Is Jesus Christ Coming Back?", (85) “Christ is Coming for Both the Christians and the Jews”, (89) “Christ the King is Coming”, (174) “Christ is Coming Again, and Soon”, (192) “Questions and Answers About Christ’s Second Coming”, (200) “Is Jesus Christ Coming Again?”, (212) “Christ is Coming Back to Earth, and Soon”, (251) “Christ’s Coming - What You Need to Know”
Day of the Lord: (15) “The Day of the Lord and the Wrath of God on Earth”, (120) “Relief or Retribution - 2 Thess. 1”, (216) "Eating, Drinking, Being Merry - And Suddenly, Shockingly...", (214) “Rescued from the Punishing Day of the Lord”, (215) “They Are Scared to Death”, (217) “The Fierce and Deadly Day of the Lord”, (254) “The Day of the Lord - God’s Righteous Wrath”, (255) “The Day of the Lord - the Destructive, Deadly Wrath of God”
End-Times: (12) “How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?”, (27) “How Do We Know We Live in the End-Times?”, (73)“Truths You Need to Know About the End-Times”, (125) “The Order of End-Time Events”, (126) “Earthquakes and the End-Times”, (145) “Revelation 2-3: End-Time Instructions for the Church”, (206) “Sinners and Saints in the End-Times”, (242) "The World Is Having Birth Pains", (256) “Holy, Wholly Living in the End-Times”, (263) "Filling in the End-Times" Outline"
Glory of God: (29) “The Glory of God - The Most Important Thing of All”, (30) “More on the Glory of God, the Most Important Thing of All”, (134) "Worshiping the KING - The Greatest Celebration Ever", (184) “Jews and Gentiles Unitedly Glorifying God”
Gospel of Jesus Christ: (28) “The Most Important Thing for You”, (41) “The Gospel Will Be Preached to All the Nations - Then Christ Will Return”, (94) “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God”, (114) “How to Defeat Death and Live Forever”, (241) "Death and Life in the End-Times", (244) “The Answer to Death is Christ’s Resurrection”
Hope: (87) “In a Wicked World You Need Hope”, (112) “You Need Hope to Get Through Life”, (113) “Your Great Hope and Most Glorious Future”, (115) “Hope: The Who, What, When, How, and Why”, (116) “The Best Is Yet to Come”, (117) “Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers”, (176) “When Life Is Hard, You Need Hope”, (177) “Important Lessons on the Hope God Has for You!”, (178) “Your Hope, Your Future, Your Reward”, (207) "The Believer's Brand-New Body - Amen!", (238) “Hope - Embedded in God’s Word, and in Your Heart", (253) "Being in Heaven with Jesus and All the Believers"
Jewish People: (17) “The Suspension of God’s Plans for the Jews”, (19) “A Short Summary of God’s Work With the Jews”, (21) “Unfinished Business”, (22) “A Jewish Reading Lesson”, (25) “Why the Jews Are Important For You and the Church”, (37) “The Most Important Country in the World and It’s Not the United States”, (40) “The Persecution of the Jews from Pharaoh to the Antichrist”, (44) “God’s Plans for the Jews from Now to the Coming of Christ”, (83) “The Jews - Their Past, Present, and Glorious Future”, (85) “Christ is Coming for Both the Church and the Jews”, (183) “The New Testament Tells Us God’s Plans for the Jews”, (260) “God’s Plans for the Jewish People Have NOT Been Cancelled”, (261)“God Keeps His Plans for the Jewish People”
Kingdom of God: (91) “The Kingdom of God”, (92) “The King in Your Heart and His Kingdom on Earth”, (93) “Kingdom Instructions for the Church”, (94) “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God”, (95) “God’s Kingdom Work”, (96) “The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age”, (132) “Christ’s Kingdom is Coming”, (185) “The Coming Kingdom Age, 1000 Years of Glory”, (186) “Clear and Compelling Evidence for the Coming Kingdom”, (191) “A New Earth for the Coming Kingdom”, (195) “Questions and Answers About the Coming Kingdom”, (257) "What We Need In This World Is the King"
Living for God in the End-Times: (47) "God Will Keep You Strong to the End", (54) Your Journey to the End - A Straight Road to Glory", (67) "An Overview of Your Christian Life", (71) "Journeying to the End to Be With Jesus", (81) "Promises From a Loving Father to His Children", (100) "Loving the Lord and Longing to See Him", (104) “Your Entire Christian Life”, (108) “Christ-like Character God Wants You to Have”, (129) “The Right Way to Think About Your Life”, (142) “God Is in Charge of Your Life”, (150) “Loving God Today, Tomorrow, and Forever”, (169) “Being Spiritually and Emotionally Strong”, (187) "What Keeps Me Going to the End?", (203) "Keys to Living for the Lord", (210) "When Christ Comes, Will He Find Faith on the Earth?", (228) “How To Keep Going for God?”, (250) "Singing - A Key to Sound Christian Living", (256) “Holy, Wholly Living in the End-Times”
Millennial Kingdom: (96) “The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age”, (130) "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done", (135) “A People-Blessing, God-Glorifying Kingdom”, (185) “The Coming Kingdom Age, 1000 Years of Glory”, (191) “A New Earth for the Kingdom Age”, (195) “Questions and Answers About the Coming Kingdom Age”
Persecution and Tribulation: (48) “The Persecution of the Church Before the Coming of Christ”, (57) “Christians Go Through Tribulation”, (58) “Christians Will Go Through Great Tribulation”, (120) “Relief or Retribution”, (138) “The Glory of Suffering for Jesus”, (139) “Suffering for Jesus in the End-Times”
Rapture: (5) “The Rapture of the Church at the Second Coming of Christ”, (6) “The Rapture, A Love Story”, (55) “The Timing of the Rapture”, (56) “The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ”, (64) “The Immediate and Incredible Results of the Rapture”, (76) “When Does the Rapture Take Place?”, (103) “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church”, (154) “What Happens When Christians are Raptured?”, (155) “Why the Rapture Is Not Imminent”, (156) “The Rapture Won’t Happen Until…”
Resurrection: (13) “The Resurrection and the Rapture of the Believers”, (61) “Christ’s Resurrection Means the Best is Yet to Come”, (118) “The Resurrection and the Rapture - 1 Thess. 4:13-18”, (211) “The Resurrection: Death to Life in Spirit - and Body”, (244) “The Answer to Death is Christ’s Resurrection”
Revelation: (11) “The Seals of Revelation 6 - The Storm Before the Son”, (80) “The Mark of the Beast”, (84) “Revelation 12 - The Jews, the Devil, and Our Victorious God”, (97) “Revelation, the Bridge from This Age to the Next Age”
Rewards: (219) “God Really Wants to Reward You”, (220) “Earthly Work that Results in Heavenly Rewards”, (221) “Your Reward is the Lord”, (222) “The Truth About Rewards, the Heavenly Prize”, (223) “Winning the Gold for the Glory of God”
Sin Is the Problem: (111) “A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ”, (173) “Murder, Looting, and Anarchy - It’s Sin”, (206) “Sinners and Saints in the End-Times”, (209) “The Worst Lies and the Most Important Truth”, (229) “What’s Wrong with the United States?” (230) “What’s Wrong with This World?”, (249) “How Can We Live in This Sinful World?”
Special End-Time Subjects: (9) “Deception or Discernment”, (24) “Daniel’s 70th Week”, (74) “Immigration: As It Is, They Desire a Better Country”, (109) “For Pastors and Preachers in the End-Times”, (126) “Earthquakes and the End-Times”, (136) “JC Ryle’s Prophetic Creed”, (157) “The Coronavirus, Plagues, and the End-Times”, (160) “The Coronavirus - Fear and Panic, or Faith and Peace”, (209) "The Worst Lies and the Most Important Truth", (213) “Holy Communion - From Christ’s Cross to Christ’s Crown”, (215) “They Are Scared to Death”, (236) “Marv Rosenthal - A Servant of God”, (239) “Russia at War Against Ukraine”, (247) “Baby Formula Shortage, Food Scarcity, Famine, and Thanksgiving”, (252) “My Top Thirty Charts Help You See the Future”, (259) "For Pastors, Preachers, and Teachers"
United States: (37) “The Most Important Country in the World and It’s Not the United States”, (39) “The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ”, (72) “The United States, North Korea, and Peace on Earth”, (170) “The Pandemic, the U.S. Decline, and the End-Times”, (171) “Don’t Get Mad at the Government - Trust God”, (205) “A Troubled Country”, (229) “What’s Wrong With the United States?”
When Is Christ Coming Back?: (16) “Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?”, (27) “How Do We Know We Live in the End-Times?”, (36) “The World Is Now in Labor - This Means Christ Is Coming Soon”, (55) “The Timing of the Rapture”, (56) “The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ”, (68) “Reflections on the Timing of Christ’s Return”, (69) “When Is Christ Coming Back?”, (70) “What Needs to Happen Before Christ’s Return?”, (76) “When Does the Rapture Take Place?”, (125) “The Order of End-Time Events”, (151) “Forecasting the Future of the World”, (153) “When Is Christ Returning to Rapture the Church?”, (155) “Why the Rapture Is Not Imminent”, (156) “The Rapture Won’t Happen Until…”, (159) "Step By Step Till We See Jesus", (198) “The Reason We Know Christ Is Coming Soon", (212) "Christ Is Coming Back to Earth, and Soon"
Working for God in the End-Times: (12) “How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?”, (18) “Do Business Until I Come”, (98) “Make Ready the Way of the Lord”, (158) “Being a Watchman for the Church in the End-Times”, (227) "Working for God While Waiting for Christ"
P.S. I am very, very thankful that God told us ahead of time all that He wants to know about the end-times, the return of Christ, and the ages to come. Be a good student and learn all that God wants you to know - and then you will be more excited about the future God has for you, and more excited about telling others.
By Steve Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #267 ~
You are going to physically die - unless you are raptured. Either way, that’s wonderful news for the Christian, because he will be in heaven with Jesus, and will receive a brand-new body! People often see death as a bad thing, as something they don’t want to think about or talk about, as that which they even try to postpone. But if you are a Christian, you should be longing for it, for it’s a good thing - it means you have left your fleshly body and this evil world and are with the Lord.
The apostle Paul had the right perspective on life for he knew what happened after death. Life was very difficult, was extremely challenging for Paul. He wrote, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). How could Paul say this? Because he understood the present “is Christ” and the future “is gain”, that death immediately led to an infinitely better life. (Phil. 1:21). Paul was convinced of this glorious truth, that “momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
What follows is 2 Cor. 5:1-10, verses that continue this theme, that sum up Paul’s thinking about life and death. Paul was groaning, was burdened, was tired and weak, but he persevered, he patiently and joyfully kept going. How did he do it? Paul knew he was living in a mortal body, an earthly tent, that his outer man was growing old, was decaying (2 Cor. 4:16; 5:1, 4), but he also knew he would be living in a heavenly and immortal body, and he was really looking forward to that.
Paul also knew that God had purposed and planned out both his life on earth and his eternity in heaven. (2 Cor. 5:5). He understood that “these whom He (God) predestined, He also called, and these whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). Paul saw the outline of his life, the big picture, what God had already drawn up. Even though he experienced severe hardships, he was convinced that God “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God… for those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:28-29). For Paul, the best was yet to come, for he was certain that he would be transformed and conformed, that he would receive a glorified body, like that of Jesus. “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Philippians 3:20-21
Paul was at home in his earthly body, but he knew where he was going, that he would soon be at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6-8). Surely, he was encouraged by the truth that death was not a stopping point, but a sending point, for it would result in the angels immediately taking him into Jesus’ presence. Paul was a godly man, a man of faith, a man of courage and good cheer, and a man of hope, and if you asked Paul whether he wanted to live or die, he’d say, “die!”, for that meant being with Jesus, which is what he wanted more than anything else - “having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better” (Phil. 1:23). I “prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8
Paul kept walking by faith, kept believing God’s truth and obeying His commands. Like Abraham, he trusted God for his future - he too “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). Paul’s singular ambition, his ultimate and eternal goal, whether on earth or in heaven, was to please God, was to live for Him, to only do that which would glorify His Father. “To Him be the glory forever.” Romans 11:36
Something that motivated Paul to please his Lord was that he knew he would appear before the judgment seat of Christ. At the end of this age, he knew he would be judged by Christ for what he had done on earth, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10). That’s when Christ would present rewards, for “each will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Cor. 3:8), and Paul wanted to be rewarded, to be recompensed, for that would mean he had pleased His Savior. He wanted to hear Christ tell him, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:21
So what does your life look like? How are you living for the Lord?
* Do you love the Lord and have a desire to please Him, to do all that He wants you to do?
* Are you walking by faith, are you trusting God’s word and obeying His commands?
* Do you see death as a good thing? Do you long to be at home with your Lord, to literally be with your Creator, Savior, Friend, Husband, King, the One who loves you far more than anyone else?
* Do you know that your burdens are to cause you to think about your future, when you’ll be out of your weak body and this wicked world, and with the Lord Jesus?
* Do you realize that the trials you go through, the aches, pains, tears, conflicts, weakness, tiredness, mourning, heartaches, struggles, suffering, difficulties, disappointments, and spiritual battles, are nothing compared to the eternal weight of glory you will receive in the future?
* Do you think about that time when you will appear before the judgment seat of Christ? Are you looking forward to receiving your rewards, and giving God all the glory, and being with Him forever? “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:4
P.S. My good friend just left this earth and went to heaven, and is now "at home with the Lord." God gave him a good life, a wonderful family, and many special friends. And now he's in the best place - and I am so happy for him. I do look forward to joining him someday. Here are two encouraging articles that relate to this: "Being in Heaven with Jesus, and the Believers, and in a New Glorified Body", and "'Why Do Believers Die?' - A Memorial Service Message".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #268 ~
Why is it so important to know about your brand-new glorified body? Because it's really good news!!! Because you live in a body that's sin-prone, that gets sick, tired, and is getting old, and you need hope of a brand new body. Because we live in a world that is fixated on our mortal body, and God wants you to be thinking about the immortal body He will be giving you. Because your salvation is not complete until you receive your new body. Because there’s so much in the Bible on this subject. And because it won’t be long before it happens.
Today, we are looking at 1 Corinthians 15, gleaning several truths from it about your glorified body. To summarize: 1) We are reminded of the primacy of the gospel message, and that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, the first person to receive a glorified body. 2) We learn that all believers, those who have already died and those alive at the coming of Christ, will be given a new body at that time. 3) We get a glimpse of our Christ-like body, that it is imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. 4) We learn that we need a perfect body that is fit for the future, that can fully worship and serve the Lord in the coming ages. 5) We are instructed how we are to live on this earth in view of the glorious future God has in store for us.
1) 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 states the essential truth of the gospel, that Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins, and was raised from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death. 1 Cor. 15:20 tells us that Christ is the first fruits, the first person to be raised from the dead and glorified, to be given an immortal and imperishable body. This took place about 2000 years ago.
2) 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 teaches that all believers are Christs and are in Christ, and will be made alive, will be glorified at His coming. That the resurrection and glorification of believers takes place at His coming is an extremely important point, shown by the fact that three other prophecy passages, Matt. 24:27-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17, and 2 Thess. 2:1, tell us that believers are gathered to Christ at His coming, which again, is when we will be given our new glorified bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 speaks of believers who are asleep, those who have already died and gone to heaven. God wants you to know that believers who die before Christ’s coming will not be getting their new body until that time. And Christ’s coming does not begin until sometime after the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, and after the coming of the Antichrist. Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, 29-31
1 Corinthians 15:51 talks about those believers who never physically die, who don’t fall asleep, who are alive on earth at the coming of Christ. It says, “we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” As 1 Cor. 15:22 told us, “All will be made alive.” All believers from all time, those living on earth at the end of this age, along with all those who have physically died and gone to heaven, will be glorified, will be made alive, will be changed at Christ’s coming, which occurs just after the “last trumpet.” 1 Corinthians 15:52
That there will be the sound of a trumpet before we are glorified is also stated in 1 Thess. 4:16 which calls it the “trumpet of God” and in Matt. 24:31 which says it is the “great trumpet.” At that time Christ descends from heaven, and “coming in clouds with great power and glory”, He quickly glorifies the believers, lovingly and immediately gathering them to Himself “from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.” Mark 13:26-27
There’s another point I want to mention as to when believers are glorified. 1 Thess. 4:15-16 states, “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep… the dead in Christ will rise first.” Do you see what will happen? The believers who have physically died, those “who have fallen asleep”, the “dead in Christ”, will be glorified a split second before the believers who are still alive on earth at the end of this age, at Christ’s coming. Then together they will all “meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17
3) 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 gives a short summary of what our new bodies will be like. a) Our earthly body is perishable, but it will be raised imperishable. It will never get tired or old, and will not be subject to disease, decay, or death. It is immortal and incorruptible, living on forever. b) Now you live in a dishonorable body, but you will receive a glorious body. Our present body is imperfect, unable to be all that God desires. In the future, you will have a glorified mind, soul, body, and personality, one that will be ideal, excellent, faultless, impeccable, beautiful, out-of-this-world, altogether perfect, and always pleasing to God. c) You live in a body that is weak in every way, but it will be raised in power. The strength of our present-day superheroes, Superman, Ironman, and Captain America, etc., is nothing compared to the power and capabilities of your new body. Soon enough you will be able to do everything God wants you to do. d) Now you have a natural body, one able only to live on this earth, but in the near future, you will receive a body that is both spiritual and physical in nature, one perfectly suited to worship and serve God in heaven and on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Philippians 3:21
4) 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 speaks of the coming kingdom ages, and this helps us see why we need to be glorified. We know that all believers will be glorified, will be made alive at Christ’s coming (1 Cor. 15:22-23). Then begins the millennial kingdom, which is when Jesus Christ reigns on earth and abolishes all rule and authority, and death too. Rev. 2:26-27, 5:10, 20:6 tells us that we will reign with Christ during this 1000-year period, assisting Him in His promised and glorious rule over the nations (Psalms 47, 67, 72). This is when our prayer, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” will be answered. Having a brand-new body will enable us to fully experience eternal life and to perfectly live for Jesus Christ during the ages to come.
5) 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 10, 31-34, 42-44, 57-58 instructs you how you are to live in the end-times, in these last years leading up to Christ’s coming. You are to remember the truth of the gospel (3-5), live by God’s grace (10), die daily (31), not live in a worldly way (32), not be deceived and associate with bad people (33), be sober minded and stop sinning (34), have hope by understanding the truth about your Christ-like body (42-44), be thankful for the amazing victory Christ has given you (57), and “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (58).
The good news is that we will soon be in heaven with our Lord and all the believers and in a new glorified body. “Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.” Eliza E. Hewitt, Emily Wilson
P.S. No believers are fully saved - that won't happen until Christ comes back and He gives us our new glorified bodies. This is something we should really be excited about. Here are two posts on this subject that I encourage you to read: "The Best Is Yet to Come", and "The Believer's Brand-New Body - Amen!"
~ A Saturday Morning Post #269 ~
By Steven J. Hogan
In the last 20 years or so, scientists have been trying to develop a machine-enhanced body. I’m talking about transhumanism, the use of nanotechnology, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, etc. to augment a person’s physical and mental capabilities. Many scientists, humanists, and philosophers believe that improving people in this way is the answer to many of their problems. While I’m not dismissing some of these developments, I must say that I’m extremely concerned about the overall direction of transhumanism.
You see, unbelievers involved in this technology have turned away from God, have rejected His creation of man, and have little to no understanding of the human soul. Their definition of life is terribly messed up and eternally flawed. It seems these people are trying to postpone death by creating a new man in their own image, their own superman or, might I say, their own god.
They fail to see that a person’s real problem is his sin, resulting in physical and spiritual death. And the answer is not found in enhancing the physical and mental capabilities of a person. Sin is a problem of the soul, and no person can solve that problem. Only God can, and He already did, and it was through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Those who repent of their sins and believe that Christ paid for their sins and rose again are saved, are given eternal life. This salvation, this eternal life, means they received a new spirit, and will receive a new body. (Rom. 8:30). And believers won’t have this new body until Jesus Christ returns to earth at the end of this age. 1 Corinthians 15:23
These last three posts have been all about a believer’s new body. But why is it so important that you know about this glorious body that God will be giving you?
1. Because God wants you to know all about it - it’s in His word, and it’s a huge subject.
2. Because your salvation is only complete when you receive your brand-new body. Phil. 1:6
3. Because there’s confusion about why, when, where, and how you receive your new body.
4. Because people are fixated on their weak, decaying human bodies, and God wants to make sure you know what He says about the powerful and immortal body that He will be giving you.
5. Because your temporal, earthly body is growing old and wearing out, and you need hope, you need to look forward to the eternal, heavenly body that you will be getting from God. Rev. 21:4
6. Because it won’t be long before you receive your new body. Christ is returning soon, and it’s at His coming that you will be given your perfect, Christ-like body. 1 Corinthians 15:23, 42-44
7. Because God wants you to know that He has a wonderful, glorious future for you, and your new body is absolutely necessary if you’re to eternally worship and serve Him in the way that He has planned out for you. Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6
8. Because you can be too occupied with your own body, specifically as that relates to food, health, exercise, and clothes. Spending some time on these things is necessary, but too much time is a selfish and fruitless endeavor. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:25-33). “Bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). “Do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom. 6:13). God has given you a body so that you can now use it for His eternal purposes and glory, and then you will be forever blessed and glorified.
God gives us a great number of verses on your new glorified body, and here are most of them:
* Job 19:25-27 - “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.”
* Luke 20:34-36 - “Jesus said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.’”
* John 5:21 - “Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.”
* John 11:25-26 - “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
* Romans 8:19 - “The anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God… we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoptions as sons, the redemption of our body.”
* Romans 8:29 - “Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
* Romans 8:30 - “These whom He predestined, He also called, and these whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
* 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that just as it is written, ‘Let Him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
* 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
* 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”
* 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 - “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed… for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must on the imperishable and this mortal must put on immortality.”
* 2 Corinthians 5:1 - “If the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven… while we are in this tent we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”
- Ephesians 1:14 - “You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession.”
* Philippians 1:10 - “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
* Philippians 3:10 - “… that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection… in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
* Philippians 3:20-21 - “Our citizenship is in heaven from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
* 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
* 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
* 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - “… when He (Lord Jesus) comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.”
* 1 John 3:2 - “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
* Revelation 7:9-10 - “Behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robles, and palm branches were in their hands, and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”
P.S. What's the extent of your salvation? It's being justified, it's being sanctified during this life, and then being glorified at Christ's coming. I hope you are excited about all that God has in store for you. If you haven't done it already, I encourage you to read the two previous posts: "Your New Body - Immortal, Powerful, Glorious, and Spiritual", and "Absent from the Body and At Home with the Lord."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #270 ~
I was encouraged by a recent study in the Psalms that showed God working in the lives of Jewish believers. We learn that they had hope, they believed the Messiah was coming to rule and reign on this earth - and having this hope helped them live a godly life. God is now working in the lives of Christians, and we too are to have hope, to be looking forward to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, coming back to rapture the church and establish His kingdom on earth.
Let me look at these Psalms as it relates to hope:
Psalms 1-2 - There’s the juxtaposition of God working with individuals (Ps. 1) and God working with nations (Ps. 2). He blesses the righteous and punishes the unrighteous, both individuals and the entire world. And God gives us hope - “As for Me, I have installed My King on Zion, My holy mountain” (Ps. 2:6-8). In the near future, we will see the realization of our hope, for Jesus Christ will return to judge the wicked, and then reign over this world for 1,000 glorious years.
Psalm 9 - This is all about a rejoicing Psalmist and wicked nations. The Psalmist is thankful that God justly dealt with his own enemies, but he is also hopeful, for he knows that God will judge the nations, and then punish them by casting them into Sheol. “You have sat on the throne judging righteously… You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked… You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Psalm 9:1-6
Psalm 11 - David is being chased by the wicked, and so he takes refuge in the Lord, knowing he will be delivered by Him. But he also has hope and it’s our hope too, that our holy God will rain fire, brimstone, and burning wind upon a world of sinners, and that He will forever bless us. “The Lord is righteous, and He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:7
Psalm 22 - Jesus Christ endured humiliation, great affliction, terrible pain, and then died on a cross. He knew that was the only way He could save millions and millions of sinners, and take back the world from Satan. So Jesus had hope. “All the families of the nations will worship before You. The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:27-28
Psalm 33 - The Psalmist sings praises and gives thanks to God because His word is right and His work is being done. It was God’s work of creation, His work of watching over the world, His hope of God’s work with Israel (Ps. 33:11-12), and His work in his life and the lives of other believers. “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for your lovingkindness… our heart rejoices in Him because we trust in His holy name.” Psalm 33:18-22
Psalm 37 - David knew that believers were not to be afraid of the enemy but were to trust in God and do good, for He would rescue them. They also needed to know that God will judge the wicked (Ps. 37:12-15) and bless the righteous, which is in the future - “The humble will inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity” (Ps 37:11). This is true for Christians too.
Psalm 46 - Whenever we have problems, whether big or small, we are not to be afraid but are to trust God and take refuge in Him. We can do this because God is loving, powerful, sovereign, and He is always with us. Soon enough, He will put an end to wars and earthquakes, and Christ will return to rapture the church, judge His enemies, and reign over the world - and this is our hope! “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations.” Psalm 46:10
Psalm 67 - “Let the peoples praise You, O God… God blesses us that all the ends of the earth may fear Him” (Ps. 67:5-7). This promise is for both the Jewish people and the church. God blessed the Jews in the past and is blessing the church in the present, and our hope is that Christ will be ruling the world in the future, during the millennial kingdom. Then all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, will be supremely blessed, resulting in all the ends of the earth fearing and praising God.
Psalm 86 – David, a godly man, is being persecuted and he cries out to God, and experiences His grace, goodness, love, and comfort, for which he is very thankful. But David, seeing the future, has hope, knows better days are ahead. He says, “All nations… shall come and worship before You, O Lord,” which we now know takes place during the millennial kingdom. Psalm 86:9, Isaiah 2:1-4
Psalm 102 - A sad and severely afflicted Psalmist is praying to God. The answer is hope, for God enables the Psalmist to get his eyes off himself and on His plans for the future, when He has mercy on Israel, when the Lord appears and builds up Zion. This occurs during the kingdom age, when “the peoples and kingdoms are gathered together to serve the Lord.” Psalm 102:18-22
Psalm 105 - The characters in this chapter are involved in God’s plan to fulfill His promise to Israel - “He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘to you I will give the land of Canaan.’” (Ps. 105:10-11). Like the Israelites of old, God has given you your own part and place in history, and He has given you hope. In the ages to come, you will share in God’s promise to Israel. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:3
Psalm 121 - The Psalmist is thinking about how God is keeping and protecting him. He’s also thinking about God’s greater purposes, His plans for Israel, and that God will keep and bless them in the future, which he knows includes himself. “The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever” (Ps. 121:8). This hope is for all believers. John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:3-5
Psalm 125 - God’s goodness and protection is upon individual believers, those who trust in the Lord, but it’s also upon Jerusalem, upon Mount Zion, “which cannot be moved but abides forever” (Ps. 125:1). The promises in this Psalm pertain to the city of God and the people of God and will be fulfilled in the kingdom age to come. “The Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever” Psalm 125:1-2
Psalm 131 - God was working in the life of a believer and in the nation of Israel. Just as a believer is to be humble and trust in the Lord, so too, the nation of Israel is to trust, is to hope in the Lord. “O Israel, hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forever” (Ps. 121:3). Hebrews 11:39-40 makes it clear that this hope for the future is for both Jewish believers and the church.
Psalm 138 - King David is thankful for God’s love, truth, and strength. But he knows life is not just about him, for the time will come when “all the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord (Psalm 138:4). God works in the lives of the lowly and the kings, and His purpose, and our hope is for all people to glorify Him forever. “Your lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 138:8
Psalm 145 - David is committed to praising his gracious and loving Lord forever, but he also knows that all believers will be blessing His name forever. This is the kingdom work of God and is our hope and our future. “I will praise Your name forever and ever” (Ps. 145:2). “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Ps. 145:13). “All flesh will bless His name forever.” Psalm 145:21
Here are some take-aways from these Psalms:
* These Psalms talk about God’s work in individual lives, ones who were afflicted, persecuted, struggling, and fearful. But they cried out to God, trusted God, rejoiced, and were thankful. And we can all relate, for God is now at work in our lives, helping us to live wholeheartedly for Him.
* The people in these Psalms lived for God and had hope, and their hope helped them to live for Him. We too need hope if we are to live rightly and strongly for God - we need to look forward to Christ’s return to rapture the church, judge His enemies, and set up His kingdom on earth.
* God’s work in these believers was related to His work in the world at large. The same is true for you - like a puzzle piece, you are an important part of the big picture. God’s present-day work in you is part of His comprehensive plan to bring about Christ’s return. Be glad that you are part of God’s plan to send Christ to rapture the church and then reign over the world.
* We looked at all these Psalms that talked about hope, but you need to realize that there are many more passages, hundreds of verses in the Old and New Testaments that describe our hope, that clearly tell us our future.
* While the believers in these Psalms lived over 2500 years ago and had hope, we live in the end-times and we also have hope, knowing that it won't be that long - 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 years??!! - before our hopes are realized, before we see Jesus Christ coming back to take us to Himself and to heaven.
So how should you live? Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). Have faith in God (Luke 18:8). Pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom (Matt. 6:10). Seek first the kingdom of God. (Matt. 6:33). Be involved in a church that is making disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). Be filled with hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Spirit.” Romans 15:13
P.S. This past Sunday our church was greatly blessed and sobered to hear Bob Hunt from Zion's Hope speak about "The Collapse of a Nation." Bob's text was Isaiah 9-10, and these passages along with many examples from the United States of America, make it very clear that this country is in severe moral decline, is in grave danger. I strongly encourage you to listen to this message.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #271 ~
We are living in the end-times and, therefore, are end-times’ workers for God. What a privilege, what an opportunity to work for God at this time in history, “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). The Bible is filled with examples of people doing God’s work. Noah built an ark; Abraham was the father of the Jews; Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt; Ruth was the great-grandmother of David; David was a king; Nehemiah built a wall; Esther helped save the Jews; Mary was Jesus’ mother; Anna prayed; most importantly, Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead; Paul wrote epistles; Paul’s nephew warned Paul about being killed, etc. What about you? What is the work God wants you to do?
“We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). It can’t get any clearer - God has work for you to do. It’s good work. It’s work God wants you to do. It’s work He planned out in eternity past. It’s work you can do - God is enabling you to do the work He wants you to do. “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13). Be glad and excited that you can do God’s work, that which has spiritual significance, that which eternally affects people’s lives, that which is part of God’s plan to bring about Christ's coming, and that which will be greatly rewarded.
How do you know what this work is? What are some of the principles and keys to knowing and fulfilling God’s purposes, the work He has planned out for you?
1. Seek the Lord. Ask Him to show you exactly what He wants you to do. “Teach me the way in which I should walk… Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.” Psalm 143:8, 10
2. Be holy. To do God’s work, you must be a holy vessel. “If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21
3. Be humble. Be willing to do whatever God wants you to do. “Here am I, send me!” Isaiah 6:8
4. Give yourself to God, body, mind, soul, and spirit. “Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Romans 6:13, 12:1
5. Be in a good church and do your part. “… grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part…” Ephesians 4:15-16
6. Use your spiritual gifts. The Spirit gives you gifts, spiritual abilities, so you can do God’s work. “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. 1 Peter 4:10-11
7. Obey God’s commands, for they specifically tell you the work you are to do. For example - “Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor,… contributing to the needs of saints, practicing hospitality…” Romans 12:9-21
8. Be sensitive to God’s leading, to the leading of the Holy Spirit. “All who are being led by the Spirit, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14
9. Work hard. Be diligent. Don’t be lazy. Have a mind to work. “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.” 2 Tim. 2:6; Neh. 4:6; Prov. 6:6-11, 10:4
10. Persevere, do not grow weary or give up, for then you will accomplish God’s work. “As for you, be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chron. 15:7, Galatians 6:9
11. Learn from godly examples, from Jesus, Noah, Jacob, Moses, Hezekiah, Paul, John, etc. “In everything that he (Hezekiah) undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.” 2 Chronicles 31:21
12. Work with others. Don’t be a loner. Be a team player. “Two are better than one, for they have a good return for their labor.” Eccl. 4:9, Colossians 4:7-17
13. Do not love the world, and do not worry about the little things of life. Be praying - “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Be seeking - “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
14. Never retire from God’s work. At the right time, retire from your job, your place of employment, but keep working for God until the day He takes you home. “David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.” Acts 13:36
15. Always work for the glory of God. It’s not about you but about God and His glory. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
16. Your work is "whatever you do." Your work is spiritual, not secular or spiritual. It may be shopping, washing dishes, working at a job, reading the Bible, praying, sharing the gospel, having lunch with a friend, etc. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for men...” Colossians 3:23
17. God rewards your work, everything you do for Him. “I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12). "Each one will receive his own reward for his own labor." 1 Corinthians 3:8
What a blessing that we can work for God! And God has special work for you to do at this time in history, work that is part of His grand and global plan leading to Christ’s return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and establish His kingdom on earth. Let me conclude with my favorite verses on this subject: “Do business with this until I come” (Luke 19:13). “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do” (John 17:4). Might you “finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus” has given you. Acts 20:24
P.S. Here at the end of this church age we are running the last leg of this marathon relay, and might we be running for God. Jesus is cheering you on, waiting for you at the finish line. Might He say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21). Here are two more posts on working for God: "Do Business Until I Come Back", and "Working for God While Waiting for Christ."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #272 ~
Here’s how I think about the future: we’re in the end-times and we’re running the last lap of this church-age race, which means it won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and we’re glorified and in heaven. A few years after that, the kingdom age will begin, a 1000-year period during which Christ is perfectly reigning over this earth - and we’re all reigning with Him! God has much to say about this millennial kingdom, and that’s because He wants you to know what it will be like, and to be excited and looking forward to this unprecedented and most amazing time of justice, peace, love, and God getting glory like never before. Here are several things God wants you to know about this glorious kingdom age.
1. The millennial-kingdom age lasts exactly 1000 years. Revelation 20:2-7
2. The kingdom of God is in two parts, the millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom. 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:21, 2:7; Rev. 20-21
3. The kingdom age is a good age, for Christ is reigning, compared to this present evil age when the devil is ruling. And the eternal kingdom will be a perfect age. Ps. 72, Gal. 1:4, 1 John 5:19
4. This cursed earth is restored and renewed in the kingdom age. Ps. 102:26, Acts 3:21, Rom. 8:19-22
5. Jesus Christ, the greatest King the world has ever seen, rules over all the earth and all the nations during His 1000-year reign. Psalm 2:6, 22:28, 47:2, 72:8; Zech. 14:9; Rev. 11:15
6. Satan, bound and thrown into the abyss for the entire millennial kingdom, is not influencing or affecting anyone or anything on the earth during this time. Revelation 20:2-3
7. Jesus Christ lives in Jerusalem, the capital of the world. Psalm 48:1-3, Zechariah 14:4-9
8. Jesus Christ, Savior, Lord, Shepherd, Judge, and King, is continually and wonderfully fulfilling all His duties, and believers are assisting Him. Is. 33:22, 43:3; Jer. 10:10; Ez. 34; Rev. 5:10
9. Jesus Christ, during His reign on earth, destroys all enemy authority, rule, and power, and He abolishes death. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 54-57
10. Jesus Christ rules with a rod of iron resulting in justice and peace. Psalm 2:9, 72:9; Isaiah 2:4
11. Jesus Christ is perfectly guiding the nations of the earth. His purpose, character, and work are known all over the world, and therefore He is praised by the people. Psalm 46:10, 67:3
12. Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher ever, is teaching people His word and His ways. Isaiah 2:3
13. Jesus Christ has mercy and compassion on the poor and needy, unlike anything we have ever seen before, except when He was here the first time. Psalm 72:4, 12-14
14. Jesus Christ, working for the cause of truth, humility, and justice, is always victorious. People and nations are being subdued and ruled by Him. Psalm 45:3-7, 47:3
15. Believers are co-heirs with Christ. He inherits the earth, and believers share that inheritance with Him, and together, they possess it forever. Ps. 2:8, 37:11; Dan. 7:18; Matt. 5:5; Rom. 8:17
16. At Christ’s coming, all believers are given brand-new, immortal, glorious, powerful, and spiritual bodies. They are perfect, and are helping Christ rule and reign over the whole world. Luke 19:17, 19; 1 Cor. 15:40-42; Rev. 5:10, 20:6
17. All believers, both Jew and Gentile, those from both Old and New Testament times and those born during this kingdom age, are unitedly worshiping and serving Jesus Christ. Ps. 37:9 - Matt. 5:5, Rom. 15:8-13, Heb. 11:39-40
18. During the church age, Christians are relatively unknown, but they are revealed with Jesus Christ during the kingdom age and, therefore, are seen and widely known. Colossians 3:3-4
19. The work that Christians do for Christ during the kingdom age is to a large degree based on the work they did for Christ during the church age. Matt. 25:19-21, Luke 19:15-19, Rev. 2:26-27
20. There are unbelievers, that is, sinners, living on earth during the kingdom age. Rev. 20:7-10
21. Every single person bows to Jesus Christ during the millennial kingdom. This includes unbelievers, but for them, it’s worship that is feigned and half-hearted. Psalm 22:27-29, Phil. 2:9-11
22. During the kingdom age, the gospel is being preached all over the world, and many people are turning to Christ and being saved. Psalm 96:1-3, 98:1-3
23. The mighty and wonderful deeds of God are proclaimed to all the earth, and therefore, God and Christ are known and glorified like never before. Psalms 46:10, 98:1-3, 145:1-7; Hab. 2:14
24. Many peoples and nations come to Jerusalem, for they are hearing amazing things about Jesus Christ, the Lord of lords and King of kings. And they see Him, bless Him, bow to Him, learn from Him, and bring gifts to Him. Psalm 68:9, 72:15; Isaiah 49:11-13, 60:5-6; Micah 4:2-4
25. During the kingdom age, God’s will is carried out on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
26. The earth is increasingly seeing and experiencing the glory of God during Christ’s 1000-year reign. Psalm 72:19, Isaiah 6:3, Habakkuk 2:14
27. There is no war during the millennial kingdom - there is peace on earth and good will toward men. Psalm 46:9-10, Isaiah 2:4, Luke 2:14
28. Even the wild animals are living together in peace. Isaiah 11:7, 65:24-25
29. God is greatly blessing the world agriculturally during this 1000-year period. There is an abundance of food for the people living on earth. Psalms 65:9-13,
7:6, 72:16, 85:12
30. Some people die during this kingdom age, but at a much older age than now. Isaiah 65:20
31. The inhabitants of Jerusalem, are shouting for joy, for Jesus Christ, the One who loves them and has blessed them more than anyone else, is in their midst. Ps. 100, Is. 12:6, Zeph. 3:17
32. The boundary lines for Israel are different than today, for they are those God promised to Abraham close to 4,000 years ago, from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. Genesis 15:18, Exodus 23:31
33. The twelve apostles, working in Jerusalem with Christ, are judging and ruling over the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:28-30
34. The Jewish people are the most respected, well-known, blessed people on the face of the earth. Isaiah 54, Isaiah 61:6-9
35. The Jewish people are most noticeably seen in Israel, for God planted them in their land, not to be uprooted again. They rebuild the cities, make gardens and eat its fruit, have sweet fellowship, and help Jesus rule over the promised land. Ezek. 37:15-28, Amos 9:13-15, Joel 3:18
36. The Lord of hosts has a lavish banquet for His people. Isaiah 25:6
37. Jewish priests offer gifts and carry out sacrifices in the temple. Ezekiel 45:13-25, 46:1-20
38. Those living in Jerusalem and those visiting there will see the love, splendor, majesty, strength, and beauty of the Lord Jesus. Psalm 48:9, 96:6-8
39. Jerusalem, the city of the great King, is the greatest, most important, most holy, most blessed city in the world, the joy of the whole earth. Ps. 48:2, Is. 2:2-3, Zech. 14:9-11
40. What happens during the kingdom age is based on promises God made to His people a long time ago (Gen. 12:2-3, 15:18-21, 17:3-8). And God keeps all His promises.
This world is in a mess, for we live in an evil age, and it’s getting worse. And yes, this is our time to live for the Lord and be a light to the people around us, but the struggles with sin, the flesh, our enemies, and the devil make life very difficult. This is why we need to keep looking to Christ, and why we need hope, why we need to look forward to the end of this evil age and the rapture and reigning with Him during the millennial kingdom age, where there will be justice, joy, peace, and more love than you have ever experienced, and God and Christ getting glory like never before. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
P.S. The naysayers are numerous - they say there's no 1000-year kingdom age, that the church in many respects has replaced the Jewish people, but they are wrong. We must be convinced and excited about what God has planned for us, what will be taking place sooner than we think. That's why I have written a number of articles about the truth of the millennial kingdom age. I would encourage you to read them all: "Replacement Theology: It's Not True - Part 1", "... Part 2", "... Part 3", "... Part 4", "... Part 5". In the near future, I will be writing an article, the purpose being to include many of the verses that I listed in this post. I want you to read them for yourself.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #273 ~
The chapter in the Bible that best talks about the suffering and glory of Jesus Christ is Psalm 22. It was written by David, and there’s no doubt he experienced some of what he wrote in this Psalm, but its primary focus is Jesus. Psalm 22 vividly tells us what Jesus was thinking and feeling when He was suffering on the cross, but it also shares His hope, a glorious future that centers on Him and directly affects us. And so, it’s unique for it describes aspects of both Jesus’ first coming and second coming. Let’s go through this Psalm and see what it says about Jesus’ suffering and glory.
Psalm 22:1. Shortly before Jesus died, He cried out to His Father - “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). Jesus feels absolutely terrible, worse than He had ever felt before. Jesus is physically suffering. Every inch of His body is hurting; He’s in great pain; and He’s exhausted. Jesus is emotionally hurting. He, the Son of God, is being mocked and laughed at; He, an innocent man, is being punished for our sins; surely, He feels guilty; and He’s all alone. Jesus is relationally separated from His Father. They had been perfectly united since eternity past, but now His Father rejects Him and isn’t talking to Him because He’s bearing our sin. Jesus is spiritually separated from His Father. He’s experiencing and feeling the holy wrath of God. But Jesus’ suffering and death is the only way a person can be saved. “Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh.” 1 Peter 3:18, John 14:6
Psalm 22:2. Jesus keeps crying out to His Father, but to no avail. His Father is completely silent - He could not answer Jesus because He’s treating Him like a sinner - He has to be just, He has to punish His own Son. “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Psalm 22:3-5. Jesus knows He’s bearing the guilt of sinners and that His Father is doing the right thing by punishing Him. So what does He do? He thinks about the saints of old, many who were persecuted, and yet they trusted God. Here is Jesus in extreme physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish, and He too is trusting God, for He’s convinced that He will be delivered and be greatly blessed. “I trust in You, O Lord… How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You.” Psalm 31:14-19
Psalm 22:6-8. Jesus is hated and so He’s persecuted - He’s taunted and ridiculed. “If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross… He saved others, He cannot save Himself” (Matt. 27:39-44). But Jesus knows He’s doing the right thing, that He’s dying for sinners so they can be saved from their sins. And He knew the plan and power of His Father, that He would miraculously raise Him from the dead. “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You allow Your holy One to undergo decay” (Psalm 16:10). "God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death." Acts 2:23-24
Psalm 22:9-10. Jesus trusted in His Father His entire life, as a fetus, a baby, a toddler, a boy, a youth, a teenager, a young man, during His ministry years, and now on the cross. Jesus’ faith, His complete and total reliance on His Father is critical, for it enabled Him to live a perfect life, have a successful ministry, and die on the cross to pay for all the sins of all the people who would ever believe in Him.
Psalm 22:11-13. Jesus again prays to His Father. Big time trouble is near, for Jesus’ enemies are like animals, like mad bulls and roaring lions. They hate Him with a passion, they can't wait until He's dead.
Psalm 22:14-18. Jesus pours out His heart to His Father - He tells Him that all His bones are out of joint. Can you imagine how excruciatingly painful this must have been? The physical stress Jesus is experiencing is putting incredible pressure, an unbelievable strain on His heart, so much so that His heart feels like wax. Jesus is so dehydrated that His tongue cleaves to His mouth. And He feels extreme pain in His hands and feet, for they had been pierced through by huge spikes. Every time Jesus pushes up to get some air, this screaming pain shoots through His hands and feet.
All these evildoers are around Jesus, staring at Him and making fun of Him - and they are gambling for His clothes. Trouble is upon Jesus in every way imaginable, and only by faith, by trusting His heavenly Father can He make it through these horrendous and hellish six hours. What helps Jesus is knowing that this is His Father’s will - “You lay Me in the dust of death.” And He knows it won’t be long before He dies and His work on the cross to pay for our sins is finished. John 19:30
Psalm 22:19-21. Again, Jesus prays to His Father, and He calls Him Lord, the One who directs His life. Jesus asks Him for help, and to hurry up, to bring this unbelievably difficult ordeal to an end. He wants to be rescued from His enemies, ones who are like lions, oxen, and dogs, like wild animals.
Then there’s a dramatic change in the direction of this Psalm. The first 21 verses describe Jesus’ suffering on the cross. But 9 of the last 10 verses speak of Jesus’ hope, of His future (“will” is stated 11 times), and this hope helps Him endure to the end, to finish the work of paying for our sins. But it’s verse 24 that explains why this sudden change in the Psalm.
Psalm 22:24. Jesus knows His Father has not looked down upon Him, detested Him, or disregarded what He’s going through. He knows His Father deeply loves and cares for Him and has not forgotten Him, and that He will answer His prayer. And this is what vs. 24 tells us - “when He (Jesus) cried to Him (God the Father) for help, He heard.” That Jesus’ Father heard Him and was satisfied that He paid for our sins is the reason He had hope and is looking forward to the future.
Jesus knows the plan and promise of His Father, that He would physically die and immediately be with Him, and then 3 days later, be raised from the dead, be given a glorified body. He understood that His victory on the cross was the basis, the reason for a glorious future, for the coming church and kingdom ages. He realized His death and resurrection would bring eternal glory to Him and His Father, and would greatly, powerfully, and eternally affect every person who would ever live, resulting in incredible blessings for a great multitude of people, ones who would be His spiritual brothers and sisters. Jesus has hope - He knows the future is extremely bright for Him and all who put their faith in Him.
So what is this hope? Hundreds of Old Testament verses describe the hope God has given to His people, and these last verses of Psalm 22 give us a glimpse of what is soon to come. And in my understanding, these are fulfilled during the kingdom age, but some may also be referring to the church age.
Psalm 22:22-23, 25. God is being praised, and it’s the main theme in these “hope” verses that are primarily speaking about the kingdom age. We read, “In the midst of the assembly I will praise You,” and who is the “I”? It could be referring to David, but there’s no doubt that Jesus, who is in Jerusalem at this time, is honoring His Father. In John 17:2, Jesus prays, “Glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.” Phil. 2:10-11 says, “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus wanted His Father glorified and the Father wanted Jesus glorified. Speaking of Jesus, Psalm 47:6 says, “Sing praises to our King, sing praises.”
Then we read, “all you descendants of Israel" - all these Jewish people are praising the Lord and standing in awe of Him. That it says “all” means this is not taking place during this church age for not “all” descendants of Israel are worshiping the Lord at this time, but they will be during the kingdom age.
Psalm 22:26. The afflicted are the poor, the needy, the humble, and they are seeking God, and He’s helping them, saving them, and they live forever, they have eternal life, and He’s forever satisfying and blessing them. “He will deliver the needy when he cries for help… He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy He will save.” (Ps. 72:12-13). This could be speaking of both church age and kingdom age believers, for people are turning to Christ and getting saved during both these times.
Psalm 22:27. Everyone on earth, all nations and all peoples, and all Jews and Gentiles, including unbelievers, will be worshiping the Lord. Again, Phil. 2:10-11 predicts this - “that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow… and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” - and this sure isn’t occurring now, which means it must happen during the coming kingdom age. Psalm 67:3
Psalm 22:28. There will be a kingdom, and this is Christ’s kingdom, and He’ll be reigning over the world and ruling with a rod of iron. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev. 11:15). “The Lord will be the King over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). Psalm 2:9, Matthew 6:10
Psalm 22:29. All those who are rich, whether they’re saved or not, are not just eating good food but are worshiping the Lord. This must take place during the kingdom age because there’s no way all rich people are worshiping Christ during this age. Not only that, but all those who die, who go down to the dust, will bow to the Lord. God makes His point loud and clear that all people, whether they live or die, whether they are rich or poor, will worship Jesus Christ. Again, we’re seeing the truth of Phil. 2:10-11, that “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
Psalm 22:30-31. Our posterity, our spiritual descendants, will worship and serve the Lord, in this age and the next (Matt. 4:10). And how? By telling people that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, by proclaiming His righteousness and their unrighteousness, by telling them that Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins (“He has done it” - He finished the work to pay for people’s sins), and if they repent of their sins and believe Jesus died for them and rose again, they’ll be forgiven and be given eternal life.
This big-picture Psalm is all about Jesus’ suffering and glory. Be very thankful that He suffered and died to save your soul and give you eternal life. But now’s our time to serve our Lord and suffer for Him. Rom. 8:18 tells us, “suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” 2 Cor. 4:16-17 says, “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory.” Now we suffer, but in the future, we will be glorified, and be blessed forever, and worship and serve the Lord forever! Hallelujah, what a Savior! "I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol." Psalm 86:12-13
P.S. This is what's most important, that Jesus Christ died and rose again to save our souls, to give us His life, to bless us forever that we might worship and glorify Him forever. Keep thinking about what He did for you so that you might love Him all the more. Here are three posts about Christ's resurrection: "The Resurrection and the Rapture of Believers", "Christ's Resurrection Means the Best is Yet to Come", and "The Resurrection: Death to Life in Body - and Spirit."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #274 ~
God is sovereign, He is in control, even though it may not seem like it, even though sin and wickedness in our country is worse than ever before. And how does God say it? “Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” Lamentations 3:37-38
We are witnessing an accelerated and devilish transformation of our country. When I think about what’s going on in our society, this is what comes to mind: human trafficking, liars, totalitarianism, two-tiered justice, socialism, artificial intelligence, hate, Satan clubs in schools, massive debt, political and societal division, free speech?, anger, parents not parenting, leaders promoting evil, fentanyl deaths, schools teaching error and evil, transgenderism, major border problems, drag shows, selfishness, increasing surveillance, pride, anti-Christian hostility, the Ukraine war, millions of abortions, DEI, CRT, ESG, Marxism, Chinese infiltration, lack of respect, communism, spy balloons, stealing, digital currency, ChatGPT, a chip in the hand, false teachers, sick churches, lawless D.A.s, criminals going free, greed, high inflation, racism, anti-racism, rampant immorality, nations uniting against US, people not fearing God, etc., etc.
After reading this, you might be quite discouraged, and want to throw in the towel and move to a quiet place in the country. What you need to do is believe this wonderful and powerful truth, that God is sovereign, even over evil (Acts 2:23-24, 4:27-28). He is reigning over all people and all things, and all that happens, even the evil, is part of His eternal and perfect plan – and it’s leading to Christ’s return to rapture the church and rule over the earth. “God changes times and seasons” (Dan. 2:21). “His dominion is an eternal dominion… He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him, ‘What have you done?’” (Dan. 4:34-35). “His (the Most High’s) kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.” Daniel 7:27b
What would it be like if God wasn’t in charge, if He wasn’t ordaining and orchestrating the events of this world? If you thought humans were in charge and could do whatever they want, you might go crazy. But in a way you cannot understand, God controls the lives of people and all that occurs in this world. “Man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9). “The steps of man are ordained by the Lord. How then can man understand his way?” (Prov. 20:24). “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1
When I think of God’s providential and sovereign working in this world, I think of four major areas - Israel, the church, your personal life, and everything else. Let’s go over each of these:
First, there’s Israel. It’s obvious that God is directing the nation of Israel. Close to 4,000 years ago, God raised up Israel in the nation of Egypt. After about 400 years, God led her out of Egypt, through the desert, and into the promised land. Later on, God exiled Israel because of her great sin - but mercifully, after 70 years, He brought her back to her land. Through the Jews, God brought Jesus into the world, and He lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and was raised from the dead. But the Jews rejected Jesus and His gospel message and so in 70AD, God scattered them all over the world. Exodus, Ezekiel 36-37, Luke 21:20-24, Luke 23-24
This dispersion lasted until the 1880’s, at which time, God miraculously started bringing these homeless Jews back to their land. In 1948, and against all odds, God made her a nation. Now it’s 2023, and there are close to 6.8 million Jews living in Israel. That the Jews are again in their land is the main reason we know we are living in the end-times. So it won’t be long before God fulfills His promises to His chosen people (Gen. 12:1-3, Ezek. 37:21-23, Matt. 24:15-27, Rom. 11:25-26). “‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill My purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” Isaiah 46:10-11, Psalm 33:10-12
Second, there’s the church. Jesus Christ greatly loves His church, and He will build His church (Matt. 16:18). The church will preach the gospel to the entire world (Matt. 24:14), and make disciples in all the nations (Matt. 28:19-20). Yes, she has her ups and downs, but God, through Christ and the Holy Spirit, is sovereignly and powerfully carrying out His purposes for her. At the end of this age, His plans for her will be fulfilled, and God will send Christ to earth to rescue the church, judge the world, and begin His kingdom. Matt. 24:29-31, Acts 3:20-21, Revelation 20
Third, there’s you, God’s beloved child, and you are extremely and eternally important to Him. God was sovereign over your salvation (Eph. 1:4-5). God is sovereign over your spiritual growth (Phil. 2:13), over the work you do (Eph. 2:10), over how long you live (Ps. 139:16), over your whole life (Rom. 8:28), and over your successful arrival in heaven. 2 Tim. 4:18, Jude 24-25
Romans 8:28-29, very encouraging Bible verses, tell us that God will fulfill His purpose for us. “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” When it says, “all things”, it means everything in your life from the time you were born to the moment you die or are raptured. It means your upbringing, family, salvation, church, job, trials, sin, health, friends, enemies, weaknesses, abilities, ministry, etc.
That God is sovereign means He’s lovingly, wisely, powerfully, and perfectly causing “all things” in your life to work out for your good. This good, one of His primary purposes for you, is stated in vs. 29 - “Those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). You will be conformed, you will become like Christ (1 Jn. 3:2), you will be glorified (Rom. 8:30). “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” Philippians 3:20-21
Fourth, there’s everything else. In addition to what was said in par. 2, God is also sovereign over the angels, the devil, demons, stars, planets, rulers, countries, wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, weather, atoms, cells, fish, birds, ants, animals, plant life, crime, religions, all nations, all rulers, every person on the planet, the economy, your family, your friends, sports, music, movies, technology, the Antichrist, etc., etc. It’s true and truly amazing that God is sovereign over all things, and if He was not sovereign, if He was not in control, then He would not be God.
What is now taking place in this world may be confusing to you, and seem like a huge puzzle, but not to God. He knows exactly what He is doing, and He doesn’t make any mistakes. Since the creation of the world, He’s been perfectly putting every single piece in the right place at the right time, and that’s trillions of pieces. God has been orchestrating and directing every bit of history and now we are living in the end-times. This means that this God-designed, global puzzle is close to being completed. Soon enough, Christ’s church-age work will be finished, and He will return to rapture the church, and the Day of the Lord will begin. After that Christ will come back to Jerusalem as the King and begin His reign on earth. Zech. 14:9, Revelation 11:15
Eph. 1:10-11 sums up God’s end-time plans for this world. It tells us that His work with all things (“who works all things after the counsel of His will”), is leading to the end of this age (“fullness of the times”), and then Christ will be reigning over the universe (“summing up of all things in Christ”), and you will be part of God’s glorious plans (“having been predestined according to His purpose”). “Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” Rev. 19:6b, Rev. 6-20
So how does God want you to live, and what does He want you to do?
* Keep looking to the Lord, loving Him, trusting Him, and obeying Him. Psalms 33:18-22, 105:4
* Know that God’s sovereignty over your life does not negate your personal responsibility, your duty to obey all His commands. “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, Ps. 119:44
* Believing that God is sovereign results in God being exalted and you being humbled, and being filled up with real joy, peace, and hope.
* Be a light to the people around you. Be praying and looking for opportunities to share the gospel, for it’s the only answer to the problems in a person’s soul. Matt. 5:14-16, Col. 4:2-6
* Study end-times’ prophecy, be a watchman, and prepare the way of the Lord. Tell others what you learn in God’s word and what you see happening in the world that relates to the end-times. 1 Chron. 12:32, Ezek. 3:17, Matt. 24:45-46
* Be thankful that God wants you to live at this time in history. Be excited about the future, and remember that it won’t be long before Christ takes you home to heaven. Heb. 12:22-24 - “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God… to myriads of angels… to the general assembly and church… to God… and to Jesus...”
You must know that God is sovereign over the world and your life if you are to live rightly for Him. I encourage you to read these two other posts that speak on this neglected but most important subject: "God is in Charge of Everything", and "God is in Charge of Your Life."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #275 ~
In the past 20 years there’s been a significant growth in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). And just recently the alarm bells have been ringing, telling us to wake up to this exploding AI industry. Every day for the past two weeks, there have been news shows talking about different aspects of artificial intelligence. And there’s a highly competitive AI “tech race” between different companies and between different countries. Some even believe the winner of this race will control the world. Without question, AI is a rapidly advancing technology, one that’s affecting our lives much more than we realize, and will continue to do so.
So what is artificial intelligence (AI)? Wikipedia tells us: “Artificial intelligence is intelligence - perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information - demonstrated by machines - as opposed to intelligence displayed by non-human animals or humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech recognition, computer vision, translation between languages.” That is, AI is speaking of machines, chips, and robots designed by intelligent beings to do one or two intelligent tasks, ones deemed to be helpful to the needs of people and to the growth of our world.
Here are some things that AI can do. Humans drive cars - AI drives cars. Humans fly planes - AI flies planes, and drones. A human plays his favorite song - Alexa plays his favorite song. Humans see - robots see. Humans build cars - robots build cars. Humans write papers - ChatGPT writes papers. Humans have relationships - robots have “relationships”. AI can imitate your voice and create a likeness of your face. There are many, many more examples of how AI is now being used, and an untold number that will be developed in the coming years.
Let's now talk about artificial general intelligence (AGI). Wikipedia says: “The AGI concept is that it can learn to accomplish any intellectual task that human beings can perform… AGI has been defined as an autonomous system that surpasses human capabilities in the majority of economically valuable tasks.” When we say AGI, we’re talking about many computers working together to create one super-intelligent computer, one that seems to know everything, is a very quick learner, does all kinds of tasks, ones that are much larger and much more difficult than what AI can do.
AGI is vastly superior to AI. Like humans, AGI can think, reason, learn, plan, sense, listen, understand, communicate, and create. Like humans, AGI has general intelligence - it knows a lot of information and can do all kinds of things. The difference between AGI and humans is that AGI has a super-massive machine brain, and is much smarter, much faster, much more precise, and usually much better than humans in carrying out tasks.
The tech race that’s going on now has to do with how AGI can be used for complex human purposes, from developing military strategies, to hacking into another country’s military strategies, to composing symphonies, to counseling people, to enabling robots to carry out household duties, to being a companion and helper for an elderly person, to writing a company’s business plan, to being a “doctor” who makes a complete diagnosis of a person’s health and creates a treatment plan, to surveilling every person in the country, etc. Also know that AGI can teach itself, get smarter, think for itself, figure out what needs to be done, get better at whatever it does, and create more applications, ones it was not initially programmed to do.
Many thoughts come to mind when I think about AI and AGI:
* Scary, dangerous, a black box, too powerful, out of control, destructive, dehumanizing, life-like, an idol, cyborgs, a digital world, predictable, unpredictable, godlike, and devilish
* Where is AI / AGI headed? Will it know everything about me? Will it do things I don’t want it to do? Will it make me do things I don’t want to do? Will it help me or hurt me?
* Some AGI machines are humanlike. They seem to have a conscience, to have feelings, to be personal, to understand, to be kind, as well as be intelligent. Can a human have a relationship with an AGI robot? Will he become attached to it and love it as a “friend”?
* Some people are saying, “With machines like these, who needs God?”
* Some humans think machines like these can make them godlike. Have you heard what some scientists are saying about putting a chip in your brain, one that's connected to a larger, smarter AI / AGI brain and, therefore, making you a superman?
* AI / AGI can be a massive information, misinformation, or disinformation tool. How will this affect our educational system? What will our children be learning? How can we ever have confidence in what is being taught?
* If AGI has a desire for perfection and realizes that humans are imperfect, would it ever happen that these machines see humans as unnecessary, and want to get rid of them?
* Will AI and AGI take over our jobs and do our work for us? Will we even need to work? How will this affect individuals and our society at large?
* Elon Musk said, “AI has great power to do good and evil. Better the former.” There’s no doubt that some good will be accomplished by AI / AGI. But people’s hearts are sinful, which means AI / AGI will result in many evil things occurring on this planet.
* Will AGI get to the point where it’s completely on its own, where humans can’t control it, where it lies, cheats, steals, and where it hates humans and wants to hurt them.
* Will these “smart” machines be godless and say evil things about God, Jesus, or Christians? Will it be a tool of the devil that results in Christians being persecuted? How does this relate to the agenda of the Antichrist? Revelation 13:14-17
This blog site is about end-time’s prophecy, about Christ’s coming. So why am I writing about AI and AGI? Because I believe AI / AGI will be a huge factor in these last years before the return of Christ to rapture the church. So how does God want you to think about AI / AGI? And how could AI / AGI relate to God’s plans in the end-times?
1. God is sovereign over AI and AGI, whether it’s used for good or evil. I believe God will use this technology as part of His plans to fulfill His purposes during the end-times. “… according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” Eph. 1:9-11
2. Man is made in the image of God, but AI is made in the image of man. Man may think these machines are super-smart, but God is infinitely smarter, and He will outsmart both man and machine, for He made the man who made the machine. Gen. 1:26, Ps. 96:4-5
3. God has given man a soul and therefore, man lives forever, in heaven or hell. But man can’t give a soul to AI / AGI machines. These machines are only machines and do not truly live, have no eternal future, and will someday be destroyed. John 3:16, 2 Pet. 3:10
4. God says nothing in His word about AI machines overpowering, destroying, or replacing mankind. God’s purposes, from Genesis to Revelation, are not focused on machines, but on mankind, people made in His image. Gen. 1:26-29; Rev. 2-3, 7:9-10, 19:7-9, 21:5-7
5. Be a watchman, be wise, understand the times, learn from others, and tell others what you are learning. 1 Chron. 12:32, Ez. 3:17, Rev. 13:18
6. Never think that AI, AGI, EMP’s, nuclear war, climate change, super volcanos, gigantic solar flares, great earthquakes, massive meteorites, or a combination of these, will bring about the total destruction of this world. God may use them to judge people, but not in a global way. The Day of the Lord, God’s end-time’s judgment of the world, will be very destructive, and is what an unsaved person should be most concerned about. Revelation 8-9, 16
7. The Beast (Antichrist) will control an unbelieving world by making people worship the “image of the beast” and take the “mark of the beast.” I believe AGI technology will help the Antichrist carry out his plans, specifically as it relates to Rev. 13:15: “It was given to him (the beast) to give breath to the image of the beast, so the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
8. God will severely limit or destroy the ability and effect of AGI if it gets too powerful. Machines will never defeat mankind, and they will never thwart God’s purposes and plans for His people and for this world. Remember what God did to the tower of Babel? Genesis 11:4-9, Psalm 33:10-11
9. Some think their thoughts, voice, senses, experiences, looks, intelligence, and character can be programmed into a robot - and then they will have eternal life, they will live on in this machine after their body dies. How foolish! Man, apart from God, dies and goes to hell! Man, saved by Christ, is given eternal life, goes to heaven, and will receive a glorified body! John 3:16, Phil. 3:20-21, 2 Thess. 1:8-9
10. We don’t need a man-made AGI machine to save mankind. We need Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, a real Savior, for He saves from sin and death, our #1 problem. Those who repent of their sins are spiritually saved. And at Christ’s coming, we will receive a physical body that is perfect, powerful, glorious, and will live forever with Jesus. Romans 8:28-30, 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Don’t be concerned, obsessed, or fearful with regards to AI / AGI. Look to Jesus, and trust Him. And love Him and serve Him, for He’s the One who saves you, blesses you, leads you, protects you, and will bring you safely to heaven. “The night is almost gone, and the day is near” (Rom. 13:12). Jesus Christ, the Judge and King, is coming soon. “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
P.S. I must say, we live in tumultuous times, but what a time to be alive. Always remember that God is in control, and He is sovereignly bringing about the return of His Son. Here are two other posts that are relevant at this time: "Everything on This Earth is Going to Change", and "Step by Step Till We See Jesus."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #276 ~
If you are a true Christian, if you have repented of your sins and have believed that Jesus Christ died to pay for your sins, and was raised from the dead, then you are a child of God, forgiven of your sins, and have eternal life. And God has planned out many great things for you in this life, and many, many, many great and glorious things for you in the future, in the ages to come.
After your life on earth, you will have a perfect body, you will be in your heavenly home, you will be with other believers, and you will be richly rewarded. What is vastly more important than any of these things is that you will be with Jesus Christ, the One who saved you from sin and death, who loves you far more than anyone else, and who can’t wait to see you. Your entire and eternal future is centered on Jesus Christ! To live is Christ! What, specifically, does this mean for you?
* You will be with Christ. “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may also be” (John 14:3). You will physically, joyfully, and forever be with Jesus Christ, your Lord, Savior, Husband, and best Friend. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
* You will live together with Christ. “… obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:10). You will not be far away from Christ but will live together with Him in the holy city, the new Jerusalem, your heavenly home. Revelation 21:1-2
* You will see Jesus Christ. “I know that my redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth… from my flesh I shall see God: whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within Me” (Job 19:24-27). What will it be like when you first see Jesus Christ, when you gaze upon the face of God? You will be thrilled to see Him, you will be filled with joy, you will see His love for you, and you will love Him like never before. 1 Corinthians 13:12
* You will see Christ’s glory. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me.” (John 17:24). When we say Christ’s glory, we are talking about His character - His love, power, holiness, goodness, mercy, truth, wisdom, splendor, majesty, etc. You will be in awe and so amazed when you witness the glorious character and person of Christ. John 17:3-5
* You will be seen with Christ. “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:4). You will personally be with Christ, but also publicly be seen with Him. Christ wants the whole world to know that you are part of His family, that you are royalty, and that you are loved by Him. John 14:9
* You will be perfectly holy in the presence of Christ. “God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph. 1:4). You will always be holy in the presence of Christ, and it’s all because He died for you on the cross, thereby, perfectly satisfying God’s justice. To God be all the glory! Jude 24-25
* You will witness the reign of Christ. “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful Psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne” (Psalm 47:7-8). We live in a world with many evil and terrible leaders, but you will soon see Christ the King righteously ruling over the world. You will observe His justice and mercy in people’s lives, and hear praise coming from their lips. Psalm 67
* You will reign with Christ. “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6). As believers, we are a kingdom of priests, we are royalty, and thus, we will have the position and power to reign with Christ, to assist Him in His rule over the world, and to bring great glory to Him. Revelation 1:6, 5:10
* You will be like Christ. “We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). You will receive a new body, one like Christ’s, one that is powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorious. This will enable you to fully experience and enjoy eternal life, to have intimate fellowship with Him and many others, and to perfectly love and serve Him. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
* You will personally worship Christ. “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You (Psalm 145:1-2). You worship Christ now, but not perfectly so. In the future you will excitedly, continually, and wholeheartedly be worshiping and praising the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalm 72:18-19
* You will be perfectly loved by Christ. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9). None of us experience Christ’s marvelous love like we should. But in the future, you will abide, you will remain in the fulness of His love which, unbelievably, is the same love that God the Father has for Him. Psalm 86:12-13
* You will perfectly love Christ. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). You don’t always and fully love Christ, but when you get to heaven you will, and perfectly so. You will greatly, joyfully, and excitedly love your Savior. Psalm 9:1-2
* You will always obey Christ. “I will always obey Your law forever and ever” (Psalm 119:44). Jesus Christ is your Lord and you are His servant, and you obey Him now but not all the time. In the future, you will enthusiastically, continually, and completely obey all His commands. How satisfying and God-glorifying that will be! Psalm 119:1-8
* You will be taught by Christ. “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we can walk in His paths” (Isaiah 2:3). Think how encouraging it will be to listen to Jesus Christ, the greatest teacher of all time, for you will learn the ways of God and more clearly understand the word of God. Psalm 119:12
You will see Christ always exalted in your life. “To live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). Jesus Christ is the heart of your life, but because of sin that doesn’t always happen. But in the future, Christ will always be the center of your life. Day after day and forever and ever Christ will be seen and exalted in and through your life. Every thing you do or say, every place you go, every person you are with, will directly relate to Christ, to His life, purpose, and glory. Philippians 1:20-24
* You will be married to Christ. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). You are married to Jesus Christ. But at the beginning of the next age, not long from now, Christ will prepare for you the most magnificent marriage supper ever. All dressed up in fine linen and looking gloriously beautiful, you will have the time of your life with your most loving, caring, and devoted Husband. Ephesians 5:23-27
Your life as a Christian is completely centered on the person of Jesus Christ, now and forever. And your life as a Christian is a love story. Jesus has always loved you but now you know His love, and you love Him. But when you are in heaven, you will fully know His love, and you will fully love Him. Just think, you have eternal life - Christ knows you and you know Him, and He loves you and you love Him, now and forever. “To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 25
P.S. The most important thing in life is your relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Only a few things are necessary, really only one" (Luke 10:42). Here is a post and an article on this most relevant subject - "The Rapture, a Love Story" and "Thinking of Jesus Christ".
I CAN’T WAIT TO BE WITH JESUS CHRIST
MY FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT CHRIST, MY LOVER
TO LIVE IS CHRIST – NOW AND FOREVER
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #277 ~
The prophets' punishing message is particularly relevant as we think about what's now happening to the United States? The border is being overrun, there’s two-tiered justice, massive debt problems, unchecked crime, the fentanyl crisis, evil rulers, families falling apart, children under attack, homelessness, human trafficking, socialism, communism, countries turning against us, etc.
Habakkuk 1:3-4 sums up what I know many of you have been thinking: “Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. The law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” It's the prophets that explain why all this terrible but justified evil is now occurring in our country!
The news media surely doesn’t give you any answers. The real problem isn’t the economy, the schools, the government, the border, the climate, etc. You must get past the surface to the heart of the problem, and it’s the prophets that tell you our root problem is spiritual in nature - it’s sin, it’s turning from God to idols. And what you are now witnessing in our country are the consequences of our sin, God’s righteous judgment of our wicked ways. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18-32
The prophets, from Isaiah to Malachi, make up one fourth of the Bible, a major portion of God’s word, and they need to be read to understand this present time. They illustrate the sinful condition of countries and cities and how God punished them. Thus, they give us wisdom, enabling us to see and sort out what’s now going on in our own country and in our own cities. “Jerusalem has sinned greatly… Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins.” Lamentations 1:8,5
The prophets tell us that sin, at its core, is two sins - it’s rejecting God and turning to false gods, it’s forsaking God and loving other gods. “They went far from Me and walked after emptiness and became empty… My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:5, 13). “Nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.” Hosea 10:10
This double sin, this root sin, results in many other sins. There’s drunkenness (Is. 5:22), denying justice for a bribe (Is. 5:23), rebellion, stubbornness (Jer. 5:23), arrogance, overeating (Ezek. 16:49), cursing, lying, stealing, murder, adultery (Hos. 4:2), idolatry (Hos. 4:12), disobedience (Jonah 1:3), rejecting God’s law (Amos 3:4), laziness (Amos 6:1), love of food, wine, and music (Amos 6:4-6), coveting, defrauding (Mic. 2:2), hating good and loving evil (Mic. 3:2), divorce (Mal. 2:14-16), robbing God (Mic. 3:8), etc., etc. The sins that took place over 2500 years ago are, for the most part, the same sins now being committed in our own country.
God must punish all sins for He is holy - He can’t just let them go. “I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2). And the prophets specifically tell us how He punished these sins. Here are some examples: “a lion from the forest will slay them” (Jer. 5:6); “sickness and wounds” (Jer. 6:7); “their houses shall be turned over to others” (Jer. 6:12); “I’m bringing disaster on this people” (Jer. 6:19); “neighbors and friends will perish” (Jer. 6:21); “an army is coming - they are cruel and show no mercy” (Jer. 6:22-23); “I will ruin her vines and fig trees” (Hos. 2:12).
“I will ignore your children” (Hos. 4:6); “a nation has invaded my land” (Joel 1:6); “the people’s joy is withered away” (Joel 1:12); “the seeds shrivel… the grain is dried up... herds of cattle wander aimlessly” (Joel 1:17-18); “I will send fire” (Amos 1:4); “I will destroy the king” (Amos 1:5); “I gave you empty stomachs” (Amos 4:6); “I will send you into exile” (Amos 5:27). In the past, God punished sinners in many ways, and now we are watching God's diverse and dreaded judgment of the United States. By reading the prophets you can understand what’s taking place, that we are greatly sinning and are being greatly punished by God.
Man's sin and God's judgment of his sin are God's primary messages in the prophets, but there are many other themes. They tell you about God’s identity, that He’s the Lord (Is. 26:4), the Rock (Is. 26:4), the Judge (Is. 33:22), the Lawgiver (Is. 33:22), the Shepherd (Is. 40:11), the Creator (Is. 43:1), the Savior (Is. 43:3), the King (Is. 44:6), the Redeemer (Is. 44:6), the Holy One (Is. 45:11), the Servant (Is. 52:13), and our Husband (Is. 54:5).
The prophets tell you about God’s character, that He’s holy (Is. 6:1-3), wise (Is. 11:2), supreme, powerful (Is. 40:12-31), just, loving, righteous (Jer. 9:24), true, living, eternal (Jer. 10:10), sovereign (Dan. 4:34-35), compassionate and forgiving (Micah 7:19).
The prophets tell you about Christ’s 1st coming, that He would be born of a virgin (Is. 7:14), would suffer (Is. 50:6), would be pierced (Is. 53:5), would die to pay for our sins (Is. 53:4-12), would proclaim the good news (Is. 61:1), would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2), and would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zech. 9:9).
The prophets tell you the good news, that God shows you mercy if you repent of your sin and believe that His Son is the Messiah, the Christ who died to pay for your sin. Yes, God is judging this sinful country, but know that He judged His own Son so you could be forgiven, have hope, and be eternally loved. Isaiah 53, Ezekiel 37:23, Micah 7:18-20
The prophets also tell you about Christ’s 2nd coming, and the amazing hope God has for all His people. This is an extremely, eternally important message of the prophets. Sad to say, many people, even believers, don’t see it this way. They believe the truths about Christ’s first coming but not the truths about His 2nd coming, many which are found in the prophets. Much that is said about this hope is easily discovered on the pages of the prophets, but some, like hidden treasure, must be searched for. Here are some verses about this hope: Gen. 12:1-3, 17:4-8; Is. 2:2-4, 4:2-6, 9:6-7, 54:5-8, 61:2b-11, 65:17-25; Jer. 23:5-6, 32:37-44; Ez. 37:22-23; Dan. 2:44-45, 7:13-14; Hosea 1:10-11; Joel 3:16-21; Amos 9:14-15; Micah 5:4; Hab. 2:14; Zeph. 3:14-17; and Zech. 14:9-11.
Here are some final points about reading the prophets and our future:
1. The prophets focus primarily on the Jewish people. There’s nothing specifically in the prophets about the church age. But there are important lessons for all believers, ones that will help you grow in your relationship with God, and in faith, holiness, and hope.
2. The prophets, in general, are predictive. Some of the passages are about their present time and / or the years following. Some are about Christ’s 1st coming. Some are about Christ’s 2nd coming and the kingdom age. Others have a near and a far perspective.
3. If you have not read any of the prophets, I’d recommend you start with the minor ones, like Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Jonah, and then move on to the major ones, like Isaiah and Jeremiah. I will admit, they are not always easy to understand, but ask God to teach you as you read them, and He will.
4. Be looking for the primary subjects in the prophets - God, man's sin, God's judgment, the Jews, Christ’s 1st coming, salvation, Christ’s 2nd coming, and hope.
5. I suggest that you write down the passages that talk about the hope of the Jews. That’s because your hope, your future blessing as a Christian, is in many ways tied to the hope of the Jews. For example, both Jews and Christians will inherit the earth (Ps. 37:11, Matt. 5:5), and together they will be glorifying the Lord. Romans 15:8-12
6. This world is on a fast track to the end of this age, at which time the church will be raptured and the nations will be righteously judged. It's not just the United States that falls under the judgment of God, but all nations in the world. Psalm 9:17-20; Zeph. 1; Rev. 6:12-17, Rev. 7:9-14, Rev. 8-9
7. One reason why the United States needs to be judged and lose its position as the #1 power in the world is to make way for the Antichrist and his kingdom. I don’t believe it will be long before this takes place, and the Antichrist is ruling this earth, but only for a very short time. Then Jesus Christ will come back to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and reign on earth. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Psalm 47
8. It is true that the United States is being judged and is going downhill. But remember the story of Jonah, and how God had mercy on that wicked city of Nineveh. As Habakkuk 3:2 says, “In wrath remember mercy.” Pray that God would bring revival. Might Daniel 9:4-19 be our prayer - “We have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from your commandments (vs. 4)… O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay (vs. 19).
P.S. I pray that you are awake, alert, and watching. We must not be asleep in times like these. We must be like the men of Issachar who understood the times and knew what they should do, and like John the Baptist who was preparing the way of the Lord. I suggest you read these two posts: "The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ", and "The Day of the Lord: the Wrath of God on Earth."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #278 ~
Pray! Pray! Pray! And keep praying! That’s what you should do. Jesus uses a parable to teach us about faith and prayer (Luke 18:1-8). First, He gives the meaning of this short story, that “at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1). We are to have faith, to persevere in prayer. Yes, we may be tempted to give up, to quit, but God wants us to keep looking to Him, to keep trusting Him, to keep praying.
This parable is about a widow, and she was needy, she was hurting, for she had been taken advantage of by her adversary, and so she’s going to a judge for justice. But this is an unjust, uncaring judge - he “did not fear God and did not respect man.” For whatever reason, this judge did not want to spend his time helping this widow. But this poor widow is persistent, she does not give up, she keeps bothering him. Finally, this evil judge has had enough, and he gives her justice. Luke 18:2-5
Jesus then explains how this parable applies to the elect, to believers. “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night?” (Lk. 18:6-7). It’s a lesson from the lesser to the greater. If this unkind and unrighteous judge helps this widow, how much more will our loving and righteous Father give us justice? Jesus tells us that a key to this justice is desperate, persevering prayer. It’s the asking, seeking, knocking kind of prayer He had talked about in an earlier parable. Luke 11:5-13
This parable is most applicable at this present time. It’s obvious to me and I’m sure to you that we are living in an increasingly unrighteous country. (Matt. 24:12). It’s not just that more people are evil, but that lawless judges and DAs don’t even address the evil. (Is. 5:23). Many government officials are unjust, are soft on crime, and are letting criminals go free. Not only that, but they are going after believers, and like never before. It won’t be long before Jesus’ prophecy about the end-times is fulfilled - “You will be hated by all nations on account of My name.” Matthew 24:9
So what can you do when you personally experience injustice? You can address it to a judge in court - but most importantly, pray to the Judge, to God Himself. You may get justice from the judge, and you may not. But you will definitely get justice from the Judge. And now we are watching all this lawlessness in our cities, states, and country - and the people affected may or may not get justice from the judge. That’s why it’s imperative for Christians to not put their hope in earthly judges, but to keep asking the heavenly Judge for justice. Sooner or later, He will give us true and perfect justice.
No matter what happens in our courtrooms on earth, know that God is on His heavenly throne, and He will most certainly bring justice (Ps. 97:1-3). He won’t excuse sin - He can’t let it go - He must punish it, and God deals with it in four ways: 1) A person may be judged by an earthly authority (Rom. 13:1-4). 2) He may in some way suffer God’s wrath while he is on earth (Acts 12:18-23, Rom. 1:18). 3) If he dies and is unsaved, then he immediately goes to hell where he's justly punished (Lk. 16:22-25), and then at the great white throne judgment he's cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). 4) He may be alive on earth when Christ comes back, and will experience God’s wrath during the day of the Lord. Revelation 8-9. And this final point is one of the themes of Luke 18:1-8.
This takes us back to Luke 17:22-37, the prophecy passage that's just before the prophecy-related parable in Luke 18:1-8. In Luke 17:26-30, we read of two examples of God's justice, of God pouring out His wrath on sinners. There's the flood during the time of Noah, and the fire and brimstone during the time of Lot. Now it’s our time, and the result of the sin we’re seeing will be God’s wrath, similar to the sudden, devastating justice we read about in the days of Noah and Lot. In this present crisis of evil, we must know that it is our duty to pray, to keep crying to God for justice. And this justice will be dealt out at the end of this present age, during the day of the Lord, which is point four from the previous paragraph. So keep praying, for “He (Christ) is coming to judge the earth.” Psalm 98:9
There’s another point we cannot overlook, and it’s the last phrase of vs. 7 - “delay long over them” or “be patient over them”. From the 1st coming until now is close to 2,000 years, and God’s justice upon this earth is being delayed, even though many believers have cried out, “How long O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev. 6:10). This justice is delayed because God is patient, because He wants to show mercy to the chosen, to the rest of the elect. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
James 5:7-9 says it this way - “Be patient brethren until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, until it gets the early and the late rains. You too be patient for the coming of the Lord is near… behold the Judge is standing right at the door”. Farmers must wait for the right time to harvest the grain, and Christ is waiting for the right time to rapture the church. “Reap, for the hour to reap has come.” Revelation 14:15
This country, the United States of America, is going down fast, driven by a devilish increase in sin, and a corresponding decrease in justice. This is clearly affecting believers. Just the other day, a Christian, standing across the street from some people celebrating sexual sin, was arrested for reading the Bible, for what the policeman said was disorderly conduct. Do you see what’s going on? God's enemies are coming after us more and more (John 15:18-25). Persecution against Christians is growing worse in this country. So what should we do?
We are to have faith, we are to keep praying to God for justice. And that's how this parable concludes - “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8)? We are living in the end-times, in very difficult days, and we need to keep having faith until Christ comes. It would be sinful to be worldly, to be complacent, to be unbelieving. “We are not of night or darkness, so then let us not sleep… let us be alert and sober… having put on the breastplate of faith and love” (1 Thess. 5:5-8), and let us keep praying. Then “He will bring about justice for them quickly.” This justice, this day of the Lord wrath, takes place at the end of this age, and it will happen quickly, suddenly, for Christ returns, Christians are glorified, and God pours out His wrath on this most evil world. Rev. 6:12 - Rev. 9
But remember to be patient, and to pray for God’s mercy upon sinners. Jesus told us, “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). So do your part in sharing the gospel “to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14), and the Son of Man will rapture the church and judge the world. "God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:9
P.S. Here are a few other posts to read that are related to this subject, and will be very helpful to you: "How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?", "It's Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better", and "Living with Evil in the End-Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #279 ~
What a convicting, challenging, instructive verse! There will be birth pains in the end-times - wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues - and Christians need faith. This is especially true in those last few years before the coming of Christ, for that devilish Antichrist will be ruling the earth and Christians will be greatly persecuted. But no matter when we live, we need faith to walk with God, to be strong, and to carry out His work. The truths I am sharing with you about faith are for every Christian, now and in the future.
* What is faith? It means you are looking to God, you are seeking Him. (Ps. 105:4, Heb. 11:6). It means you are trusting God - you are believing Him, depending on Him, and you are not trusting yourself, others, or idols. The result is that you are spiritually connected to God, you have this relationship with Him. A person who has faith is humble, he knows that he needs God, that he can’t live without Him (Ps. 34:4-10). A person who has faith is trusting God’s word, for it’s the basis of faith, and a key for growing in faith. He’s believing God’s truth, obeying His commands, and believing His promises. “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4
* Faith is essential. It’s not optional. In fact, God commands you to have faith: “Have faith in God.” (Mk. 11:23). Just as you need food to physically live, so too you need faith to spiritually live. Your entire Christian life is to be lived by faith. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal. 5:6). “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). “… He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…” (Eph. 3:16-19). Faith is the only way you can be saved, can please God, can be strong, can know Christ and His love, can do His work, and can be rewarded. “We walk by faith and not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
* Keys to faith: a) God’s word: “Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). When God’s word is in your heart, then the Spirit enables you to believe, to have faith in God. b) God’s character: “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You” (Ps. 9:10). You must know who God is and what He is like if you are to trust Him, to rely on Him. c) Humility: “As for the proud one, his soul is not right within him, but the righteous will live by his faith.” A humble person is needy and knows that only God can meet his needs, and so he trusts Him. d) Examples of others: “In speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:11). Learn about faith by observing the lives of godly people. e) Examples in God’s word: “By faith Abel… By faith Enoch… By faith Abraham… By faith Isaac… By faith Moses” (Heb. 11). You can also learn from the many Biblical examples of people who had faith. f) Prayer: “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mk 9:24). As a believer, you have faith, but you need to ask God to take away your unbelief and give you more faith.
* Faith, little faith, and great faith. In the gospels, Jesus talks about these three kinds of faith. Little-faith people are usually spiritually young, fearful, worried, or self-centered (Matt. 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 17:20). We all begin the Christian life with a little faith, but should we not become ones who have great faith? There is no doubt that God wants you to keep growing in faith so that you have great faith. Matthew 8:10, 15:28
* You are in the school of faith. The gospels give all these stories of Jesus teaching His disciples to have faith. Yes, they failed, but Jesus was patient with them, and they learned. (Matt. 6:30, 8:5-13, 8:23-27, 9:20-23, 9:26-33, 14:25-33, 15:21-28, 16:8, 17:14-17; Luke 5:17-20, 7:36-50, 8:49-56, 17:11-19; John 9:35-38, 11:25-26). This abundance of stories about faith is evidence of its immense importance. Without question, God is teaching you to have faith, and He’s the perfect teacher, using relationships, work, trials, weaknesses, sickness, persecution, etc. Learn from Him, for He’s daily teaching you to trust Him - “… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Get your eyes off yourself and look to the Master and believe Him.
* Trials are designed to build your faith. Though trials can be difficult and distressing, you must understand that they are necessary. (1 Pet. 1:6-7). Trials are one of the primary ways God teaches you about faith, and about persevering faith. “The testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-12). He has designed trials to make you realize that you can’t get through life on your own strength. “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). You need God every single day. “Trust in God at all times” (Ps. 62:8). Instead of relying on yourself, rely on God, abide in Him, always be looking to Him for the strength you need.
* The result of faith is life, eternal life. By faith, Christ dwells in your heart and then lives through you. Like Enoch, you will walk with God and have a close relationship with Him. You will be filled with the Spirit and have all the power you need to live the Christian life. You will be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. You will have everything you need pertaining to life and godliness - you will be a partaker of the divine nature, sharing in the very life and purpose of Christ. The result of faith is a godly and supernatural life - there’s character, wisdom, endurance, and eternal blessings, and a most satisfying, God-glorifying life. James 1:2-12, 1 Pet. 1:5-7, Rom. 5:3-5, Gal. 2:20, Gal. 5:22
* The importance of persevering faith. Prophecy passages warn us about great evil and great tribulation in the end times - and none of us can imagine how extremely hard it will be. The key to living for God in these days is persevering faith. It’s continually trusting and relying on God, whether it’s for your daily bread, or because family members have turned against you, or because you are about to be martyred. It’s your faith in God that enables you to keep loving and living for Him no matter how you feel or how difficult it is. By faith, you won’t give up, you’ll keep rejoicing, you’ll keep sharing the gospel, you’ll keep loving the saints, you’ll persevere until you die or are raptured. And you’ll also be asking God for justice, for you know that the Lord Jesus will be coming soon to rapture the believers, pour out His wrath, and reign over this world. Remember these verses - “Do not fret because of evil men… for like the grass why will soon wither… Trust in the Lord and do good” (Ps. 37:1-3). No matter what happens, trust and do good!
* A key aspect of faith is hope, is believing God’s word about the future. Having hope means you’re expecting God to bless you after you leave earth and are in heaven. This hope, this conviction that God has an amazing future for you, is an essential component for being able to live successfully for the Lord in the end-times. Learn from the believers spoken of in Hebrews 11 - they persevered, they kept believing that God would fulfill His promises to them about the life to come. And for the Christian, what is this hope, what are some of His promises to you about the future? You will see Jesus, be with other believers, be in heaven, be glorified, be greatly rewarded, and reign with Christ over this earth. Job 19:25-27, 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Col. 3:23-24, Heb.12:22-24, Rev. 5:10
* The most important result of faith is that God will be glorified. Whatever you go through, it’s for God’s glory - and the key to seeing God’s glory is believing Him. Jesus told us, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God” (Luke 11:4, 40). Your ultimate purpose is not about you, but about God being exalted and glorified. Believe in God, and you’ll see His glory on earth and when you are in heaven. "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13
Whether you are alive at the coming of Christ or not, you must have faith. I cannot overemphasize the necessity and importance of faith. And let me say - now is the time to grow in faith, to be going from a little-faith person to a great-faith person. Be learning God’s word, be humble, grow in your knowledge of Christ, be passing the tests of faith, learn from others, and keep asking God for more faith. Indeed, it's a great time to be alive! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understand, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight” all the way to heaven. Proverbs 3:5-6
P.S. We do so many things to physically take care of ourselves, but might you be tending to your spiritual needs, and faith in God is one of your greatest needs. Here are two more posts I would encourage you to read: "You Need Hope to Get Through Life", and "Don't Get Mad at the Government - Trust God."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #280 ~
When it comes to the truths about Christ’s 2nd coming, many Christians don’t know them, or are confused, or have a simplistic view, or just don’t believe them. Some aren’t even interested in what God has clearly told us in His word about the return of our Lord. This should not be! Christ Himself repeatedly told us that He’s coming back to earth, along with many other things that need to happen before and after His return. Luke 21:27
Luke 18:8 addresses this issue of knowing and believing these truths with a question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” This word “faith” is a noun. And a person who knows and believes the truths of God’s word has faith, has convictions, is convinced that what God says is true. Hebrews 11:1
God’s word is filled with truths that we must believe. Most doctrinal statements list a set of foundational truths, ones about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, man, salvation, the word, the church, and hope (Eph. 4:4-6). In Luke 18:8, Christ emphasizes the need for us to have faith when He comes, the need to believe these basic truths. Having a complete, comprehensive faith is essential if we are to be mature Christians, if we are to live strongly and effectively for God in the final, most difficult years of the end-times.
Since the faith spoken of in Luke 18:8 is in the context of Christ’s coming, then it must include the truths about our hope. On this blog site we’ve talked extensively about this hope: Christ is coming back, there will be true justice, we will be given new bodies, we will be in heaven with Christ and fellow believers, we will receive rewards, we will reign with Christ over this earth, a large remnant of Jews will be saved and ruling with Christ from Jerusalem, etc.
So how about you? Will you have a solid faith when Christ returns? Do you know and believe all these basic truths, including hope? If you do, then you will be excitedly loving Christ, living for Christ, and looking forward to seeing Him. You won’t be worldly, you will be living a holy, godly life, you will “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Romans 13:12-14
Do you also know what will be happening before Christ comes back? Do you know about the birth pains, the false Christs, Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist, great tribulation, and the signs in the heavens? Do you know that they precede Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church? The faith of a good Christian soldier must include these timely truths. It’s vital that you learn all God’s word, including eschatology - God’s truths, plans, and promises about the last years of this earth. How can you successfully keep going for God if you don’t realize we are in the end-times, if you are scarcely schooled in these truths about the future, if you don’t understand what will be taking place in the years ahead?
A problem for many Christians is that they’re not in a good, end-times’ teaching church, they’re not being taught by a hope-full pastor, one who is teaching the word in view of Christ’s appearing and kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1-2). A pastor’s preaching must be centered on the gospel of Christ and in light of the fact that Christ is returning to rapture the church and establish His kingdom on earth. Bible preaching has more power and relevance when it’s done in view of Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming. Hebrews 9:27-28
I can’t overstate the importance of being in a solid, big-picture, hope-preaching church. But it’s not just the teaching - it’s relationships, it’s having good fellowship, it’s “encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25). It’s also working together, making disciples with Jesus’ promise in mind - “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Some Christians say they are not premillennial, that they don’t believe Christ is coming back to set up His 1000-year kingdom on earth. They say they’re amillennial, and that what I’m saying is wrong. If you believe this way, I encourage you to read my articles that address this error of amillennialism. It’s titled, “Replacement Theology: It’s Not True - Part One”, and there’s Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
Faith has been the primary subject of these past three posts - faith that prays for justice, faith that trusts God, and today, faith that believes the foundational truths of God, including the truths about, about the glorious future God has for you. I cannot stress enough your need for a strong, vibrant faith, a key ingredient in your Christian life, now and until the end. Remember what Paul said before he died - “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, and I have finished the course.” 2 Timothy 4:7
Hear what Jesus told us in Matthew 24 - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Do you see what Jesus said? He’s strongly and unequivocally stating the enduring, eternal authority of God’s word. He’s reminding us of its critical importance, for it's the basis of our faith. Do you also see that He purposely placed this verse in the middle of what I believe is the most important end-times’ chapter in the Bible? Why? Because He wants you to know that all truth is extremely important, including the truth about our hope. God knew that many people would be doubters and deniers when it comes to the truth about end-times’ prophecy. So He gave us Matt. 24:35, a huge exclamation point warning us to wake up, to take heed, to study and believe these truths about Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. To emphasize this even further, two other eschatological chapters contain the exact same verse - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Luke 21:33, Mark 13:31
Now’s the time to learn what God wants you to know about the future. Why wait? I encourage you to study Dan. 7, Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24, Mark 13, Luke 17:22-37, Luke 21:5-36, 1 Thess. 4:13 - 5:11, 2 Thess. 1:5-10, 2 Thess. 2:1-12, 2 Peter 3:3-13, and Revelation. Because we live in the end-times, this truth is no longer a secondary doctrine - it’s a primary doctrine. I can’t overstate the significance of God’s prophetic word at this time in history. Finally, hear Jesus’ admonition - “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance” (Mark 13:23). Do you want to know everything Christ wants you to know about the end-times, His coming, the rapture, and the 1000-year kingdom age? I pray that you say yes!
P.S. Whether you physically die before Christ's return or are raptured, God wants you to have faith. Jesus commands us, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22). Here are two articles that also talk about the kind of Christian God wants you to be: "Your Spiritual Service: a Member of the Special Forces", and "The Excellent End-Times' Worker."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #281 ~
Did you know that God wants to greatly and eternally reward you for the work you do for Him? Sadly, most Christians don’t know much about rewards because most churches don’t teach on them. But why is it so important that you learn about them? Because knowing that God wants to wonderfully reward you in the coming ages will profoundly affect how you live for him during this church age.
Here are some key verses on rewards and, as you will see, this is no small subject.
* “The law of the Lord… the precepts of the Lord… the commandment of the Lord… by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them, there is great reward.” Psalm 19:11
* “Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.” Isaiah 40:10
* “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5
* “Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you… rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matt. 5:11-12
* “When you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matt. 6:6
* “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither most nor rust destroys, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt. 6:19-21
* “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to His deeds.” Matt. 16:27
* “There is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or farms for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:28-30
* “Blessed are you who are poor… who hunger now… who weep now… be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in heaven.” Luke 6:20-23
* “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great…” Luke 6:35
* “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven.” Luke 12:33
* “He called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back’… The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made 10 minas more.’ He said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be over 10 cities.’" Luke 19:12-19
* “Make friends by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9-10
* “He who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal.” John 4:36
* “He who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Cor. 3:8
* “Each man’s work will become evident; the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire.” 1 Cor. 3:10-15
* "Momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." 2 Cor. 4:17
* “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done…” 2 Cor. 5:10
* “Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.” Col. 3:23-24
* “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” 2 Tim. 4:8
* “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” Heb. 10:35
* “By faith Moses… choosing rather to endure ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” Heb. 11:24-26
* “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” 2 John 2:8
* “The time came… to reward Your bondservants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great.” Rev. 11:18
* “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what He has done.” Rev. 22:12
Here are some thoughts about rewards, and how they relate to your present life on earth, your future in the coming ages, and your relationship with the Lord.
1. God is a very giving and generous Father, and He wants to richly reward you, far more than you can ever imagine, and far more than you deserve. Luke 6:20-26
2. God will reward you for “whatever you do” for Him, whether that’s making a meal, working at a job, praying for someone, sharing the gospel, etc. Col. 3:23-24
3. God will reward each believer “according to his own labor.” Never compare your work and the result of your work with that of another believer. 1 Cor. 3:8
4. God will reward you for faithfully using the money, time, abilities, and gifts He gives you. Matt. 25:14-23
5. Rewards don’t depend on your status, gifts, or abilities - they depend on you being a good steward and faithfully using them for His purposes and glory. A seemingly “small” Christian may receive more rewards than a seemingly “great” Christian. Matt. 25:21
6. Some believers won’t receive many rewards because of their unfaithfulness. “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved.” 1 Cor. 3:14-15
7. The rewards each believer receives from God will be different than what others receive. Yet each believer will be blessed and fully satisfied in heaven. Rev. 21:4
8. We don’t know exactly what these rewards will be, but it seems that they relate to your relationships with God and people, your work for Him in the future, and other special blessings. Psalm 16:11; Luke 16:9; Luke 19:15-18; John 14:21, 23
9. God will reward you at the end of this age, at the coming of Christ. Rev. 22:12
10. Your most important reward is eternal life, which is your relationship with Jesus Christ (Mark 10:30). All specific rewards that you receive have to do with your relationship with Christ, whether it relates to worshiping Him, serving Him, or being specifically blessed by Him. “The Lord is my portion” (Ps. 119:57). “… so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:17
God really wants to reward you. And if He wants to reward you, then you should want to be rewarded - and you are not being proud or selfish for desiring to be rewarded. You see, receiving rewards signifies that you were God-glorifying, for they result from loving, trusting, obeying, and humbly and faithfully serving God while you lived on earth. If you aren't rewarded in the future, then that can only mean you weren't loving God and living for Him, and weren't bringing Him glory - and your work was "burned up." That would be very, very sad. 1 Cor. 3:14-15
Unbelievers work for themselves, for money, fame, needs, and wants, but as a Christian, you must work for God, not to make money, but to meet your needs and to please Him. If you heartily work for God and His glory, you will be truly blessed in this life and greatly rewarded in the future, infinitely more than earthly wages, investments, or retirement plans. Investing your life in the work of God will result in unimaginable, unbelievable, and astonishing rewards.
The message for you is that every moment of your life is relevant, is a way to please God and receive rewards which relate directly to the coming ages. How you live your life for God will dramatically and eternally impact your future and the future of others. So make the most of it! May the Lord say to you, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” Matthew 25:21
P.S. I can't stress enough this subject of rewards - that's why I have written a number of posts about them. I encourage you to read them if you haven't read them already. "God Really Wants to Reward You", "Earthly Work Results in Heavenly Rewards", "Your Reward is the Lord!!!", "The Truth About Rewards, the Heavenly Prize", "Winning the Gold for the Glory of God."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #282 ~
This world is full of criminals and crime - and as you know, God has tasked the governing authorities with the job of pursuing justice with lawbreakers (Rom. 13:1-7). A recent and continuing problem in this country is the government’s increasing lack of dealing with crime and carrying out true justice. Conservative newscasts and podcasts give numerous examples of an unrighteous justice system, of gross injustice, and of criminals running free.
Sinful / criminal behavior is ignored, excused, and even promoted by individuals, groups, and governments (Rom. 1:32). Many are calling evil good, and good evil (Is. 5:20). And many are targeting Christians and Christian nationalists, saying they are “the problem”. More than ever before, they are being mocked, cancelled, persecuted, and arrested. It's insane, it’s crazy, it’s of the devil.
What is a Christian to do? We can hope for justice in the courts. We can ask politicians to carry out existing laws or pass new ones. We can spend time promoting a candidate for the next election, in hopes that he will bring about change. But the real answer isn’t found in the government, a politician, or a judge. “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men… How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord… who executes justice for the oppressed…” Ps. 146:3-7
I’m not saying we shouldn’t want justice to prevail, for the government to do their job, but that's not our primary purpose. And it's surely not pushing some political agenda or placing some person in office. It’s reaching out to the lost, it’s telling them the gospel, that they have sinned, but that Jesus Christ died to pay for their sins and then was raised from the dead, and that they can be forgiven of their sins if they repent and believe in Christ.
Isn’t this what Jesus said in John 3:16-17? He told us that His Father sent Him into the world, not to judge the world but “that the world might be saved through Him.” Jesus is offering salvation and eternal life to whoever believes in Him. Isn’t this your mission too, to tell people how they can be saved and become children of God? Yet we get caught up into thinking this country needs the justice of man when what this country really needs is the mercy of God.
Why spend so much time thinking about someone possibly being indicted for a few of his crimes against man? Again, the real and greatest problem is a person's innumerable sins against the living and holy God, resulting in an eternal and painful punishment (Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:1-2, Matt. 25:41, 46). Again, the only answer to this problem is Jesus Christ. So shouldn’t we focus our energy on telling people that God wants to grant them mercy for their many and terrible sins against Him? Yes, yes, yes, for this is the gospel message, the most important message in the world!!! Matt. 24:14, John 1:12-13, Acts 20:24, Eph. 2:8-9
Here are some key points on this subject of justice and mercy:
1. Remember Jesus’ purpose when He was on earth. He didn’t go around judging sinners, but He loved them and shared the gospel with them - He wanted them to experience His mercy, and not His wrath. Hear what Jesus said about unbelievers on this earth - "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." John 12:47, Mark 1:15, John 5:24, Luke 19:10
2. Be like Jesus, and don't be judging people. Pray for them, with hopes that God will grant them repentance and faith (2 Tim. 2:24-26). Love those who are lost and look for open doors so you can share the gospel with them. Col. 4:2-6
3. Pray for those in authority to be saved, and that they would be “an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” 1 Tim. 2:1-2, Rom. 13:4
4. Don’t be angry when there’s a lack of justice. Trust God and do good. Ps. 37:1, 8
5. During this church age, God delays justice for sinners in general because He wants to save sinners in particular. So be patient. James 5:7-9, 2 Pet. 3:9
6. Imperfect, man-made governments are to punish evildoers, but no matter what happens, God will, in due time, perfectly carry out true justice towards all unrepentant sinners. For example, there's the Day of the Lord at the end of this age - Rev. 16:4-7, and the lake of fire at the end of the millennial kingdom age - Rev. 20:11-15
7. Aspects of God’s justice are recorded in the Bible to keep us sober and to remind us that God is holy and that He judges sin. Numbers 16:1-50, the Prophets, Acts 12:20-23, Rom. 1:18
8. God raises up evil people and rulers, often withholding justice for a period of time, so that His divine and eternal purposes are fulfilled. Pharaoh greatly persecuted God’s people, but finally he was killed. “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” Rom. 9:17-18
9. True justice is dealt out by God at different times, but the full measure of His justice does not take place on earth, but in Hades (Luke 16:23), and then in the lake of fire. "Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:13-15. Note Rev. 19:20 with respect to the Antichrist and the false prophet.
10. Don’t be like Jonah. He wanted justice, but God wanted mercy. Jonah was mad that the wicked Ninevites didn't get the justice they deserved, but he should have been glad that God showed them undeserved mercy. Jonah 3-4
It's vitally important that you understand this message. We are living in the end-times and from now until the coming of Christ, injustice will gradually and increasingly get worse for Christians. More and more we will be hated, arrested, persecuted, and even killed (Matt. 24:9, Rev. 6:9-11). But you must have hope, you must know that what you go through for Jesus Christ will be infinitely worth it, for “momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” 2 Cor. 5:17
P.S. You can't live rightly for God if you don't properly understand sin and how you are to think of it with regards to your life and the lives of others. Here are three more posts about sin and salvation: "In a Wicked World, You Have to Have Hope", "A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ", "Living with Evil in the End-Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #283 ~
It won’t be long before Jesus Christ, the Son of God, comes back to rapture the church, judge the world, and begin His 1000-year reign on earth. But these days and years leading up to Christ's return are becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous. Thankfully, our loving Father gives us all the grace we need. Not only that, but He told us what will be taking place, and how we are to live for Him during these turbulent times. Today, I'm focusing on how we are to live, specifically that we are to be patient, persevering, and preaching.
James 5:7-9 - “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and the late rains. You too be patient, strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” Christ’s 1st coming took place about 2000 years ago, and that we’re now living in the end-times means His 2nd coming is very, very near (Heb. 10:37). And God wants you to be preaching and patient until the coming of His Son.
What does it mean to be patient? A patient person has a long temper, he is willing to suffer for a long time. This word patience usually has to do with people, not events or circumstances. You are wronged by someone, you are discriminated against, you are taken advantage of, or you are being persecuted, and you don’t get angry, you don’t retaliate, but instead you endure. Being patient with unsaved and unrighteous people is a godly and loving response. “Love is patient.” 1 Cor. 13:4
Why should you be patient? Because God is still saving people, and He wants you to be patient until that last soul is saved, until Christ comes back to rapture the church. Being from Iowa, I understand what James says about farmers being patient until the harvest. Did you know that corn is planted in April but it’s not harvested until October, six months later? Like farmers, we must patiently wait until it’s just the right time to reap the harvest, when Christ returns to rapture the church.
A key to being patient is to be spiritually strong. In the tribulation days of the end-times, there will be opposition, hardships, and persecution like you’ve never seen before. You will need God’s strength to not only endure, to persevere, but to encourage the saints, to be sharing the gospel, to keep going for Jesus until you see Him coming in the clouds. “… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25
Then there’s the example of the prophets “who spoke in the name of the Lord”, who suffered and patiently persevered. God gives us His promise - “We count those blessed who endured. You have… seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful” (James 5:10-11). God is compassionate and merciful towards you as you suffer for Him in the last years of this evil age, and then in the ages to come, He will give you great glory and blessings. 2 Cor. 4:17
2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Like James 5:5-7, this is also in the context of Christ’s coming. In the end-times, unbelievers will mock us and sneer at us - “Where is the promise of His coming?” In view of their unbelief, God wants you to know two things: 1) The flood destroyed the world in the days of Noah and, so too, the world will be judged and destroyed in the day of Christ. 2) God is patient and delays His justice, for He knows many people will repent of their sins and turn to Christ for forgiveness in the final years leading up to His coming.
Before Christ comes to judge the world, He will be rescuing the lost. So until He returns, be patient like God is patient, pray for unbelievers, and share the gospel with them in hopes that some will be saved from their sins. “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” 2 Peter 3:11-12
Matthew 24:9-14 - “… You will be hated by all nations… many will fall away and betray one another… Many false prophets will arise… lawlessness is increased… the one who endures to the end will be saved… This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world.” Jesus summarizes what will be taking place during these super-trying, great-tribulation days. So-called believers will defect, evil will be running rampant, and Christians will be greatly hated, betrayed, and killed for their faith in Christ. How are you to respond to all this? You are to endure, to persevere, to keep preaching the gospel. And “… then the end will come,” at which time those Christians still alive on earth will be raptured.
Luke 21:12-19 - “They will lay their hands on you, and persecute you… It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony… I will give you utterance and wisdom… you will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death… By your endurance you will gain your lives.” This too is in the context of the end-times. And we learn the same things as the previous passages, that you will be persecuted, that you are to share the gospel, and that you are to endure, to patiently persevere until you are with Jesus, whether that’s by martyrdom or rapture.
The message in these four end-times' passages is purposely repeated, and for good reason. Because these three points, patience, perseverance, and preaching, are keys to successfully living for the Lord. But it's not just when times get really tough - this lesson is relevant today. “Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near.” Rom. 13:11-12
We have been witnessing the rapid spiritual decline of the world these past few years. I know I've been surprised by how fast this world is going dark, is going down. There is no doubt that the day is near. Most of you can see that Christians are increasingly being hated and would say that full scale persecution is coming soon. Yes, many of us will be treading the valley of the shadow of death before we see the Lord (Ps. 23:4). And what does God tell us? Now is the time to preach the gospel, to be patient, and to persevere, all the way until the coming of Christ. “Go make disciples of all the nations… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of this age.” Matt. 28:19-20
P.S. I have shared on three things that God wants us to be doing during these tribulation times, but God has told us much more. Here is a post and an article that summarizes what God wants us to do - "How Then Should We Live in the End-Times?", and "What Does God Want Me to Do in the End-Times?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #284 ~
[A much more detailed article covering the same subject about work has just been posted. I would encourage you to read that too.]
In these end-times, we are to work for God while we wait for Christ. And God has much work that He wants to do and wants us to do before He sends His Son back to earth. What a privilege to work for God in the last years of this church age. Jesus told us, “Do business with this until I come.” Luke 19:13, Mark 13:33-34
God gives many stories about people doing His work. Noah built the ark, Moses led the Israelites, Joshua commanded an army, David was a king, Nehemiah built a wall, Jesus was our Savior, Mary was His mother, Paul was a preacher, etc. Now we are getting close to the end of this age, and we should be super motivated to do the work God wants us to do before Christ comes back to earth.
Today, we will be looking at several Bible passages that speak about work:
Luke 17:7-10. “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” (Lk. 17:19). Working for God isn’t doing whatever you want whenever you want. God is your Master and you are His slave, and you are to be doing His work all the time. And don’t expect God to thank you - you’re His slave, and when you work for Him, you’re doing what you ought to do.
Colossians 3:22-24. “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” God is your perfect and supreme Master, and you’re His slave, and He is always watching you work. Work isn’t just an 8-4 or 9-5 job - it’s working for God all the time and in “whatever you do.” It can be physical work like mowing the yard, or it can be mental work like working in an office, or it can be spiritualwork like sharing the gospel. All these are examples of working for God.
Working for God when you are on earth results in heavenly and eternal rewards. “From the Lord you will receive the reward of your inheritance” (Col. 3:24, 1 Cor. 3:8). You are to wholeheartedly work for God, for it pleases Him, blesses others, and results in you being richly rewarded. Matt. 6:6, Rev. 22:12
Luke 12:13-21. You’re to think about work from a godly, eternal perspective, and not be like unbelievers who work from a fleshly, temporal perspective.
1. An unbeliever is selfish. He works and makes money for himself.
2. An unbeliever invests money for his retirement, and he stores up possessions. But he doesn’t think about the state of his sinful soul, and if he doesn’t repent while he’s on earth, then he will be punished forever and severely in hell.
3. Believers are to work to make money for their needs, other's needs, and for God’s purposes. “By working hard… you must help the weak… ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:33-35
4. It’s prudent to save money for the future. But never put your hope in money. Put your hope in God and use the money you have for the lives of others and for His glory. This is your best investment, and the returns are out of this world.
5. Don’t retire like unbelievers who want to “take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19). You may retire from a job where you’re making money, but you are to never retire from working for God. Acts 13:36, 20:24, 28:30-31
Ephesians 2:8-10. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
1. You are not saved by your “good” works, but you are saved by God’s grace, and one reason you are saved is so that by God’s grace you can do good works.
2. You are created in Christ Jesus. Don’t be like an unbeliever working at a job for his own good and his own glory, but work for God and His glory. 1 Cor. 10:31 - “Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
3. You are God’s workmanship. God made you just the way He wants you to be, giving you abilities when you were born and spiritual gifts when you were born again. “May ... God … equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ.” Heb. 13:20-21
4. The work you do for God is good work. It’s work that is needed, beneficial, and important, whether it’s for your family, the church, your country, or the world.
5. God knew and planned all these good works in eternity past.
6. Christians are to walk in these good works. As you go through life, you will discover and do the work God planned for you. Pray, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Ps. 143:10, Pr. 16:9
Here are several other important principles about work:
* Serve the Lord with gladness. Ps. 100:1
* Work by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor. 5:7
* Work hard. Mark 12:30, 2 Tim 2:6, 1 Cor. 15:10, 2 Chron. 31:20-21
* Have a mind to work. Neh. 4:6
* You must be holy to do the work of God. 2 Tim. 2:20-21
* Doing God’s work is a primary reason you are living. Ps. 40:8, John 17:4
* The work God wants you to do is unique, is special. Ps. 139:13-16
* Working with others is usually better than working alone. Eccl. 4:9
* God wants you to be satisfied with the results of your work. Prov. 12:14
* You must persevere to fulfill all the work God wants you to do. Col. 1:9-12
* God wants you to rest. Mark 1:35
* Finish all the work God wants you to do. 2 Tim. 4:7, Acts 13:36
* Glorify God by doing all the work He wants you to do. John 17:4
It’s very encouraging to work for God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. Be thankful that you can do the work They want you to do, work that has eternal value, that is a blessing to you and others, and that relates directly to Christ's coming. “You turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.” 1 Thess. 1:9-10
P.S. "I delight to do Thy will" (Ps. 48:8). I pray that work for God and love to work for God. Here are two detailed articles that tell you most everything you need to know about work: "The Excellent End-Times' Worker" and "Wholeheartedly Working for God in the End-Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #285 ~
It’s easy, and wrong, to spend too much time, energy, and money on earthly kingdoms, on governments, rulers, and elections. As Christians, it’s imperative that we don’t get caught up in these worldly matters. What’s most important is knowing that we are members of the kingdom of God, and that our primary purpose is to work with Jesus Christ in building His kingdom. Matt. 6:33, 28:19-20
In His teaching, Jesus did not focus on the kingdoms of man, but on the kingdom of God. At the outset of His ministry, Jesus told us, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk. 1:15). A person needs to repent of his sins and believe in the gospel, that Jesus died to pay for his sins and then was raised from the dead. And it’s only by a spiritual birth, only by the Spirit, that he can enter this kingdom. Jesus made it very clear, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, 5
So too, Paul focused not on the kingdoms of man, on who ruled the country, but on the kingdom of God. He told the Ephesian elders that his purpose was “to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), and said, “I went about preaching the kingdom” (Acts 20:25). Paul was preaching the kingdom of God, and proclaiming to these pastors that it was by believing the gospel that a person becomes a member of this kingdom. The same thing was stated by Paul in the last verse of Acts - he “was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 28:31
As for you and me, we too should be focused on the gospel, for it’s only by believing this good news that a person becomes a member of the church and, in a larger sense, a member of the kingdom of God. Aren’t you amazed and thrilled by this truth? What’s more important, what’s better than this? It is truly a miracle that God “rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14
Ever since Pentecost, Jesus Christ has been personally working in the lives of believers, and collectively building a kingdom (Eph. 2:19-22) that is spiritual in nature, what is called the church. “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). And what Christ is doing in the church, in God’s kingdom, is not a matter of mere words, but is a spiritually powerful and eternal work. “The kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20). More than you realize, the devil was defeated, lives are being dramatically transformed, and God is being glorified.
Building the church, this spiritual, Word-directed, Spirit-powered kingdom, is Christ's primary work at this time in history (Matt. 16:18). And a Christian’s primary purpose is helping Him build His kingdom. So don’t be focused only on your family, or be exclusively building your business, or spending all this emotion and energy trying to elect some politician. Be “preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12). Be “workers for the kingdom of God.” Col. 4:11
We learn more about this spiritual kingdom in several parables given to us in Matt. 13. The Jewish people were expecting Christ to set up His kingdom on earth, and so He needed to explain some important details about the church, this interim kingdom that spiritually exists in the hearts of believers. Here are some of the lessons He taught His disciples, and is now teaching us:
1. “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure in a field” (Matt. 13:44). Christ wants us to realize the supreme and glorious value of God's kingdom, and therefore the need to sacrifice our lives and work with Him and fellow believers in building it.
2. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants… so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matt. 13:31-32). The church started small but has kept growing throughout the centuries, and is now large and very prominent in the world. Consequently, it is a wonderful blessing, primarily in spiritual ways, but also in social, cultural, legal, scientific, and economic ways.
3. “… so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness and will throw them into the furnace of fire... then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13:40-43). At the end of this age, at Christ’s coming, the wicked and the righteous will suddenly be separated, and the wicked will be judged, and the righteous will be blessed. And our work as Christians is to sow the seed, God’s word, in hopes that God grants mercy to the unsaved. Matt. 13:18-23, John 4:34-38
What else can be said about the kingdom of God?
4. Jesus Christ has absolute authority over the church, this invisible kingdom. He is the head of the church, working through the Holy Spirit, who indwells, teaches, and empowers every believer.
5. Being a member of the kingdom of God means you are not to be running your own life, but Christ Himself is to be reigning in you. He is your Lord and King.
6. Don’t be deceived by the lure of worldly kingdoms. Be sober, intent, and determined on building God's kingdom. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33
7. Be encouraged and hopeful, for whether by death or rapture, you will be taken to God’s heavenly kingdom. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.” 2 Tim. 4:18
8. You must pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10). Pray for Christ to come soon, set up His earthly kingdom, and begin carrying out His Father's will.
9. That we live in the end-times means it won’t be long before this phase of God’s kingdom building will be concluded, and then Christ will return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and establish His glorious kingdom on earth.
10. Always remember the big picture. God is sovereign, and He has always been building and ruling over His kingdom on earth (Ps. 145:11-13). Now we live in the church age, and the spiritual kingdom of God is being built by Christ. In the age to come Christ will spiritually and physically reign over this earth, establishing a kingdom that lasts for 1000 years (Pss. 47, 67, 72; Rev. 20). Then there’s the eternal kingdom - “Then comes the end when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father… When all things are subjected to Him (God the Father), then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” 1 Cor. 15:24-28
I can't tell you how much it saddens me that so many Christians are embroiled in the politics of the day. Don't they see what's most important? Here are three more posts on the kingdom of God and the church: "Kingdom Instructions for the Church", "The Gospel of the Kingdom of God", and "The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #286 ~
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread..." Matt. 6:9-10
One of the most well-known prayers in church history is the Lord’s prayer, also called the disciple’s prayer. As you know, we live in an extremely sinful world, one controlled by the kingdoms of evil men, and the only way these kingdoms can be truly dealt with is for Christ to return and set up His own kingdom. And God promised this would happen, and He told you to pray for it to happen. So be fervently praying for the coming of Christ’s kingdom, for the “summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” Eph. 1:9-10
Here are several truths about this kingdom prayer and the coming kingdom:
* This prayer is directed to our heavenly Father, One who is holy in every way, perfectly righteous, loving, wise, powerful, and sovereign. And His plan is to establish His glorious kingdom on earth - and only He has the power and authority to do this. 1 Chron. 29:10-13
* This kingdom will be a 1000-year kingdom, a millennial kingdom. Rev. 20:1-10
* That God has not yet answered this coming-kingdom prayer means He has more work to do in building the church, His spiritual kingdom on earth. And we are to help Christ complete His work by seeking His kingdom (Matt. 6:33), by assisting Him in building the church (Matt. 16:18), by preaching the gospel (Matt. 24:14), and by making disciples. Matt. 28:19-20
* The whole world lies in the power of the devil (1 Jn. 5:19). But the devil has not stopped Christ from doing His work in building the church. In fact, God is actually using the devil to help fulfill His plans. And in the kingdom age to come, we will see God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, perfectly carry out His plans for this earth, just as it is in heaven. Acts 2:22-24, Eph. 2:19-22, Zech. 14:9
* When this church work is finished, this age will come to an end, and Christ will return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin building His kingdom on earth, one that is both physical and spiritual in nature. Psalm 72, Matt. 24:29-31, Luke 21:20-31, Rev. 7-9
* The unholy kingdoms of men won’t be here in the age to come, for they can’t coexist with the holy kingdom of Christ. There will be no kingdoms like the United States, Russia, China, Iran, Sauda Arabia, the UN, BRICS, etc., and no Antichrist’s kingdom. All evil, earthly kingdoms will slowly die or be suddenly destroyed. Ps. 2, Dan. 2:44, Rev. 18
* In the coming kingdom age, sinners will be living on earth, and Christ will be executing justice and enforcing obedience to God. With the devil in chains and Christ in charge, life on earth will be dramatically and wonderfully different, and you will be here to see it. The coming age will be a good age, totally unlike this present evil age. Ps. 67, Phil. 2:9-11|
* The word “come” conveys the idea of being instantaneous. The coming of Christ and His kingdom will not happen gradually like some people think but will take place suddenly, and powerfully and gloriously. Matt. 24:27-31
* In the millennial kingdom age, the earth will be restored and renovated, fit for Christ the King. Matt. 19:28 - “… in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne.” Acts 3:21 - “… the period of restoration of all things.” Rom. 8:21 - “… the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption.”
* The coming kingdom will be the fulfillment of many promises God made to the Jews. All believers, both Jew and Gentile, will assist Christ in reigning over the world during this millennial age. Isaiah 2, 4, 12, 60-62, 65; Heb. 11:39-40; Rev. 5:10
Now what were Jesus’ disciples thinking? They believed Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, but wrongly thought He’d set up His kingdom on earth at that time. In fact, just before Jesus ascended into heaven they asked, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6-7). But they didn’t understand the timing of God’s plan, for Jesus goes on to tell them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.”
Ten days later, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, these disciples begin preaching the gospel and building the church, God’s spiritual kingdom on earth. And here we are, close to 2,000 years later, and we are still preaching the gospel and building the church. Obviously, Christ has not yet restored the physical kingdom to Israel, for the church age is still continuing.
What makes the 1st century and the 21st century different is not just 2,000 years, but that now we live in the end-times, for millions of Jewish people have returned to Israel (Luke 20:21-24). That we are in the end-times means Christ will soon come back to earth to rapture the church, glorify the believers, and establish His kingdom on earth, a kingdom for both Jews and Gentiles. Rom. 15:8-12, Heb. 11:39-40
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). "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" (Zech. 14:9). And all believers will say, “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:7-8
P.S. As we help Christ build the church, keep praying for His coming and the coming of His kingdom on this earth. That Christ is coming and establishing His kingdom on earth is our hope. I encourage you to read these two related and encouraging posts - "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done", "Christ's Kingdom is Coming."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #287 ~
Israel - there's tribulation, and then there's salvation. The shocking savagery and brutality now taking place in Israel is horrific, pure evil, godless. We shouldn’t be surprised, for atrocities similar to this have been happening in Israel for 1000’s of years, and they won’t stop until Jesus Christ returns to earth to save a large number of Jewish people - which takes place at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:24
But you must first see the big picture, illustrated by three covenants. 1) God promised to Abraham that his descendants, the Jews, would be blessed by receiving their own land and becoming a great nation, the nation of Israel (Gen. 12:1-2, 13:14-16, 15:18). 2) God promised to David that One of his descendants would be the King over this nation and over the entire world, and that He would reign forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13, Ps. 89:27-29). 3) God promised to Jeremiah that a great number of Jewish people would be spiritually saved (Jer. 32:31-34, Rom. 11:25-26). These promises, that Israel would receive land, would be given a King, and would be saved, have not yet been fulfilled, but there's no question that they will be. "Let God be found true". Rom. 34, Ezek. 37:21-23
God also promised to David that One of his descendants would be the Messiah and the Savior, that He would save people from their sins. And it was at Christ’s first coming that He died for people’s sins and was raised from their dead, showing God’s supreme love and satisfying His perfect justice for all those who would repent of their sins and believe in Him. (Rom. 3:21-26, 5:8, 6:23). But back in the 1st century, most Jews rejected Christ as their Lord and Messiah. In 70 AD, because of their rejection of Christ and continued unbelief, God scattered them all over the world. Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-24
God promised that descendants of these Jewish people would return to their homeland, and that began to happen in the late 1800’s. Since that time, it has been anything but easy. You know about Hitler’s utter hatred for the Jews, killing over 6 million Jews during WW2. That resulted in some sympathy for the Jews, and in 1948, they once again became a nation. But devilish-inspired hatred and persecution of the Jews has not stopped - there was the Six Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973, two intifadas (an Arabic word defined as a civil uprising of Palestinians against Jews), and now this present war in Israel. Yet, God has truly protected and wonderfully blessed them over all these years - and He has not and will not renege on His promises.
The most faithful ally of the Jews for these past 75 years has been the United States, but in recent years, their support for them has been weakening. It’s quite evident that rabid antisemitism is alive and well on most U.S. college campuses and among an increasing number of leaders. Recent government decisions clearly show that the United States has been openly accommodating and supporting the Jew’s archenemy, the Iranians. There is evidence that these Iranians are largely responsible for this most recent inhumane aggression against Israel. Here is one of Iran's favorite slogans - "Allah is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel, curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam."
So here we are, another terrible war in Israel, and who knows how long this one will last. What we do know is that Israel will not be wiped out as a nation. This nation will continue on, and that’s because God told us He would keep her going. He will not break the promises He made to her, but will, sooner or later, completely fulfill them.
What’s next for Israel? Sometime in the future, this present war will come to an end. But global antisemitism will not lessen but increase. We will witness the United State's waning support for Israel, either because of her unwillingness or inability, or both (Note Gen. 12:3). And most nations in the world, evidenced by their numerous anti-Israel votes in the United Nations, will continue to oppose and oppress Israel. There may even be more wars.
Israel is not a godly country - as a nation, they are not presently trusting in God but are sadly and openly sinning against Him. With their backs against the wall, and the United States decreasing in their support for her, these Jews are looking for reliable allies - she is becoming more desperate for any kind of help.
In the near future, the coming Antichrist, the devil’s man on earth, will sign a covenant, a 7-year treaty with Israel. On the one hand, this will be a terrible mistake, but on the other hand, it will be part of God’s plan, what He planned and predicted would happen a long time ago. This treaty will result in a temporary “peace”. And the Jews will build a temple and, once again, offer sacrifices as prescribed in the Old Testament. But at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week, the Antichrist will reveal his true colors, for he will openly betray the Jews.
Jesus tells us what happens at that time, which is the 3½ year mark of that week - “When you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place… then… flee” (Matt 24:15, Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4). After that, the devil-possessed Antichrist pursues the Jewish people in Israel. This is the beginning of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21-22, Rev. 12:13-16). But by the sovereign and miraculous hand of God, a great number of Jews escaped. The frustrated but angry Antichrist then chases after the Christians - he “went off to make war with the rest of her children” (Rev. 12:16). This persecution spirals out and spreads to true believers all over the world. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9
This persecution, this great global tribulation continues until God Himself cuts it short. Matthew 24:9 tells us how we will know - “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky.” This is the end of the age. Immediately after that is the rapture of the Christians. Then there is the Day of the Lord. And then, at the end of Daniel’s 70th week, a large number of Jewish people will be saved.
Please note the true and prophetic word of God. It tells us what will happen. We see this war in Israel, we look at what’s happening in the United States, we observe the world around us, and you must know that God is sovereign over all that’s taking place, that He’s working in and through the people, the countries, and the leaders of this world - and He is leading everything to the end of this age, the rapture of the church, and the salvation of many, many Jews.
Jesus Christ will then set up His kingdom on earth, a 1000-year kingdom age when Jewish people, working with the Lord Jesus Christ, will play a most dominant and significant role in this world. As believers, we too will be reigning with Christ. (Rev. 5:10). Hallelujah!!! The best is yet to come!!! “Sing praises to God; sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful Psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on the holy throne.” Psalms 47, 67, 72, 96, 98
P.S. Here are more instructive posts about the Jewish people: "A Short Summary of God's Working with the Jews", "A Jewish Reading Lesson", "The Divine Timetable - Daniel's 70 Weeks", "Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #288 ~
What does this war in Israel have to do with Christians? How does it relate to the future God has mapped out for us? One of the keys to understanding God’s plans for the church is knowing how He is working with Israel. Today, I will give you a brief overview of Jewish history from Christ’s 1st coming to His 2nd coming to the kingdom ages. As you track God’s working with the Jewish people, you will more clearly see the future God has planned out for Christians, and for you.
1. 4 BC - 29 AD. The salvation of believers is definitely connected to Israel, most specifically and importantly to the most famous Jew, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. Born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, Jesus, at the age of 30, began His 3-year ministry, during which time He traveled all over Israel, teaching, doing miracles, and making disciples. He was unjustly crucified and killed, and then was buried, and then was raised from the dead. Jesus’ suffering and death is the payment for the sins of all those who repent and believe that He died for them (Mk. 1:15). Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the church began.
2. 70 AD - late 1800’s. The Jewish people, because of their rebellion against God and rejection of Christ, were greatly persecuted and then led captive into all the nations. Throughout the centuries, the Jews continued to be hated, harassed, persecuted, and killed, but they were never wiped out, for God faithfully protected them. And now we are living in the church age, and the growth of the church is related to the fact that God isn't focusing on the Jews, but on the Gentiles. Luke 21:20-24, Rom. 11:25-27
3. Late 1800’s. By the promise and power of God, the Jewish people miraculously began coming back to their homeland – and this is what I call the beginning of the end-times. And the Jews kept coming and coming. That the Jews have been returning to their land is God’s sign to Christians that Christ will soon return to rapture the church. and that He will in the near future begin fulfilling His final plans for Israel. Gen. 12:1-3, Is. 45:17, Ez. 36-37, Dan. 12:4, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 11:15
4. Late 1800’s to the end of this age. Birth pains (wars, famines, earthquakes, plagues) are impacting various parts of this planet, affecting unbelievers, the church, and the Jews. These physical signs are spiritual alarms, designed to awaken us and the whole world to the fact that this age will soon come to an end, and Christ will return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:3-8, 29-31; Rev. 6:1-8
5. 1937-1944. One of the most barbaric atrocities on this earth was the murder of over 6 million Jews during WW2. This led to the rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948, a clear signal to the church that God had not abandoned His people, and that His promises to them of land, salvation, and a King, would be fulfilled (Ez. 37:21-23). Ever since this holocaust, strong, Satanic opposition continues to plague the Jews. But God keeps them going and growing, their population in Israel now being close to 7.2 million people.
6. OCTOBER 7, 2023 - ???. THERE’S NOW A WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS. Here is what you need to know about this war, and about Israel’s future and our future: 1 - This war is against Hamas, but many other Jew-hating nations also hate and oppose Israel. 2 - This war will come to an end. 3 - This war will lead to increasing Antisemitism around the world. 4 - This war is part of God’s sovereign and detailed plan leading to the coming of the Antichrist and the coming of Christ. 5 - Israel, realizing that they can’t depend on the United States to protect them, will be looking to others for help. 6 - This war is to awaken you to the fact that the rapture of the church is getting closer and closer. “… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25). And as a church, we are to keep praying for Israel. Psalm 122:6-9
7. End-times: In the Bible, many passages about Israel are adjacent, are sitting side by side with passages about the church that are eschatoloigcal, that are speaking of the future. This is one of the strongest proofs that God's plans for the church and Israel are connected, are intimately related. Here are some of them: Matt. 24:9-14 - 24:15-26; Luke 21:12-19 - 12:20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-3 - 2:4-6 - 2:7-9; Rev. 7:4-8 - 7:9-12; Rev. 12:13-16 - 12:17
8. The beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. Israel will continue to see the need for peace, and in the near future will naively and foolishly sign a 7-year covenant with the coming Antichrist. This results in a temporary “peace”, and also allows the Jewish people to build a temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifices. (Dan. 9:27). The church may or may not know when this signing takes place, but they will see the consequences of this covenant, and be further reminded that the coming of Christ is very, very near.
9. The midpoint (3½ years) of Daniel’s 70th week. At the 3½ year mark, the Antichrist is revealed. This is when Christians and Jews realize that he is the Antichrist, for he “takes his seat in the (Jewish) temple of God, displaying himself as God” (2 Thess. 2:4). It’s at this time that believers know the rapture of the church is less than a few years away. Before that happens, the church will have to endure great tribulation. This world dictator, this most devilish man, begins persecuting Jews in Israel, but many escape and are protected by God. The Antichrist then goes after Christians all over the world, persecuting and killing them. (Matt. 24:9, 15; Rev. 12:16-17). But this great tribulation is mercifully cut short by God, at which time, Christ returns to rapture all the Christians on earth. Matt. 24:29-31, 1 Thess. 4:15-17
10. The end of Daniel’s 70th week. At this 7-year point, a great number of Jews, having been physically protected from God’s wrath, are spiritually saved. (Ps. 98:1-3, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 11:25-27, Rev. 12:13-16). At this point in time, the church is in heaven, keenly watching the fulfillment of God’s glorious salvation plan for these Jews, these chosen people. And they know what is soon to come.
11. Soon after the salvation of the Jews begins the 1000-year kingdom age when Christ is ruling over this earth. Here are some things to note: 1 - The earth will be renovated (Is. 65:17-25, Acts 3:21). 2 - Jews and Christians will be reigning with Christ (Is. 61, Rev. 5:10). 3 - Jews and Christians will inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11, Matt. 5:5). 4 - God’s purposes will be fulfilled: Christ is the King of the world (Ps. 47); God’s power, holiness, justice, mercy, and glory are seen in Christ, being displayed all over the world (Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14); the gospel is proclaimed in every nation resulting in great multitudes being saved (Ps. 96); and all Christ’s enemies, including death, are defeated. 1 Cor. 15:25-26
12. In eternity future, all Jewish and Gentile believers will be living together in their eternal home. “… the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… It had a great and high wall, with 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels… names were written on them, which are the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel… and the wall of the city had 12 foundation stones, and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:10-14). It’s quite significant that our eternal home pictures and recognizes all God’s people, those of the Old Covenant and of the New Covenant.
As believers, our primary purpose is bringing glory to God. Rom. 15:8-12 is one of the best passages describing this eternal purpose that Jews and Gentiles, believers from all ages, will be worshiping God together. “Therefore, I (Jews) will give praise to You among the Gentiles… Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people (Jews)… Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him… There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope.” Do you see this? It speaks of both Jews and Gentiles. And in eternity future, all believers will unitedly be worshiping the Lord. Psalm 117
Finally, why is it that we get so fixated on our immediate problems, and I’m talking about the war in Israel? We must have perspective, we must see the big picture, we must know what God says about our future. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, and it’s the only book that truly maps out our future. You need to read what God says about the Jewish people in both the Old and New Testaments. And be a watchman - find out what is presently taking place in Israel and around the world (Ez. 3:17, Luke 12:56). Doing this will help you more clearly see God's plans for Israel, but also God's plans for the church. “The men of Issachar understood the times, and knew what they should do” (1 Chron. 12:32). “The people who know their God will display strength, and take action.” Daniel 11:32
P.S. Too many Christians are naive, ignorant, or in error about the future God has for the Jewish people and the church. This must not be! Here are a few more posts about the plans God has for Israel and the church: "Why the Jews are Important for You and the Church", "Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers", "The New Testament Tells Us God's Plans for the Jews."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #289 ~
Have you noticed the Antisemitism taking place in this country and all over the world these past few weeks? And it’s not all peaceful either - many of these protestors are rioters, and violently so. They really hate the Jewish people, and in many cases, want them dead. But you shouldn’t be surprised. This devil-inspired Antisemitism has been plaguing the Jewish people since the start of their nation in Egypt and now, close to 4,000 years later, it continues unabated in this 21st century.
What most of these Anti-Semitics are saying, and screaming, is that they want a one-state solution, a Palestinian state. This is the main reason for all the Arab / Muslim / Israeli wars in the past 75 years and why Hamas has recently been savagely and barbarically attacking Israel. These Jew-hating people want to wipe out the nation of Israel so they can have their own state. You may have heard the chant of the Palestinians and their supporters, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
In Psalm 83:3-4, Antisemitic thinking was described this way - “They make shrewd plans against Your people, and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, ‘Come and let us wipe them out as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more’”. Most pro-Palestinian people, these Israel-deniers, want Israel to be destroyed. They want the land for themselves - they want a one-state solution, a Palestinian state.
The goal of others is a two-state solution, Israelis and Palestinians living side by side. This may seem like a nice idea, a good compromise, but it will not work. That’s because it is not God’s plan. He knows what He’s going to do, and there is no way man can stop God from doing what He planned in eternity past. “The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations… the counsel of the Lord stands forever… Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-13
About 4,000 years ago, God promised to Abraham that his descendants, the nation of Israel, would possess the land from the River to the Sea, from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean. “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory” (Josh. 1:4). That’s the way it will be, and God will not change His mind. He wants a one-state solution, and it’s not Palestine, it's Israel. “My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” Is. 46:10
How can we be sure this is Israel’s land? Because God told us in His word, as we see in Joshua 1:4 and many other passages. And God’s word is absolutely and always true. The primary theme of the Old Testament, from Gen. 12 to Mal. 4, is God’s work with the Jewish people, and this includes His plans for them being forever in their land. And the New Testament never denies God’s purposes and plans for the Jewish people - it only affirms them. In fact, it gives us more information about them. Matt. 24:15-26, Luke 21:20-24, 2 Thess. 2:3-12, Rev. 12
What else do we need to know about Anti-Semitism and God’s plans for the Jewish people, especially the elect, those He chooses to save?
* “Behold, Your enemies make an uproar. And those who hate You have exalted themselves.” (Ps. 83:2). These enemies of the Jews are enemies of God. They hate God and they hate His people, and they’re not quiet about it. And it’s because of their pride.
* “In the last days difficult times will come… Evil men… will proceed from bad to worse.” (2 Tim. 3:13). This Anti-Semitism, this extreme hatred for the Jews, will get worse the closer we get to the coming of Christ.
* “Another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns…” (Rev. 12:3). The most devilish aspect of Anti-Semitism are these eight beast empires, ones controlled by Satan for the purpose of annihilating Israel. The seven heads represent the first seven empires, ones from the past. The final empire, the ten-horned kingdom of the Antichrist is still to come, and it will be the most wicked, the most Antisemitic empire in history. But Satan is 0-7, for God has always defeated the dragon, and He will defeat him again.
* Matthew 24:4, 15, 25 – “Behold, I have told you in advance.” God tells us all we need to know about the Jewish people in the end-times. Here are some important details:
- Birth pains (earthquakes, wars, famines, plagues) will continue, signs for both Jews and Christians that Christ’s coming is drawing near. Matt. 24:4-8
- At the very beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year period, Israel will foolishly sign a covenant with the coming Antichrist, a deal with the devil.
- The Jewish people will build a temple and offer sacrifices. Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4
- At the 3½ year mark of this week, the Antichrist will be revealed, and the Jews will realize who he is, that he’s their greatest enemy ever. “When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman (Jewish people).” Rev. 12:13
- Many Jewish people will miraculously be protected by God during the last 3½ years of Daniel’s 70th week. “The two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished.” Rev. 12:14-16
- (Sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, Christians will be raptured, taken up from the earth, united with all believers, and together, they will forever be with Jesus Christ. Matt. 24:31, 1 Thess. 4:17)
- Hallelujah!!! A great remnant of Jewish people will be saved at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week. Ps. 98:2-3, Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:26-27, Rom. 11:26-27
- Then the 1000-year kingdom age will begin. This will be a most glorious and blessed time on earth, for Jesus Christ will be in Jerusalem, reigning perfectly over the earth with all the believers. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Is. 6:3; Ps. 47, 67; Hab. 2:14
What a time to be alive! Be thankful that you can serve our Lord and Savior, helping usher in His return to rapture the church and reign over the world! Here are some important points about how to live for our Lord at this time in history:
- Learn from God’s word and from other strong, hope-filled Christians what He wants you to know about the end times and the coming of Christ. Matt. 24:25
- Tell your friends, family members, and other believers about Christ’s coming. Matt. 5:13-19
- Serve the Lord by doing the work He gives you to do. Use your gifts. Eph. 2:10
- Don’t worry or be afraid. Be strong and courageous knowing that God has given you His Spirit, and that He will lead you in the way which you should go. Josh. 1:9, Ps. 32:8
- Remember that God is sovereign, that He is always in complete control, that He is always working all things together for your good and His glory. Rom. 8:28-30
- Be filled with hope, knowing it won’t be long before you see Christ, and then are with Him forever and ever!!! Revelation 7:9-12
P.S. I posted a comprehensive summary of Antisemitism by Marv Rosenthal, titled: "How Dark the Night." It is an excellent and most instructive article about the great persecution the Jewish people have endured over the years. I strongly encourage you to read it. I also have links to a number of helpful charts about the Jewish people: "Salvation" (109), "Promises" (115), "Land, King, Salvation" (150)
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #290 ~
There’s been strong disagreement and violent protests and a deadly war about whether the land between the River and Sea is Israel’s or Palestine’s. Now we can debate all year about what man thinks, but it’s critically important that we settle this matter by finding out what God states in His word. When we do this, it’s undeniably clear that God promised this land to Israel, and not to anyone else - and God keeps His word. Here are many of the verses:
* Genesis 12:1-3 - “The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and so you shall be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’”
* Genesis 13:14-15 - “The Lord said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, ‘Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever.’”
* Genesis 15:6-7 - “Abram believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness. He also said to him, ‘I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.’”
* Genesis 15:18 - “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying. ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite, the Kenizzite, the Kadmonite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Rephaim, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.”
* Genesis 17:6-8 - “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Caanan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
* Genesis 26:3-5 - “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and your descendants I will give all these lands which I swore to your father Abraham. I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed…”
* Genesis 28:13-15 - “The Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’”
* Genesis 35:10-12 - “‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name…’ God also said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you… The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.’”
* Genesis 50:24 - “Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’”
* Exodus 32:13 - “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”
* Numbers 34:2-12 - “When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders. Your southern sector shall extend from the wilderness… As for the western border, you shall have the Great Sea… This shall be your northen border: you shall draw a line… For your eastern border you shall draw a line… This shall be your land according to its borders.”
* Leviticus 18:24-28 - “Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. The land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants… You are to keep My statutes… and shall not do any of these abominations (Lev. 18:6-23)… so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you.”
* Leviticus 26:42 - “I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will also remember My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.”
* Deuteronomy 9:4-6 - “Do not say to yourself, ‘The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you… to accomplish what He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
* Joshua 1:4 - “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.”
* Psalm 105:8-10 - “He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Issac. Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statue, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.’”
What do we learn from these verses?
1. God promised that He would give some land to Abraham and his descendants.
2. This promise was unilateral, was made by God Himself. God will most certainly carry out His promise to the Jewish people, and no one will be able to stop Him.
3. God’s promise to the Jewish people is an everlasting covenant, one that will never be cancelled or revoked, Jewish people will be living in this land forever.
4. God repeated this promise many times and to different people because He wanted to make sure that others, like you and me, understood it and were convinced it was true.
5. The geographical boundaries of this land are clearly stated in God’s word.
6. The Jewish people did nothing to deserve this land. It was purely a gift from God.
7. Nothing in God’s word says this land is for the Palestinians or anyone else.
8. Other nations lived in this now “disputed” land before the Jewish people were there, but because of their sin, God judged them and drove them out. God is holy and loving, and His plan is for His people to possess this land for themselves and forever.
9. The great blessing that God promised to Abraham and his descendants has not yet been fulfilled, but it will be in the coming kingdom ages.
10. This great blessing is for cultural and ethnic Jews who are believers, who are Jews physically, and spiritually, who are righteous because of their faith in God.
God created the Jewish people and promised them a special piece of land that they are to possess for all eternity. And this is an amazing truth, an incredible story. Many verses powerfully and incontrovertibly establish this truth, but this is only the beginning of our discussion about this land. In coming posts, we will look at the rest of the story.
You will learn that there is much more in God’s word about this land, history-proven truths that take us from those beginning days of 4,000 years ago up to the present time, and on into the future. These truths and facts of history will help us understand that only Israel has the God-given right to the most important piece of land in the world.
God’s working with the Jewish people these last 4,000 years is solid proof that He is God, that He is true to His word, and that He is lovingly, powerfully, and sovereignly carrying out His plans. And God will fulfill His promises for the good of His people and for His purposes and glory. Here is the end of the story - “You will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over. Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I might be glorified.” Isaiah 60:21
P.S. It saddens me to hear people all over the world who don't know what they are talking about when it comes to what God says is Israel's land. I encourage you to reread the above verses so you can have strong convictions about His plans for His people. I also encourage you to take the time to read all my articles on "Replacement Theology: It's Not True" - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #291 ~
About 4,000 years ago, God promised to Abram and his descendants a very special piece of land. And through all the years God has been keeping His promise to His people. As Christians, it's imperative that we understand this incredible journey of the Jewish people, and how it relates to us. Today, from Genesis to Joshua, we will learn about God’s promises about the land to God’s plans for the land to Israel’s possession of the land.
1) God’s promises of land for Abraham and his descendants: Genesis 13:14-15- “The Lord said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, ‘Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever.’” Gen. 12:1-3, 15:6-7, 15:18, 17:6-8, 26:3-5, 35:10-12, 50:24; Ex. 32:13; Lev. 26:42; Num. 34:2-12; Deut. 9:4-6; Josh. 1:1-6. God repeated His promise of land because He wanted everyone to be convinced of its truth and its eternal and utmost importance.
2) God’s plans for the Jewish people instructed them how to live in their land: God created the Israeli nation, raised her up, cared for her, provided for her, protected her, led her - and He had His plans for them written down so they would know how they were to live in their land. God dearly loved the Jewish people, for they were special to Him, a treasured possession. He wanted to greatly bless them and their land and, through them, the entire world. Most of all, God wanted them to worship and serve Him forever. Psalm 67:7
In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, God’s plans for the Jewish people are precisely written out. Here are some of them: Deut. 4:1 - “Listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.” Deut. 4:37-38 - “Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them. He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and to give you their land for an inheritance.”
Deut. 8:7 - “The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of milk and honey… when you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.” Deut. 11:12 - “... a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.” Deut. 11:16-17 - “Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and… you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.”
Here are several more verses from Deuteronomy about the plans God wanted His people to follow while they were living in their land: Deut. 4:5, 4:13-14, 4:25-31, 4:35-40, 5:31-33, 6:1, 6:10-15, 6:22-25, 7:1-6, 7:12-15, 8:1, 8:6-10, 9:1-6, 10:11, 11:8-12, 11:16-25, 11:31-32, 12:1-4, 12:29-30, 15:4-5, 15:11, 16:20, 17:14-15, 18:9-14, 19:8-10, 21:22-23, 23:19-20, 24:14-15, 25:13-16, 26:1-3, 26:8-11, 26:15-19, 27:1-3, 29:25-29, 31:3-8, 32:45-49.
These verses tell us about the sacrifices the Israelites were to perform, many of which picture the coming Messiah who would atone for their sins, who would save those who believed in Him. They describe their celebrations and feasts, ones which would give them opportunities to worship Him. We learn about God’s plans regarding kings, war, sin, justice, tithes, marriage, divorce, food, aliens, being exiled from their land, etc. God was clearly instructing His people how they were to live for Him, be blessed by Him, and glorify Him in their land.
Now think about this: is there any other country in the world that God chose and loved, and then wrote out specific plans instructing them how they were to live in their land? Did God give any other nation laws that they were to obey so as to be blessed, and so God would be glorifed. No! Never! It's critically important that you understland God’s amazing and awesome work with the Jewish people.
3) Finally, the land becomes Israel’s possession. It was over 600 years after God promised the land to Abram that He directed his descendants to go in to possess their land. These verses from Joshua and Judges tell us a little bit of what happened.
* Joshua 1:4 - “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.” God reminded Joshua of His promise to the Jewish people about their land and its boundaries.
* Joshua 1:11 - “… you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” The land the Israelites were receiving from God, the land they were to possess and occupy, was a most wonderful gift - and they did not earn it or deserve it.
* Joshua 2:24 - “All the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.” The people living in this land were afraid of Israel, and were quickly and easily driven out by her armies.
* Joshua 10:42 - “Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.” That God Himself fought for Israel is, in itself, compelling evidence that He wanted Israel to possess and keep the land.
* Joshua 11:23 - “Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses, and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their division by their tribes.” God divided up the land, and Joshua allotted to each of the twelve tribes their portion.
* Joshua 21:43 - “The Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed the land and lived in it.” Over 600 years after God initially made His promise to Abram, the Israelites took possession of their land and began to live in it. That God kept His promise about the land clearly shows the fulfillment of His purpose and plans for His people. Isaiah 46:9-10
* Judges 2:1 - “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to our fathers… I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you.’” God's promise of land for Israel is an eternal covenant and will never be broken. Israel will live in her land forever and ever.
When we look in God’s word and at world history, we can’t help but see God's faithful working with the Jewish people. They first entered their land around 1400 BC, and lived there for about 800 years, until 606 BC. Then they were exiled out of their land, but 70 years later, in 536 BC, reentered their land. They were in their land for over 600 years, but in 70 AD, were again removed from their land. Then in the late 1800s, Jewish people started returning to their land, and in 1948 they miraculously became a nation. And here we are, 75 years later, and there are a great multitude of Israelis living on their land, 7.2 million strong. Not surprisingly, Israel is now in the middle of another punishing conflict, the Hamas / Palestine - Israeli war.
What is going to happen? We know that God is not finished with Israel - He has much more in store for them. The Bible tells us that the years leading up to Christ’s return and the rapture of the church will be difficult and painful for both Christians and Jews (Matt. 24:8-31). But shortly after the rapture, a large remnant of Jewish people will be spiritually saved. And in the coming kingdom age, Jewish believers, along with Christians, will inherit the land, that is, the entire earth. Together with Jesus Christ, they will reign over this rennovated world for 1,000 glorious, Christ-exalting years. “They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Rev. 20:6; Psalms 47, 67, 96; Heb. 11:39-40
P.S. I cannot stress enough the importance of understanding God's promise of land for the Jewish people, and there possession of it. I would encourage you to read this history article of the Jewish people - "A Summary of the Work of God from the time of Abraham to Christ's Millennial Kingdom." And here's a good article on this Thanksgiving Day - "Being Thankful - the Character of a Christian."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #292 ~
What’s the big deal about this small piece of land that sits off the eastern edge of the Mediterranean? Didn’t you know that God’s purpose has always been to work with His chosen people who are living on this land? God’s plan has always been to bless them so they might fear Him, obey Him, and forever praise Him. “The Lord remembered His covenant for their sake… Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say ‘Amen’. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 106:44-48
Who are these people? They are descendants of Abraham, the Jewish people, the Israelites. And God’s plan is for there to be a special piece of land, a designated place where He can bless His people, and where they can worship Him, serve Him, and be a witness to the world of His glory. God wants people all over the world to see His people being blessed so that they themselves might fear Him, obey Him, praise Him, and be blessed by Him. “Let the peoples praise You, O God… Let the nations be glad and sing for joy… God blesses us so that all the ends of the earth might fear Him.” Psalm 67:7
That Israel should possess this land started with God’s promise to Abraham around 2,050 BC, and this was an everlasting covenant. About 1440BC, God gave Moses specific plans as to how He wanted the Jewish people to live in the land. Then around 1400 BC, Joshua led them into the land, the land from the river to the sea, “from the Jordan even to the Great Sea” (Josh. 23:4), where they lived for a little over 800 years.
God’s history of the Israelites living in their land for those 800+ years is extensive, given in 25 different books of the Old Testament, a history that covers close to 60% of its pages. So what happened during the Israelite's stay in the land? What does God want us to learn from them? Here are some of the most important lessons:
* God worked through the lives of godly people. God always had His person carrying out His plan, like Joshua, Ruth, Deborah, Samson, Samuel, David, Elijah, Asa, Isaiah, Joel, etc. By God’s grace working in the lives of His people, victories were won and His purposes were fulfilled. I say grace because God's people in and of themselves were unable to do what He wanted them to do. So God empowered the weak and the humble, like Gideon and his small army, and enabled them to get the victory. “Arise, for the Lord has given the camp of Midian into your hands” (Judges 7:15). And God always got the credit for the glorious work He was doing through the lives of ordinary people.
* God worked through the lives of wicked people. God raised up evil individuals and nations for His purposes, often allowing them to oppose His own people. Time and time again, God enabled His people to defeat His enemies. But it also happened that God would use His enemies, like the Assyrians and Babylonians, to judge His own people for their terrible sins. Then He would judge these same enemies for their sins (Hab. 1-2). By showing mercy or justice, God would be victorious with both His people and His enemies. The fundamental difference between the two are the three promises that God made to the Jewish people about the land, the King, and salvation, all of which are eternal in nature. You find all three promises in Psalm 125, in Isaiah 55, and in Ezekiel 37:21-23.
* Israel was at its peak during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. The Israelites and their land were being blessed like never before, and when the surrounding nations saw this, they were in awe and worshiped the God of Israel. The Queen of Sheba visited Solomon to learn of his wisdom and wealth, and she was truly affected by the incredible display of God’s glory in Israel. She said to Solomon, “Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel, because the Lord loved Israel forever.” 1 Kings 10:9
* God’s character, purpose, and glory were on display during Israel’s long stay in their land. If the Israelites were obedient and victorious, it was because God’s grace and power was working in their lives - think of David killing Goliath. If they were disobedient and defeated, then God was merciful and faithful - think of King Manasseh. In either case, God’s character was evident, His purpose was fulfilled, and He was glorified.
These truths are wonderfully illustrated by Psalms 78, 105, 106, and 136. They describe God's holy, powerful, merciful, patient working with His people. They tell us that God was sovereign, that His promises were kept, and that His purposes were fulfilled. They speak of thanksgiving and praise being given to God because of His awesome works, perfect character, and amazing glory. Psalm 136, my favorite of the four, repeats the truth of God’s love for His people 22 times, from the defeat of the Egyptians to their journey in the desert until the time they entered their land. “To Him who… gave their land as an inheritance, for His love endures forever.” And God continues to show you His immense love during your journey on earth.
God kept communicating to the Israelites during their time in Israel. What God said was the truth, and it was spoken clearly, completely, lovingly, and powerfully (Micah 3:8). He wanted the Jewish people to know who He was - “The Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King” (Jer. 10:10). And He wanted them to know what He was thinking, what He was doing, and what He planned to do. But most Jewish people weren’t interested in what God said, didn’t listen to what He said, or forgot what He said. Not knowing and heeding God’s word was their biggest problem, and it might be ours too. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
God talked to His people through the prophets, godly men who spoke eternal life-giving messages. “He has told you, O man what is good; and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, Mal. 2:4-7). The prophets talked about God, His person, purpose, and character. They proclaimed to the Jews their sin, warned them of God’s wrath if they didn't repent, and promised them God’s mercy if they did repent. And the prophets gave the people hope, for they predicted the coming of Christ as Savior (Is. 53) and King (Is. 9:6-7), and spoke volumes about His glorious kingdom age. Isaiah 61
From God's perspective, all those years in the land were very productive. The Israelites entered the land with promise and hope, but it didn’t take long before they sunk deep into sin. Sadly, it was the general pattern for most of those years. This may have seemed like a failure from man’s perspective but not from God’s. Critically important things took place and extremely valuable truths were written down during this time.
- Christ’s ancestors, 19 from Salmon to Jeconiah, lived during this time. Matthew 1:8-11
- God’s work was done exactly the way He wanted. Psalm 33:10-12
- God’s word was perfectly written down, and permanently so. Psalm 119
- God’s word teaches you very important lessons. From the Psalms you learn about praising God. From Proverbs, you learn many practical truths. From the Prophets, you learn about your Savior and King, and the coming Kingdom age.
- You learn life-lessons from the successes and the failures of those who lived during this time.
- Most importantly, you learn how God was always exalted and glorified by His word, by His works, and by the lives of people. Psalm 145
* Most of the Israelites time in their land, humanly speaking, were bad years, marked by all kinds of grievous sins. There was pride, rebellion, idolatry, disobedience, selfishness, worldliness, immorality, and murder, of babies too. God had no choice but to judge the defiled people and the defiled land (Lev. 18:24-28, Numb. 35:33-34). These judgments usually occurred after significant periods of sin. Some of the Jewish people died because of war, famines, and plagues, while others were forced from their sin-sick land and taken to other countries, most notably, to Assyria and Babylon.
* The Israelites' mass exodus from their land was in two stages, 606 BC and 586 BC. Jeremiah predicted that their exile would last for 70 years, which was exactly what happened (Jer. 25:1-11, 29:10-14). Then the Israelites came back to their land during which time Jesus Christ lived, died, and was raised from the dead. In 70 AD, they were again exiled, and for a very long time. Since the 1880's, they have been returning to their land, and now there are close to 7.2 million Jewish people living in Israel. It’s absolutely amazing to see God’s purposeful, powerful, and patient working with His people for the past 4,000+ years. But God has only just begun His work with the Jewish people. "For the sake of His great name the Lord will not reject His people, because the Lord was pleased to make you His own ." 1 Samuel 12:22
P.S. God speaks extensively about the Israelites and their time in their land. That's because He wants you to know His eternal commitment to them. In the years ahead, you will see the salvation of a great remnant of Jewish people and Christ's reign over the world. To help you grow in your understanding of God's chosen people, I encourage you to look at "A Jewish Reading Lesson".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #293 ~
The world has all kinds of ideas about what Christmas means, but what God does say, what does God’s word tell us, what is the whole message? Matt. 1:23 - “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.” A foundational truth about Christmas is that there was a woman named Mary who miraculously became pregnant and gave birth to a baby named Jesus. This Son of Man was the Son of God - and He was both God and man so He could be Immanuel, so He could live with man.
There are a number of reasons why God wanted Jesus to be both God and man - let me share with you seven of them:
1. Jesus had to be God and man to fulfill Bible prophecy. Many prophecies in God’s word had to be fulfilled by Jesus, for only a person who was both God and man could fulfill them.
- Isaiah 9:6-7 - This child, this son, is the Mighty God, and He will rule over the world forever - and this can only be speaking of Jesus, one who is God and man.
- Micah 5:2-5 - This person is born in Bethlehem, and He’s eternal and He's a King, a ruler who brings peace to the ends of the earth. This describes one who would have to be both God and man, and we know His name is Jesus.
- Many prophecies speak of the Messiah, one who would be a Savior, King, Judge, and Redeemer. To fulfill these roles, He would have to be both God and man, and indeed, this is referring to Jesus Christ. Isaiah 40-66
2. Jesus is both God and man so He could reveal God to mankind. God revealed Himself to mankind through creation (Rom. 3:20-21), but most importantly He revealed Himself through Jesus. Heb. 1:3 says, “Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.” The word radiance means to send forth light, and Jesus is sending forth the light and glory of God. Think about the sun - you don’t actually see the sun, but you see the light, the rays of the sun. And just as the sunlight reflects the sun, so Jesus reflects God. When you see Jesus, you see the exact representation of God’s nature. You see His power, love, supremacy, authority, holiness, goodness, mercy, and His purpose. John 1:29
“Jesus is the image of the invisible God”(Col. 1:15). God is invisible but Jesus is visible, and therefore, He can show us who God is and what He is like. Jesus represented God perfectly when He was on earth. By His words and teaching, by His actions and miracles, by what He said and did, Jesus was manifesting God, was making God visible, was revealing God to us. The way we know God the Father is by knowing God the Son. John the Baptist said, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten of God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him”(John 1:18). And Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” John 14:9
3. Jesus is both God and man so He could take our sins upon Himself. He would pay the penalty for our sins, that is, be punished for our sins with the result that God the Father would be satisfied by the justice that Jesus carried out for us, and then declare us righteous and give us eternal life (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus became a man so He could be our Savior, so He could save us from the consequences of our sin, from Satan, death, and hell. Rom. 5:8, 6:23; 1 Pet. 3:18
4. Jesus is both God and man so He could be with us forever. One of Jesus' names is “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” This is a powerful and wonderful truth, that God actually came down to earth to love us, to live like us, to live with us, and to be with us forever. This is unbelievable, this is amazing that Jesus, that God Himself wants to live with us.
To think that God would come down to our level so we can live with Him, so we can see Him and His smile and His love for us, so we can hear Him speak to us, so we can talk to Him, and so we can have fellowship with Him is so encouraging. John 14:16-18, 14:1-3. During this church age, Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit, but soon enough Jesus will come back and we will be glorified, and physically and forever be with Him in heaven and on earth. Rev. 21:1-3, 10-21
5. Jesus is both God and man so He can be an example to us. Matt. 5:48 says that we are to be perfect like our heavenly Father is perfect, and Eph. 5:2 says we are to imitate God. Since Jesus is God, then we can be like God by looking to Jesus, by seeing His life and hearing His words. We need human examples and Jesus is the best one we have, a perfect one.
6. Jesus is both God and man so He can defeat death and perfectly reign over this earth. Adam, the 1st man, was created by God to rule this earth, but he sinned and failed in his mission. The result of Adam's sin was that he spiritually and physically died - and his sin was passed on to his descendants resulting in spiritual and physical death to all of mankind. Not only that, but the entire creation was corrupted by his sin. Rom. 5:12-21, Rom. 8:19-22
So God sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, the 2nd Adam, a perfect man, to earth. He was the only One who could save both us and this world from sin and death. If we believe that Christ died and rose again for us, we will be saved from sin and death and spiritually be made alive. And at Christ’s coming, when the church is raptured, we will physically be made alive, we will receive brand-new, glorified bodies. 1 Cor. 15:20-23
But what about this earth? Who can redeem this world from sin, Satan, and hell? Who is worthy and able to rule this world? Who can break the seals that initiate the whole end-time process that leads to Christ's return? Only Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose from the dead, can defeat the devil, and renew and restore this earth. Rev. 5:1-5, Col. 2:14-15
After Christ returns, the restoration process of the earth begins. He will take back the earth from Satan and all the evil authorities and powers. (1 Cor. 15:24-28, 1 Jn. 5:19, Acts 3:20-21). We don’t know exactly how this restoration process will happen, but it will occur when Christ is ruling over this earth during the 1000-year millennial kingdom. At the end of that time, the earth will be restored to God's original design. Ps. 98:4-8, Is. 65:17-23
Christ’s final act, the culmination of His reign, of all His work, is to turn this world back over to the Father. Then, as 1 Cor. 15:28 says, “The Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” John MacArthur summed up Christ’s work on earth this way: “When He took the assignment of salvation from His Father, Christ came to earth as a baby, and lived and grew up as a man among men. He taught, preached, healed, and did miraculous works. He died, was buried, was raised, and ascended to His Father, where He now intercedes for those who are His. When He returns, He will fight, conquer, rule, judge, and then, as His last work on the Father’s behalf, forever subdue and finally judge all the enemies of God, recreate the earth and heavens, and finally deliver the kingdom to the God and the Father.”
Jesus had to be both God and man to carry out this salvation process, the saving of souls from sin and death, and the restoring of this earth. MacArthur goes on to say, “From the time of the Incarnation until the time when He presents the kingdom to the Father, Christ is in the role of a Servant.” That is, Jesus is serving as God and man from the Incarnation, from the birth of Jesus, until the end of the millennial kingdom. And Jesus will keep being God and man forever and ever - and continue His close and affectionate relationship with His Father and with us.
Why am I taking so much time on this 6th point? So you can better understand the meaning of Christmas. We celebrate Christmas not just to celebrate Jesus' birth, but to uunderstand the totality of Christ's purpose, His whole reason for coming to this earth. We are not focused on the baby Jesus but we are looking at the big picture, that Jesus was commissioned by His Father to save man and this world from sin, death, and corruption. During this church age, Christ has been doing just that, and as Christians, we are to be worshiping Christ and working with Him, sharing the saving message of the gospel. Indeed, it's a wonderful life, a fruitful, exciting, eternal, and God-glorifying life that we have.
But we also have hope, we have a future, a most glorious future. This is what Mary tells us. She knew it wasn't just about baby Jesus, but that her son was God's Son, the Messiah, and that He would grow up to be the Savior, and the King who would forever rule over the world. (Luke 1:30-33). And as Christians we are so blessed, for we will be living with Christ, reigning with Christ, and loving Christ forever and ever. Rev. 5:10, Rev. 21
We are now very close to the end of this age, to that time when Christ returns to rapture the church, judge this world, begin His reign over the earth, and begin this restoration process. I love what 1 Chron. 12:32 says - "The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do." As Christians, we need to understand these times that we are living in, and know what we are to do, that we are to love God and live for Him, and that we are to use our gifts and do our part in building up His kingdom. Mark 12:30, 1 Peter 4:10-11
7. Jesus is both God and man so that He and the Father will be greatly glorified. God knew that much more glory would be brought to Him and His Son if His Son would become a man, and be the Savior of sinners, the Shepherd of believers, the Judge of the world, the King of this earth, and reign with Him over the eternal kingdom. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen." (Ps. 72:18-19). "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Now Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." John 17:4-5
P.S. The Christmas message is so important, so instructive, and so encouraging. Here are my six previous Christmas messages: #49 - First Coming to Church Age to Kingdom Age; #99 - The Christmas Story and Christ's Second Coming; #149 -Christmas is More Than Baby Jesus; #201 - The True Meaning of Christmas; #233 - It's Not Just About the Baby Jesus; #264 - When I Think of Christmas....
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #294 ~
What’s going to happen in 2024? It’s similar to what happened in 2023 and 2022 and 2021 and 2020 and 2019 and 2018 and 2017 and so on. You see, in His word, God predicted the general condition of the world during this time, what is called the end-times (Dan. 12:4), a period related to the reoccupying of the land of Israel by the Jews. God wants us to know that the same kind of events will be taking place in these last years before Christ’s coming. What occurred in 2023 is similar to what will happen in 2024 which is similar to what will happen in 2025 and so on. And all these God-predicted events that have been and will be taking place are progressive, purposeful, and part of His plan leading to His Son’s return to rapture the church and rule over this world - “with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, the summing up of all things in Christ.” Eph. 1:10
What does God tell us about the end-time events, about 2024 and the years beyond?
Birth pains - “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines” (Luke 21:10-11). “… These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Matt. 24:6-8). There have been and will continue to be birth pains occurring in various places around the world. They are designed by God to wake people up to the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back, and soon. These birth pains are wars (Ukraine, Israel, etc.), earthquakes (Japan, Turkey, etc.), plagues (Covid 19, etc.), and food shortages (Africa, Asia, etc.). As time goes on, these birth pains will be getting stronger and becoming more frequent. Rev. 6:1-8
Lawlessness - “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12) - “In the last days, difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self… lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God… evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse” (2 Tim. 3:1-4, 13). Have you noticed the increasing lawlessness in our country? Anyone can see that there’s more wickedness, greed, evil, envy, murder, strife, deceit, slander (Rom. 1:29-30), that there’s rampant crime and theft, that there’s the horrendous trafficking of children, that there are millions of border-breakers, that sexual sin is more perverted than ever, that unborn babies are still being killed, that evil is “good” and good is “evil”, etc., etc., etc. This rebellion against God resulting in sin and lawbreaking will get much worse before Christ comes back and pours out His wrath upon this world. Rev. 8-9, 16
False Teachers - “It is the last hour; just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared” (1 John 2:18). “Many false prophets will arise and mislead many” (Matt. 24:11, 2 Peter 2). We live in a post Judeo-Christian age and are consequently witnessing a rapid decline in church attendance. It’s not just that people aren’t interested in God and don’t go to church, it’s that many hate Jesus Christ and His gospel message. But we haven’t seen anything yet - wait until the Antichrist comes, for then he and his evil minions will oppose the truth of God and spew out the lies of the devil like never before. “He opened his mouth in blasphemies against God.” Rev. 13:6
Persecution of Christians - “They will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons… for my name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13). Persecution against Christians has clearly been getting worse in the past few years. The enemy, calling us Christian Nationalists, extremists, etc., is arresting us for little to no reason at all. They want to shut us down to stop the spread of the gospel and our opposition to their sin. But that won’t happen, for the preaching of the good news of Christ’s mercy for sinners will continue to the coming of Christ. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you.” 1 Peter 4:12-19, Matt. 24:9
Antisemitism - “They will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). Antisemitism has been occurring since the birth of the Jewish nation close to 4,000 years ago. This devilish persecution has been directed against the Israeli nation and against Jewish people all over the world. Most recently, you’ve seen the horrific, Hamas-led attacks against Israel. Sadly, but sovereignly, some of the worst Antisemitism is still to come, when the Antichrist rules the world. This punishing persecution continues until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled and a remnant of Jews are saved. Psalm 83; Matt. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:3-4, 7-9, 13-17; Rom. 11:25-27
Nation / Kingdom Reconfiguration - “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meschech and Tubal… I will bring you out, and all your army… Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote part of the north with all its troops.” (Ezek. 38:1-6). This is one of many passages that lists out countries and / or kingdoms that are key parts of the global end-times’ landscape. Dan. 2:40-45, Dan. 7:15-27, Dan. 8:21-26, Dan. 9:26-27, Dan. 11:36-45, Zech. 12:1-9, Rev. 12:1-6, and other passages also give us clues as to what the world looks like in the end, when the Antichrist and the Christ are present. But I believe its too early to be able predict the exact configuration of nations at that time.
I believe it is evident that the United States is in steep decline and will not be a world power broker in the last years of this age. I also believe that the locus of major kingdom activity will be in European, African, and Mideastern nations, especially the latter (Dan. 8:23-25, 9:26-27). In the years ahead, God will continue to reshape and realign countries and kingdoms all over the world. In 2024, there will be a big election in this country, but there will also be over 40 foreign national elections involving nearly half the world’s population. God Himself will elect the rulers in these countries who will then continue to carry out His end-time plans leading to the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings.” Daniel 2:21
Seventy Weeks - “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity… he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate” (Dan. 9:24, 27). We’ve been talking about the general conditions of a general time period, the end-times, ones which show us that it won’t be long before Christ returns. These verses describe Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year period during which several specific and critical events occur, ones which will make it very clear that Christ’s coming, for both Christians and Jews, is only a few years away.
At the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, there’s the signing of a covenant between Israel and the coming Antichrist; at the midpoint of this week, the Antichrist is revealed; and at the end of this week, a remnant of Jewish people is saved. Other major events will take place during this 70th week: offering sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem, the great tribulation, the mark of the beast, and most importantly for us, Christ’s return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:9, 15, 21-22, 30-31; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:16-17
The Gospel - “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). The gospel will be preached to all nations in the last years of this church age. This is the work of Christ, and our work too. With all the trouble that’s going on in this world, might the gospel message be on our heart, mind, and lips. What a joy to labor for and with Jesus our Lord, knowing that He's spiritually with us to the end of the age, and will physically return to earth to glorify us and take us home to heaven to forever be with Him. Matt. 6:33, 16:18, 28:19-20; 1 Thess. 4:15-18
No one knows exactly what will be taking place in 2024 but we know, in general, that there will be more birth pains, lawlessness, false teachers, persecution, and Antisemitism. We also know that God, "who works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11), has all the end-time details figured out, and that He is specifically working with every nation, ruler, and person, for each is part of His plan to send Jesus Christ back to this planet.
“So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mark 13:23). Don’t be sleeping - be awake and alert, and aware of what God is doing during these final years, knowing that He is getting everything ready to return His Son to earth to rapture the church, save the Jews, and gloriously reign over this world. “‘Behold, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20-21
P.S. Here in this country, people are so consumed with the Presidential election in November. But might we see the big picture, and that it won't be long before God sends His own Son back to earth. Here are three other posts that talk about how the Bible predicts the future: "Prophecy Is Predicting the Future", "Bible Prophecy Enables Us to See the Future", "Forecasting the Future of the World."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #295 ~
There has never been anyone like the Jewish people! Beginning with God’s unbreakable promise to Abraham around 2,000 BC (Gen. 12:1-3) and her supernatural birth as a nation in Egypt, she has miraculously survived through all the years, and she is still going today. The Israelites have had all these ups and downs, victories and defeats and, twice now, God drove them from her land and then brought them back. Despite all her sin and rebellion against God, we continue to see His unbelievable patience, awesome power, and incredible grace for them. Psalms 78, 105, 106
Why is this? Because Israel is God’s country. He chose her out of all the other nations in the world to be His people (Deut. 7:7-9). God has great and glorious plans for Israel, ones He has been fulfilling these past 4,000+ years, ones carefully recorded in His word, and ones impacting them and the entire world. And because God’s plans for Israel are eternal in nature, then He will bless her forever. Gen. 13:14-16
In recent posts, we’ve looked at Israel’s history as it relates to the land she first entered about 3,400 years ago. God’s relationship and work with the Israelites relates directly to her land. If you talk about the people of Israel, then you need to also talk about the land of Israel. “The Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants, I have given this land.’” Gen. 15:18
Last time we learned that Joshua led the Jewish people into their land around 1400 BC. “Joshua took the whole land… and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel.” (Josh. 11:23). Her east-west boundaries were from the river to the sea, “from the Jordan even to the Great Sea” (Josh. 23:4). This land was for Israel and not for anyone else. Ps. 105:8-11
Hundreds of years later, in 722 BC, 606 BC, and 586 BC, God exiled the Israelites out of the land He had given them. Why was God punishing His own people and forcing them out of their land? Because of sin, disobedience, and idolatry. Deut. 28:47-63 - “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart … The Lord will bring a nation against you… You will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it.” Jer. 25:8-11 - “Because you have not obeyed My words... This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” Ezek. 5:12 - “One third of you will die of plague or be consumed by famine… one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them.” Ezek. 7:23 - “The land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.” Jer. 12:7-11, 16:18; Ezek. 4:13, 9:9, 11:23; Dan. 9:7-14
What about this Jewish remnant that was taken away from the land of Israel? God had plans for His people in the land where they were exiled, and He was present with them during their entire 70-year stay. Jer. 29:5-7 - “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons… Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile.” Ezek. 6:8 - “I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword… when you are scattered among the countries.” Ezek. 11:16 - “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Though I had removed them far away among the nations… yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.’”
What did God’s prophets say about the Messiah, the Israelites, and their land during their exile? They had a great deal to say, especially about the far distant future, about the end-times and the coming kingdom age. These prophecies make it very clear that God is committed to the Jewish people and committed to communicating His plans to them and to Christians too. The advantage we have at this time in history is that we can look back and better understand God’s plans for the Israelites, and how it now relates to us. Ezek. 36:6 - “Prophesy concerning the land of Israel…” Ezek. 36:24-28 - “I will… gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land... I will give you a clean heart and put a new spirit in you. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers, so you will be My people and I will be your God.” Ezek. 37:21-28 - “I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob my servant in which your fathers lived… I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them.”
Ezekiel 38:7 - “In the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations… it shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.” Ezek. 39:25-28 - “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name… They will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations and gathered them again to their own land.” Dan. 9:25-26 - “You are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah the Prince there will be 7 weeks and 62 weeks… After the 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
God promised the Jewish people that He would bring them back to their land. He told His people that they would be exiled out of their land (Jer. 25:8-11) and then return 70 years later (Jer. 29:11-13) - and this took place just as God promised. Deut. 30:1-5 - “When all of these things have come upon you… and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him… then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity… the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed…” Jer. 16:14-15 - “I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.” Jer. 29:10-11 - “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Ezek. 11:17 - “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’’
Why do I spend so much time on Israel and her land? Because there’s so much written in God’s word about Israel and her land, which means she is extremely important to God. And because you need to know God’s plans for Israel if you’re to truly understand His plans for the church. Yes, there are people who question Israel’s purpose and place in the world, but what did God tell us in His word? You need to carefully study what God says about Israel in the Old and New Testaments, and then you will know the real truth and relevance of God’s plans for her and for you. Matt. 24:9-31, Rom. 15:8-13, Rev. 21:10-14
I am amazed and in awe when I see God’s works and ways through the years, whether it relates to me, the church, Israel, or the world. Be thankful that you can be part of God’s plans and can serve Him in the last years of this church age. Might you say, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders, and blessed be His glorious name forever; and may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen” (Ps. 72:18-19). And be looking forward to when you can say, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3
P.S. I am writing all these posts about Israel and her land because she is the most important country in the world, and because its relevant to our world today and in the future. I encourage you to read my previous posts on this subject: "God Promised 'the Land' to Israel", "'The Land': God's Promise and Plans, and Israel's Possession", "Israel's Long Stay in 'the Land' and God's Glory."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #296 ~
You can’t fully understand God’s plans for the Jewish people unless you learn about the land God gave to them. It was around 2,050 BC that God first promised this land to Abram, and He kept reminding him and his descendants that it was their land. (Gen. 12:1, 13:14-15, 15:18-21, 17:7-8; Ps. 105:8-11). Finally, around 1,400 BC, under Joshua’s leadership, the Jewish people entered this promised land. During their extended stay in this land, God did many great and glorious things for them. But because of all their terrible sin, they only lived there for about 800 years, and then God made them leave - but only for a short time.
God tells us exactly when the Jewish people would come back. Through Jeremiah, God predicts, “When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:10-11). Then there’s Daniel pleading with God, reminding Him of His promise to Jeremiah to bring His people back to their land. (Dan. 9:1-19). Finally, Cyrus, “in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah”, issues a decree that the Jews can go back to their land to “rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel.” Ezra 1:2-4
After being exiled out of their land for exactly 70 years, Jewish people began returning - and it happened in three stages, in 538 BC, 458 BC, and 445 BC. Here are several important things to note about the Jews’ return to their land and the years that followed:
* Nearly 2,000,000 Israelites entered their land close to 870 years earlier, but in this first stage there’s a remnant of only about 50,000. Yet, God’s purposes were destined to be fulfilled.
* Life in the land of Israel was difficult, was very different from what it was like when they were deported 70 years earlier. The city of Jerusalem and its walls were in ruins, and there was no temple, no sacrifices, and no security for the people.
* The Israelites were in their land, but it was controlled by the Persians - thus Israel had no king for she was not a sovereign nation. Nehemiah said, “We are slaves today, and as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and bounty, behold, we are slaves in it. Its abundant produce is for the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins… We are in great tribulation” (Neh. 9:36-37). The Jewish people were poor, were not in charge, and had forfeited God’s blessings because of their ancestors’ sins.
* For the Jews it was the time of the Gentiles. No divinely appointed king was ruling over them, and this would continue until the 2nd coming of Christ, the return of the King. Luke 21:24, Zech. 14:4,9
* The ethnic and national identity of the Jewish people was truly preserved. They were back in their land, they had their religion and culture, and the priestly lines were still intact. Temple worship and sacrifices could take place with hopes that God’s presence and glory would return.
* Haggai the prophet was part of the 1st wave of Jews who came back to their land in 538 BC. He exhorted the people to live godly lives and rebuild the temple, which was then completed in 516 BC. He prophesied of a future temple, future glory, and a future king, whom we know is Christ the King, One who will “fill this house with glory” and “destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations.” Haggai 2:7, 22
* Ezra, a scribe and a priest, led a 2nd wave of Jews to their land in 458 BC. Devoted to teaching God’s word, Ezra helped lead a great revival among the Jewish people (Neh. 8-10). By instructing them about God’s past dealings with their ancestors (1-2 Chron.), he encouraged the people and gave them hope about the future. “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever… the covenant which He made with Abraham… He confirmed it to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan.’” 1 Chronicles 16:14-18
* Nehemiah, a strong and godly leader, was instrumental in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem - and he also served as her governor. An excellent summary of God’s merciful and patient working with His people is given in Neh. 9. We are again reminded of God’s promise to His people about the land - “You are the Lord God who chose Abram… You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites… to give it to his descendants” (Neh. 9:7-8). There’s no doubt that God wanted His people to remember His everlasting faithfulness and His promise of land.
* Zechariah was a priest and a contemporary of Haggai. “Zechariah” actually means “God remembers”, and God always remembers His promises to His people. They had just returned from captivity, and the situation in Israel was bleak. To encourage the people, God commissioned Zechariah to tell the people about their hope, specifically about the coming kingdom age. He gives many references about their glorious future: Zech. 1:16-17; Zech. 2:1-13; Zech. 3:6-10; Zech. 6:1-8; Zech. 8:1-8, 12-13, 20-22; Zech. 9:8-17; Zech. 10:1-12; Zech. 12:7-14; Zech. 13:1-9; Zech. 14:1-21. These verses speak of Israel living in their land during the time when Christ is King over them and the entire world. “In that day His (the Lord’s) feet will stand on the Mount of Olives… the Lord shall be King over all the earth.” Zech. 14:4, 9
* Satan strongly opposes the Jewish people from their return to the land up to Christ's 1st coming. Satan's plan is to prevent the Messiah from coming to earth, and so he employs four devilish empires to go after the Jewish people - but Satan is thwarted every time. Dan. 7:1-8 and Rev. 12:1-5 describe these as beast empires, as vicious, animal-like, God-hating kingdoms. These beasts represent Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, with the fourth beast becoming a future 10-horned kingdom, one ruled by the Antichrist. The book of Esther speaks of the Medo-Persian empire and her attempt, through Haman, to wipe out the Jewish people - but they failed. Yes, the Jews were in a weakened state during these 530+ years, but God was so loving and strong, and He always protected and preserved His people. His promises to them never failed.
The prophet Malachi had much to say to the Jewish people. Yes, they had a fresh start when they returned to their land, but they had sunk to a depth of sin that was as bad as it had ever been. So Malachi clearly points out the sins of the priests and the people. There was corruption, complacency, divorce, defiled sacrifices, hard-hearts, intermarriage, bad teaching, legalism, withholding of tithes, etc. So God warned them of coming judgment, of “the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). Despite this judgment, God has a faithful remnant of Jews, saying to them, “to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2
The book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, the last time God speaks to His people until Christ’s 1st coming. It’s around 430 BC, and the land of Israel was under foreign rule; the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants had not been fulfilled; the Jewish people were still being oppressed; the future still looked bleak; and the Messiah had not yet come to Israel. But God never forgot His people and His promises to them - He knew exactly what He was doing and would be doing.
Scholars call these 430 years before the coming of the Messiah, before the birth of Jesus, the intertestamental period. God knew that certain things had to be in place “before the fullness of the time came,” before He would send Christ to earth (Gal. 4:4). During this peiod Jewish synagogues were built; rabbis, Pharisees, and Sadducees came to be; the Greek and Latin languages were established; the Greek Septuagint was written; there were the Roman roads; and there was Pax Romana. God was doing detail work, getting everyone and everything in place before sending His Son to earth.
It wouldn’t be long before Christ would come, not to Persia or Edom or Italy or Greece or Assyria or Egypt or Ethiopia, but to the land of Israel and the Jewish people. Once in Israel, Christ would live a perfect life, die for our sins, be raised from the dead, and then ascend into heaven. Then at His 2nd coming, it will be said, “The Lord be magnified beyond the border of Israel… My name will be great among the nations” (Mal. 1:5, 11), and “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land.” Malachi 3:12
P.S. I am strongly convinced that we need to understand the long and amazing history of the Jewish people and their land, the land of Israel. I have written four different posts about the Jews and their land, and I encourage you to read them all - #290, #291, #292, and 295. And I am planning on writing two to three more, from the time of Christ up to the present and into the future.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #297 ~
If you are a child of God, if God is your heavenly Father, then you are greatly, personally, and forever loved by Him. God wants you to know and experience His love every day of the week and every year of your life. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). “Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.” Psalm 90:14
If you are not satisfied by God's love, then you will look to people or things in the world. That will not be good for you and will not bring glory to God. So go after God, seek Him, and make it your goal for your soul to know and be satisfied by His love. Then you will love God and love others and be able to joyfully carry out His plans for your life. Then you can make it through the tough times and these end-times. And then you will greatly glorify your God and Father.
I have written up a long list of Bible verses on God’s love. They are in my most recent article on this blog site. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing these truths about love, thinking about them, and seeing them impact your life on earth. Listed below are several thoughts about love from these verses.
1. The greatest demonstration of God’s love for you is seen in Christ’s death on the cross, in that He was punished to pay the penalty for all your sins, and that God the Father was perfectly and forever satisfied by what His Son did for you.
2. The love of God is based on the truth of God.
3. God’s word gives you a great amount of information about God’s love.
4. God’s love for you began in eternity past and will continue into eternity future.
5. There is never a gap, a break in God’s love - it is constant and continual.
6. Ask God to show you His love so you can know His love.
7. Never expect or depend on a person to love you, but do expect and depend on God to love you.
8. God’s love is seen in many ways: it is good, kind, gentle, forgiving, patient, and compassionate.
9. Keep thanking God for His amazing and incredible love for you.
10. God’s love is shown in that He thinks about you, speaks to you, and works for you.
11. Knowing God's love is one of the most important keys to loving people.
12. Singing about God’s love is good for your soul.
13. Being filled with God’s love is necessary to be fruitful and blessed.
14. You need to rely on and be satisfied by God's love every day of your life. You may start the day with a cup of coffee but you must start the day with God’s love.
15. You see God's love dimly during this life, but you will see it much more clearly and fully after your life on earth, when you are with Him in heaven.
16. God expresses His love to you in many ways. He loves you by giving you His Spirit, by being with you, by never leaving you, by providing for you, by leading you, by protecting you, by spiritually blessing you, by physically blessing you, by speaking to you through His word, by using you for His purposes, by giving you Christian fellowship, and by giving you hope.
17. Its vitally important to keep yourself in God’s love (Jude 21). You do this by: spending time with God, and for more than just a few minutes a day; meditating on verses about love; remembering what Christ did for you on the cross; loving God; obeying God; being filled with the Spirit; believing the truth of God’s love; having communion with Christians; confessing your sins to God; being thankful; sharing God's love with others; and having fellowship with Christians.
18. Remember how God loved you in the past; focus on His love for you today; and think about how He will love you in the future, especially when you are in heaven.
19. A key to perseverance, to not giving up, is thinking about the personal and never-stopping, never-ending love of God.
20. God loves you even when you do not feel like He loves you. Never gauge His love for you by how you feel, by your emotional state, or by the kind of day you are having.
21. That God made you and then made you His child is a good and powerful sign of His love for you.
22. God’s love is true, unfathomable, incomprehensible, infinite, and eternal.
23. You cannot love God and love the world - they do not mix. If you love God, you are not loving the world, and if you love the world, you are not loving God.
24. Disobeying God means you are not being led by and filled up with His love.
25. One way to know God’s love is seeing how He is sovereign over your life.
26. God’s caring and compassionate love is really needed when you are going through troublesome and trying times.
27. The more you know God loves you, the more you will work and fight for Him.
28. Great tribulation, great persecution, is coming upon this earth. But during this time, nothing will keep you from God's encouraging and comforting love.
29. Many of the verses I have listed in Article 52 are about David. I believe he is our best human example in the Bible of one who knew the love of God. Learn about God's love by reading the Psalms and learning from David's life.
30. The more you know and walk in God’s love, the more you will glorify God.
P.S. This is Valentine's Day, a day that focuses on human love. But as Christians, we must focus on God's love. I strongly encourage you to read and print out the verses on God's love that are in my recent article, "The Love of God", and then take the time to think about them. And pass them on to family and friends.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #298 ~
To truly know where things are headed in this world, you must understand God’s purpose and plans for Israel. It started about 4,000 years ago when God promised to Abraham and his descendants that they were to be His people, that He would give them a special piece of land, and that He would greatly and eternally bless them. Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-16, 17:1-8
It was around 1845 BC when Israel was born in the nation of Egypt. She grew to be about 2,000,000 people, and then in 1445 BC, Moses miraculously led her out of Egypt. And 40 years later, Joshua led her into the promised land. For about 800 years, she lived in this good land, but God drove her out because of all her sins. In 538 BC, exactly 70 years after she was exiled, God sovereignly brought a Jewish remnant back to Israel. Indeed, God kept His promise to His people - "When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place," Jeremiah 29:10-14
What was the main reason God brought some Israelites back to their land? Because He wanted His Son to save people from their sins. And for that to happen, His Son, Jesus, needed to be the Son of man, a descendant of Jewish people, and be born in this land of Israel. For the next 500+ years, God was getting everyone and everything in place, and it all went according to His plans. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His inheritance.” Psalm 33:10-12
The 2000-year history of the Israelites was culminating in the coming of Jesus Christ, of God’s Son to earth. And Jesus came to the land of Israel, not to Persia, Magog, Edom, Italy, Greece, Assyria, Egypt, Ethiopia, or any other place. It was in Israel that God would accomplish His most important work, the suffering, death, and resurrection of His own Son, so as to save souls from sin, death, and hell. Matthew 26-28; Romans 3:23, 6:23
Finally, “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4). The Son of God was born of a woman and, thus, was also the Son of man, and He had to be God and Man to fulfill His most important work. The last 3 years of Jesus’ 33-year life were the most critical, for He was completely focused on the people and carrying out God’s work. “I brought You glory by completing the work You gave Me to do.” John 17:1-4
During those last few years of His earthly life, Jesus was crisscrossing the land of Israel, going from villages to cities, to places like Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, Bethany, Jericho, Bethsaida, Bethesda, Chorazin, and Jerusalem. Jesus dearly loved the people; He was always gentle, patient, and kind; He worked extremely hard; He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead; He was continually teaching the truth; He was devoted to training disciples; and He “would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5:16
Jesus was also fulfilling prophecy, predictions about His life when He was in the land of Israel, ones God had made 100’s of years earlier. Mic. 5:2 said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Is. 9:1-2 told us He would be a great light in the land of Galilee. Is. 35:5-6 spoke of miracles being performed in Israel, which Jesus did. Zech. 9:9 predicted that that this Messiah would come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey. These prophecies and many others came true, confirming Jesus' identity, and the plans God had for His Son. Matthew 1:18-2:6
By all He said and did, Jesus proved that He was God in the flesh. Jesus made it clear that He was and is the greatest man ever, not just in Israel, but in all the world. Yet, for loving people and sharing the truth, He was mocked, slandered, beaten, flogged, and killed. In all this, Jesus wasn’t thinking about Himself but others - He was humbly, willingly, and lovingly sacrificing His life for the lives of others. Philippians 2:1, 5-8
It was just outside the city of Jerusalem where Jesus Christ, a perfect man, died on a cross to pay for the sins of all those who would repent and believe in Him. Shortly after He died, He was buried, and three days later He was raised from the dead, proof that He had gained the victory over man’s sin by satisfying God’s demands for justice. Rom. 3:21-26, 4:24-25, 5:6-11, 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18
Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He lifted off from Israel and went to heaven to be with His Father. His work to save people’s souls was completely finished. Ten days after His ascension, Jesus, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, began building the church. (Matt. 16:18, Eph. 2:19-22). It’s now close to 2000 years later, and Jesus is still in heaven and the church is still growing. But is He returning to earth and to Israel? Yes, He is! Jesus kept telling us He would come back, and He will definitely keep His word! Matt. 24:27, 30-31, 37-42; John 14:1-3; Rev. 22:12
Why is Jesus Christ coming back? He’s coming back to rapture the church, those on earth at the end of this age, and take them to Himself and then home to heaven. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). “He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another” Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Jesus is coming back to judge an unbelieving world, those on earth after the church is raptured. “The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations” (Zech. 14:3). “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and wages war… From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations… and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” Revelation 19:11-21
Jesus is coming back to Israel so as to reign over her and the entire earth. “… In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem… the Lord will be King over the whole earth” (Zech. 9:4, 9). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth.” Psalm 67:4. Psalm 2:7-9, Psalm 47:2-4, Matthew 19:28
What a great time to be alive! Now we can look back over the last 4000+ years and see all that God has done with the nation of Israel and with the church. And now we live in the end-times, the final years before Christ returns to rapture the church, judge the world, and begin reigning over this earth. Be excited and rejoicing! Be worshiping Christ, working for Him, and waiting for His coming! “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory be over all the earth.” Psalm 57:11
P.S. Jesus Christ came to the land of Israel, the land where He would do the work to save us from our sins, and the land He will return to in the near future. The following post will help you see the importance of the land of Israel in the past, present, and future - "God Promised 'The Land' to Israel."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #299 ~
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came from heaven to the land of Israel to do the work of His Father. He lived a perfect life, loved everyone, taught the truth, did all kinds of miracles, and trained disciples. Yet, He was crucified, He was killed by His enemies - and it was His Father’s will (Acts 2:23). “Christ died once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18), so that God might forgive us of our sins and give us eternal life. Three days later, Christ rose from the dead, and 40 days after that, He left Israel and ascended into heaven to be with His Father. Heb. 1:1-3
Many Jewish people wanted Christ to remain in Israel to be their King and defeat their enemies. But He had other plans (Matt. 16:18). From heaven, Christ would be building the church, a spiritual body of believers, ones who would be saved from their sins, and then serve Him while they lived on earth. But what about God's promises to the Jewish people? Would He still fulfill His plans for them? Yes, He would! Let me explain what needed to happen first.
Jesus was in Jerusalem that last week before He died, and He had a strong and sobering message for the Jews. He told them, “… your enemies… will level you to the ground and your children with you… because you did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Lk. 19:41-44). Jesus also warned His disciples about this impending disaster. “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then recognize that her desolation is near… these are days of vengeance… there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-24, Luke 23:27-31
Jesus, the Messiah, had come to Israel, but most Jews rejected His offer of mercy. God had no choice but to condemn them as a nation and cast them out of their land. Jesus’ own people, ones He loved and wept over, had to be punished. It was around 70 AD that Roman soldiers savagely and mercilessly attacked the people of Israel. The result was that an enormous number of Jews were killed, and a great many others were taken as prisoners to nations all over the world. But would God’s chosen people ever return to the land of Israel? Yes, they would!
Many Old Testament passages predicted that the Jews would return to their land. Here are a few of them: “I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. They shall be My people and I will be their God” (Jer. 32:36-44). “I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… and one king will be king for all of them” (Ez. 37:21-22). “I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.” Zech. 8:7-8
Jesus Himself predicted that the Jews would return to Israel - “Jerusalem would be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:23). “Until” means “up to the time of the event mentioned.” That is, Jewish people will be in their land and have total control over it only when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled, only when the Gentiles no longer have any power or influence over them.
History tells us that the Jewish people were forced out of their land around 70 AD. But in the 1880’s, according to God's promise, they started returning to their land. And they kept coming and coming and are still coming, and now there are close to 7.2 million Jews living in Israel. To have a people group dispersed from their land for over 1800 years and then return to that same land with the same religion, same language, and same culture is unbelievable, amazing, unheard of, and truly miraculous!
4,000 years have now passed since God first set in motion His plans for the Jewish people. Let me summarize their long and difficult journey: it began with God’s promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). About 600 years later, around 1400 BC, Joshua led the Jewish people into the promised land (Josh. 3-19). Close to 800 years later, they were exiled out of the land of Israel. And exactly 70 years later, in 538 BC, Jewish people began returning to their land. Jer. 29:10-14, Ezra
Finally, in 4 BC, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to Israel (Lk. 2:1-20), and He left 33 years later, but promised that He would return (Matt. 24:3-31). Around 70 AD, the Jewish people were, once again, exiled from Israel - and this time they were scattered all over the world (Lk. 21:24). And they were gone from their land a lot longer, for close to 1800 years, until the 1880’s. And now its 2024 AD and nearly half the world's Jewish population has returned to their homeland.
The fact that the Jews are back in their land means we are living in the end-times (Dan. 12:4, 9), and this is relevant not just for Jews, but also for Christians. The following end-times’ passages testify to this - Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27, Luke 21:12-19, 20-24, 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3-9, Rev. 7:2-8, 9-14, and Rev. 10-12:1-16, 12:17 – 13 (italics are the church, and bold are the Jews). Note that these eschatological verses about Jews and Christians are sitting side by side, are adjacent to each other. Do you see what God is saying, and is doing? In the last years of this church age, He is renewing His work with the Jews and is finishing building the church.
God is setting the stage, is getting everything and everyone in place for the return of His Son to earth. In a little while, Christ will come back to rapture the church, judge the world, and save a remnant of Jews. Then He will be in Israel and, from there, reign over the world - and we will reign with Him, and be praising Him. “Sing praises to our King… For God is the King of all the earth” (Ps. 47:6-7). “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:1-2
P.S. It's imperative that you understand the history of the Jewish people in their land, from around 2000 BC up to the present day. I have written a series of posts on this subject and encourage you to read them all. They are #'s 290, 291, 292, 295, 296, and this present one, #299. In my next post, #300, I will write out a number of verses on this blogsite's primary subject - "Christ is Coming Again."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #300 ~
There’s an enormous volume of verses about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. Obviously, God wants you to be convinced of this most important truth. It’s imperative that you realize its relevance, especially now that we are living in the end-times. Christ’s coming is not a minor, secondary truth, but a major, primary truth. Just think, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, could come back in your lifetime. You may actually see Him return on the clouds to rapture you and the church.
That God gives us so many verses about Christ’s coming means that it must be a subject He really wants you to know and understand. My purpose in this post is not to address all the details in these 2nd coming verses, but to impress you with this singular message, that Jesus Christ is coming again!
The verses I have written out are those containing the word coming, appearing, and revealing. The word coming is in both a noun form, speaking of Christ’s arrival and presence, and a verb form, referring only to the fact that Christ will arrive. Appearing means to shine forth, telling us that Christ will be visibly evident to the whole world - no one will miss Him. Revealing speaks of the uncovering, the unveiling of our coming Lord and King. Jesus Christ is very much alive, and for Christians, He is spiritually in our hearts, but now He is physically in heaven and hidden from view. Soon enough, Christ will physically come, physically appear, and physically be revealed, and the entire world will see Him in all His glory. What a day that will be!!!
Here are 54 verses about the coming of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 23:39 – “I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Matthew 24:3 – “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:27 – “Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:30-31 – “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to another.”
Matthew 24:37-38 – “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away. So will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:42 – “Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 26:64 – “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 8:38 – “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 12:37-38 – “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when He comes; truly I say to you, that He will gird himself to serve and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them…”
Luke 12:40 - “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
Luke 17:29-30 – “On the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”
Luke 18:8 – “However when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
John 14:3 – “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
Acts 1:11 – “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
1 Corinthians 1:8 – “You are not lacking any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will keep you strong to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 – “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ 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.”
Colossians 3:4 – “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
1 Thessalonians 2:19 – “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”
1 Thessalonians 3:13 – “… so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 – “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not proceed those who fall asleep. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – “… may your spirit and soul and body be persevered complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 – “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.”
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – “We request you brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…”
2 Thessalonians 2:8 – “Then 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.”
1 Timothy 6:13-14 – “… keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will being about at the proper time.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort…”
Titus 2:12-13 – “… live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 9:28 – “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation, without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”
Hebrews 10:37 – “In a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.”
James 5:7 – “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it.”
James 5:8 – “Be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
1 Peter 1:7 – “… so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 5:4 – “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
2 Peter 3:3-4a – “In the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’”
1 John 2:28 – “Now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”
1 John 3:2 – “We are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be... when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.”
Revelation 22:7 – “Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is He who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:12 – “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what He has done.”
Revelation 22:20 – “Behold, I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Here are 49 more verses about Christ's coming, ones that are either duplicates, Old Testament verses, or do not have the words coming, appearing, or revealing in them. Job 19:25-27; Ps. 2:6, 98:9; Is. 40:10; Joel 2:30-32; Zech. 14:4:9; Mal. 4:5; Matt. 16:28; Mark 13:26-27, 13:33-35; Luke 12:42-46, 17:24, 21:27-28, 34-36; Acts 3:20-21; Rom. 8:22-25; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 1:6, 1:10, 2:16, 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 2 Thess. 1:6-7; Jude 21.
I encourage you to read and reread all the above verses. Study them, and study them in their context. And share them with others. May they encourage your soul and give you hope. Now more than ever before, be looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, your Savior, Lord, and King.
P.S. In my opinion, the truth that Christ is coming back is the single most important subject about the future. Here are four other posts about Christ's coming: "The Rapture Occurs at the Coming of Christ", "When is Christ Coming Back?", "What Will Happen When Christ Comes Back?", "Why is Jesus Christ Coming Back?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #301 ~
“O Lord, You showed favor to Your land; You restored the captivity of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of Your people and covered all their sins” (Ps. 85:1-2). Israel - what a people, what a nation, what a land, what a history, and what a future! Around 2,050 BC God promised to Abram that he and his descendants would be a special people. They would inherit a choice piece of land (Gen. 12:1, Ez. 37:21), be ruled by the King of kings (2 Sam. 7:16, Ez. 37:22), be saved from their sins (Jer. 31:31-34, Ez. 37:23), and be greatly blessed. Gen. 12:2, Ez. 37:24-28
The Jewish people first entered their land about 1400 BC (Josh. 3-19). Close to 800 years later, God made them leave because of their sins. Exactly 70 years later, in 538 BC, God mercifully began bringing them back (Jer. 29:10-14). It was about 4 BC when Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world, came to Israel (Lk. 2:1-20). Most of the Jews rejected Jesus, and their leaders had Him crucified. But being killed and then resurrected was God’s sovereign plans for Jesus, the only means by which He could save His people from sin and death. Forty days after Jesus was raised from the dead, He ascended into heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of His heavenly Father.
Before He left for heaven, Jesus told us some things we need to know about the future:
1. He said He would build the church, people who were called and saved by God to be members of His spiritual body. And from the day of Pentecost to the end of this age, Jesus has been building His church. Acts 2:1-21; Matt. 16:18, 28:19-20
2. He predicted that He would come back on the clouds just after the end of this age to gather all believers from heaven and earth so they would be with Him. Matt. 24:29-31
3. He told us that the Israelites would be punished and scattered all over the world which happened just like He said. Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-24
4. Jesus made it clear that the Israelites would return to their land (Lk. 13:34-35, 21:24). This has been miraculously occurring since the 1880’s - and it had to happen for God to fulfill all His promises to the Jewish people. Ezekiel 37:21-28
That the Jews are back in their land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times (Dan. 12:4). During these end-times, the final years of this age, God is renewing His work with the Jews and finishing building the church. Evidence for God’s simultaneous working with Jews and Christians is seen in many New Testament prophecy passages. Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27; Luke 21:12-19, 20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3-9; Rev. 7:2-8, 9-14; and Rev. 12:1-16, 12:17. (Christians, Jews). Knowing how God is working with the Jews helps us to see the general time frame for Christ’s return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:15-36
I must talk to you about what the New Testament says about God’s end-times’ work with the Jews. Before I do, I need to help you understand an important prophecy passage from the Old Testament - Daniel 9:24-27. Here are some key points from these verses:
* There are 70 weeks decreed for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The context tells us that each week is 7 years long - therefore, this 70 weeks is referring to a 490-year period. During this time, the Jewish people are living in their land.
* The purpose of these 490 years is stated in Dan. 9:24: the sin of the Jews will come to an end; there will be atonement for their sins; a Jewish remnant will be saved; the Holy Place (millennial temple) will be anointed; and everlasting righteousness will begin.
* The first 69 weeks, lasting 483 years, began with a decision to rebuild Jerusalem (445 BC), and ended when the Messiah (the Christ), was cut off, was killed in 30 AD.
* There’s a long gap of time between the end of the 69th week and the start of the 70th week. As things look now, I believe it will last at least 2,000 years. During this time, Jesus Christ is focused on building the church.
* Daniel’s 70th week gives us a time frame, a divine time schedule that will help you see and understand the sequence of end-time events.
* The 70th week has not yet begun. We know that because events prophesied in Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:15-26, 2 Thess. 2:3-8, and Rev. 13 haven’t yet happened. And because we are in the end-times, we know it won’t be long before the start of this 70th week.
* Here are some key events occurring during this 70th week: at the beginning of the week, the Jews make a 7-year covenant with the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27); during the first half of the week a Jewish temple is built (2 Thess. 2:3-5); at the 3½ year mark the Antichrist breaks his treaty with the Jews and desecrates the temple (Matt. 24:15); sometime during the 2nd half of the week the church is raptured (Matt. 24:30-36); at the end of the 70th week a Jewish remnant is saved. Rom. 11:25-27
* Jesus Himself speaks of Daniel’s 70th week in Matt. 24:15. Note that the verse says, “Let the reader understand.” God is impressing upon us the importance of this 70th week - and He wants us to know that it is relevant not just to Jews, but also to Christians.
Many non-Christians, along with some Christians, do not believe that the land we know as Israel is for the Jews. Debates and disputes about this are happening in our country at the present time. And many do not believe that God has a future for the Jewish people, one that was extensively prophesied about in the Old Testament. Many believe that God rejected the Jews because of their sin and their past rejection of Christ, and that many of the promises He gave to the Jews are now for the church. But this is just not true!
God keeps His Word! In the next blog post we will examine several passages in the New Testament that are specifically about the Jews and how God is working with them and fulfilling His promises. It’s imperative that you understand and are encouraged by God’s working with the Jewish people. "Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land... The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest." Psalm 85:9, 12
P.S. God raised up the nation of Israel and gave her some land, and He won't take it away frim her. The post today talks about this, with a focus on Daniel's 70th week, a key 7-year prophetic period. I encourage you to read the two other posts I have written on this most critical week - "The Divine Timetable, Daniel's 70 Weeks", and "Daniel's 70th Week, One of the Keys to Unlocking the End Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #302 ~
The 4,000-year history of Israel has been an up and down journey and, at times, very dangerous and deadly. She has been in her land, out of her land, in her land, out of her land, and now back in her land. The devil has continually been against Israel, but God has always been for her - He has mercifully and faithfully kept her going through all the years. There's no doubt that God will carry out and complete all His plans for Israel. Psalm 33:10-12
As you know, Israel is again in the middle of another difficult conflict, and you may be wondering what will happen next. But don’t believe what politicians and news people say, for they don’t know. Look to God and His word. The Old Testament gives 100’s of verses about the future of the Jewish people. But what does the New Testament say?
I have discovered 21 New Testament passages that speak about God's plans for the Jews in these end-times and in the ages to come. So what do they say?
* Matthew 5:17-19. “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets… but to fulfill.” Jesus is telling us that everything God told us in the Law and the Prophets about the future will come to pass. That includes everything that He said about the Jewish people. Is. 46:9-11
* Matthew 5:35. “Jerusalem… is the city of the great King.” When Christ came the 1st time as the Messiah, Jerusalem was not the city of the great King, but it will be when He comes the 2nd time. Then He will be The King of the Jews and will reign over the whole world. Ps. 48:1-2
* Matthew 19:27-28. “You shall sit upon 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” Jesus Christ will sit on His throne in Jerusalem during the coming kingdom age, and His disciples will reign with Him over the tribes of Israel. Matt. 25:31
* Matthew 23:37-39. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Most of the Jews rejected Christ at His first coming and, therefore, were left desolate and were punished. But a Jewish remnant will be glad to see Him at His 2nd coming and will repent, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Isaiah 53
* Matthew 24:15-27. “… the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel…” This describes the Antichrist’s desecration of the Jewish temple, his pursuit of the Jews, the great tribulation he brings upon them, and the coming of Christ for them and the Christians. This occurs sometime during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week. Daniel 9:27
* Luke 21:20-24. “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot… until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Christ predicted that the Jews would be punished, scattered, and gathered back to Israel, all of which has been fulfilled. We also learn that the Gentiles’ influence over Israel will come to a complete end. Then Christ will judge the world, save a remnant of Jews and, from Jerusalem, begin reigning over this earth. Luke 19:41-44
* Acts 3:21. “… the period of restoration of all things…” When Christ returns to rule the world, all things on earth will be physically renewed and restored as was promised by the prophets. (Is. 35, 65:17-25). This restoration happens during the millennial kingdom.
* Acts 15:16-18. “… so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord…” In the age to come, the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt, Israel will be a fruitful and glorious place, Christ will reign over the world, and the Jews will be a godly witness to the Gentiles. Pss. 72, 96
* Romans 8:18-21. “… the creation itself will be delivered from its bondage to decay.” The sons of God, both Jews and Gentiles, will be revealed, the creation will be set free from sin, and God's glory will be displayed on earth like never before. Is. 6:3
* Romans 9:27-29. “Isaiah cries out,... 'though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved…'” An important promise that God will fulfill is the salvation of a remnant of Jewish people. Is. 45:17, Dan. 9:24
* Romans 11:25-27. “… all Israel will be saved…” This important promise, that a Jewish remnant will be saved, is repeated. This will take place at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. These Jews will live in Israel and will assist Jesus Christ in His reign over Israel and the entire world. Jer. 31:31-34
* Romans 15:8-13. “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.” Our hope is that in the coming ages, Jesus Christ will rule over the world, and all people, Jewish and Gentile believers, will be unitedly worshiping Him. Ps. 117
* 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9. “… the man of lawlessness… exalts himself above every so-called god.” The Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. He takes his seat in the Jewish temple and displays himself as God, for he wants to be worshiped by the world. Soon after that, Jesus Christ comes and soundly defeats the Antichrist, and it is Christ who is worshiped by the world. Rev. 19
* Hebrews 8:7-12. “I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” God made a special covenant with Israel, that through Christ, both Jews and Gentiles would be forgiven and know Him. This covenant is being fulfilled during this church age, and when a large remnant of Jews is saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week.
* Hebrews 11:1, 8-16, 39-40. “God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them.” God promised spiritual and physical blessings (salvation and land) to all true descendants of Abraham, all those justified by faith in Christ. These blessings will be realized in the kingdom ages. You will see that the hope of Abraham and the Jews is related to the hope of all believers. Ps. 37:11 - Matt. 5:5
* Revelation 7:4-8. “…we have sealed the bond-servants of our God.” During Daniel’s 70th week, before the church is raptured into heaven, 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel, will be sealed and kept for Christ. They will be Christ’s special servants. Rev. 14:1-5
* Revelation 10:1-7. “… the mystery of God is finished” at the sound of the trumpet of the 7th angel. This occurs at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Then a remnant of Jews will be saved, the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of God, the nations will be judged, and all things will be summed up in Christ. Eph. 1:9-11, Rev. 11:15
* Revelation 11:1-15. “I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days.” During the last half of Daniel’s 70th week, we see this focus on the temple, Jerusalem, the powerful preaching of two godly witnesses, and the glory of God.
* Revelation 12. “She gave birth to a son… who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” Rev. 12 tells us key elements of the Jews’ history. We read of her birth as a nation, her purpose in giving birth to Jesus the King, her lifelong battle with the devil, being persecuted in the end-times, her great escape, and God’s protection of her.
* Revelation 20.1-10. “… The thousand years…” refer to the millennial kingdom and is vividly described in the prophets and Psalms. Christ rules the world during this time, and believers, both Jew and Gentile, reign with Him. At the end of these 1,000 years, Christ will cast the devil and the dead, all unbelievers, into the lake of fire. Matt. 25:41, 46; Rev. 5:10
* Revelation 21:10-13. “… the new Jerusalem… with 12 gates… names were written on them... the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel.” This glorious city comes down out of heaven at the end of the 1,000-year kingdom age. Then Jewish and Gentile believers will live forever with Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, Husband, and King.
In conclusion, here are several important thoughts to remember:
1. These NT verses about the Jewish people confirm and complement many of God’s OT promises to them. Dan. 9:27 - Matt. 24:15
2. These NT verses about the Jews is overwhelming proof that God did not forget His promises to them, that He won’t go back on His word, that He hasn’t given up on them, and that He will carry out all His plans for them. Is. 46:9-11
3. Reading these NT verses makes it clear that the Jews are back in their land, the land of Israel, and that it's a special place, a God given and glorious land.
4. The main themes of these NT verses focus on God’s working with the Jews. Primarily, they describe what happens to them during the end-times, their salvation, and the kingdom ages to come.
5. These NT verses say nothing about another country occupying the land God promised to the Jews. Not only that, but there will be no permanent two-state solution. The land of Israel will be occupied by the Jewish people and ruled by Jesus Christ. Gen. 13:15, 15:18-21; Zech. 14:9
6. These NT verses make it clear that God is simultaneously working with both Jews and Christians in these end-times and in the kingdom ages to come.
7. These NT verses tell us that these years before the end of this age will be a very difficult time for the Jews. They will not experience any great blessings and glory until the millennial kingdom when Christ is reigning over them and the earth.
8. Be excited and thankful that you are alive at this time in history, and that you can witness God's working with both Gentile and Jewish believers. And remember, it won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His reign over the world.
"All nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed. Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen," Psalm 72:17-19
P.S. There's so much going on in the world and, as a Christian, you will be lost and confused if you don't know what God says about the Jewish people and the end-times we live in. I encourage you to read these previous posts: "A Jewish Reading Lesson", "Converging Hopes for Jewish and Gentile Believers", and "Jews and Gentiles Unitedly Glorifiying God."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #303 ~
The most important message in the whole world is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that through Christ’s death and resurrection, we can be forgiven of our sins, children of God, and forever in heaven with Christ and fellow believers. To receive this new life, this eternal life, we need to repent, and believe that Christ died to pay for our sins. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God" (1 Pet. 3:18). "God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8
"Therefore, in anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18-21). So what does God want us to do while we live on this earth? He made us ministers of reconciliation, and wants us to tell unbelievers how they can be forgiven of their sins, how they can be children of God, how they can be eternally right with God. Eph. 1:4-7
But we are now living in the end-times which means we are fast approaching the end of this age. This church age will soon be over. It won’t be long before Jesus Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world. Should we not be even more motivated to tell the good news of Christ to the lost? Should we not be even more energized in the work of evangelism? YES! YES! YES! Many verses emphasize this very point. Let’s look at them:
Matthew 24:14. In this important prophecy chapter, there's a key verse on evangelism: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” After the gospel is preached to all the nations this evil age will come to an end, and Christ will come back to earth. Christians are to make the most of the time and be testifying for Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… baptizing… teaching… I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” In the very last two verses of Matthew’s gospel, we are told by Jesus to focus on making disciples, which includes evangelizing to the lost. Then this age will be over, and Christ will return to rapture the church, and begin His reign on earth. Rev. 11:15
Mark 13:9-13. This prophecy portion of Mark’s gospel tells us to preach the good news until the end of the age. “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations… you will be hated by all… the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” This passage also warns us about end-times’ persecution, that governments, churches, and even family members will oppose us and the gospel. By the power of the Spirit, we must keep loving the lost by witnessing to them, and persevere to the end.
Luke 3:4-18. This passage talks about John the Baptist preparing the way of Christ before His 1st coming, and passionately so. It is also instructing church-age believers to prepare the way of Christ. How does it say we are to do this? By preaching the gospel - "he preached the gospel to the people” (vs. 18), by exhorting people to repent of their sins (vss. 3, 8), by warning people of the coming wrath (vs. 9), and by telling people about the coming kingdom - “all flesh will see the salvation of God” (vss. 5-6). Since this passage also refers to Christ’s 2nd coming, it’s particulaly relevant for those living in the end-times.
Luke 21:12-19. “They will lay their hands on you… it will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.” Mark 13:9-13 is similar to this prophecy passage, but here we learn that opposition from our enemies will lead to open doors for the good news, to opportunities to share our testimony with the unsaved. Phil. 1:12-14
Acts 2:17-21. This summarizes the last days, which is the church age. It starts with the pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost and stops with the end-of-the-age signs that appear in the skies just before the day of the Lord. During this church age people are being saved from their sins. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2. “In view of His appearing and His kingdom...Preach the word.” Our purpose is clear: Christians are to preach God’s word in light of Christ’s coming, and in view of Christ’s kingdom, His reign on earth. Since we are in the end-times, we know His coming and kingdom will be happening soon. Now more than ever, we should excitedly be proclaiming the good news, the life and love of Jesus Christ, and especially as we see and hear so much bad news, so much sin, sadness, hate, heartache, disease, and death.
James 5:7-11. The end-times is the last time in this age to harvest souls for God. And what do we learn from James? That we are to “be patient… until the coming of the Lord.” And why? Because souls need to be readied, the crop needs to get ripe, and only then can we reap a harvest. So might we be praying for the lost and preaching the gospel - and patiently waiting.
Revelation 12:10-12. The Antichrist will soon be on earth and, along with multitudes of demons, be fiercely fighting against us. We will need to be in battle mode as we struggle against this devilish enemy - and how? “They overcame him… because of the word of their testimony.” Christians can only be victorious by speaking forth the gospel, God’s word, and by sharing their testimony, God’s work in their life.
Be thankful that you are alive at this time in history, in these end-times! But don’t be polluted by the flesh, be led astray by the devil, or live according to the world. "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things" (Col. 3:2-3). What people need and what this world needs is Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and King! Remember God’s marching orders: be “the salt of the earth... the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14); “prepare the way of the Lord” (Luke 3:4); be an “ambassador for Christ” (5:20); “conduct ourselves with wisdom toward outsiders making the most of the opportunity” (Col. 4:5), and “seek first the kingdom of God”. Matthew 6:33
P.S. Are you being a witness to the lost by your words and deeds? Are you sharing the gospel with the unsaved? Might God help you do His kingdom work in these last years of the end-times. Here are two other posts about evangelizing the lost - "The Gospel Will be Preached to All the Nations - Then Christ Will Return", "Make Ready the Way of the Lord."
By StevenJ. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #304 ~
The story of Israel is a story of the purpose of God, the glory of God, and the people of God. Around 2050 BC, God promised to Abraham that he and his descendants would be blessed with a great nation of people and a glorious piece of land. For the next 2000+ years, God focused on building and blessing the nation of Israel. Because of their sin and Satan, the Jewish people had a checkered and difficult history. But God, because of His promise, power, and patience, kept them going through all those years. Nehemiah 9
Close to 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came to Israel and His people and fulfilled the most important mission in all of history. Christ died on a cross to pay for people’s sins and satisfy God’s demands for justice. Then He was raised from the dead and, shortly after that, ascended into heaven. Since that time, Christ has been building His church, those who truly repent of their sins and truly believe that He died for them. Rom. 5:8
In the 1st century, God set aside the nation of Israel, and for a long time. Then in the 1880’s, He began bringing the Jewish people back to their land. God was restarting His plans for the Jews, for He was committed to keeping His promises to them. That the Jews are now in their land is the strongest evidence that we are living in the end-times, and that Christ will soon rapture the church and carry out His plans for the Jews. Matt. 24:3-36, Psalm 67
During these past 140 years, God has greatly blessed the Jewish people, and in 1948, they became a nation. But their many enemies have greatly persecuted them (Ps. 83). Over 6 million Jews were murdered during World War II. Then there were all these wars, one in 1948, one in 1956, one in 1967, one in 1973. Then there were two intifadas, one from 1987-1990, and another one from 2000-2005. Because of God's purpose, power, and love, Israel prevailed in every war. Now there’s the Hamas war. So what’s going to happen? I'm sure this war will come to an end, and there will be a truce, but it won’t solve all her problems.
So what is Israel’s future? God’s word tells us, explicitly and implicitly. In Luke 21:24, Jesus predicted that “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles.” This trampling, this persecution, this killing of Jews, this Antisemitism, began shortly after Jesus left Israel, and has continued up to the present day. It will keep going and get even worse “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled,” which is when Christ returns to earth at the end of Daniel’s 70th week to save a remnant of Jews, and begin His glorious reign over the earth. Psalms 47, 72; Zech. 14:3-
What else does God tell us will happen to the Jewish people before the end of Daniel’s 70th week?
* Matthew 4:4-8 and Luke 21:9-11a speak of birth pains occurring in various parts of the world, famines, earthquakes, plagues, and wars. Some of these will harm, will hurt the Jewish people, signs to them that Christ is coming soon.
* Israel isn’t going anywhere. She will never be defeated. And she won’t be displaced from her land, for God will protect her and keep in mind His promises to her. Ezek. 37:21-23
* Israel, as a nation, will remain sinful and unrepentant, rejecting Jesus as her Messiah until she says, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matt. 23:37-39
* The Antichrist will be raised up in the coming years. We don’t know exactly when, but he must be a grown man by the start of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:27
* Nations around the world will be realigning, eventually resulting in a strong ten-nation kingdom controlled by the Antichrist during Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 7:19-22
* Most nations in the world will remain strongly opposed to Israel, and this Satanic animosity will get even worse. In the near future, even the United States will betray Israel, leaving her in a very precarious position. This will result in Israel being desperate for someone or some nation to come to her aid, to protect her from her enemies. Zech. 12:3, 8, 9
What I have just written is a brief summary of things happening to Israel from now to the start of Daniel’s 70th week. I will now talk about major prophesied events that will be fulfilled during this 70th week, the most important eschatological period in the end-times.
* Daniel 9:27a - “He will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” At the start of Daniel’s 70th week, the coming Antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel, and it will turn out to be a deal with the devil. This extremely evil person, also known as the prince, will provide Israel with the protection she needs, but only for a while. I believe a key component of this covenant is that Israel will be permitted to build a temple in Jerusalem and offer sacrifices.
* Revelation 11:1-2 talks about this important temple and that Jewish worshipers are in it. “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it.”
* Matthew 24:15 (“when you see the abomination of desolation”) confirms the truth of Dan. 9:27b, that this temple un Jerusalem will be desecrated by the Antichrist, resulting in all sacrifices being stopped. It is then that Christians and discerning Jews will know that this man is truly the Antichrist. 2 Thess. 2:3-4 says this about him - “the man of lawlessness is revealed, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god… he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.” This “abomination” occurs at the 3½ year mark, the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week.
* Matthew 24:21-22 tells us of great tribulation, a devilish persecution against Jews beginning in Judea (Dan. 12:1, Rev. 12:13), and then spreading to Christians all over the world. “They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matt. 24:9, Rev. 12:17
* Revelation 12:13-16 describes how a remnant of Jewish people will escape the devil and be kept safe during this time of great tribulation. “She could fly into the wilderness… where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (3½ years).” Matt. 24:16-25
* Matthew 24:29 speaks of these heart-stopping heavenly disturbances - “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light...” These are signs that this evil age has come to an end. Many Jews will know that these signs are predicting the day of the Lord and that they need to turn to the Lord before it’s too late. “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered… in Jerusalem there will be those who escape.” Joel 2:30-32
* Revelation 7:1-8 informs us that God will seal 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. This will happen sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. These godly Jews will be Christ’s bond-servants and will continually be worshiping and serving Him. “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” Rev. 14:4
Revelation 11:3-13 talks about two powerful Jewish witnesses in Jerusalem during the 2nd half of Daniel’s 70th week - they will be performing great signs and proclaiming God’s truth to the Jews. “I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days.” And they will be martyred, but then raised from the dead, proving to be God’s special witnesses to Israel and the whole world. “A tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
Romans 11:25-27 - “All Israel will be saved… this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” These amazing but true verses about the salvation of a Jewish remnant will be fulfilled at the very end of Daniel’s 70th week. Dan. 9:24 predicted this - “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people… to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness…” Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:31-34
Many people nowadays are very confused about the future of the Jewish people. Some even say they will be wiped off the face of the earth. But God wants you, the Christian, to know the truth, that God has a wonderful and eternal future for Israel and Jewish people. We know this because He told us, and because He will fulfill His promises to them. "He has remembered His love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of God." Psalm 98:3
P.S. We must not close our eyes to what's going on in this world, and some of the most important things relate to what God is doing in Israel and with the Jewish people. Keep watching God's work with them for it relates to His work with you. What an exciting time to be alive! Do read "God's Plans for the Jews - From Now to the Coming of Christ."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #305
When we talk about the end-times, the number one subject is Christ’s coming, His climactic intervention in human history that will dramatically affect everyone and everything on earth. If you are a Christian, you should be eagerly awaiting His return, for then you will be with Jesus Christ, be glorified, be in heaven, and be with all believers.
In this post, I am commenting on several 2nd coming verses. God wants you to learn about the coming of His Son so you can be encouraged, expectant, and know what to share with family, friends, and fellow believers. Matt. 24:29-31
Matthew 24:13 - “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Christians alive at the end of this age will be physically saved, will be raptured and glorified. To be saved, they are to endure, to persevere, to keep going despite great persecution. This can only happen by the wonderful and powerful grace of God. 2 Cor. 9:8, 12:9-10
Matthew 24:30 - “The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” The disciple’s question, “What will be the sign of Your coming?” (Matt. 24:3), is answered. The sign is the brilliant, lightning-like glory of Christ that precedes His coming (Matt. 24:27). Everyone in the world, “all the tribes of the earth” (Rev. 1:7), will see His glory, and immediately see Christ coming on the clouds.
Matthew 24:31 - “He will send forth His angels - they will gather together the elect.” This verse is about the gathering of all the believers. At the sound of a great trumpet, the angels will gather from the earth (“the four winds”) believers who had survived the great tribulation (Matt. 24:9, 22, 29), and gather from the heavens (“one end of the sky to another”) believers who had already died. They will instantly be taken “to meet the Lord in the air.” Mark 13:27, 1 Thess. 4:17, 2 Thess. 2:1
Matthew 24:37-41 - “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah… There will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.” In the days of Noah, the righteous “entered the ark”, were taken to a safe place, and the unrighteous were left on earth to die in the flood, to suffer God’s wrath. In the days of the Son of Man, the righteous will be raptured and taken to Christ, and the unrighteous left on earth will suffer God’s wrath during the day of the Lord. 2 Thess. 1:9-10
Luke 21:25-28 - “When these things begin to take place… your redemption is drawing near.” There will be “signs in the sun and moon and stars”, signals to us that this age has come to an end (Matt. 24:3, 29). The unbelievers will be “fainting from fear (scared to death) for they know “the wrath of the Lamb… has come” (Rev. 6:12-17). Believers will see these signs and then see Christ come “in a cloud with power and great glory”, and immediately be glorified and redeemed, rescued from God’s wrath, and then be taken to Christ the Savior. Matt. 24:32-34, Eph. 1:14
John 14:1-3 - “Believe in God, believe also in Me… I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus knows we get stressed out by the troubles of life. He also knows there will be great troubles, great tribulation in the end-times. So what does Jesus tell us to do? To have faith, to believe that He and His Father will take care of us (Matt. 11:28-29, John 16:33). Jesus also tells us to have hope, to believe that He is preparing an eternal home for us in heaven. Then He says He will return to take us to our most beautiful and glorious home. And we will live forever with Jesus, One who loves us more than anyone else! What a miracle! Rev. 21:1-21
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 - “The trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” This prophecy passage about Christ’s 2nd coming tells us what will happen, why it will happen, and when it will happen. First, we learn what happens - that all believers, those in heaven and those on earth will become like Christ Himself (1 John 3:2), be changed, be altogether perfect. Then we learn why it happens, that we must receive an imperishable and immortal body to live in heaven. “O death, where is your victory?” Finally, we learn when it happens, that it takes place at the last trumpet, and that it occurs “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”
Philippians 3:20-21 - “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” At the end of this age, Jesus Christ is coming back to transform our weak, sin-prone body so that it will be like His immortal body. We should be eagerly waiting, be looking forward to being glorified, and being forever with Jesus.
1 Thessalonians. 4:16-17 - “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” At Christ’s coming, those who have already died will be raised, be glorified. Then those still alive on earth will be glorified, and raptured, caught up with those who were just raised. Then we will meet Christ, and together “we shall always be with the Lord.” What an exciting, exhilarating time this will be, when our salvation is complete, and we are all together with Christ!
2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 - “… when He (Christ) comes to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed.” Jesus Christ is coming back to be glorified in His holy ones, in the lives of all those who trusted in Him for their salvation. That Christ will be glorified in us is another way to say that we will be glorified, that we will become like Him. Just after this, God will begin judging all those on earth who don’t know God, who weren’t chosen, who didn’t believe in Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 - “… with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together with Him…” This verse clearly states that it is at Christ’s coming that we will be gathered to Him. Matt. 24:31 also speaks of being gathered to Christ - “the angels… will gather together His elect...” And we are glorified, we receive our brand new bodies just before we “meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:17
1 John 3:2-3 - “We know that when He (Christ) appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” Can you imagine having a body like Christ’s, one that is powerful, immortal, glorious, and spiritual (1 Cor. 15:42-44)? It is “at His coming” (1 Jn. 2:28), when Christ appears, that we will be made like Him, that we will be glorified. And for the first time, we will see Him and be with Him. “In my flesh I shall see God; I will see Him with my own eyes… How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27
I want to conclude with more verses that talk about Christ’s coming. Mark 13:27 - "Then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven." Luke 12:40 - “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” Rom. 8:23 - “We groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” Col. 3:4 - “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” 1 Thess. 5:23 - “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit, soul, and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 - “… looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Heb. 10:37 - “For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” James 5:8 - “Be patient, for the coming of the Lord is near.” 1 Pet. 1:13 - “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ.” Rev. 1:7 - “Behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him.” Rev. 22:12 - “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”
P.S, I have written many posts on Christ's coming and the rapture of the church, and that's because it is so important for Christians to understand. Here are some more: "The Rapture of the Christians at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ", "The Coming of Christ and the Triumph of the Church", "The Timing of the Rapture", "A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ", and "The Rapture Won't Happen Until..."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #306 ~
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). This is an extremely significant verse about God’s Word and prophecy. That it’s in the middle of an important prophecy chapter is God's way of emphatically stating that this entire passage is true. That Matt. 24 is true means it must be believed and understood, especially now that we live in the end-times. (When I use “God’s prophetic word” in this post, I am referring to the end-times, to eschatological prophecy.)
What can be said about the nature and character of God’s prophetic word?
* God’s prophetic word is true, just like the rest of His word is true. Matt. 4:4, 5:17-18
* God’s prophetic word is entirely accurate and inerrant. There are no errors, there is nothing false, nothing wrong with what God has said. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
* God’s prophetic word is absolute, final, and cannot be deleted, altered, or added to. What Christ has prophesied is completely true, and unlike man’s opinions, needs to be accepted and applied. Jeremiah 23:9-40
* God’s prophetic truth is authoritative, powerful, reliable, and commanding, and will be carried out. What God declares to us must and will take place. “Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it - surely, I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11
* God’s prophetic word is sufficient. God has not told us everything about the end-times, but He has told us everything we need to know. Might we be motivated to learn what God has told us about the future. Mark 13:23
* God’s prophetic word is clear. By this, I mean major truths about the future. For example, Christ is returning to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and reign over the earth. And yes, there are minor points about the future that are debatable and not clearly understood at this time.
* God’s prophetic word is relevant. More than any other time in history, it’s imperative that we know what God has written in Matt. 24 and other prophecy passages. The “day is near”, and God is alerting us about what will be happening in the future, and instructing us how we are to live. Rom. 13:11-14
* God’s prophetic word is essential. Without it, we will be surprised, unprepared, and afraid. God doesn’t want us to be sleeping when Christ comes back - He wants us to be awake, waiting, and working in these last years before Christ's return. 1 Thess. 1:9-10
* God’s powerful and prophetic word must be our focus and guide, and not this sinful and temporary world, or our flesh. God's word is future-telling, life-changing, soul satisfying, and God glorifying.
We have talked about the 2nd part of Matt. 24:35, “My words will not pass away”, but what about the 1st part - “Heaven and earth will pass away”? There are several things I believe God wants us to know about this:
* Heaven and earth will pass away. This is a major event and hard to imagine, but it will take place, and that’s because God’s clear-speaking word tells us so. The physical heaven we see and the physical earth we live on will disappear, will no longer exist in the future. “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away.” Rev. 21:1
* That the physical heaven and earth will pass away but that God’s word will not is proof of its primacy, that it is infinitely more important than anything physical, and especially a world which is cursed by sin. Gen. 3:17-19, Rom. 8:21-22
* Most people think this earth will generally stay the same and will not pass away. They mistakenly believe, but for some cataclysmic event like a nuclear holocaust, that this earth will exist for thousands if not millions of years. 2 Peter 3:3-7
* Sinners living on earth at the time of Christ’s coming will be greatly shocked and saddened when they begin to see its destruction. Rev. 18:9, 19
* Most unbelievers do not believe that it’s by God’s word that this world was created and will be destroyed. Gen. 1 - “Then God said”; Ps. 33:6-9; 2 Pet. 3:5-7, 10-13
* One reason Jesus talks about heaven and earth passing away is to make us realize that this evil world will exist only a little while longer, and then there will be a new heaven and earth, and that in two phases, the millennial and eternal kingdoms. Rev. 20-21
* This present earth will be restored at Christ’s coming. It is on this renovated earth that Christ will reign for 1,000 glorious years. Ps. 102:25-26, Is. 65:17-25, Matt. 19:28, Acts 3:20-21
* The brand new earth will replace this restored earth at the end of the millennial kingdom, at the end of Christ’s 1000-year reign. 1 Cor. 15:20-28, Rev 20 - Rev. 21:1
* What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, a world that will pass away, but lose his soul to the devil, and then be sent to the “lake of fire”. Rev. 20:14-15, Matt. 16:36, 2 Thess. 2:9
* Many people are more concerned for this planet that's passing away than they are for their soul which will live forever, either in heaven or hell. They don’t understand the deadly ramifications of rejecting Christ and the gospel. “These will go away into eternal punishment (‘into the eternal fire’ - Matt. 24:41), but the righteous into eternal life.” Matt. 24:46
Aren’t you glad that God gave us His prophetic word? Aren’t you thankful that He told us all we need to know about the future, what will be happening on this planet, specifically as it relates to Christ’s return to rapture us and take us to heaven. Acts 13:23
What I have a hard time understanding is why so many Christians, including pastors, do not truly know what the Bible teaches about Christ’s 2nd coming and the age to come. Is it that they are worldly? Is it that they are too lazy to study God’s prophetic word? Is it that they don’t believe the clear teaching of His prophetic word? Is it that they are believing some ill-founded error? Is it that they think it is confusing or controversial, and just ignore it? Is it that they don’t think it’s important or relevant?
Most pastors teach extensively on Christ’s 1st coming, about the secret birth of Jesus and how He grows up to be our Savior, but scarcely at all about His visible and glorious 2nd coming, when He returns to be Judge and King of the entire world. Lets pray that Christians have an increased interest in God’s prophetic word in these coming years. And might they be awakened, educated, and excited about the incredible and spectacular future that God has in store for us.
I strongly encourage you to take time to read, study, and learn God’s prophetic truth. Here are several New Testament passages that describe our glorious and God-glorifying future: Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21:3-36; John 13:1-3; Rom. 8:18-25; Rom. 11; Rom. 15:8-13; 1 Cor. 15:20-28, 42-44, 50-58; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; Eph. 1:9-14; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 5:1-11; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Heb. 11:8-16, 39-40; James 5:7-9; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 10-16; 2 Peter 3:3-13; 1 John 2:28 - 3:3; Jude 21-25; and Revelation. “‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20
P.S. We are so blessed to have God's word, which includes His prophetic word. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing what God wants us to know about the future at this time in history. Here are some related posts - "Prophecy is Predicting the Future", "What the Bible Says About the Future", "For Pastors and Preachers in the End-Times."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #307 ~
One of the biggest questions in the world has to do with the land of Israel. Is it the Jews or the Palestinians? If you have read my posts then you know what God tells us in the Bible, that the land of Israel is for the Jewish people. (Gen. 12:1-2, 15:18-21, 17:3-8; Ps. 105:8-11; Ez. 36-37, Zech. 14:1-3; Matt. 24:15-16, etc.). Yet millions of Muslims, Arabs, and Antisemites strongly disagree, and many are even willing to kill, and be killed, for this most valuable land.
I have recently been focusing on what the Bible says about the Jewish people and their land, but I thought it would be good to give proof of their right to possess the land from a historical perspective. Just recently I discovered an excellent and enlightening article on this subject, “A Palestinian State: Fact or Fiction?” . Without a doubt, it’s the best one I have ever read on this relevant subject, and I strongly encourage you to read it as well.
Here is a quote from the beginning of this important article about who has the right to possess the land of Israel. It is continued in its entirety in the “Article” section of this blog site.
“The eyes of the world are often turned to the Middle East, Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple Mount. We are told again and again of the great struggle for a homeland for a race of people know as ‘Palestinians’. They desire, we are told, the restoration of their homeland, usurped by the Israelis and the United Nations.”
“In addition, they are willing to conduct a ‘jihad’ (holy war) to protect the sanctity of the third most sacred spot of Islam - the Temple Mount. All of this is presented to us on an almost daily basis as fact. But is it indeed factual, or have we been sold a ‘bill of goods’? An understanding of the historical background of everything involved will help us to put it all in perspective.”
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #308 ~
I love the Psalms! It’s by far my favorite book in the Bible. I’ve been reading it every morning for over 50 years, and that’s because it’s the best book in the world on our relationship with God. But it also speaks about other important subjects, ones relevant to the end-times and the future that God has in store for us. “All things which are written about Me in… the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44
In the coming weeks, I will be looking at six different subjects from the Psalms: your relationship with God, suffering and persecution, the judgment of the wicked, the coming King, the coming earthly Kingdom, and God’s plans for the Jewish people. Each of these topics relates to the future, and you need to understand them if you’re to truly love God and live for Him, if you’re to fulfill His plans and bring maximum glory to Him.
Today we will examine your relationship with God. I will be looking at four points that directly relate to this subject - the person of God, the character and nature of God, God’s relationship and responsibility to man, and a believer’s relationship and responsibility to God. I will do this by writing down a number of verses from Psalms that address each of these points.
First, let’s look at the person of God. Psalms tell us that He is Lord (“You are my Lord” - Ps. 16:2); He is the Redeemer (“O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” - Ps. 19:14); He is the Shepherd (“The LORD is my shepherd“ - Ps. 23:1); He is the Savior (“Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my Savior” - Ps. 38:22); He is LORD (“O LORD, be gracious to me” - Ps. 41:4); He is King (“God is the King of all the earth” - Ps. 47:7); He is Judge (“God Himself is Judge” - Ps. 50:6); He is God (“O God, You are my God” - Ps. 63:1); and He is Creator (“He commanded and they were created” - Ps. 148:5b).
Second, let’s look at the character and nature of God. We learn that God is strong (“I love You, O Lord, my strength” - Ps. 18:1), righteous (“the Lord is righteous” - Ps. 11:7), forgiving (“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven” - Ps. 32:1), great (“a great King over all the earth” - Ps. 47:2), glorious (“to see Your power and glory” - Ps. 63:2), awesome (“how awesome are Your deeds” - Ps. 66:3), gracious (“God be gracious to us” - Ps. 67:1), holy (“Your way, O God, is holy” - 77:13), incomparable (“Lord God of hosts, who is like You?” - Ps. 89:8), faithful (“Your faithfulness also surrounds You” - Ps. 89:8), sovereign (“The Lord reigns” - Ps. 99:1), eternal (“From everlasting to everlasting, You are God” - Ps. 90:2b), good (“The Lord is good” - Ps. 100:5), compassionate (“the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him” - Ps. 103:13), wise (“… in wisdom You made them all” - Ps. 104:24), truthful (“The sum of Your word is truth” - Ps. 119:160), loving (“His love is everlasting” - Ps. 136), omniscient (“You understand my thought from afar” - Ps. 139:2), omnipresent (“Where can I flee from Your presence?” - Ps. 139:7), praiseworthy (“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” - Ps. 150:6).
Third, let’s look at God’s relationship and responsibility to His people: “The Lord watches over the way of the righteous” (Ps. 1:6). “From the Lord comes deliverance” (Ps. 3:8). “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (Ps. 6:9). “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?” (Ps. 8:4). “Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” (Ps. 16:5-6). “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge; He is my shield” (Ps. 18:2). “He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me” (Ps. 18:17). “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Ps. 18:28).
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” (Ps. 23:1-3). “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way” (Ps. 25:8-9). “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped” (Ps. 28:7). “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” (Ps. 30:11). “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Ps. 32:8). “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18). “The Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones” (Ps. 37:28).
“God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself” (Ps. 49:15). “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me” (Ps. 54:4). “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him” (Ps. 62:1). “Praise be to the Lord, to God, our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves” (Ps. 68:19-20). “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). “The LORD will indeed give what is good” (Ps. 85:12). “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You” (Ps. 86:5). “Great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave” (Ps. 86:13).
Fourth, let’s look at a believer’s relationship and responsibility to God: “To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me” (Ps. 3:4). “Save me because of Your unfailing love” (Ps. 6:4). “I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart” (Ps. 9:1). “I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me” (Ps. 13:6). “Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge” (Ps. 16:1). “I love You, O Lord, my strength” (Ps. 18:1). “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - and You forgave the guilt of my sins” (Ps. 32:5). “My soul will boast in the LORD” (Ps. 34:2). “I sought the Lord and He answered me; and saved me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4).
“I waited patiently for the Lord” (Ps. 40:1). “I desire to do Your will, O my God” (Ps. 40:8). “I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever” (Ps. 52:8). “When I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Ps. 56:3). “Have mercy on me, O God” (Ps. 57:1). “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me” (Ps. 57:2). “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone” (Ps. 62:5). “O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for You” (Ps. 63:1). “Zeal for Your house consumes me” (Ps. 69:9). “Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me” (Ps. 69:14). “Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy turn to me” (Ps. 69:16).
“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 69:31). “Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory” (Ps. 73:23-24). “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago” (Ps. 77:11). “Show us Your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation” (Ps. 85:7). “Guard my life, for I am devoted to You. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You” (Ps. 86:2). “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear Your name” (Ps. 86:11). “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14).
Having a quality relationship with God is the single most needed thing in your life. Your relationship with God is what is called eternal life. “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The book of Psalms is given to us by God to help us experience eternal life, to help us get close to God, to help us know His love, joy, and peace. I encourage every one of you to make the Psalms part of your daily reading and meditation.
But I am not just thinking of the present but also the future, of that time when life on earth will be extremely difficult, when Christians will be going through great tribulation. During that time, the single most important thing for you will be your relationship with God, will be walking with Him, and knowing His presence, HIs power, and His love. “The Lord is righteous, He loves justice, upright men will see His face.” Psalm 11:7
P.S. What I have shared today are specially selected snippets from Psalms, hopefully enough to whet your spiritual appetite so that you make it part of your daily diet. In forthcoming articles, I will list a much larger selection of verses about your relationship with God, specifically points three and four. In the meantime, here are some other posts about your relationship with your Lord and Savior: "The Rapture, a Love Story". "Promises from a Loving Father to His Children".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #309 ~
I have been a pastor for over 45 years, and now that we're in the end-times, I am more motivated than ever to help people know the Lord and grow in their relationship with Him. That’s what’s most important now, and in the trouble-filled times ahead!!! “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to seek Him in His temple” (Ps. 27:4). “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You” (Ps. 73:25). Speaking of our relationship with Him, Jesus said, “only one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
Do you get it? Only one thing is truly important, and that’s your personal relationship with the living God! One of the best ways to grow in your relationship with God is to be reading and thinking about the book of Psalms. Without question, this book will greatly help you have a close and intimate walk with Him.
The book of Psalms gives all these examples from the life of David and others who had excellent relationships with God. The Psalms were purposely given to you by God so you can draw close to Him, so you can know His love, and so you can love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. God wants you to learn from the hundreds of examples in this Spirit-inspired book, the longest book in the Bible, the book that more than any other focuses on your relationship with Him.
Here are some important aspects about Psalms and our relationship with God:
1. Our personal relationship with God is one of the primary themes in the Psalms.
2. The writers of the Psalms are not holding back in their communication with God – they are very honest and transparent.
3. The writers are fearing God, praising God, crying out to God, calling out to God, seeking God, loving God, trusting God, hoping in God, waiting on God, listening to God, learning from God, getting direction from God, and looking forward to being with God.
4. The Psalms will benefit you spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
5. There are different themes in the Psalms - God and Jesus Christ, the history of the Jews, the future of the Jews, trials, persecution, prophecy, your relationship with God, and your purpose in life.
6. The Psalms will help you when you are sick, tired, sad, fearful, lonely, angry, discouraged, depressed, proud, afflicted, anguished, abandoned, persecuted, feeling empty, feeling hopeless, feeling guilty, or any combination of the above.
7. The Psalmists desire to be with God, to spend time with Him. They want the truth. And they want love, joy, peace, holiness, comfort, direction, protection, wisdom, hope, strength, encouragement, and a friend. They want to be close to God, to "see" His face, to "feel" His presence, and to "taste" and enjoy His mercy and love.
8. Psalm 119 is essential for your relationship with God. It is extremely detailed in how it speaks of God’s word, giving you insights you won’t find in any other book. Psalm 119 is my favorite chapter in the Bible for it motivates me to read it, instructs me how to study it, and helps me to obey it.
In the article’s section, I have listed out hundreds of verses from Psalms that are examples of a believer’s relationship with God, specifically how he should communicate with God, how he should pray to God and praise God. The reason we know these are personal prayers and praise is that the words "I" , "me", and "my" are used, which refer to you, and the words "You" and "Your", which refer to God. As you read the Psalms, I strongly encourage you to look for and learn from these verses, for I’m convinced they will help you to relate to and know God in a more intimate way.
Here is a short sampling of these relational verses: Ps. 4:8 - “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Ps. 16:1 - “Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.” Ps. 27:11 - “Teach me Your way, O Lord, lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.” Ps. 30:11 - “I will exalt You, O Lord, for You lifted me out of the depths.” Ps. 31:14-17 - “I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’” Ps. 40:8 - “I desire to do Your will, O my God.” Ps. 59:1 - “Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from evildoers.” Ps. 67:3 - “May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the people praise You.” Ps. 71:5 - “You have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.” Ps. 82:2-3 - “How long will You defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless.” Ps. 92:4 - “You make my glad by Your deeds, O Lord, I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Ps. 101:1 - “I will sing of Your love and justice; to You, O Lord, I will sing praise.”
I love the book of Psalms - it’s my favorite book in the Bible. Part of my reading every morning is a Psalm and an 8-verse passage from Psalm 119. They have proved to be precious to my soul, for they have helped me to know, "see", and experience the living God. I wouldn’t have been able to keep going for God these past 50+ years without them - and I will keep needing and reading them the rest of my life.
As you know, we are living in the end-times, the last years before Christ’s return - and these are tough and trying times, and it will get worse before it gets better. You might be here when that devilish Antichrist comes and rules over this world, and is greatly persecuting Christians. That’s when you will really need a close relationship with God. To spiritually survive and be spiritually successful at that time, you will need His love, His leading, and His strength, and that’s when the Psalms will prove to be extremely valuable to you.
But why wait? Being with your Father and being with Jesus is the right thing and the best thing to do now, and so be reading and believing the Psalms, and by so doing, you will be close to God, you will be walking with God, you will be a well-loved and obedient Christian, and you will be preparing for the future. "I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name forever and ever." Psalm 145:1
P.S. Again, I am stressing your relationship with God, now and forever. And I am focusing on the Psalms, God's book to help you grow in your relationship with Him. I encourage you to read last weeks post if you have not yet done so - "The Psalms are Needed Now and In the Future."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #310 ~
We live in the end-times, the final years before Christ returns to rapture the church, and as you probably know, this will be an increasingly difficult time (Matt. 24:9). I hope you realize that you are alive “for such at time as this” (Esther 4:14). And God will give you an abundance of grace for His glory and your good.
My purpose for this post is to help you understand what God says about the end-times, what will be taking place, and how you are to live for Him. We have recently focused on the latter, specifically your relationship with God, the single most important thing in your life. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Ps. 73:25). Today, I want to look at the book of Psalms and see what it says about how God blesses you - and knowing this is vital for your relationship with God and the purpose He has for you. Listed below are 40 verses that tell you what God does for you.
Psalm 4:3 - “The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” God hears you perfectly when you pray, when you call out to Him, when you ask Him for help.” 6:8, 17:6, Ps. 54:2
Psalm 4:8 - “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” You will sleep peacefully as you know the Lord and trust in Him. Ps. 3:5
Psalm 17:15 - “In righteousness I will see Your face.” Those who walk righteously, who live a holy life, have an intimate relationship with God. Ps. 11:7; Ps. 27:4, 8
Psalm 16:8 - “Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Because the Lord is with you, you won't be fearful, you'll be at peace. Ps. 15:5, 55:22, 112:6-7
Psalm 18:1 - “I love You, O Lord, my strength.” God is your strength and power, and experiencing this will stir you to love Him. Ps. 28:7, Ps. 46:1, Ps. 59:16-17
Psalm 18:2 - “God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” For shelter, safety, and protection from the enemy, you must go to God. Ps. 46:1, 61:3-4, 71:1, 91:2
Psalm 20:2 - “May God send you help from the sanctuary.” You need help in every area of your life, and only God can give you the help you need. Ps. 27:7, 30:10, 33:20, 54:4, 63:7, 70:5, 121:2, 123:8
Psalm 23:1 - “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.” God personally cares for you. He watches over you, and meets all your needs. Ps. 28:8-9, 145:14-21
Psalm 23:1 - “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Through His Word, God feeds your soul, giving you the best spiritual food there is. Ps. 19:7-11, 119:103
Psalm 23:3 - “He restores my soul.” When you are spiritually tired or worn out, God will revive you, will encourage you. Ps. 19:7; Ps. 80:3, 18; 119:154, 156, 159
Psalm 23:6 - “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” You should be extremely excited and thankful for the hope God has given you, the incredibly great future He has planned out for you. Ps. 16:11, 37:11, 46:10, 47:7, 67:7, 71:5, 72:17, 73:24
Psalm 25:2 - “In You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.” Because God is your God, you will never be put to shame, you will always be victorious. Ps. 25:20, 31:1, 44:4-8, 60:11-12
Psalm 25:4 - “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths.” Learn from God, for He is your teacher, the best teacher there is. Ps. 27:11, 70:17, 86:11, 90:12
Psalm 27:1 - “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” Because you are a child of God, you have nothing and no one to fear. Ps. 3:6, 23:4, 46:2, 56:4
Psalm 31:19 - “How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear You.” God is good, and shows you His goodness, now and forever. Ps. 23:6, 86:5, 100:5
Psalm 32:1 - “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven… whose sin the Lord does not count against him.” To be forgiven, to have your soul cleansed from your sins, is an amazing grace, a present, eternal, and infinite blessing. Ps. 32:2-5, 51:1-4, 79:9, 130:3-4
Psalm 32:7 - “You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble.” God is the only One who can keep you “safe and secure from all alarms.” Ps. 31:20, 64:2, 143:9
Psalm 32:8 - “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” God will lead you, show you His way, help you know what you are to do.” 25:5, 143:8-10
Psalm 34:4 - “I sought the Lord, and He answered me.” You are very special to God, and He never ignores you - He answers you when you seek Him. Ps. 86:7, 118:5
Psalm 34:19 - “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” Never forget that the Lord will deliver you from all your troubles, and will rescue you from all your enemies. Ps. 18:17, 33:19, 34:7, 59:1-2
Psalm 36:7 - “How priceless is Your unfailing love.” God greatly, personally, continually, and eternally loves you!Ps. 23:6, 26:3, 33:20, 36:10, 52:8, 57:3, 59:17, 63:3, 66:20, 89:1, 90:14, 92:2, 94:18, 103:17, 107:15, 109:21, 109:26; 115:1, 118:18, 136:1-26, 145:8
Ps. 43:3 - “Send forth Your light and Your truth.” God tells you what is true, and to really live, you must know His truth, what is right and what is wrong. Ps. 26:3, 69:13, 86:11
Psalm 54:4 - “God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me.” When you are sick or weak or tired, God will help you, support you, and keep you going. Ps. 41:3, 55:22, 68:19
Psalm 68:3 - “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” You should be overjoyed, you should be rejoicing and singing, for God made you perfectly, completely, and eternally holy. Ps. 64:10, 70:4, 90:15, 92:4
Ps. 69:1 - “Save me, O God.” God saved you from hell, and also delivers you from trials, problems, difficulties, and from your enemies. Ps. 69:29, 86:2, 88:1, 116:6
Psalm 71:20-21 - “Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again… You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.”Life can be very hard, but God will revive you, console you, and honor you. Ps. 86:17
Psalm 73:23 - “I am always with you.” An important things in life is to know that God never leaves you, that He’s always with you. Ps. 16:10, 23:4, 118:6, 139:7
Psalm 80:18 - “Revive us and we will call upon Your name.” You may be sad, you may be discouraged, but God can restore you, can give you fresh life. Ps. 71:20, 85:6
Psalm 86:15 - “You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” More than you realize, God lovingly puts up with you - He is patient, forgiving, and forbearing. Ps. 103:8; 78; 106; 145:8
Psalm 89:1 - “With my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known.” God is loyal, He is steadfast and consistent, and never gives up on you. Ps. 36:5, 89:5, 92:2, 100:5
Psalm 90:14 - “Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love that we may sing for joy.” God wants you to be filled with joy, His joy, every day of your life. Ps. 63:3, 65:14, 81:16, 90:14, 103:5, 107:9
Psalm 94:12 - “Blessed is the man You discipline, O Lord, the man You teach from Your law.” The Lord’s admonishing and chastening is a corrective measure, one of the ways He teaches you the truth, trains you to follow Him. Ps. 73:14; 118:8; 119:67
Psalm 94:19 - “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” When you are anxious, worried, or afraid, then God Himself wants to console you, comfort you, and fill you with His joy. Ps. 71:21
Psalm 103:2-4 - “Praise the Lord…who redeems your life from the pit.” Praise God, for He purchased you, He rescued you from hell. Ps. 49:7, 55:18, 77:15, 107:2
Psalm 112:1 - “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.” God wants to greatly bless you, to give you what is good, and it happens when you fear Him and obey Him. Ps. 40:4, 65:4, 84:12, 115:12, 119:1
Psalm 116:5 - “Our God is full of compassion.”When God sees you are hurting, then He has compassion on you - and this is a special love, a deep concern that God has for you, and it moves Him to act on your behalf.” Ps. 69:16; 86:15; 103:8, 13
Psalm 121:7 - “The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life.” God is your keeper, He continually protects, guards, and watches over you. Psalm 41:2, 91:10-12, 145:20
Psalm 126:3 - “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” That God does great and wonderful things for you should cause you to be joyful, to be exulting, to be spiritually happy. Ps. 16:10, 43:4, 51:8, 51:12, 100:1
Psalm 145:8 - “The Lord is gracious and compassionate.” In every aspect of life, God will be gracious to you, giving you all the grace you need. Ps. 67:1, 86:15, 123:3
Psalm 147:6 - “The Lord sustains the humble.” God helps you when you’re humble, when you’re hurting, when you’re looking to Him. Ps. 10:17; 22:1-11; 25:9; 34:2
These verses are the truth, an incredible and overwhelming demonstration of God’s great and eternal love for you. Why does God do so much for you?
- Because you are His child, because He really loves you, because He wants you to be filled with joy, because He wants to bless you.
- Because He wants you to love Him, to thank Him, to glorify Him.
- Because He wants you to spiritually grow, to be a mature believer, and these truths are essential for your growth.
- Because He wants you to obey Him. Look at Psalm 119:115 - “Away from me you evildoers that I may keep the commands of God.” God delivers you from the enemy so you can obey Him. Psalm 119:88, 134, 145 say similar things.
- Because God wants you to be an overcomer, a strong, special-ops soldier for Him in these end-times, even when the Antichrist rules this earth and persecutes you. This can only happen if you have a close relationship with God Himself.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs… For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:1, 5
P.S. I will continue to stress the importance of growing in your relationship with God. You won't be disappointed, and God will be honored! If you have not done it yet, please read the previous two posts on this subject. Also, I finished my article on prayers to God from the book of Psalms - "Psalms and Your Relationship with God." I encourage you to read it and use it as a way to pray to God.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #311 ~
The purpose of this post is to get you thinking about the future that God has in store for you, and to give you hope. In the past few weeks, we’ve focused on the book of Psalms, especially as it describes your relationship with God. There’s no question that having a close walk with God is what's most important in life. That means in your day to day life, and in these end-times when we “feel” the birth pains, and when we are going through great tribulation. Matt. 24:4-9
What many Christians don’t realize is the enormous amount of truth in the Psalms about the hope God has given them. I’m convinced you will find it to be an invaluable source of information about your future. In this post, I am sharing five critical points about prophecy in the Psalms, and then summarizing some key prophetic passages.
1. The primary themes in the Psalms are: a) God - His being, character, and purpose; b) the history of the Jewish people; c) the Lord, Savior, and Judge; d) God’s past, present, and future relationship with His people; e) the end-times; f) the coming King; g) the kingdom age; h) persecution, suffering, and deliverance; i) the judgment of the wicked; j) worshiping the Lord God Almighty.
2. The primary prophecy themes in the Psalms are: a) the coming King; b) the judgment of the wicked; c) the kingdom age. You will see these themes repeated many times, which means that we need to know them, and be encouraged by them. For example, Psalm 2 covers all three of these subjects.
3. Jesus wants you to know the prophecies in these Psalms: "All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk. 24:44). Jesus was stressing the importance of the Psalms as they relate to the future. Prophecies in the Psalms about Jesus’ 1st coming have already been fulfilled, but prophecies about His 2nd coming and the kingdom age will be fulfilled in the future.
4. The Psalms are for Jews, and also for Christians, for we share in their blessings. Truths about Christ the King, the millennial kingdom, and the land of Israel are a very important part of the future we have as Christians. Along with believing Jews, you will worship the King (Ps. 47:6 - Rom. 15:10-11), reign with the King (Ps. 47:8 - Rev. 5:10), and inherit the land. Ps. 37:22 - Matt. 5:5
5. To understand the prophecy portions of Psalms, you must know three key covenants God made to the Jewish people: the Abrahamic Covenant - the promise of land (Gen. 13:14-17 - Ps. 37:29); the Davidic Covenant - the promise of the King (2 Sam.7:12-16 - Ps. 89:28-29); and the New Covenant - the promise of salvation. Jer. 31:31-34 - Ps. 111:9
6. The fact that we live in the end-times means that many 2nd coming prophecies in the Psalms will soon be fulfilled. These prophetic portions in the Psalms are critically important for Christians living at this time in history - more than ever before, you need to read and understand them. God knows that you must be instructed, encouraged, hopeful, and ready to meet your Lord and King.
Here is a list of some important 2nd coming prophecy passages from the Psalms:
* Psalm 2 - This is about the enemy’s global opposition to God, His judgment of these evildoers, and Christ’s reign as King over the world.
* Psalm 22:22-31 - This speaks of believing Israelites glorifying the King, the nations of the world worshiping Him, and believers being satisfied by Him.
* Psalm 37 - This encouraging Psalm keeps repeating the truth that the wicked will soon be taken away and judged, but the righteous will remain and inherit the land of Israel and the entire world.
* Psalm 46 - Earthquakes and wars will soon devastate the earth but you are not to be afraid, for God will make them cease, at which time He will be exalted in the earth and among the nations.
* Psalm 47 - The main point of this Psalm is that Christ the King will rule over the world and be worshiped by all those who live on this earth.
* Psalm 48 - We learn about Christ the King being praised, and about the “city of our God… Mount Zion… the city of the great King”, names for His earthly dwelling place, for the city of Jerusalem.
* Psalm 72 - This prophetic Psalm gives us details about the millennial kingdom. The kings are bringing tribute to Christ the King, the needy are blessed by Christ, the land is producing an abundance of grain, and the whole earth is filled with God’s glory.
* Psalm 96 - Christ is reigning, He is physically blessing the earth, the gospel is being proclaimed all over the world, and God is being glorified.
* Psalm 98 - During the kingdom age, the world will understand the gospel with the result that people will be worshiping the Lord, and nature will be “singing” to Him.
* Psalm 102:12-28 - We read of a future generation living during the kingdom age. Christ will appear in His glory; nations will fear the Lord; men will praise the Lord, and tell of the name of the Lord; and the earth will be physically restored.
These verses as well as many others in the Psalms give us a great deal of information about our glorious future. It’s no small subject which means it’s a critical book in our study of prophecy. And it's especially relevant in these end-times for we are now witnessing all this moral evil and social upheaval in this country and all over the world. But be assured that God is reigning, and that all His purposes and promises will be fulfilled.
It won’t be long before we see “the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:9-12). Hallelujah!!!
"All the nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed. Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen." Psalm 72:17-19
P.S. Again, I must say that you need hope. And to have hope, you must know God's prophetic word. Don't be like many Christians who are ignorant of the glorious future that God has in store for us. I encourage you to read the article, "You Have to Have Hope", and the post, "In a Wicked World, You Have to Have Hope."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #312 ~
It’s obvious that we live in the end-times and, therefore, it is essential to learn what God wants us to know about the coming of Christ and the future He has in store for us. God has given us a good outline of what will be taking place along with instructions as to how we are to live - and He has given us hope.
One book that is often overlooked when it comes to studying the future is the Psalms. (Yes, the Psalms was written to the Jews, but it's also written to you.) My purpose in this post, and in the related article, "The Psalms and Prophecy", is to give you an extensive list of prophecy verses from the Psalms that I am convinced will be very helpful to you. I encourage you to read them, share them with others, and use them as a basis for more extensive study.
Here are the subjects that are covered: 1) The Salvation of the Jews; 2) The Judgment of the Wicked; 3) The King and His Kingdom; 4) The Land; 5) The Millennial Kingdom; 6) Your Future Relationship with God. In this post, I have listed out only some of the verses. Article 55 is much longer and more detailed for it contains my complete list of verses.
1) The Salvation of the Jews: God promised to save a remnant of Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. This chosen race, this royal priesthood, this holy nation will be living in Israel, helping repopulate the earth, and worshiping and serving Christ the King. (Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:31-34, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 11:25-27). Ps. 98:2-3 - “The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel.” Ps. 111:9 - “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” Ps. 130:7-8 - “For with the Lord is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption, and He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”
2) The Judgment of the Wicked: God is most holy, and He will not let the guilty go free. All the wicked who have ever dwelt on this earth, those who have not repented of their sins and turned to God for mercy, will perish, will be righteously and eternally punished. (Is. 24; Matt. 24:41, 46; Rev. 7-8, 16, 20:15). Psalm 1:6 - “The way of the wicked will perish” (6). Ps. 9:5 - “You have destroyed the wicked, You have blotted out their name forever and ever.” Ps. 11:6 - “Upon the wicked He will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.” Ps. 81:15 - “Those who hate the Lord would pretend obedience to Him, and their time of punishment would be forever.” Ps. 83:17-18 - “Those who hate You have exalted themselves” (2). Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever." Ps. 92:7-8 - “When the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.”
3) The King and His Kingdom: In a world filled with evil and evil rulers, we must be convinced that the King will be coming soon, and that He will establish His kingdom on this earth. The Psalms doesn’t clearly differentiate the two future kingdoms, the 1000-year kingdom and the eternal kingdom, but we do know that He will be perfectly reigning over a world filled with His glory. (2 Sam. 7:16, Is. 42:1-4, Ez. 27:21-28, Dan. 7:13-14, Zech. 14:9, Rev. 20). Psalm 2:6 - “As for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Ps. 10:16 - “The Lord is King forever and ever.” Ps. 22:28 - “The kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” Ps. 45:6 - “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Ps. 47:2 - “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.” Ps. 67 - “Let all the peoples praise You, O God” (3). “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth” (4). Ps. 102:15-16 - “The nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory. For the Lord has built up Zion. He has appeared in His glory.”
4) The Land: God promised to Abraham and to all believing Jews the land from the River to the Sea. But more than that, it will be the entire earth. And Christians, as coheirs with Christ, as part of this chosen race, will also inherit the earth. (Gen. 12:1-3; Jer. 32:40-41; Ez. 37:21-22; Matt. 5:5). Psalm 37:29 - “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (29). Ps. 85:1 - “You showed favor to Your land, You restored the captivity of Jacob.” Ps. 105:8-11 - “He has remembered His covenant forever…the covenant… to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, ‘To you will I will give the land of Caanan as the portion of your inheritance.’” Ps. 136:16, 21-22 - “To Him… who gave their land as a heritage, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, even a heritage to Israel His servant.”
5) The Millennial Kingdom: We live in a devil-ruled, sin-corrupted world. Not long from now we will live in a Christ-ruled and restored world. There will be justice, peace, love, and glory like we have not seen since the beginning days of this earth. Both the people and the land of this glorious kingdom will be blessed. And believers will be reigning with Christ the King. (Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14, Acts 3:20-21; Rom. 8:19-22, Phil. 2:9-11, 1 John 5:19, Rev 20:6). Psalm 22:27-28 - “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s.” Ps. 47:7-8 - “God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations.” Ps. 65:8-9 - “They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. You visit the earth and cause it to overflow.” Ps. 72 - “May He judge Your people with righteousness” (2-3). “May He also rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth” (7-8). “He will have compassion on the poor and needy” (13). “… may the whole earth be filled with His glory” (17-19). Ps. 96 - “Sing to the Lord, all the earth” (1). “Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations” (2-3). Ps. 98 - “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (3-4). “With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and all it contains” (5-8).Ps. 102 - “You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to her” (13). “The nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory” (15-16). Ps. 145:12 - “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”
6) Your Future Relationship with God: Having a loving, continual, never-ending relationship with Jesus Christ is, without question, the best part of your future. Dwelling in His house, seeing His face, being perfectly satisfied, learning from Him, loving Him and being loved by Him - it can’t get any better than this. (Lk. 10:42; Jn. 17:3; Eph. 1:17, 3:18-19; 2 Pet. 1:2.) Psalm 11:7 - “The Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.” Ps. 16:11 - “In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Ps. 17:15 - “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” Ps. 23:6 - “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Ps. 63:2-3 - “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.”
What a glorious hope! And you must know this hope, what God has planned out for you in the future, if you are to live rightly for Him in the present. I say this with utmost earnestness, sobriety, and conviction. Way too many Christians are asleep - and they need to know God's prophetic word and wake up to the times we live in. “You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky but why do you not analyze this present time?” (Lk. 12:56). “The night is almost gone, and the day is near” (Rom. 13:12). “Therefore, be on the alert” (Matt. 24:42). “… encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25
Please look at the related article. You will be amazed and excited by how many prophecy verses are found in the book of Psalms!!!
I strongly suggest that you read my three-part series on this subject in the articles section - Prophecy Psalms for You and the Jew - "Part 1", "Part 2", "Part 3". You will find them very instructive and encouraging.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #313 ~
The subject of God’s enemies, of people who hate God and therefore hate you must be understood (John 15:18-21). It’s imperative that you know what God says about sinners who are against Christians. You don’t want to be naïve with regards to this subject. In the end-times, the enemies’ opposition to Christians will increase, culminating in the great tribulation, the last years of this age when the Antichrist is ruling the world and persecuting Christians. Thankfully, those days of suffering will not last very long, and then Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, will gloriously return to rapture the church. Matt. 24:9, 21-22, 29-31
For this study of our enemies, I’m looking at the Psalms because it is so extensive in what it says about them. Over 80 Psalms speak of these evil sinners, of who they are, what they are doing, and how we are to get the victory over them. “O give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down our adversaries” (Ps. 60:11-12). In today’s post I am looking at several Psalms that describe our enemies and God’s judgment of them.
Psalm 2:1-3 - “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed One, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their deeds from us!’” Evil rulers are opposed to and are working together against God the Father and His Son - they do not want to be under His control. These truths from Ps. 2 are present day realities - devilish nations are now uniting as a globalist force, which will soon lead to the arrival and rule of the Antichrist. At the right time, Christ will come back and crush the Antichrist, and then begin His glorious 1000-year reign on earth. Speaking of this most certain future, God said, “I have installed my King on Zion.” Ps. 2:6
Psalm 10 - “The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord. The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God’” (3-4) … “His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and wickedness” (7) … “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.” (11). Many of the wicked do not believe there is a God, and thus, have no knowledge of Him. Others believe there is a God but that He doesn’t see the evil they are doing. They are proud, greedy, cruel, hateful, and deceitful people. But “The Lord is King forever and ever; nations have perished from His land.” (16). In the end, “man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.” (18)
Psalm 14:1-2 - “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” Many sinners do not believe there is a God. So they believe they can do whatever they want and get away with it. But they are dead wrong, for God sees all evildoers and all their evil, and He will justly judge them, and then eternally punish them.
Psalm 36:1-4 - “Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes, for it flatters him in his own eyes concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it. The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. He plans wickedness upon his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not despise evil.” The sinner is a fool for he does not fear God and he has no love for God. The sinner is known by his proud thoughts, wicked words, and evil paths, a life of sin. But he does not even know his sin, and thus he does not despise or hate his sin. Here is the true and sobering future of sinners - “The doers of iniquity have fallen; they have been thrust down and cannot rise.” Ps. 36:12
Psalm 52:1-5 - “Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? … Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.” The evil man is deceitful, he speaks lies - you cannot trust what he says. He is destructive and devouring, not wanting to help people but instead wanting to hurt them. So what happens to the proud person who trusts, not in God but in his money, who things he has all this power, who is determined to do evil (7)? “God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living.” (5)
Psalm 59:12-13 - “On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, and on account of the curses and lies which they utter. Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more, that men may know God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth.” A sinner, a proud, cursing, lying person, is usually judged in two ways: 1st, he is caught in his sin and suffers while he is on this earth; and 2nd, he will suffer eternally in hell, where he will be rightfully and severely punished.
Psalm 73:6-9 - “Pride is their necklace; the garment of violence covers them. Their eye bulges from fatness; the imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak from on high. They have set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue parades throughout earth.” The wicked are proud, violent, and oppressive. Their thoughts run wild - they think they can do whatever they want. They speak against God and mock man. So what happens? “You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment. They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors” (18-19). The wicked person will be utterly shocked when his earthly life suddenly ends, and he appears before his Maker and Judge. Without warning, he will go “into eternal punishment”, “into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil.” Matt. 25:46, 41
God has chosen you to be on this earth for such a time as this. Be a good soldier for God, one who is strong and courageous! (Josh. 1:7-9). If you have enemies, God wants you to love them, pray for them (Matt. 5:44), and tell them the good news about Christ. Now it may happen that “they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you to synagogues and prisons, and bring you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13). God wants you to tell your enemies that Christ is the only way they can be forgiven of their sins and have eternal life. May God have mercy on some of them, and save their souls from suffering His eternal wrath.
We learn so much about the enemy from the Psalms. Now that we’re in the end-times and are seeing the increasing activity of the enemy, we must know these things. I will say it again - we must know these things. Know also that God is sovereign, that the enemy can only do what God lets him do. (Daniel 4:34-35). And if he doesn't repent while he's on earth, then God will punish him forever in hell. Rev. 20:15
In a related article, I list out most all the Psalms that speak of God’s enemies, and ours too. Finally, here is God’s promise to you - “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Matthew 6:11
P.S. We live in extremely dangerous times, spiritually difficult times. As Christians, we must not just be in "work" mode but in "war" mode (Nehemiah 4). The enemy is raging, but our Lord and Savior, our great and glorious God, is winning the war. My sermon this past Sunday was, "The United States and the Need for the Gospel." In this message, I am very open and direct about the terribly sad condition of our country, and the need to vote, pray, and share the gospel. May God have mercy on our country. I would also encourage you to read my more extensive article on this same subject, our enemies.
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #314 ~
Hurricane Helene over the Gulf of Mexico. September 26, 2024 Credit: NOAA
NOTE: I am extremely concerned about our country's spiritual condition, and the fact that most people are asleep and aren't aware of the great danger we are in. Today's post, adapted from my sermon this past Sunday, conveys this message.
Imagine a well-known person knocking at your door and walking into your house. And you don’t even acknowledge him. Then he starts talking to you and you don’t listen to Him - you act like he’s not there. You completely ignore this person who is trying to tell you some vitally important information.
This is what, to a large degree, happened from Sept. 26-28. Hurricane Helene, this fast and furious storm, came to millions of people, and it was God who sent her. And all these people saw and felt and were impacted by Helene, but most of them didn’t know that God caused this super-powerful, super-destructive storm, and that He was talking to wake them up.
The vast majority of people in the path of this storm didn’t know God was talking to them. Many thought it was mother nature or climate change - they did not believe that God Himself was speaking to them. But it's spiritually dangerous and arrogant to ignore God, to not listen to Him, whether it was during the storm, after the storm, or anytime. Ps. 119:70 explains why people didn't hear God - “Their hearts are callous and unfeeling.” Jer. 2:5, 11-13; Rom. 1:18-25
Let me tell you more about this storm. It was about 420 miles in diameter, about the distance from Tampa to Atlanta. It was a strong Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds when the center of it went by to the west of Tampa. Even though the storm's eyewall was far from the Florida coast, we still felt it’s strong winds and waves. This caused an enormous storm surge, immense walls of water that pounded the shores of St. Petersburg and Tampa. This resulted in extensive damage to downtown areas, the homes of both rich and poor being flooded, trees and power lines being knocked down, and thousands losing electricity.
This massive storm continued north, greatly damaging Florida's west side, until it finally made landfall between Tallahassee and Perry. And it was still a Cat 4 storm when it slammed into this same coastal area that had been recently hit with other hurricanes (Idalia - Aug. '23, Debby - Aug. '24). God was once-again speaking to them and, as we now know, to millions of others.
Then it went to Georgia as a Cat 2 storm, which meant big blasts of winds racing around at 100 mph. It rapidly tore though that state, striking Atlanta with some of the worst rain and flooding they had ever seen. Then it continued its destructive work as it traveled north through western S. Carolina, western N. Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and eastern Kentucky.
Along Helene's God-planned path there was booming-loud thunder, thousands of lightning strikes, 41 trillion tons of rain by one estimate (enough to cover the entire state of N. Carolina with 3.5 feet of water), record high flooding, over 100 tornadoes, road-wrecking landslides, tens of thousands of destroyed cars and homes and businesses, and millions of people shocked, saddened, and devastated by the effects of what many considered to be unprecedented, the "perfect" storm.
The worst hit areas were east of the storm's path, in Georgia, S. Carolina, N. Carolina, and east Tennessee. People hit by Helene called it apocalyptic, catastrophic, cataclysmic, the biggest and baddest storm ever. Some towns were actually washed away. Other communities are, at this time, completely cut off from the world. The stories I have read or seen on the news are unbelievable, are truly tragic, horrific, and heartbreaking. It is said to be a 100-year storm with close to $100 billion in damages and over 220 people losing their lives.
This last point, that a large number of people died, is most serious and sobering. Matt. 7:13-14 suggests that the majority were non-Christians, which means they are apart from God forever. The rest were Christians, people who know Jesus Christ and went straight to heaven, and who literally saw and talked to Him.
But back on earth: it's obvious that God stopped us in our tracks and was trying to get our attention. People had plans, things they wanted to do, but God kept them from carrying them out. God stopped us because He wanted our full and undivided attention. The best weather chapter, Job 37, tells us, “So all men that He has made may know His work, He stops every man from his labor.” Vs. 5
God's purpose is to wake up millions of both Christians and non-Christians all across this country, those who felt the direct effects of the storm, and those not even in its path, those who live in Texas, Oregon, Vermont, Iowa, and all the other states. "The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth" (Ps. 50:1). What is God saying, why does He want to wake us up?
God wants the unsaved to realize their biggest problem, their sin and the spiritual and physical death that results. And God wants them to know that He can save them from sin and death. But what does He want an unsaved person to do? About a "natural" disaster, Jesus said, "Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no. But unless you repent, you too will perish." Luke 13:4-5
God wants unbelievers to know that they are guilty and deserve to be eternally punished. He wants them to know that they need to repent, to confess to God that they have sinned, and believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins, and then rose from the dead. God wants sinners to look to Him for mercy, to know that only He can remove their guilt and eternal pain and punishment. And all who do will be forgiven, receive eternal life, be fully loved, and soon be in heaven with God, Jesus Christ, and all the angels and saints. 1 Pet. 3:18, Heb. 12:22-24, Rev. 21
But what about the Christians? What does God want us to learn from Hurricane Helene or any other trial that comes our way? He wants us to look to Him and learn about Himself, His character, work, and purpose. Let me share a few things:
First, God is sovereign, He is in charge, He does whatever He wants. He is sovereign over storms, people, the church, the government, and the future. "He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: 'What have You done?'" (Dan. 4:35). “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” Lam. 3:38
Second, God is supremely strong, infinitely powerful. “Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts”(Ps. 145:6). "He fills His hands with lightning and commands it to hit its mark." Job 36:32 , Isaiah 40:12-26
Third, God is perfectly holy, and punishes sinners for their sin, their rejection of Him. "He loads the clouds with moisture... they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men" (Job 37:11-13a). “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men.” Rom. 1:18
Fourth, God is loving. In the midst and the aftermath of Helene, God has been showing people His mercy, goodness, and compassion. God displays His love through nature, individuals, the church, your community, organizations, and even the government. "He brings the clouds... to water His earth and show His love" (Job 37:13). “God causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good.” Matt. 5:45
Fifth, God is purposeful, and had very good reasons for every single thing He did. He had a plan for all the rain, wind, thunder, and lightning, for floods and storm surges, for the problems people had and will go through, and for those who died, some who are saved forever and others who are lost forever. "The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations." Psalm 33:12
So how does God want us, His children, to respond to Him, to the fact that He is sovereign, powerful, holy, loving, and purposeful? What does He want us to do?
1. God wants us to be humble, to see who we are in relationship to Him, to see that He is God and we are but humans, and that He can do whatever He wants and we can’t do whatever we want. "Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord" (Jms. 4:10). "My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10
2. God wants us to fear Him, to respect Him, to revere Him, to worship Him as the one, true, and almighty God. This is how that great weather chapter concludes - "Therefore men, fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart." Job 37:24
3. God wants us to be holy, to say no to sin, to do what is good, right, and true. "The hour has come for you to wake up from your sleep, because salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Rom. 13:11-14
4. God wants us to know His love. He also wants us to know that He restrains Himself from showing us the full weight of His righteousness. “God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Ps. 103:10). “The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him, for He knows how we are formed.” Ps. 103:14
5. God wants us to trust Him, to believe who He is, that He is our Lord, Savior, and King, and that He is sovereign, powerful, holy, loving, and purposeful. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" (Prov. 3:5). "Have faith in God" (Mk. 11:22) when there is no food or water or power, when help is slow, when the government is incompetent, or when you have lost your home or car or job or even a loved one. James 1:2-3, 1 Peter 1:6-7
6. God wants us to have hope, to know that the future will be infinitely better, that we will be with Jesus Christ, be in heaven, be with believers, be perfected, be rewarded, and have no more problems or sin or sadness or sickness or sorrow. "Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Pet. 1:13). "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. 4:17
7. With regards to this terrible and trying storm, what should you do? 1. Pray for the Christians, that God would give them grace and peace. 2. Encourage hurting Christians with God's word. 3. Pray that God would save unbelievers. 4. Serve those who are suffering, if you can. 5. Give financially to good organizations, like Samaritan's Purse, those who are directly helping those in need.
I also must say that we are now living in the end-times. This means there will be more extreme and devastating events affecting this earth. In particular, there will be "birth pains" - wars, earthquakes, famines, and plagues now being felt around the world, and which will be increasing and growing stronger.
These too are wake-up calls from God, reminding Christians that Christ is returning soon to rapture the church, and that they need to live for Christ, to carry out their "assigned task" (Mk. 13:34). And these birth pains are warning sinners to repent and believe in Christ before its too late, before they physically die or before He pours out His wrath upon them and this sinful world.
Whatever happens, remember that God is doing His work, fulfilling His word, and carrying out His purposes for you, His church, this earth - and for His glory. Yes, life can and will be hard and, at times, extremely difficult - but keep loving the Lord - trust Him, obey Him, and look for Him to return to wrap up His work with the church, and begin His 1000-year reign over this earth. "Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Revelation 22:7
P. S. We live in the end-times, and it will be very dangerous and deadly in the future - and hurricanes are good illustrations of what will be taking place. Here are some previous posts on hurricanes and prophecy. "A Hurricane is Coming - Be Ready, Watching, and Working", "The Alarm is Ringing - Wake Up America, the Storm is Coming", and "When the Storms Come, Don't Be Afraid".
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #315 ~
Many conflicts, tragedies, and calamities are presently afflicting this earth. In times like these many people become unsettled and afraid, wondering what’s happening, or even if the world is coming to an end. I understand why non-Christians may think like this, but confusion, fear, error, and hopelessness should never be true of Christians. That's because God has told you all you need to know about the future. Jesus said, “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mk. 13:23). “He made know to us the mystery of His will” (Eph. 1:9). God has told you exactly what He wants you to know - He has told you what you need to know - He has told you the key players and parts of His end-times’ plan for you, the church, Israel, and the world.
God also wants you to know that He is in complete control of all that is and will be happening on this earth. In churches, in the lives of both saved and lost, in states and countries, in governors and presidents, in Israel and Iran, and in you and your family, God is sovereignly, powerfully, righteously, and lovingly working. And He’s not just overseeing the affairs of this world, He is intimately involved in everything that happens. Every single second, God is precisely and wisely carrying out His plans for planet earth and for every person on this earth.
God is continually leading, moving, and bringing you and this entire world closer to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. From God's perspective, what’s occurring from now to Christ’s coming is like a trillion-piece puzzle, and God is putting all the pieces together. He "works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" (Eph. 1:11). And this global puzzle, God’s plan for this world, for this present age, will be completed at Christ's coming.
At this time in history, Rom. 8:28 and Rom. 8:29 is truer than ever before. Rom. 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all thing to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” And what is God’s purpose for you? Rom. 8:29 tells us, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son?” His purpose for you is to be like Jesus, to be perfect, to be powerful, to be immortal, to be glorious. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2
We often look at Rom. 8:28 microscopically, thinking about the small events of our daily life. But you must see the big picture, you must know where your life is headed, that you will see Jesus, and be like Jesus, that you will be glorified. You must understand Rom. 8:28 in its context, you must connect it to Rom. 8:29 and Rom. 8:30 - “These whom He predestined, He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Do you realize the everlasting , life-changing truth of this last verse? It’s one of the best, big-picture verses in the Bible. In eternity past, God planned out the entirety of your life, your eternal life, from justification to glorification to eternity future. Rom. 11:33-36
Next to knowing and growing in Christ, next to understanding the truth and eternal value of His first coming, you need to understand the truth and eternal value of His 2nd coming, and what’s leading up to Christ’s return to earth. No Christian should be naïve, ignorant, speculating, or worrying about the end-times and the truth of Christ’s 2nd coming. God has told you everything He wants you to know about the future, for He's convinced it will increase your hope, and your faith, love, and peace (Col. 1:3-5). I pray that you want to know these truths, and then tell others, encouraging the saved and warning the lost. 2 Tim. 4:1-8
So read, pray, study, and learn what God has planned out for you, the church, Israel, and the world. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). I encourage you to take all the time you need to read and understand the book of Revelation, as well as Matt. 24, and Mark 13, and Luke 17:22-37, and Luke 21:5-36, and Rom. 8:18-25, and Rom. 11, and Rom. 13:11-14, and Rom. 15:8-13, and 1 Cor. 15:20-28, and 1 Cor. 15:50-58, and 1 Thess. 4:13-18, and 1 Thess. 5:1-11, and 2 Thess 1:3-12, and 2 Thess. 2:1-12, and Heb. 10:25-31, and Heb. 12:22-29, and James 5:3-11, and 1 Peter 1:3-16, and 2 Peter 3:3-13, and 1 John 2:28-3:3.
In the next post, I will talk about eschatological prophecy, I will describe the key players and parts of God’s plan from now until the millennial kingdom. I will briefly talk about the Jewish people, the nations, the end-times, the birth pains, increasing evil, technology, the peace treaty, the Jewish temple, the Antichrist, great tribulation, the rapture, the day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and the millennial kingdom. Each of these are key parts of God’s perfect plan as it relates to Christ’s coming and to you, the church, Israel, and the world.
“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:11-12). “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7
P.S. It's vitally important that you know what will be taking place before Christ's coming - and I have talked about it at great length on this blog site. Here are a few other posts on this subject: "Matthew 24 - A Road Map of the End-Times", "When Is Christ Coming Back?", and "What Needs to Happen Before Christ's Return?"
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #316 ~
If you are going someplace in a car, if you have a certain destination, there are signs you look for that guide you, that help you get where you want to go. Or you may use the GPS system that maps out the roads you need to be on or even speaks to you. But we are talking about the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. And God has given you His own GPS, and its God's Prophecy Signs.
We are talking about prophecy and how God has given us signs that must take place before Christ's coming, signs we will see on this rapture road. And God has told us many signs that we will see on this Son-lit road. He doesn't want there to be any doubt about the fact that we live in the end-times and that Christ is returning to earth. And as time goes on, He wants us to know that His coming is getting closer and closer - He wants you to "see the Day approaching." Heb. 10:25
So God has told you exactly what you need to know before the coming of Christ. He greatly loves you and does not want you to be in the dark during what will be a most difficult and challenging time. God wants the road to be well lit with the truth. So what are the signs you need to see before Christ's coming? Let me summarize what God says will be occurring in the coming years, before the end of this age and Christ's return to rapture the church and reign over this world.
* The End-times: We are living in the end-times, the last years leading up to Christ's coming, the rapture, the Day of the Lord, and Christ's 1000-year reign. That a large number of Jewish people have come back to their land is proof, is clear evidence, that these are the end-times. Dan. 12:4, Ez. 37:21, Matt. 24:3-31
* The Birth Pains: God told us there will be birth pains before Christ's coming (Lk. 21:7-11, Rev. 6:1-8). These calamitous events - wars, earthquakes, plagues, famines, and economic distress - happen in various parts of the world during the end-times. They will increase in intensity and frequency resulting in unbelievers looking for someone to save them from these problems and bring them peace - and this "someone" will be the Antichrist. Referring to the birth pains, Lk. 21:7 tells us, “these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” These birth pains are occurring over a long period of time, and then Christ our hope will return.
* Daniel's 70th week: This dramatic 7-year period is filled with end-times' events (Dan. 9:24, 27). It's marked by the signing of a treaty at the beginning of the week, the revealing of the Antichrist at its midpoint, and the salvation of Jews at its endpoint. During these climactic 7 years, the Jews will offer sacrifices, the Antichrist will rule over the world, there will be great tribulation, the church will be raptured, and the unsaved will be punished. At the end of this week, we will know and say, "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." Rev. 11:15
* The Covenant: Because of increasing opposition, the Jews, in their desparate desire for peace, will sign or confirm a covenant, a treaty. But it wiil be a deal with the devil, that is, with the coming Antichrist. This marks the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week. “He will confirm a covenant with many for one week." Dan. 9:27
* The Jewish Temple: A key part of this covenant is that the Jewish people will be permitted to build a temple so as to offer their prescribed sacrifices. This will happen during the first half of Daniel’s 70th week. “Get up and measure the temple of God.” Rev. 11:1, Dan. 9:27, Matt. 24:15
* Increasing Evil: Sin is increasing in this world and will continue to do so the closer we get to the rapture. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13). It will get even worse when the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness, is in power - and when "God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie." 2 Thess. 2:8-11
* Technology: To rule the world, the Antichrist will need a super-sophisticated surveillance, information, intelligence, and financial system. The rapid advance of computers and artificial intelligence will lead to a global-controlling digital technology that will enable the Antichrist to carry out his wicked agenda and persecute Christians and Jews. “… the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed… no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark…” Rev. 13:14-17
* The Antichrist is revealed: In the middle of Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist will be revealed. At this time, Christians and discerning Jews will know for certain that this evil man they see desecrating the temple is the Antichrist, the devil’s man, the most evil man on earth. “The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god… he takes his seat in the temple of God.” 2 Th. 2:3-10, Dan. 9:27, Rev. 13:3-9
* Great tribulation: The Antichrist’s devilish persecution of Christians and Jews is great tribulation. This global and deadly persecution begins at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week but God cuts it short, evidenced by signs in the heavens and on earth. Immediately after these earth-darkening and earthshaking signs, Christ will come on the clouds and light up the earth and immediately rapture the church. “There will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now.” Matt. 24:9, 21-22; Rev. 6:9, 12-14
* The rapture of the church: At His coming, Christ will mercifully and suddenly snatch all Christians from the earth. They will join with believers from all time, be given an immortal, powerful, and glorious body, and be gathered to Christ. The rapture takes place at an unknown time during the last half of the 70th week.“We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thess. 4:17, Matt. 24:31-36, 1 Cor. 15:50-54, Phil. 3:20-21
* The Day of the Lord: Right after the rapture of the church, God will pour out His wrath on the unsaved, on this wicked world. This fierce and fiery judgment occurs in two parts, Trumpet judgments (Rev. 8-9), and Bowl judgments (Rev. 16). “… the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Rev. 6:16-17, Is. 13:9-13
* The Salvation of the Jews: God will save a large remnant of Jews at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. These repentant and righteous Jews will join with Jesus in reigning over Israel and the entire world. “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jer. 31:34, Is. 45:17, Is. 61-62, Dan. 9:24, Rom. 11:25-27
* The Kingdom of Christ: Jesus Christ, ruling from Jerusalem, will reign over Israel and all the nations for 1,000 years. It will be a perfect, just, merciful, and glorious reign. “God is the King of all the earth… God reigns over the nations” (Ps. 47:7-8). “The whole earth is full of His glory.” Is. 6:3, Ps. 67, Ps. 72, Ps. 96, Rev. 11:15, Rev. 20
"Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time"(Mk. 12:23). It's good to know that God told us the truth, all we need to know about the end-times, about this road leading to Christ's return to rapture the church. I really encourage you to follow the Bible's GPS system as you travel on this rapture road.
You also need faith, you must trust God, you need to believe that He will continue to give you all the grace and peace you need. You must have promises for they give you hope, they help you persevere to the end. Most importantly, you must love God and love others. You need obedience, you need to be doing the work, the "assigned task" God has given you to do (Mk. 13:34). You need fellowship, you need other believers. And you need to be watching, to be waiting and looking for the return of Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.
Truth, faith, hope, love, obedience, fellowship, and watching - you need these to endure to the end, to keep going until you see Christ coming to take you home. "They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory... He will send His angels with a loud trmpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other." Matthew 24:27, 31
P.S. The charts on this site are extremely helpful in understanding the future that God has in store for you. Here are some charts that are related to this blogpost: "The Kingdom of God", "Daniel's 70th Week", "Matthew 24", "How Then Shall We Live?", "The Rapture", "Before Christ's Coming."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #317 ~
The King is coming back! And for 1,000 years, Christ the King will perfectly reign over this earth, bringing justice, peace, and love. Now you live in an evil world that is increasingly becoming more sinful and corrupt (Matt. 24:14). And you need hope - you must know that Christ is returning soon to clean up this world and begin reigning over it.
But now you live on earth, and there's an important election in this country. As a Christian, vote for that person who most aligns with God’s truth and values, who promotes freedoms that enable you to share the gospel, and to “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-6 ). May God have mercy on us!
But don't ever put your hope in a human king or leader. God commands you, “Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to earth” (Ps. 146:3-4). It is true that God ordains governing authorities at this time (Rom. 13:1-7), but you must never put your trust in them.
Psalm 146:5 goes on to say, “How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” You must trust in God, for He is the only One who can really help you. Only He can spiritually bless you, can save your soul, forgive your sins, and take you to Jesus. If there's any physical blessing from human leaders, it’s God who wanted it, ordained it, and caused it to happen. Truly, both spiritual and physical blessings are from God. Ps. 103, Ps. 146:6-10
So don’t be overly focused on elections - don't ever think that what some leader may do for you is most important, for it's not. What’s most important is your relationship with God, loving Him, knowing Him, and experiencing His love, joy, and peace in your heart. What's important is setting your mind on the things above, on the kingdom of God, not on the things below, on the kingdoms of men. Ps. 73:25-26, Ps. 91:14-16
It’s being preoccupied with doing God’s will, knowing that He will physically bless you, will meet all your needs. So what is God’s will, what does He want you to do?
- Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33
- Jesus says, “I will build the church” (Matt. 16:18). Work with Jesus in building the church.
- Jesus says, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world… and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). Join with the church in preaching the gospel.
- Jesus says, “Go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Do your part in making disciples.
(Notice the word “end” in the last two verses? God wants you to do His will in view of the fact that Christ will come back at the end of this age. You can only carry out God’s plans as you see the big picture, as you have hope, as you are looking for Christ to return to take you to heaven, and then set up His kingdom on earth.)
So God tells you what to do but He also instructs you to pray: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10). What can you learn from this and related verses?
1. That God will establish His kingdom on earth, and it will be a 1000-year kingdom, immediately followed by an eternal one. 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 20-21
2. That God’s kingdom is heavenly and godly kingdom in nature. And God’s will, His holy and heavenly purpose for earth, will be carried out during this time.
3. That God wants you to be regularly praying for Him to set up His kingdom on earth.
4. That this kingdom will be led by Jesus Christ. He is holy and will reign on this earth, fulfilling all God’s purposes, enacting justice and giving mercy. Ps. 72
5. That we need hope. We live on an evil earth, in a corrupt, unjust, unloving world. And you must know that things will get supremely better, and you should be looking forward to the coming of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth. But be patient and persevere, wait on God and trust His timing. Jms. 5:7-11
6. That we live in the end-times - that’s because the Jews came back to their land, to Israel. Therefore, it won’t be long before the church is raptured, the world is judged, Jews are saved, and Christ sets up His kingdom on earth.
7. That you are to do the work God assigned to you. Your work, in conjunction with the work of all the believers on earth at this time in history, is part of God’s overall plan in sending His Son back to this world. Mk. 13:33-34, 1 Thess. 1:9-10
8. That Christ will be building both a spiritual kingdom and a physical kingdom during this 1000-year age. But now, during this church age, we are to be focusing on the church, the spiritual kingdom. Matt. 6:33, 16:18, 24:14, 18:19-20
Let me conclude with a number of verses about Christ the King, and His kingdom:
* Zech. 14:3, 4, 9 – “The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle… In that day, His feet will stand on the mount of Olives… And the Lord will be King over all the earth.”
* Daniel 2:44 – “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms but will itself endure forever.”
* Luke 1:32-33 – “He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David; and He will reign over the house of David forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”
* 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.”
* Rev. 11:15 - “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
* Rev. 19:15-16 – “He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
* Psalm 2:6 – “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
* Psalm 47:2 – “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.”
* 1 Cor. 15:24 – “Then comes the end, when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and authority and power. He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.”
* Psalm 10:16 – “The Lord is the King forever and ever.”
* Psalm 145:1, 13 – “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever… Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.”
P.S. For me, thinking about the coming kingdom age is extremely motivating. Here are two other posts on this most important subject: "God's Kingdom Work", and "The Present Church Age and the Future Kingdom Age."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #318 ~
We live in a world divided into all these different countries, and each one has its own leader. But it won’t be long before we see Jesus Christ, the King of kings, return to earth, and He will be its sole leader, and be visibly and powerfully ruling over the entire world. God repeatedly promised that His Son Jesus would be a great King with a glorious Kingdom. Here are some Old Testament verses that are predictive and descriptive of Christ and His kingdom.
2 Sam. 7:12-13 - “I will raise up your descendant… He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever.” God told us that the coming King would be a descendant of David, and Matt. 1 proves this to be true. We also learn that Jesus’ kingdom will forever display God’s name - His character, purposes, and glory.
Psalm 47:2-3 - “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth...” The coming King is God, the Lord Most High, and He will be more loving and powerful than any other being in history. He will be the most glorious King ever, and be greatly respected and praised. And He will subdue and rule over every nation on earth.
Isaiah 9:6-7 - “A child will be born to us… The government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace…” The coming King is both God and man. And He’s wise, powerful, holy, just, eternal, and fatherly. And He will bring real peace to the whole world.
Psalm 2 - “… As for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain…” The leaders of this world are strongly opposed to God and Jesus Christ, and are being warned by Christ that they need to worship Him, or else. But they won’t, and so at the end of this age, Christ will defeat and judge these evil kings and their kingdoms, and then establish His glorious kingdom on this earth.
Many other Old Testament passages speak of the coming King and His Kingdom: Psalm 10:16; Psalm 22:27-28; Psalm 24:7-10; Psalm 29:10-11; Psalm 45:6; Psalm 48:1-3; Psalm 65:8-13; Psalm 67; Psalm 72; Psalm 89:27-29; Psalm 98; Psalm 102:12-22; Psalm 132:10-18; Psalm 145:1-2, 10-13; Isaiah 2:1-4; Jeremiah 10:10; Ezekiel 37:21-28; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:13-14, 23-27; Micah 5:2-5a; Zeph. 3:14-17; Zech. 14:1-9
The New Testament also tells us about Christ the King and His Kingdom.
* Matthew 1-2 speaks about the ancestry of the King, the birth of the King, the birthplace of the King, the mother of the King, the name of the King, the purpose of the King, the worship of the King, the enemies of the King, and the escape of the King.
* Luke 1-2 talks about Jewish believers who were excitedly looking forward to seeing the King and His blessing upon Israel. There were Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon, and Anna.
* Luke 19:32-38 - Many Jews were saying this as Christ entered Jerusalem - “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” They hoped He would set up His earthly kingdom but they were mistaken, for His primary purpose at His 1st coming was to die to save people from their sins. At His 2nd coming, Christ will rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and establish Himself as King over this earth.
* John 19:37 - Jesus told Pilate, “You say correctly that I am a King.” Jesus admitted to Pilate that He was a King, but His goal at that time was not to rule as a King but to be a Savior, to die on a cross and be raised again to save people from sin and from death.
* Matthew 24:3-31 describes in detail what has to happen before the coming of the King. He tells His disciples that there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, increasing lawlessness, false teaching, betrayal, the desecration of the Jewish temple, the revealing and rule of the Antichrist, great persecution of Jews and Christians, preaching the gospel to the nations, and signs in the heavens. Lk. 21:7-24; 1 Th. 4:13-18; Rev. 6:1-17, 13:3-18
* Matthew 19:27-28 tells us that in the “regeneration”, the rebirth of the earth in the coming age, Jesus’ disciples will reign with Him over the nation of Israel.
So what do you need to know and do before Christ returns?
1. Learn from God’s word what needs to happen before Christ returns. Mark 13:23
2. Pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom. Matt. 6:9-10 - “Our Father, who are in heaven, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
3. Be diligently doing the work God wants you to do. Eph. 2:10
4. Be alert for you don’t know when Christ is coming. And be ready for Christ, watching for Christ, and looking forward to being with Christ. Matt. 24:42-51
Here is a summary of the millennial kingdom age:
1. Jesus Christ will reign over the entire earth, over all the nations. Ps. 72:8
2. Christ will reign from the city of Jerusalem. Ps. 48:1-2, Zech. 14:9
3. The earth will be restored, be renewed, be remodeled. Acts 3:21, Rom. 8:20-21
4. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Isaiah 11:9
5. The earth will be filled with the glory of God. Ps. 72:19
6. This part of Christ’s kingdom will exist for exactly 1,000 years. Rev. 20:1-7
7. The heavens will be glad and the earth will rejoice during this kingdom age. Ps. 96:11
8. The gospel will be preached to all nations, and many will be saved. Ps. 96:2, 98:2-3
9. Israel will be greatly blessed as a nation, and God’s blessing on them will result in the entire world being blessed. Is. 12, Is. 60
10. Every knee will bow to Christ, and every tongue confess that He is Lord. Phil. 2:9-11
11. The kings and the nations of the world will serve Christ. Ps. 72:11
12. The millennial kingdom will not be an evil age, but a good age. Hab. 2:14
13. Agriculturally, the earth will be extremely fruitful and productive. Ps. 65:9-13
14. The apostles will rule with Christ over the nation of Israel. Matt. 19:27-29
15. Believers will reign with Christ. 1 Cor. 6:2-3; Rev. 5:12, 20:6
16. Believers will be gifted and empowered to carry out Christ’s work. Luke 19:16-19
17. Jerusalem will be a holy city, and no one will be weeping or crying. Is. 65:19
18. Christ will have mercy on the poor and needy, and help them. Ps. 72:13
19. People on earth during the kingdom age will live a very long time. “The one who does not reach the age of 100 will be thought accursed.” Is. 65:20
20. Animals will get along, for the “wolf will dwell with the lamb.” Is. 11:6-9
21. Even children and snakes will get along, for “the weaned child will put his hand in the viper’s den.” Is. 11:8
22. Satan will be released at the end of this age, gather sinners to himself, lead a rebellion against Christ, be quickly defeated, and then be cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:7-10
23. Christ will abolish all rule, authority, and power; all things will be subject to Him; and He will cast death and Hades into the lake of fire. 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 20:11-15
24. The millennial kingdom will be followed by the eternal kingdom. Rev. 21:1
Do you see where we are now at and where we are going? We are living in the end-times and God wants you to be fully informed about these last years before Christ’s coming and His 1000-year kingdom. He wants you to be encouraged, to have hope, to be looking forward to seeing and being with Christ and worshiping and serving Him in the coming kingdom age.
“Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood - and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father - to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Revelation 1:4-7a
P.S. One of my favorite subjects is the coming kingdom age. I like it and I need it because it gives me hope, and you need hope too. Here are two other posts on this important subject of the millennial kingdom age: "The Coming Kingdom Age - 1000 Years of Glory", "The KING of Kings is Coming."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #319 ~
I am thankful that close to 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ came to earth and died to pay for all my sins and then rose again, this resulting in me being forgiven, being a child of God, being greatly loved by Him, and receiving eternal life. And I will keep being thankful until Christ comes again, and then forever and ever. “Do this in remembrance of Me… As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Cor. 11:25-26
I am also thankful for the wonderful future God has planned out for me and all His people:
- I am thankful that Jesus Christ is coming again. Matt. 24:30
- I am thankful that Jesus Christ is coming again, and soon. Rev. 22:7, Heb. 10:37
- I am thankful that God told me what will be taking place in the end-times. Matt. 24:3-31, Luke 21:7-31, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Thess. 2:1-11
- I am thankful that God told me all we need to know before Christ’s return. Mark 13:23
- I am thankful that God’s word tells me how to live and what to do in the final years of this age. Rom. 13:11-14,1 Thess. 5:4-11, Rev. 12:11, Rev. 13:9-10
- I am thankful that by observing world events and knowing God’s word, I can see that Christ’s coming is drawing closer. 1 Chron. 12:32, Luke 12:54-56, Heb. 10:25
I am thankful that God powerfully, purposefully, and precisely “works all things after the counsel of His will” so as to bring about the return of His Son, and “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Eph. 1:9-11
- I am thankful that God is sovereign, that He is working all things together for good during the final years of this dark, difficult, and evil age. Rom. 8:28-30
- I am thankful that God wanted me to be alive “for such a time as this", to be living for Him in the last years leading up to Christ’s return. Esth. 4:14, Ps. 31:15a
- I am thankful that God carefully planned out my life, that He knows exactly what He wants me to do in these last days of the church age. Ps. 23:3b, Eph. 2:10
- I am thankful that Christ will keep growing the church during these end-times, and will help me do my part in seeking Him, proclaiming the gospel, and making disciples. Matt. 6:33, 24:14, 28:19
I am thankful that my earthly work results in God being glorified. 1 Cor. 10:31
- I am thankful that my earthly work has eternal value in believer’s lives, in this age and in the ages to come. Eph. 1:21, 2:6; Phil. 1:21-25
- I am thankful that my earthly work results in being eternally rewarded and in having eternal friendships. Luke 16:9, 1 Cor. 3:8, Rev. 22:12
- I am thankful that during my life on this earth, God will never leave me, is with me to the end of my physical life or to the end of this age. Matt. 28:20, John 14:16-17
- I am thankful that it won’t be long before God takes me home to heaven, whether by death or by rapture. 1 Cor. 15:51, James 4:14, Heb. 10:37
I am thankful for God’s love, power, wisdom, holiness, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion, for I need these to successfully live for God. Ps. 9:10, Eph. 1:3
- I am thankful for God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and the church, for I need these to live for Him in the end-times and when that devilish Antichrist is ruling this world Acts 2:24; Rev. 12:7-17, 13:3-18
- I am thankful that God will protect and deliver me from evil and the evil one and bring me safely and triumphantly to heaven. Ps. 121:7, Matt. 6:13, 2 Tim. 4:18
- I am thankful that if God’s plan is for me to be raptured, then He will enable me to endure to the end of this age and Christ's coming. Matt. 24:13, 1 Cor. 1:8-9
- I am thankful to be in a church with believing and loyal friends who also understand the future God has planned out for us. 1 Cor. 12:18, 2 Thess. 2:1-12
- I am thankful that it won’t be long before I see Jesus face to face. Job 19:25-27
- I am thankful that I will see my loved ones in heaven. 1 Thess. 2:19-20, 4:13-14
I am thankful that this evil age, this age when Satan is ruling the world, will soon come to a just and glorious end. Ps. 37, Matt. 24:29-31, 1 John 5:19, Rev. 11:15
- I am thankful that the Antichrist and the false prophet will be defeated and cast into the lake of fire. 2 Thess. 2:8-9, Rev. 19:20
- I am thankful that Satan will be locked up during the 1000-year kingdom age, and then cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10
I am thankful that God continues to show His love and faithfulness to the Jewish people, and that His prophecies about them and promises to them are being fulfilled in the end-times and the age to come. Gen. 12:1-3, Is. 60-61, Luke 21:24
- I am thankful that Christ is returning to rapture the church. 1 Thess. 4:17
- I am thankful that Christ will return to judge an evil world. Rev. 6:12-17, Rev. 8-9
- I am thankful that Christ is returning to save a Jewish remnant. Is. 45:17, Rom. 11:26
- I am thankful that Christ is returning to reign over this world. Ps. 47, Zech. 14:9
- I am thankful that God has my eternal life all planned out, now and forever. Jer. 29:11, Luke 19:16-19, John 3:16, Eph. 2:10
- I am thankful that God will be giving me a brand-new body - a powerful, immortal, spiritual, and glorious body, one perfectly fit for God and for all eternity. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:20-21
I am thankful that in the kingdom age, the world will be filled with the knowledge and glory of God. Ps. 72:18-19, Is. 6:3, Hab. 2:14, Rev. 5:13, Rev. 7:12
- I am thankful that in the kingdom age Christ will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. Ps. 46:10
- I am thankful that the kingdom age is a good age, a time when we will say, “Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven.” Matt. 6:10- I am thankful that in the kingdom age, God’s holiness, truth, power, love, mercy, wisdom, and justice will be on display in the world like never before. Ps. 67, Is. 12
- I am thankful that in the kingdom age I will see Christ showing mercy to those who are afflicted and hurting. Ps. 72:12-14
- I am thankful that in the kingdom age, Christ will be carying out perfect justice. Ps. 72:4
- I am thankful that in the kingdom age, I will be reigning with Christ. Rev. 20:6
- I am thankful that in the kingdom age, I will be perfectly loving, serving, and glorifying God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Ps. 145:1-2, Mark 12:30
I am thankful that at the end of the kingdom age, "death and hades" will be "thrown into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:14
- I am thankful that after the 1000-year kingdom age, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes... there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain." Rev. 21:4
- I am thankful that after the 1000-year kingdom age, "then comes the end, when He (Christ) hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and all power." 1 Cor. 15:24
I am thankful God has given me hope, that I have many things to look forward to. Rom. 5:2, 8:18-25, 8:29-30, 8:38-39, 11:25-27, 13:11-14, 15:8-13, 16:27
- I am thankful that the best is yet to come, being with Jesus, being in a new body, being with believers, being rewarded, and being in my heavenly home on a perfect earth. John 14:1-3; Col. 3:23-24; 1 Thess. 5:9-11; Heb. 12:22-24; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 21:1, 10-23
Believers should be thankful for the past, present, and future. And my focus today is on your glorious future. Being thankful will help you understand the immense and eternal love God has for you. It will help you be more excited about the hope God has given you. And it will be a glory to God and a blessing to your soul.
“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart” (Ps. 9:1). “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Ps. 69:30). “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good, His love is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 100:4-5). “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God” (Col. 3:17). “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:17
P.S. What a glorious future that God has given to all His children. Might we be ever thankful to God and for all that He has done and will do for us. To Him be all the glory!!! Here are three good articles to read - "Being Thankful, the Character of a Christian", and "Thinking of Jesus Christ", and "Over 100 New Testament Verses on Christ's Second Coming."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Satuday Morning Post #320 ~
About 50 years ago I met an older and godly man named Abe. He was my Sunday School teacher in a small Baptist church in a small NE Iowa town. Never have I met anyone so filled love with love for God, who just beamed with joy, and who spoke so excitedly about being in heaven with Jesus. His example has truly encouraged and motivated me through the years.
There is a clear connection between loving Jesus Christ now and loving Him in the future. As a Christian, you should be looking forward to seeing Jesus in person, and loving the One who loves you far more than anyone else. If you don’t have a close relationship with Jesus, if you are not actively loving Him now, then you are probably not excited about seeing Him and being with Him in heaven.
So how is your relationship with Jesus? Is He #1 in your life? Is He your best friend? Are you getting good alone-time with Him? Are you telling Him how much you love Him? Do you praise Him and sing to Him with all your heart? Are you like Mary, “seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word?” Remember, “only one thing is necessary” (Lk. 10:39, 42), and that’s being with Jesus, and loving Him and learning from Him.
If Jesus is first in your life, then you will know His love for you; you will be filled with joy; you will be at peace; you will be perfectly satisfied; you will be loving others; you will be helping Jesus make disciples “to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20); and you will be wanting Him and waiting for Him to take you to Himself and home to heaven.
If you don’t have a strong love for Jesus, if you aren’t doing what He wants you to do, if you aren’t excited that He’s coming again to be with you, then consider these questions:
* Are there sins that have captured your heart, that have taken hold in your life, sins you need to confess to God and Christ? Ps. 32:1-5, 1 John 1:5-9
* Are you fleshly, are you loving the things of the world? 1 Cor. 3:1-4, 1 Jn. 2:15-17
* Are you remembering what Christ did for you at His 1st coming? Do you know what He did for you on the cross, that He died to pay for all your sins? Are you regularly taking communion? Do you realize how much God has forgiven you? Do you think often about Christ’s love for you? Ps. 86:12-13; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Jn. 4:10,19
* Do you understand the truths about God redeeming you, justifying you, forgiving you, reconciling you, adopting you, and sealing you with the Spirit? Eph. 1:3-14
* Are you in a solid church, in a good, Christ-is-coming, Bible-preaching church? 2 Tim. 4:1-2 - “In view of His appearing and His kingdom… preach the word.” 1-2 Thess.
* Are you having good fellowship with other Christians? Heb. 10:24-25
* Do you have good Christian friends that you are accountable to and that are an encouragement to you? Prov. 18:24b, Rom. 16:3-16, Col. 4:7-15
* Do you know what Christ will do for you at His 2nd coming? Are you filled with hope? Do you understand the glorious future God has planned out for you? Do you realize that “to live is Christ” but “to die is gain,” that being with Jesus in heaven is better than being with Jesus on earth? Rom. 8:18-25, Rom. 15:13
* Do you realize how much Jesus wants to be with you, how much He wants to show you His love in the future and for all eternity? Jesus told you, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3). Jesus prayed, “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (Jn. 17:24). Jesus “died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” 1 Thess. 5:11
The most important thing in life is knowing God’s love and loving Him! That’s it! And Jesus does not hesitate to correct Christians - “I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Rev. 2:4). O, may this not be true of you! “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mk. 12:30, 1 Cor. 16:22
Looking forward to loving Jesus in the future is an important sign that you love Him in the present. So are you wholeheartedly loving Jesus now and excited about loving Him in the future? If you are not sure, then go over the questions I listed, and get some answers; ask God to search you, cleanse you, and instruct you (Ps. 139:23-24); and He will surely revive you. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:19-20
Finally, remember what Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me” (Job 19:25-27). And say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20
P.S. During this Christmas season are we emphasizing the importance of our relationship with Jesus? As you know, this is what is most important. Here are three posts that speak of your love for Jesus and your relationship with Him: "The Rapture, a Love Story", "Loving the Lord and Longing to See Him", "Loving God Today, Tomorrow, and Forever."
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #321 ~
It was 30 years ago, Dec. 2-4, 1994, that my wife and I went to a prophecy conference on the book of Revelation given by Marvin Rosenthal. Talk about changing our lives! That weekend of Bible study and interacting with Marv set in motion 30 years of learning, hope, and excitement about Christ’s coming and the 1000-year kingdom age!
After going home, I could not stop thinking about Christmas and Christ’s 1st coming in conjunction with His 2nd coming. And I was wondering why many churches were just focused on Jesus’ birth. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not dismissing the necessity of His birth, the Incarnation, for it’s vital to the gospel and God’s purposes. But I was learning that there was so much more, that Jesus’ birth was part of a much larger picture.
Hearing Marv’s excellent end-times’ Bible teaching, being immersed in God’s prophetic word for three days, was helping me to fully see God’s plan for Christians, Christianity, and the world. That weekend started me on a journey of understanding the connection between Christ’s 1st advent and His 2nd advent, of seeing the big picture, of knowing the entirety of God’s purpose for His people and planet earth.
There was Christ’s birth, and His life, death, resurrection, ascension, the church, and His return to rapture the church, punish the sinners, and reign over this world. And for the first time ever, I had a panoramic view of my own life, that I was chosen, foreknown, predestined, called, that I was justified because of what Christ did at His 1st coming, that I am now being sanctified, and that I will be glorified at His 2nd coming. Rom. 8:28-30
Let’s now look at Matt. 1-2 and Luke 1-2 for it helps us see the big picture - it speaks of Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, of Christ being both a Savior and a King.
- Matt. 2:1-12. The magi were searching for the King, for they wanted to worship Him and give Him gifts. They ask, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we… have come to worship Him” (vs. 2). Vs. 5 is based on the Mic. 5:2-5 prophecy predicting that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and be a ruler. “Bethlehem, land of Judah…out of you shall come forth a ruler.” Rev. 12:5 confirms this truth about Jesus - “She gave birth to a Son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations.”
Luke 1:26-35. The angel Gabriel, on a surprise visit to Mary, told her that she would miraculously give birth to a baby, the son of man, and that He would be the Son of God. Not only that, but He would be a King, the fulfillment of God’s promise to David - “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” (Lk. 1:32-33, 2 Sam. 7:12-13). That Jesus is a King and will be the King of this earth is a major theme of the Christmas story.
Luke 1:54-55. “He (God) has given help to Israel His servant… as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” Mary knew the Davidic Covenant, God’s promise to David, and the Abrahamic Covenant, God’s promise to Abraham. (Gen. 12:1-3). She believed this promise, that Abraham would be greatly blessed, that his descendants (Jewish people) would become a great nation, inherit a special piece of land (Israel), and that they and all the people of the earth (Gentiles) would be greatly blessed.
Luke 1:67-75. Zacharias also spoke about the Abrahamic Covenant, “… His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father” (Lk. 1:72-73). And he understood redemption and salvation, the New Covenant, that God would forgive people their sins. “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel… I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more.” Jer. 31:31, 34; Lk. 2:68-69, 77-79
Luke 2:25-35. Simeon, knowing God’s promises to the Jewish people, was expecting the Messiah to fulfill them, knowing this would result in Israel being comforted (Is. 40:1, 61:1-2). Simeon was convinced that the Messiah would deliver the Jews from their sins, bless them with land, and be a great and glorious King who would rule over them and the entire world. “I will be their God, and they will be My people.” Ezek. 37:21-28
Simeon then saw Jesus, the Messiah, and actually held Him. Praising God, he said, “Mine eyes have seen Your salvation” (Lk. 2:30). Simeon knew that the Messiah, a descendant of Jews, didn’t just come for Jews but also for Gentiles. He then prophesied, “this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel” (Lk. 2:34). The “fall” tells us that many Jews would reject Christ as their Savior, and since His 1st coming this has been true. The “rise” is saying that a few Jews will be saved during this church age, but moreso at Christ’s 2nd coming and in the kingdom ages. Ps. 96, Is. 45:17, Rom. 11:25-27
Luke 2:36-38. Anna, believing God’s promises to the Jews, was expecting, was waiting for the Messiah, was “looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Anna knew that God had promised spiritual and physical blessings to the Jewish people - salvation, land, and a King who would rule over Jerusalem, Israel, and the whole world.
Do you see what God is saying? God is telling us that the key players in the 1st coming of Christ knew ahead of time about His birth, and that He would fulfill His promises to the Jews, the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants. They understood the overall plan that God had for His people. But they did not know the timing, that Christ would go back to heaven, and much later come back as a King and then begin His rule on earth. Psalm 2, 47
During this Advent season, might you see the big picture. Might you understand what Matt. 1-2 and Luke 1-2, in conjunction with God’s prophetic word, is saying. Let me summarize some key thoughts and takeaways from these passages:
* God’s promise of salvation is already being realized all over this world by a great many Jews and Gentiles.
* God’s promises to the Jews about land and a King were not fulfilled at Christ’s 1st coming but will be fulfilled at His 2nd coming. These promises also relate to Christians, for we too will inherit the earth, and reign with Christ as King. Matt. 5:5, 24:30; Rev. 5:10
* We’re much closer to Christ’s 2nd coming than His 1st coming. Since we live in the end-times, we know Christ’s return is not a matter of millennia or centuries but decades, not hundreds of years away, but years away. “Behold, I am coming soon.” Rev. 22:7, 12
* Be like Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, etc. They were excited about the coming Christ and were expecting Him to live on earth and fulfill His promises to them. They were praying (Matt. 6:9-10 - “Your kingdom come”). And like them, might we also tell others about Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King.
* Being glorified, being fully saved, is the first thing to happen at Christ’s 2nd coming, and is in conjunction with God’s renewed work with the Jews and the fulfillment of His promises to them. Matt. 24:9-31, 1 Cor. 15:20-23, 2 Thess. 2:1-9
I am so grateful that God opened my eyes to these important and relevant truths about God’s plans for the end-times, Christ’s coming, and the millennial kingdom. It’s imperative that Christians, and now at this Christmas time, clearly understand that Christ came to be a Savior, and that He is coming again, and soon, to be a Judge and a King. “Even a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us (1st coming); 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... (2nd coming).” Isaiah 9:6-7
Here are some previous posts about the real meaning of Christmas: "First Coming to Church Age to Second Coming", "The Christmas Story and Christ's Second Coming", "Christmas is More than Baby Jesus", and "The True Meaning of Christmas."