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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

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Israel’s Long Stay in “The Land” and God’s Glory

December 9, 2023 /

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”.

“The Land”: God’s Promises and Plans, and Israel’s Possession

November 23, 2023 /

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.”

God Promised “The Land” To Israel

November 10, 2023 /

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.

Antisemitism, or the TRUTH of GOD

October 31, 2023 /

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)

God’s Plans for the Church and Israel are Connected

October 21, 2023 /

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.”

Israel – There’s Tribulation, and Then Salvation

October 9, 2023 /

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.”

Pray for the Coming of Christ’s Kingdom

September 30, 2023 /

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.”

Are You Seeking the Kingdom of God?

September 16, 2023 /

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.”

Working for God While Waiting for Christ

September 2, 2023 /

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.”

In Tribulation Times, You Need to Be Patient, Persevering, and Preaching

August 19, 2023 /

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?”

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