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Christ's Kingdom and the End Times

Page 8 of 34

Holy, Wholly Living in the End-Times

September 7, 2022 /

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.

The Day of the LORD – The Destructive, Deadly Wrath of God

August 22, 2022 /

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.”

The Day of the LORD – God’s Righteous Wrath

August 12, 2022 /

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.”

Being in Heaven With Jesus and All the Believers

July 27, 2022 /

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).

My Top Thirty Charts Help You See The Future

July 14, 2022 /

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

Christ’s Coming – What You Need to Know

July 4, 2022 /

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.”

Singing – A Key to Sound Christian Living

June 24, 2022 /

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”.

How Can We Live In This Sinful World?

June 16, 2022 /

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.”

Sinners and Saints in the End-Times

June 6, 2022 /

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?”

Baby Formula Shortages, Food Scarcity, Famine, and Thanksgiving

May 20, 2022 /

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?”

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