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The End of the Age, Christ’s Coming, and the Rapture

The End of the Age, Christ’s Coming, and the Rapture

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #372 ~ 
 

God has given us a great deal of information about Christ’s 2nd coming, which means it’s extremely important. Therefore, we must study it, believe it, and teach it. In the past three posts we have looked at the timing of Christ’s return to rapture the church, and determined that the rapture is pre-wrath and not pre-trib. We learned that Christ is coming to rapture the church at the end of this age, after she goes through great tribulation but before God’s wrath is poured out on the unbelievers. We also learned that the rapture takes place sometime during the 2nd half of Dan. 70th week. Dan. 9:24-27, Matt. 24:3-31 

Today we are carefully examining the end of this age, for it is at this time that Christ returns to rapture the church. Understanding this age and what happens when it ends helps us to discern the timing of the rapture, that it occurs at an unknown time during the last half of Dan. 70th week. 

What is the age we live in? We live in an evil age, one ruled by Satan, one that began with the sin of Adam and ends with the coming of Christ. “(Christ) gave Himself for our sins so that that He might rescue us from this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4). “We speak God’s wisdom… wisdom which God predestined before the ages… which none of the rulers of this age has understood” (1 Cor. 2:7-8). “We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 

What are the other ages? The 1st age is when Adam and Eve were perfect, and were perfectly ruling in the garden of Eden. The 2nd age is this present evil age. The 3rd age, the age to come, is the millennial kingdom age, when Christ is reigning on earth. This is followed by the 4th age, the eternal kingdom age. “… He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Eph. 1:20-21, 2:6-7 

How do we know this age is coming to an end? The fact that we are to make disciples until the end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20), that the church is raptured at the end of the age (Matt. 24:29-31), that God keeps us strong to the end of the age (1 Cor. 1:8), and that this age is followed by the millennial kingdom (Rev. 20), makes it quite clear that this age is coming to an end. 1 Cor. 15:20-28 

What do people think about this present age? Most people do not understand that this present age must come to an end. They believe this world, apart from rulers, technology, and a few other things, continues on and on and on. During the recent July 4th weekend, many politicians and news people spoke about the possibility of this country going on for another 250 years. Then there are those who speculate that this world can keep going for 1,000’s of years. People who say such things do not know what they are talking about. They do not understand God’s end-times’ purposes and plans, they do not know this world is coming to a sudden and shocking end, and that Christ is returning soon. 1 Thess. 5:1-9 

What is the significance of the end of this age? The end of this age marks the end of this world as we know it. Everything and everyone will change, be dramatically different – believers, unbelievers, Jews, rulers, governments, the economy, music, etc. It will be obvious that man is not in charge, but that Jesus Christ is in complete control, that He is reigning over this earth in a glorious and powerful way. God’s plans, as carried out by Christ, will be evident. “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven.” Matt. 6:9-10; Psalms 47, 67, 72 

 

What do Jewish people think about this age? They believe this age comes to an end. Daniel was told to “seal up the book until the end of time” (Dan. 12:4, 9). Psalmists and Prophets wrote that this age would end with the day of the Lord, with eschatological wrath, with God judging the world, followed by the earthly, eternal reign of the Messiah (Ps. 2; Joel 2:1-11; Is. 2:10-22, 13:6-13; Ob. 1:15; Zeph. 1:1-3, 14-18). They did not know that Christ would first build His church and then, at the end of this age and before the day of the Lord, return to take her to heaven. Matt. 16:18; Rev. 2-3, 6-9 

What is the relevance of the disciples’ questions concerning the end of the age and Christ’s coming (Matt. 24:3)? The disciples knew that the end of this age and Christ’s coming were back-to-back events, that this age would end and be followed by Christ coming to judge the world. But they did not expect Jesus to give them a long list of events preceding the end of this age (vss. 4-28), and then answer their questions with these two signs (vss. 29-30). And they had no idea that Christ would ascend into heaven, build His church, and then return to earth to rapture the church, judge the world, and set up His kingdom. Acts 1:1-11 

 

How are you to live in the years leading up to the end of this age? You are to love the Lord, to rejoice, be humble, pray, sing, trust Him, and obey Him. You are to love people, to forgive, be kind, compassionate, patient, and hospitable. You are to be strong in the Lord, to serve, to use your gifts. Specifically, you are to “make disciples… to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20), to endure “to the end” (Matt. 24:13), to preach the gospel “and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14), and to be “encouraging one another… as you see the day (the end of the age) drawing near” (Heb. 10:25). The fact that Christians are to do these things until the end of the age is unmistakable, undeniable evidence that they will be living on earth at the end of the age. 1 Cor. 1:8-9 

What is the sign of the end of the age? “The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light… and the powers of the earth will be shaken” (Matt. 24:29) before the end of this age, before “the great and glorious day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20). Heavenly lights go out and the earth goes dark, and it’s witnessed by the whole world, by believers and unbelievers. Joel, Amos, and Isaiah spoke of this darkness, as did Matthew (Matt. 24:29), Mark (Mark 13:24), Luke (Acts 2:20, Luke 21:25), and John (Rev. 6:12). Why the repetition, why the emphasis? Because God is declaring, is crying out, is loudly proclaiming the truth that this age has come to an end, and that the world needs to wake up, to wise up, to know that Christ, the Savior, Judge, and King, is right at the door. 

What is the significance of Matt. 24:6 and Matt. 24:13-14? Matt. 24:6 states, “Those things (birth pains) must take place, but that is not yet the end.” Just because birth pains are happening on earth does not mean the end of the age and the rapture are imminent, that these events occur right away. Matt. 24:13-14 states, “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Vss. 13-14 are in the context of great tribulation (vss. 9), which begins just after the midpoint of Dan. 70th week. These verses tell us two things: 1) preaching the gospel and enduring keep going until the end of the age and Christ coming to rapture the church; 2) the rapture of the church must occur after the 3½ year mark. 

When is the end of the age, Christ’s coming, and the rapture? Simply stated, it takes place during the 2nd half of Dan. 70th week. Let’s now go over the order of events as given in Rev. 6-9, for this will help you understand this critical point about the timing of the rapture.

* Rev. 6:9-11 is the breaking of the 5th seal which is great tribulation. Immediately after this tribulation is cut short, there is the 6th seal signaling the end of this age (Matt. 24:22, 29; Rev. 6:12-17). Both believers and unbelievers know that God’s wrath is coming very soon.  
* Rev. 7 speaks of two major events taking place between the 6th and 7th seals. The first is the sealing of 144,000 Jews, and the second is Christians being raptured, being delivered out of great tribulation, and then standing in heaven before Jesus Christ. Rev. 7:1-8, 7:9-14
* Rev. 8:1 is the breaking of the 7th seal, resulting in the opening of the scroll, one describing the trumpet judgments, the pouring out of God’s wrath from that point until the end of Dan. 70th week. Rev. 8:1-13 – 9:1-21; Rev. 10:7, 11:15, 12:6 

So here is the pre-wrath rapture position: Great tribulation begins just after the midpoint of Dan. 70th week, goes on for a little while, and then is cut short, immediately followed by the end of the age, the coming of Christ, and the rapture of the church. This occurs before God’s trumpet-judgment wrath on earth, wrath that goes to the end of Dan. 70th week. All these facts force us to conclude that the rapture is not before great tribulation, but before God’s wrath, and that it occurs at the end of this age, sometime during the last half of Dan. 70th week (Matt. 24:15-34, Rev. 6:9-17, Rev. 7:9-14, Rev 8-9).

Yes, there are a lot of details, but I am glad God told us so much. He wants all Christians, especially pastors (2 Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17, 4:1-2), to clearly understand the end of the age, Christ’s coming, the rapture, and the timing of the rapture. He does not want any believer to be naïve, ignorant, or misled with regard to any of these end-times’ truths.  

“After these things I looked, and 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.’” Revelation 7:9-10 

P.S. Just think, you, your children, grandchildren, or friends may be alive when this age comes to an end. Here are two more posts about the future – “The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teaching is False” and “This Age is Coming to an End and Then a New Age Will Begin.”

Israel, Iran, the United States, and the End-Times (355)

Israel, Iran, the United States, and the End-Times

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #355 ~

Sadly, sovereignly, and purposely, there’s another war going on, this one with three internationally significant countries – Israel, Iran, and the United States. But how does this war relate to the end-times, to the future God has planned for us? Politicians, academians, the news media, and other so-called experts all have opinions as to the nature of this war and what will happen next. But as Christians, we shouldn’t focus on what man says, but on what God tells us in His word.

First, let’s look at some general truths:
1. God’s eschatological word is true (Ps. 119:143), is what we must believe, and what instructs us about what is occurring in our world now and in the future. God gives us a good outline about what will be taking place, but He doesn’t tell us everything, only what we need to know. And don’t speculate and say things about this world and its future that aren’t based on God’s word.  

2. God always works with nations (Gen. 10, Dan. 2:20-21). In these final years before Christ’s coming and earthly reign, God is realigning nations according to His end-times’ plan. That He brought Israel back to her land is the #1 sign that we live in the end-times (Ez. 37:21-24). Be thrilled that God’s prophetic word is now being fulfilled in this world.

3. God’s purposes and plans will be carried out, completely and perfectly so. No ruler, nation, devil, or person can thwart what God has decreed from eternity past. (Ps. 2; 33:10-12). The war that Israel and the United States are waging is what God wants them to do, for He is sovereign, and He uses countries for His divine purposes. “I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure, calling… the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly, I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.’” Is. 46:9-11

4. God’s end-times’ plan for the Jews are related to His end-times’ plan for the church. Look at these side-by-side passages that show that God is working concurrently with both the Jews and the church. (Matt. 24:9-14, 15-27; Lk. 21:12-19, 20-24; 1 Th. 2:1-9; Rev. 7:4-8, 9-17). It’s by knowing God’s word and what’s taking place in this world that you realize that it won’t be long before Christ returns for His church. That Christ is coming soon should truly stir your heart with love for Him. “I myself will see Him with my own eyes… How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27

Here are some eschatological events that will be happening in these end-times:
1. Birth pains: Matt. 24:6-8 talks of birth pangs, and one is “wars and rumors of war.” This Iran war is a birth pang, and there will be more and more wars, and famines and earthquakes too. Vs. 8 tells us that “these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” which means we are not to think that Christ’s return will happen right away. “These things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.” Lk. 21:9

2. Confirming a covenant: Dan. 9:27 states that Israel will confirm a treaty with many nations at the beginning of Dan. 70th week. A key player in this confirmation is a person known as the Antichrist (1 Jn. 2:18). The primary reason Israel is fighting Iran is to gain peace and security, but it sure won’t happen because of this present war or this future treaty, but only because Christ will return and defeat His enemies at Armageddon, one of which will be Iran, aka Persia.

3. Abomination of desolation: Dan. 9:27 and 2 Th. 2:4 tell us that the Antichrist will show His hate for the Jews by desecrating and desolating their temple in Jerusalem. This happens at the midpoint of Dan. 70th week. Soon after this, the Antichrist will begin persecuting both Jews and Christians, but only for a short time. Matt. 24:9, 21-22; Rev. 12:13-17

4. Rapture of the church: Christ returns to rapture the church at the end of this age, at His coming, which is immediately after this persecution is cut short and just before God’s wrath is poured out on earth, sometime during the last half of Dan. 70th week. (1 Th. 1:10, 4:15-18). Israel and Iran, and I believe the United States too, will still exist on earth after the rapture.

5. Salvation of a remnant of Jews: At the end of Dan. 70th week, God will spiritually save a large remnant of Jews. “All Israel will be saved, just as it is written. ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’” Rom. 11:25-26, Is. 45:17, Jer. 31:31-34

6. Defeat of Antichrist’s kingdom: Rev. 16 speaks of the fast-happening bowl judgments. They describe God’s plan to justly punish unrepentant unbelievers on earth, as well as to destroy Antichrist’s kingdom – which happens at the battle of Armageddon. Iran will be part of this final battle and will be royally defeated. Rev. 16:13-21, 19:20-21

7. The millennial kingdom: Christ’s kingdom will begin (Rev. 20) after the defeat of Antichrist’s kingdom. The saved Jewish remnant will live in Israel and, along with other believers, reign with Christ over the world ((Is. 60-62, Rev. 5:10). This glorious kingdom will display the power, love, goodness, justice, and rule of Christ on earth. “He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet… When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” 1 Cor. 15:25

Let me now tell you how the United States, Iran, and Israel each relate to end-times’ prophecy:
1. United States: Since its beginning days, close to 250 years ago, the United States has been extremely blessed – economically, technologically, militarily, and spiritually. Since WW 2, they have been the most powerful, prosperous, and influential country in the world. Without question, God raised up the United States and is now using her for His purposes in these end-times. And this war is an important part of God’s perfect plan to bring about the return of His Son – and only God knows exactly how this war will affect this country.

Know also that the United States, especially since the ‘60’s, has been in severe spiritual decline. And it’s because of her sin, her widespread evil, her rebellion against God. Rom. 1:18-32 sums up this decline and depravity that we are now witnessing. Yes, there is a spiritual remnant in this country, but God cannot ignore this spiritual, stage-4 cancer. He has to judge her! Read more about the United States in these recent posts – 343, 344, 345, 346, and 347.

The United States, because of her grave sin, will grow sicker and weaker, and will soon lose her status as the world’s most significant and powerful nation. And we don’t know what country will replace her, will become the #1 global power. But sooner or later, the Antichrist, along with his 10-nation kingdom, will be #1 and will rule this earth, and be worshiped all over the world. Rev. 13:3-5

2. Iran: Iran is one of the longest, continually existing countries and civilizations. Biblically, we go back to Cyrus the Great, who conquered Media and created the Medo-Persian empire in 550BC, which went on to defeat the Babylonian Empire in 539BC (Dan. 5). Daniel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah all lived in Medo-Persia, as did King Xerxes and King Artaxerxes.

Dan. 2:39, 7:5, and 8:20 all speak of Medo-Persia as existing in the end-times. Dan. 10:20 talks of “the prince of Persia”, an evil angel, fighting against Michael, a good angel, “one of the chief princes” (Dan. 10:13, Rev. 12:7-8). This is in the context of “what will happen to your (Daniel’s) people in the latter days” (Dan. 10:14). Revelation, the last book in the Bible, talks of “a great, fiery red dragon” (12:3) and this is “the devil and Satan” (12:9). The devil has already inspired seven different kingdoms to defeat Israel, a chief enemy – and these include Medo-Persia (vs. 3). But the devil has always failed, for God is holy, wiser, and infinitely stronger. Dan. 4:34-35

Spiritual battles are continuing in 2026 in countries all over the world. This war in Iran is physical in nature, but also spiritual (Eph. 6:10-12). Ez. 38, like Dan. 10, is about this physical / spiritual battle in“the latter years” (Ez. 38:8), the final battle on this earth. Ez. 38:5 tells us that Persia is one of the countries united with the Antichrist in opposing God and Israel – but the Antichrist and his kingdom is easily defeated by Jesus Christ. “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” Dan. 2:44

It’s true that the United States and Israel are hammering, are pounding Iran with tons of bombs, and it’s deserved. “Let the nations be judged” (Ps. 9:19b). The news is that Iran is militarily being degraded, decimated, and diminished, but Daniel wants us to know that she won’t be totally destroyed, at least not at this time. None of us know how Iran will recover from what looks like certain defeat, but God’s word, the “Scripture of Truth” (Dan. 10:21), is making it clear that she will continue on until that day when Jesus Christ defeats her. Ez. 38-39

3. Israel: God planned for Israel to be a great nation and a blessing to the whole world, and he told this to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). The Old Testament focuses on God’s patient working with Israel, on her victories and sins, and on her history (Gen. 12 – Mal. 4). Through Israel, Christ was born (Rev. 12:5). But during Christ’s ministry years, the Jews, as a whole, rejected Him as their Messiah and, consequently, were scattered all over the world (Lk. 21:20-24). God began gathering them back to their land in the late 1800’s (Jer. 32-37-41), and in 1948, they once again became a nation. Since then, they have continually had enemies, and this is true today. But Israel, because of God’s word, because of His promise to her, has not been wiped out – and though the whole world fights against her (Zech. 12:3), she will keep going and be victorious.

As mentioned earlier, the next major event is Israel confirming a treaty with the Antichrist at the beginning of Dan. 70th week (Dan. 9:27). At the midpoint of those 7 years is when the Antichrist desolates Israel’s temple and begins greatly persecuting them. Miraculously, many Jews will escape (Rev. 12:13-16), be saved at the end of that 70th week, and take back all their land (from the River to the Sea), and reign with Christ over the world during the kingdom ages (2 Sam. 7:12-13, 16). Indeed, Israel will be an eternally and greatly blessed nation.“Praise the Lord, all nations, laud Him, all peoples! For His love is great toward us (Israel), and the truth of the Lord is everlasting.” Ps. 117, Ps. 72:18-19

Here are some concluding statements:
1. God is reconfiguring the geopolitical landscape of the world in these end-times so that it’s just the way He wants it to be. God has given us an idea of what this will look like, but none of us will know all the details. But it’s all coming together and leading to the return of Jesus Christ, His Son.

2.  God is now working with every nation, person, and event – all the pieces must pefectly fit together to bring about Christ’s coming, the rapture of the church, your glorification, the judgment of the world, the salvation of the Jews, the defeat of the Antichrist, and Christ’s reign over this world. Rom. 8:28-30, Eph. 1:9-12

3. Don’t ever be afraid! Know the Lord and what He says in His word, and you will be filled with faith, hope, and courage, and “see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25
4. God works with individuals, churches, and nations. So learn about the end-times, work with Christ in sharing the gospel with individuals, build the church, and make disciples of all the nations. Matt. 24:3-46, 24:14, 16:18, 28:19-20

5. Be a watchman (“keep watch” – Matt. 24:42), and tell others everything you know about about Christ’s return. Be a “faithful and wise slave.” Matt. 24:45

6. The United States may win this war, but don’t forget that she is now being judged by God because of her sin. Sooner or later, she will decline in power and no longer be very influential in this world. Iran will survive this war with Israel and the United States, and continue on until Christ defeats her and the Antichrist’s kingdom. Finally and eventually, Israel will, with Christ, defeat all her enemies, and then forever reign over the world with Him.

7. As for yourself, remember that God is victorious, and that you are an overcomer. “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  Rom. 8:35-39

P.S. I love the fact that by reading and studying God’s word, we can get a basic understanding of our future. So be reading and studying. Here are two posts that will help you understand what I am talking about today: “World History and International Studies“ and “The Downfall of the United States Before the Return of Christ.”

 

When the Foundations are Destroyed… (347)

When the Foundations are Destroyed

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #347 ~


I have been talking about the state of the “United” States, specifically, the sinful condition of our country. And all this horrible, God-rejecting sin you see is the reason our spiritual foundations are now being destroyed. Ps. 82:5 says that sinners “do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.” John 3:19, 8:12

God wants you to know that our nation’s extreme sin has put us on a depraved, demonic, and downward path (Rom. 1:19-32, 1 Tim. 4:1-2). God, being holy and just, and knowing all our sin, has no choice but to judge and punish us. And in the coming years, God’s punishment will become increasingly evident, prominent, and severe. Prov. 15:3, Jer. 4-8, Rom. 1:18

As you see sinners and their sin, you might react by being sad, upset, angry, or worried. But how does God want you to respond to the evildoers and their evil in this country? Ps. 11:3 asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” What does God want you to do? How does He want you to think? Let me share God’s plan, God’s will for you in these days, in these last years before Christ returns to rapture the church and judge the world.

* Know that you are greatly and forever loved by God! Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 8:35-39, Ps. 23:6, 1 John 4:16
* Praise the Lord! Love the Lord! Stay close to Him, enjoy Him, walk with Him, and talk to Him! “Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” Mark 12:30, Gen. 5:22, Ps. 11:7
* Love the people God puts in your life! “Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.” Col. 3:12-13

* Preach the gospel, the most important message in the world. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt. 24:15, Matt. 28:19-20
* Do not seek the kingdoms of men, but the kingdom of God. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33, Ps. 2:1-8, Ps. 33:10-12
* Pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven…” (Matt. 6:9-10), and for the kingdom of this world to “become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” Rev. 11:15

* Pray for justice on this earth, for God to judge and punish the evildoers. “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night” Luke 18:7, Acts 17:30-31, Rev. 6:9-11
* Be holy. We often judge others for their sin, but first and foremost, we must judge ourselves, and be living a holy life (Matt. 7:1-5). “Be holy yourselves in all your behavior.” 1 Pet. 1:15-16
* “Have faith in God” (Mk. 11:22), believing Him for both big things and little things. “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7; Ps. 31:14, 37:3, 62:8; Heb. 11:6

* “Be filled with the Spirit”, the One who is in you, who teaches you, purifies you, leads you, comforts you, helps you, and empowers you. 1 Cor. 16:19; John 14:16, 16:13; Rom. 8:14
* Know that God is with you and that He never leaves you. “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5-6). “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20
* Be filled with hope, with the expectation that God will give you good things in the future. “May… you abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13, Rom. 8:18-25

* Know that God will keep you going, will enable you to persevere. “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8, Jude 24-25
* When life is hard, don’t run to a physical refuge but run to the Lord, your spiritual refuge. “In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain?’” Psalm 11:1
* “Encourage one another day after day” (Heb. 3:12-13), especially during difficult times. “Encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb. 10:25

* Do all the work God wants you to do. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God created beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10, Ph. 2:12-13
* Learn all that God wants you to know about the end-times and the kingdom ages. “Take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.” Mark 13:23, 2 Tim. 2:15, Is. 41-66
* Learn from the prophets: they called out peoples’ sins; they told them to repent; they warned them of God’s wrath; they preached forgiveness; and they gave people hope. “The voice of one calling in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord.” Luke 3:3-18, Isaiah – Malachi

* Know that God is sovereign, that He “works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11), that He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him…” Rom. 8:28
* Be watching and waiting for the coming of Christ. “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
* Be a watchman – know what’s happening in our country and in our world, and how it all relates to end-time prophecies. “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman” (Ezek. 3:17). “The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what they should do.” 1 Chr. 12:32

* Be assured that Christ is building His church, that everything is going according to plan, and that the “gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:18-21, 2:19-22, 3:20-21
* Persevere, whether it’s to the end of this age or the end of your physical life. “Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” Col. 1:23

We live in the end-times, a crazy time, a God-directed time, and it won’t be long before Christ comes back to rapture the church and reign on earth. This is the time God has determined for you to be alive. As His child and servant, be thrilled and thankful that He wants you to be alive at this unique and special time in history. Also, be sober, discerning, and obedient, living full out for God, loving Him and living for Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mk. 12:30). “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). “Come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20

P.S. I hope you are understanding the moral corruption in our country, and that difficult times are coming because of our sin. Here are three other posts relevant to this subject: “How Then Should We Live in the End Times?”, “The Most Important Country in the World, and It’s Not the United States”, “It’s Going to Get Worse Before It Gets Better.”

 

The State of the “United” States – Part 2 (344)

The State of the "United" States - Part 2

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post # 344 ~


This country is in dire straits, is in extremely grave danger. And it’s not because of Russia, China, Iran, AI, climate change, drugs, bad schools, crime, debt, or nuclear war. It’s because of sin. It’s because most people in this nation have turned away from God. They are idolaters – they love self, money, pleasure, food, sports, clothes, and possessions instead of loving God. Exod. 20:2-5

This is the depressing and sobering reality of our country’s spiritual state. And as Christians, we must be like the prophets and declare to the lost that sin is the root problem, that it results in deadly consequences, and that they need to turn to God for mercy (Luke 3:7-18). In this and the next post, I will share what this sin looks like, how it progresses, the reasons we are being severely judged, how God judges it, and how He wants us to live.

Some sins and manifestations of sin in the United States: lawlessness; stealing; anger; self-righteousness; immorality; evil is good; good is evil; racism; factions; lack of true justice; violence; violence against Christians; hate; loving food; loving fortune; loving fun; loving fame; loving things; not loving others; sensuality; homosexuality; lewdness; people doing what’s right in their own eyes (libertarianism); hypocrisy; a false gospel; false religions; false churches; impatience; rudeness; sorcery; adultery; swearing; silly talk; course jesting; pornography; foolishness; laziness; the evolution lie; drunkenness; disputes; witchcraft; bragging (pride); malice; bitterness; lust; boys in girl’s bathrooms and vice versa; and drag shows.

There’s not fearing God; greed; murder; abortion (over 63 million babies killed since 1973 – Guttmacher Institute); selfishness; disobeying your parents; bribery; rich people not helping the poor; communism; misinformation, disinformation, deception (lying); inventing evil; corruption in the government; evil government spending; slander; gossip; not paying taxes; transgenderism; not respecting authority; Satanism; prostitution; gluttony; trusting in your self; trusting in your looks; flaunting; insolence; terrorism; strife; carousing; insensitivity; cruelty; not trustworthy; covetousness; immoral movies and music; human trafficking; and governments not being “a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” Rom. 13:4

I am talking about our nation’s sins, and the negative and synergistic effect of it is growing and getting much worse. And God sees every single sin, and as a country, He is judging us. “God will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” Exod. 34:7

Rom. 1:20-24 tells us how sin begins in the life of a person and collectively in a country. It starts when a person doesn’t honor God as his Creator, doesn’t thank Him for who He is and for the world that He made. This is pride and is evident when a person worships the creation instead of the Creator. And this is disobeying the great commandment – this person is not loving God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. Mark 12:30

Sin in the life of a person who rejects God and continues sinning gets worse and worse. God speaks of this downward spiral, that He delivers the sinner over to impurity, immorality, and homosexuality. Then He gives him over to a depraved mind – the person isn’t thinking right, he’s out of his mind, he’s crazy, he has no common sense (Rom. 1:24-28). This wicked, worsening, cumulative sin, this descent from not fearing and honoring God to sexual sin to depravity is what we have been witnessing in the United States for close to 60-70 years. It was impurity and immorality in the ‘60s and ‘70s, homosexuality in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and depravity these past 25 years.

The last stage of this nation-wide degradation is when this full-blown, full-grown sin, this homosexuality and depravity, is approved and promoted (Rom. 1:32). This is what we have been seeing and hearing in the United States – in families, in schools, the media, the news media, the arts, music, movies, businesses, and the government. That people are applauding this sin but not praising God is a clear sign to Christians that He has given this nation over to her sin. God has also given the devil more freedom to carry out his wicked plans (Job 1:6-12). The devil’s demons are adding fuel to the fire by further corrupting the fleshly minds of sinners, which leads to even more evil and unrighteousness. 1 Tim. 4:1-2

This sin, like a metastasizing stage-4 cancer, has infected the entire country. “In the last days difficult times will come. Men will be lovers of self, lovers of money… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3:1-4). 2 Tim. 3:12 tells us what discerning Christians have been observing these past 20-30 years – “Evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse.”

Sadly, the United States is so weighed down with sin that there’s no way God will allow her to return to a place of widespread godliness, sanity, civility, peace, and prosperity. This nation is now past the point of no return. This sin is piling up, and it’s a spiritually-sickening stench to our most holy God, and it should be to believers as well. And because of her serious and gross sin, God has been judging this country, and will continue to do so.  

Let me sum up the reasons why God is severely judging our country:
1. This country is righteously being judged because of increasing and pervasive sin. This refers to that long list of sins I wrote out in the first part of this post. Mark 7:20-23, Rom. 1:29-31, Gal. 5:19-21, Eph. 5:3-5, 2 Tim. 3:1-5

2. This country is greatly being judged because of the breadth of her sin, but also the depth of her sin. We have been witnessing this worsening wickedness, from impurity to immorality to homosexuality to depravity. “God gave them over to… depravity” Rom. 1:24, 26, 28

3. This country is justly being judged because she, more than any other nation, is influencing and enabling this world to sin. She promotes, sells, and sends out evil movies, music, video games, and pornography. She is a bad example through godless TV shows and media platforms. She gives financial incentives for abortion, LGBTQIA+, and trans agendas. She sells massive killing machines, deadly weapons of war. And her false teachers peddle a fake and deadly false gospel. “Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks… woe to that man (or nation) through whom the stumbling block comes.” Matt. 18:7

4. This country is being judged because historically speaking, God’s work has been carried out much more than any other nation. Look at all the churches and how God’s word has been taught and the gospel has been preached more than any other nation. In spite of all this, not that many people have truly listened and responded, especially in the past 60-70 years. Instead, they have rejected God and His truth and have loved their gods and listened to lies – thus she will be severely judged. “You, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless, I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” Matt 11:20-24

5. This country is deservedly being judged because she’s increasingly becoming anti-Semitic. Demon-inspired people promote and push an anti-Jew, anti-Israel message. We hear it in universities, mosques, from politicians, in street protests, and even in churches. At this time, the leaders of this nation, in general, support Israel and the Jews, but it won’t be long before this country, as a whole, is anti-Semitic, and then God’s judgment will be more obvious and more severe. “The Lord said to Abram… ‘I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you… and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you, I will curse.’” Gen. 12:1-3

6. This country is rightly being judged because her churches are increasingly weak and unholy. We are to be salt and light, we are to have a positive influence on the nation, but this is not happening as in years past (Rev. 3:7-13). This lack of widespread moral seasoning is a major reason why righteousness is decreasing and unrighteousness in increasing. As churches go, so goes the country. Sad to say, our churches are going down, and so too is our country – spiritually, morally, and physically. “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world…” Matt 5:13-14

Upon reading all this, you may think I’m negative, pessimistic, and unbelieving. And you may think I am unaware of the fact that there’s a relative peace at this time in our country, that there does seem to be an awakening with young people. I do believe God is working, and that we may be witnessing a mini revival. Hab. 3:2c tells us, “In wrath, remember mercy”, and 2 Pet. 3:9 says that God “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

But I’m talking about the big scheme of things, not about the reprieve it appears God has given us. If you are aware of the evil in our nation and understand God’s word, particularly the prophets, and that’s there’s not been wholesale repentance, I believe you will come to the same big-picture conclusion, that this country, collectively speaking, has rejected God and, consequently, is in critical condition. You will realize that this great and grievous sin is our nation’s worst problem and that she’s being judged by our holy and just God.

So how should we think and what should we do?
1. We are not to give up, we are not to quit, we are to persevere, and we should keep praying for our leaders that “we may lead a tranquil and godly life” (1 Tim. 2:2).


2. We are to share the gospel with people, we are to tell them that Jesus Christ is the only answer, that He died on the cross to pay for their sins, and then rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death. We are to tell them that all who repent of their sins and believe that Jesus died for them will be saved, will be forgiven of all their sins, and be given eternal life. Rom. 5:8, John 3:16, Rom. 6:23

3. We should have no expectation that there will be a long-lasting, great and glorious golden age. We live in the end-times, and things will get worse for unbelievers, and especially for believers, notably in the last few years before Christ’s coming and the rapture of the church. Matt. 24:9, 21

4. Our primary purpose is not to seek the kingdoms of men but the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). Make disciples until the end of the age (Matt. 28:19-20). Preach the gospel “in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt. 24:14

5. Pray for Christ’s kingdom to be established on earth. “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:9-10

6. Have hope. It won’t be long before your salvation is complete and you are in heaven in a new body with Jesus and all the angels and saints (Phil. 1:6). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:13

P.S. This was hard for me to write, but I did so because I am convinced of the dreadful state of this nation. God is holy and just, and we can’t just think everything is all right – God is judging us because of all our sin. Here are three important posts: “A Sin-Wrecked World and the Coming of Christ”, “Processing the Present Tough Times”, “Sinners and Saints in the End-Times.”

Prophecy Tells Us God’s Plans for the Future (334)

Prophecy Tells Us God's Plans for the Future

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #334 ~


Most believers don’t know, understand, or are in error with regards to prophecy, and that’s sad. The flesh is lazy and worldly, and the devil lies and deceives, wanting people to think prophecy isn’t true or important. But we must believe and be excited about prophetic truth, and it’s for our good and God’s glory. (I am talking about prophecy as it relates to what God says in His word about the future of this world and His people.) So let’s talk about the importance of prophecy.

* Prophecy is God’s word, not man’s, and every word of God is wholly and eternally true. God gave His word to His people, and we are to know and teach it, and that means every word, verse, subject, and passage, including prophecy. 2 Tim. 2:15, 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 2:19-21

* The sum of God’s word is truth. If we leave out part of God’s word, like prophecy, then we miss out on what God wants us to know. If we don’t believe and teach all His word, we won’t learn all His truth and will succumb to false teaching. Knowing God’s word is the key to discerning His will and living in the way He planned for us. Ps. 119:160, Mk. 13:23, 2 Tim. 4:1-2

* Prophecy gives light. “We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place…” (2 Pet. 1:19). We live in a dark, devilish, evil world, and prophecy gives us light, helping us to see and love God, helping us to know where we are at and where we are going, helping us to be a good witness, and to persevere.

* Prophecy gives hope. Having hope means we believe and are looking forward to a great, God-given future. We must have hope to live in a sin-prone body in a sinful world – we must believe that we will be with Jesus, be in heaven, be with believers, be perfect, receive an inheritance, have a glorious body, a wonderful purpose, and be loved by God like never before.

* Prophecy takes away fear. Seeing sin and evil, and hearing about earthquakes, wars, and famines could be unsettling and fear producing. But knowing that God is our loving, powerful, wise, and sovereign Father, and knowing His general plan for these end-times and the coming age should calm our souls and give us peace and confidence. Is. 46:9-10, Jer. 29:11-12

* Prophecy warns us about the future. Dangerous and difficult times are coming upon this world. God’s prophetic word tells us these things, and that it’s part of His overall plans for the end-times. When there’s birth pains, lawlessness, great persecution, and Antichrist is ruling, don’t be surprised or fearful. God is in complete control, and these things must happen before God brings about the return of His Son. Matt. 24:3-31, Mark 13:5-23, 2 Thess. 2:1-4

* Prophecy is no small subject in the end-times. In these end times, prophecy is becoming an increasingly, important subject, and God wants us to understand it and teach it. A church’s work must be framed by prophecy, and be done in light of Christ’s return and the coming kingdom. “By His appearing and kingdom, preach the word.” 2 Tim. 4:1-2, Matt. 24:10

* Many Christians are ignorant, naïve, or in error about prophecy. The work of the church, the pastors, and the parents is to passionately, completely, and clearly teach prophetic truth. Just think – your Savior, Lord, Lover, and King will soon come back to earth, and it could be in your lifetime. 2 Thess. 2:1-3, Heb. 10:37

* Prophecy is to wake us up, to excite us about Christ’s coming, and alert us to the dangers we will be facing. Many Christians are sleeping, fleshly, and worldly, and must awake from their slumber, and must “behave properly,” “put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and “put on the breastplate of faith and love.” Rom. 13:11-14, 1 Thess. 5:4-11

* Prophecy helps you understand God’s plans for the Jews. The Old Testament describes God’s work with the Jews, and the New Testament focuses on His work with the church and His renewed work with the Jews. Many passages about God’s future for the Jews sit next to passages about His future for the church. Knowing these side-by-side passages helps you see how God works with both Jews and Christians in these last days. Matt. 24:9-14 – 24:15-26; Luke 21:12-19 – 20-24; 2 Thess. 2:1-2 – 2:3-9; Rev. 7:4-9 – 7:9-15; Rev. 12:1-16 – 12:17, 13:1-18

* Prophecy helps you learn God’s character, that He is holy in His ways, sovereign in His work, wise in His dealings, just in His actions, powerful in His deeds, faithful to His word, merciful to His people, compassionate to His children. Is. 6:3, Is. 46:9-11, Jer. 9:23-24, Rom. 8:28, Rev. 15:3

* Prophecy helps you know God’s purposes. God is actively carrying out His purposes. Reading His prophetic word enables you to see the big picture, His plans from beginning to end, His purposes for all the people on this planet. There are many prophecies about Christ’s 1st coming and 2nd coming, and about His plans for the Jews and the church. Isaiah 60, John 14:1-3, Rev. 7

* Prophecy tells us that this evil age is coming to an end, followed by a righteous age that lasts for 1000 years. It’s imperative that you understand God’s overall plans about the past, present, and future. Not long from now, Christ will return to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His reign on earth. Matt. 28:19-20, Gal. 1:4, Eph. 1:21, Rev. 21:1-7

* Prophecy helps you be ready for the future. God’s prophetic word has much to say about what you are to do in the end-times, that you are to use your gifts, work for God, witness to the lost, and disciple the saved. And in the context of prophecy, much is said about the character God wants you to have, that you are to have faith (Lk. 18:8), be sober (1 Th. 5:8), be loving (1 Pet. 4:8), be holy (2 Pet. 3:11), be fearless (Rev. 2:10), and be persevering (Rev. 13:10).

* Prophecy motivates you to serve the Lord. God has special work for you, a part for you to play in the end-times. What a privilege it is to live for Him at this time in history. “It is like a man away (Christ) on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves (believers) in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper (the watchman) to stay on the alert” (Mk. 13:34). “He (Christ) called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten talents and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’” Lk. 19:13, 1 Th. 1:9-10

* Prophecy speaks about the hope of Christ’s return, and this is to help you grow in holiness. “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… be holy…” (1 Pet. 1:13-15). “When He 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.” 1 John 3:2-3

* Prophecy is a present and relevant truth, and should change and charge your life. “Do this, knowing the time… salvation is nearer to us than we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).It won’t be long before Christ returns to rapture the church and set up His kingdom on earth. Now is the time to be spiritually awake and alert; now is the time to use your money, time, and talents to do God’s work; now is the time to preach the gospel and make disciples; now is the time, like never before in history, to be looking for Christ, to be expecting His return. Heb. 10:37

* Prophecy gives us a timeline of the future. At the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, a 7-year period described in Dan. 9:27, there’s an agreement between the Antichrist and the Jews. At this week’s midpoint the Antichrist is revealed; at its end a remnant of Jews are saved; and sometime during the last 3½ years of this week Christians are raptured, are suddenly taken to join all believers from all time and meet Jesus Christ in the air. 1 Thess. 4:16-17

* Prophecy gives much information about the millennial kingdom. You need to study prophecy for it tells you about your future and that of all believers. Some key books describing this glorious, soon-coming, 1000-year age are Psalms, Isaiah, Daniel, Matt., 1 Thess., 2 Thess., and Revelation. “The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before the nations” (Is. 61:11). “The Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth… Sing praises to our King.” Ps. 47:2, 6

* Prophecy truly understood corrects errors with regards to the end times and Christ’s return. This is the truth: Christ is coming again; His coming is not imminent; tribulation is not wrath; Christians are on earth during the Antichrist’s rule; Christians go through great tribulation but not God’s wrath; Christ’s coming is pre-millennial; Christ is not coming at the start of Daniel’s 70th week but sometime during its 2nd half; the rapture occurs at the beginning of Christ’s coming; we will know the general time of the rapture but not the specific time (Matt. 24:32-36); Iran (Persia), though recently defeated, will again be strong and attack Israel (Ez. 38); God’s promises for the Jews have not been reneged or canceled but will be fulfilled in the future. Ps. 105:8-11

* Prophecy tells us the need for watchmen, people who see God’s prophetic word being fulfilled in the world and then alert others. Christians are to be like the sons of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what they should do. 1 Chr. 12:32, Ez. 3:1-11, Mark 13:33-35

* Prophecy is forward looking. God wants you to thank Him for the past but not focus on it. Prophecy helps you to look ahead to the future, to press ahead, to be excited about your God-given future, and do the work He wants you to do. God’s work is to result in fruitful labor, and the fruit He gives you will be an eternal blessing to Him, others, and yourself. “I press on toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:12-14

* Prophecy describes your brand new body. It says that your new body will be like Jesus Christ’s (1 Jn. 3:2) and the angels (Luke 20:36). It will be perfect, powerful, glorious, immortal, and spiritual (1 Cor. 15:42-44). “We eagerly wait the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of His power.” Phil. 3:21

* Prophecy focuses on Jesus Christ, that He will visibly, lovingly, and powerfully be your Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and King, that you will be with Him forever, and experience eternal life like never before. Eternal life is an eternal, everlasting relationship with Christ. (Jn. 17:3). “To live is Christ and to die is gain”(Ph. 1:21). When you die or when Christ returns, your relationship with Him will take on a new dimension, a glorious, wonderful, unbelievable change from what it is now. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27

Isn’t it encouraging to know that God tells us the future. Here are two other posts that will help you understand prophecy: “Prophecy Is Predicting the Future” and “What You Need to Know About Prophecy.”

 

Your Location in the Last Years of this Age (332)

Your Location in the Last Years of this Age

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #332 ~


My wife and I recently moved to a new home in another city. This got me thinking about my location in life, and I’m not just talking about my physical location, but my spiritual location and my relational location. Phil. 1 talks about all these: it says the believers are spiritually located “in Christ” (vs. 1), physically located “in Philippi” (vs. 1), and relationally located with Paul (vss. 3-11). What does this mean, and how does it relate to your relationship with Christ and for Christ in the end-times, the last years of this church age?

First, let’s talk about our spiritual location, that we are “in Christ.” We are spiritually blessed because we are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3); we were chosen to be “in Him” (Eph. 1:4); we have redemption because we are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:7); we are sealed “in Him” (Eph. 1:13); and we are seated with God in the heavenly places “in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:6

Rom. 6:3, 6:11, 23 and Col. 2:10-11 also speak of spiritually being “in Christ”. At the moment we were saved, the Spirit caused us to be placed in Jesus Christ. Because we are in Christ, we have protection, a relationship with Christ, a purpose, and a glorious future. And being “in Christ” is constant, unchanging, eternal, and glorious. Each of these truths is extremely important for our Christian life.

Second, let’s talk about our physical location. People are physical beings living on a physical earth and in a physical place (Ph. 1:20, 22). “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it’” (Gen. 1:1, 28). God wants us to worship and serve Him while we are living on this earth – and in the coming kingdom age, we will join Christ in ruling over it. Rev. 20:6

Here are several thoughts about our physical location:
* Each of us have our own Philippi, our own physical place where we live, and this may change during our stay on this earth.
* We are to love God in our physical location. One way we do this is by worshiping God with other believers, whether that’s in a home, a church building, or outside. Acts 13:1-2a, Acts 16:13, 1 Cor. 14:26
* We are to love and serve others in our physical location. God places us with others so we can hug and shake hands, so we can see their face and hear their voice, and so we can listen and talk to them. Evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship usually occur when we are with people in a physical place.

* The Bible gives examples of worshiping and serving God in physical places. The Jews worshiped God in the temple. Daniel prayed when he was in his home in Babylon. Jesus ministered in Israel. Paul preached about Christ when was in a city, synagogue, jail, and his rental place. Paul established churches in Philippi, Ephesus, Corinth, etc. A church was meeting in the home of Aquila and Priscilla.
* God’s word is the same in every place. Our physical location can change, but God’s word never changes.  “Your statutes are the theme of my song wherever I live” (Ps. 119:54). Having relocated to a new city and new home, this truth about God’s unchanging word is reassuring, stabilizing, comforting, and very encouraging.

* God is sovereign over our physical location – He determines where and when we live. “He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation” (Acts 17:26). “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Ps. 16:6
* Believers will be raptured from a specific place. “He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth…” (Mk. 13:27). “There will be two men in the field, one will be taken…” Matt. 24:40

* God gave the Jewish people a place to live, the land of Israel, and this was their home, their country. Now we are in the end-times and we are seeing God’s continued work with the Jews and again, Israel is their home. From Jerusalem, Christ will reign with them over the world in the age to come. Ps. 48, Ez. 36-37, Matt. 24:15-26, Rev. 11
* Believers will reign over a place, over this earth. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (Rev. 5:10). We will reign with Christ for 1,000 glorious years (Rev. 20:6). And God has planned out the exact place of our ministry. For example, “You are to be in charge of ten cities.” Luke 19:17

* Jesus Christ has prepared a home, a place for His people to live – “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places… I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-3
* In the kingdom ages, we will spend time with believers in eternal dwellings. “Make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.” Luke 16:9
* Our home in the eternal kingdom will be a physical place, an earthly and heavenly city, the holy city, the new Jerusalem. Rev. 21:1-2

* God is sovereign over the end-times’ location of all people. This world is a massive “chess board”, and God is putting every person in the perfect place and at the perfect time so He can fulfill all His purposes. He knows exactly what He wants to do, the person He wants to do it, and the place it is to happen. Is. 46:9-11, Eph. 1:9-11, Jms. 4:13-15

As I said, my wife and I recently moved – and our new physical location directly and strategically impacts our lives. Most affected are our relationships, not with God, but with people. Our new home is our headquarters, our base of operations, a place of peace, safety, and rest, a place from which we can spend time with God, serve, evangelize, make disciples, and pray. Our new church is a place of worship, Bible study, fellowship, and new friends. And we are meeting people in our neighborhood, in stores, at restaurants, and in the town square, specifically, the preaching place.

Third, let’s talk about our relational location. This refers to our relationships with Christians, and though these relationships usually happen in our physical location, they can be with anyone anyplace on earth. It can be with your spouse, family, church members, someone half way down the street or half way around the world.

Phil. 1-2 speaks in great detail about Paul’s relational location. Paul was in jail in Rome but he had relationships with believers in Philippi. He was spiritually connected and close to these believers – he loved them and they loved him, and they were united for the purposes and glory of God. Much more needs to be said about our relational location with believers, but we will save that for the next post.

This subject of our spiritual location, physical location, and relational location is of utmost importance, and must be understood if we are to faithfully and fruitfully live for the Lord in the last years of this age. We need to know where we are at in our relationship with Christ and with Christians. As life gets more difficult, as we encounter tribulation and great tribulation, we must know what it means to be spiritually located, to be in Christ, and to be physically located “until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10), and to be relationally located, to be spiritually and emotionally connected and close to other believers.

“The saints in Christ Jesus (spiritual)… God is my witness, how I long for you all (relational)… my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment (physical) for the cause of Christ…” Phil. 1:1, 8, 12-13

 

Life Lessons, What Keeps Me Going for God – Part 2 (330)

Life Lessons, What Keeps Me Going for God - Part 2

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #330 ~


The most important thing in the world is knowing God and His love and then loving Him and living for Him. But what does this look like? Why is this so important? How does this happen? This post is Part 2 of “Life Lessons”, the lessons and principles God has been teaching me over the past 52 years about how I can know Him and keep living for Him. Last time we looked at these lessons: 1. God is first and foremost, 2. Getting with God, 3. Knowing God, 4. The church, 5. My wife, 6. Close friends, 7. Learning from others, 8. Humility, 9. God’s sovereignty, 10. Knowing God’s love. Let’s continue —

11. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). God’s word has been foundational – I wouldn’t have successfully made it in the Christian life without it. Every day, I look forward to getting time with God and learning from His word (Ps. 42:1-2, 119:92-94). God’s word has told me who I am in Christ. It has told me how to love God and love people. It has given me direction. It has encouraged me when I am discouraged. It has helped me stay away from bad people. It has given me hope – it tells me what will happen in these end-times and in the kingdom age to come. Matt. 4:4

Three words sum up the nature, the essence of God’s word. There are truths I’ve believed, like “God is holy”, “God is good”, and the “Gospel, that Jesus alone takes away my sins”. There are commands that must be obeyed, that tell me what God wants me to do, commands like “love God”, “trust in the Lord”, and “pray for one another”. God’s commands have been absolutely essential, for they have helped me do what’s right, and to stay on track for God (Ps. 119:47-48a). There are promises based on God’s truths, and they must be believed. Here are some of my favorites: Ps. 23:6, Ps. 32:8, Ps. 85:12, Matt. 6:33, Heb. 10:37

12. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mk. 12:30). This is the great commandment, the most important commandment. God is my Creator, Lord, Savior, and King, and He alone deserves to be worshiped, to be greatly and wholeheartedly loved. Loving God is what I should do, and what I have done, but not by any means perfectly. And it’s by God’s grace that I have learned to love Him more and more.

How have I loved God? By praising Him, thanking Him, singing to Him, and rejoicing in Him (Ps. 18:1). I have loved God by not loving idols, by not loving worldly things (1 Jn. 2:15). I have loved God by loving people (Jn. 15:12). I have loved God by obeying Him – and if I’m not obeying God, then I’m not loving Him (Jn. 14:21). And His perfect and continual love has motivated me to love Him. 1 John 4:19

13. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). I’ve loved God by loving people. And I’ve learned that I can have a “good time with God” in the morning, but if I don’t love people, I’m a noisy gong or a clanging symbol (1 Cor. 13:1-3). I’m not talking about phileo love, which can be a component of our love, but agape love, a giving and sacrificial love (Eph. 5:1-2). To love people has meant being humble, thinking of others as more important than myself, thinking about what others are going through, of listening to them as they talk about their concerns, relationships, trials, work, etc. Phil. 2:3-4

Loving people has meant loving them with humility, compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and devotion (1 Cor. 13:4-8, Col. 3:13-14). It has meant loving those who don’t love me and those who are hard to love. It has meant having fellowship with believers and encouraging them. It has meant sharing God’s word with people and praying for them, two important ways to love them (Eph. 4:14). It has meant initiating with the saved and the lost – I don’t wait for them to call me, I reach out to them.

14. “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess. 5:25). One of the best things a person can do for others is to pray for them, and I’ve learned to ask people to pray for me. Ex. 17:8-13 talks of Joshua defeating the Amalekites, and it’s because Moses was asking God for the victory, and because Aaron and Hur lifted up Moses’ tiring arms. Marsha and my children have faithfully prayed for me, and a few others have also consistently been praying for me, specifically at key times and in teaching God’s word. Eph. 6:19-20

15. “Trust in Him at all times.” Ps. 62:8. Before God saved me, I was fearful and anxious. But God has helped me to trust Him, to depend on Him, to have faith in Him – and it’s knowing His character that has helped me to trust Him and then experience His peace. “Those who know Your name will put their trust in You” (Ps. 9:10). Eph. 2:8-9 says it was by faith that I was saved. Heb. 11:6 says by faith I have believed God wants to bless me and therefore seek Him. John 11:40 says that by faith I have seen God’s glory. Mark 11:22-24

Having faith means I’m not living the Christian life by how I feel, by my emotions. “Walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). There are times when I don’t feel like doing what God wants me to do, but I’ve learned to obey Him whether I feel like it or not. Jesus didn’t feel like dying for our sins, but He trusted His Father and did what He wanted Him to do. Luke 22:42

“For a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Christ” (1 Pet. 1:6-7). Like all of us, I’ve had trials – family, relational, church, health, financial, etc. They have been difficult, and some extremely so. But they are necessary for God’s purposes, and for my faith, which is more “precious than gold.” And faith is necessary to have hope, to believe that trials are worth it, to know that I’ll be glorified at the “revelation of Christ,” that I’ll see and be with Christ, and praise Him like never before. Rev. 7:9-12

16. “Like the holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” (1 Pet. 1:15). God is perfectly holy, and He wants me to be holy. I’ve learned to recognize specific sins in my thoughts, words, and actions, sins like fear, anger, jealousy, pride, and selfishness. I’ve had to resist the devil, to say no to temptation and sin. I’ve learned that to be holy, I need God’s word and prayer. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word” (Ps. 119:9). And if I sin, and I’ve sinned a lot through the years, I’ve learned to confess my sins and freshly receive God’s forgiveness, and quickly get up from my sin and keep on living for God. Ps. 51:10-19, Pr. 24:16

I’ve learned that I must be holy to obey God and do His work. 2 Tim. 2:21 talks of being a “vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” And actively working for God helps me stay holy, for it’s when I’m lazy and just sitting around that I more easily succumb to temptation and sin. Most importantly, I know that I need to be holy to have a close walk, an intimate relationship with God. Heb. 12:14

17. “Life and death is in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:21). I’ve learned about righteous, fruitful speech. I’ve learned to have good speech, to speak for God, to talk rightly, and to teach His word. A carpenter builds with his hands, and I’ve learned to build people with my speech. By God’s grace I can speak in a godly way and make a real difference in a person’s life. Prov. 10:13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 31, 32

I’ve learned that my speech is not neutral, that I affect people by what I say, and that negative words can really hurt a person. I’ve learned the importance of having positive, kind, patient, and encouraging speech (Eph, 4:15), and of having precise and timely speech – saying the right words at the right time and in the right way (Pr. 25:11). I’ve learned the importance of not saying everything that’s on my mind, of holding my tongue. Pr. 21:23

I’ve learned that I need to listen to people, and then I know what to say (Jms. 1:19). I’ve learned the importance of not talking too much, of not dominating a conversation. Eph. 4:29 has been a challenging and necessary verse – “Let no unwholesome speech come from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

I am so thankful that God saved me, and has loved me, blessed me, protected me, and been teaching me valuable life lessons. We need them for the entirety of our lives, and especially now that we are in the end-times and can see that Christ is coming soon. “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end” (Ps. 119:33). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8

P.S. I am continuing to stress the importance of knowing how we should live for God in these end-times. That is, we must know what God is going to do, but also know what we are to do. Here’s a key article about your conduct and role in these days leading up to Christ’s coming – “The Excellent End-Times’ Worker.”

 

See What GOD Has Done!!! (328)

See What GOD Has Done!!!

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #328 ~


I couldn’t believe it when I saw the stats for this blogsite! Over 1.2 million people from 214 nations and territories have viewed this post over the past 8 years! I am extremely encouraged to see God working in this way, and I am thankful to Him for it’s been by His grace. Indeed, He gets the credit and the glory. So you can know specifically how God has worked, here are the nations and territories, and the views for each one.

United States (199,668), Mexico (106,322), Columbia (83,558), Venezuela (71,061), Nicaragua (40,020), Argentina (47,172), Peru (44,110), Philippines (42,946), Nigeria (39,130), El Salvador (35,475), Chile (34,455), Kenya (30,588), South Africa (30,311), Paraguay (27,775), Dominican Republic (25,910), Guatemala (24,463), Ecuador (21,999), Honduras (21,527), Trinidad and Tobago (19,376), Brazil (18,331),

Bolivia (18,280), Indonesia (17,977), Malaysia (15,025), Vietnam (13,522), Spain (12,147), Cameroon (10,411), United Kingdom (9,840), Costa Rica (9,513), Guyana (9,369), Belize (8,769), Canada (7,908), Zambia (7,846), Tanzania (6,563), Italy (6,204), Puerto Rico (5,450), Panama (5,397), Ethiopia (4,590), Ghana (4,446), Liberia (4,219), Australia (3,589),

Sierra Leone (3532), Congo – Kinshasha (3,346), Poland (3,261), Uganda (3,167), Lesotho (2,859), Ukraine (2,842), Taiwan (2,658), India (3,652), Ireland (2,388), Botswana (1,907), Germany (1,879), Singapore (1,460), Thailand (1,392), Netherlands (1,216), Uruguay (1,181), European Union (1,159), South Sudan (1,087), Malawi (1,058), Cuba (1,046), France (997),

Romania (846), South Korea (722), China (650), New Zealand (596), Hong Kong SAR China (560), Switzerland (414), Jamaica (391), United Arab Emirates (368), Japan (363), Sri Lanka (314), Isle of Man (292), Finland (289), Sweden (288), Israel (276), Austria (275), Saudi Arabia (264), Zimbabwe (239), Norway (209), Portugal (205), Turkiye (200),

Belgium (199), Papua New Guinea (186), Aruba (183), Pakistan (171), Russia (170), Bahamas (148), Bangladesh (143), Namibia (139), Greece (134), Qatar (123), Barbados (115), Eritrea (104), American Samoa (104), Nepal (98), Denmark (98), Mauritius (93), Czechia (85), Curacao (85), Egypt (83), Bahrain (80),

Equatorial Guinea (79), Fiji (73), Hungary (71), Kuwait (65), Cambodia (65), Serbia (64), Rwanda (63), Lebanon (63), Myanmar (Burma) (62), Bulgaria (59), Morocco (56), Luxembourg (56), Slovakia (54), Haiti (53), Sudan (50), St. Lucia (48), Croatia (48), Eswatini (47), U.S. Virgin Islands (46), Malta (39),

Cyprus (39), St. Vincent and Grenadines (38), Oman (38), Antigua and Barbuda (38), Cayman Islands (37), Guam (36), Suriname (35), Grenada (35), Albania (33), Central African Republic (32), Somalia (30), Caribbean Netherlands (30), Guinea (29), British Virgin Islands (27), Mozambique (27), Lithuania (27), Solomon Islands (26), Latvia (25), Dominica (24), Cote d’Ivoire (24),

Angola (24), Georgia (23), Brunei (23), Moldova (22), Benin (22), Samoa (21), Slovenia (21), St. Kitts and Nevis (20), Bermuda (20), Togo (18), Seychelles (18), Kazakhstan (18), North Macedonia (17), Iraq (17), Estonia (17), Bosnia and Herzegovina (17), Sint Maarten (16), Gambia (16), Reunion (15), Andorra (15),

Jordan (14), Iceland (14), Azerbaijan (14), Mongolia (13), Tunisia (12), Macao SAR China (12), Gabon (12), Algeria (12), Turks & Caicos Islands (11), Senegal (11), Northern Mariana Islands (11), Guinea-Bissau (11), Burundi (11), Chad (10), Martinique (10), Anguilla (10), Yemen (9), Vanuatu (9), Madagascar (9), Libya (9),

French Guiana (9), Burkina Faso (9), Micronesia (8), Afghanistan (7), Timor-Leste (6), Tonga (5), Niger (5), Montenegro (5), Laos (5), Guadeloupe (5), Gibraltar (5), Djibouti (5), Cook Islands (5), Belarus (5), Armenia (5), Syria (4), Kyrgyzstan (4), Jersey (4), Guernsey (4), Faroe Islands (4),

Cape Verde (4), Palau (3), Maldives (3), Kosovo (2), Uzbekistan (2), Palestinian Territories (2), French Polynesia (2), Norfolk Island (2), Montserrat (2), Mali (2), St. Martin (2), Congo – Brazzaville (2), Nauru (1), New Caledonia (1).

It’s amazing, a miracle of God, that people from all these countries and territories have been viewing and / or reading this blogsite, believers and unbelievers wanting to know about the end-times, Christ’s coming, and the kingdom ages. Pray for those who have been and will be reading this. May God speak to their hearts and change their lives. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Mark 11:17 

As churches, we are to make disciples of all the nations – and every person is to do his work. “It is like a Man away on a journey, who upon leaving His house and putting His slaves in charge, assigning to each one His task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert” (Mk. 13:34). God wants every Christian to do His work but also see the big picture, that he is an instrumental part of God’s plans for this world. The following verses will help you know how you can serve the Lord. 

* Pray for the coming of Christ and His kingdom – “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10). This well-known, world-changing prayer instructs you to pray for Christ’s coming and the establishment of His kingdom on this earth. Rev. 11:15

* Pray for workers – “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). Workers are Christians who are carrying out God’s commands to reach people and the world for Christ. In these final years of the church age, pray for yourself and others to be active in the harvest field, to be helping bring about Christ’s return and His kingdom on earth.

* Pray for the lost – “My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1). Should we not love the lost, and pray for them, and share the good news with them, helping them see their need to repent of their sins and believe that Jesus Christ suffered and died to pay for their sins, and rose again?

* Proclaim the gospel – “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end shall come” (Matt. 24:14:15). Testify for Christ. Share the gospel with them, knowing that your witness is part of God’s plan, and results in getting us closer to the end of the age and the coming of Christ. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” Colossians 4:2-6

* Make disciples – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Be involved in a disciple-making church. Use your spiritual gift and do what you can to influence others for Christ, whether that’s locally or going on a mission trip.

* Give financially – “At the first preaching of the gospel… no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone, for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs” (Phil. 4:15-16). Give financially to those actively involved in evangelism, and to missions, either through your church or personally. 2 Cor. 8-9

* Learn from missionaries – “Being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren… they reported all that God had done for them” (Acts 15:3-4). It’s really motivating to hear Christians share stories of how God is mightily working around the world. “Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness.” Psalm 145:5

* Encourage the workers – “Let us consider how to stimulate others to love and good deeds… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). We get spiritually weary (Gal. 6:9) and at times are discouraged, and some are suffering for their faith. Be thanking and encouraging those working in the harvest field, whether that’s in your own church or in other cities, states, or countries. 1 Thess. 1:2-8

What a wonderful opportunity to be able to serve the Lord in these days, to do our part in helping finish His work on earth. Jesus told us, “Do you not say, ‘there are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest… I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:35-38

What a privilege to be living for God and working for Him in these end-times. Here are two posts about working for God; “Working for God While Waiting for Christ”, “Laboring for the Lord, Now and Forever.”

 

Keep Yourself in the Love of God (324)

Keep Yourself in the Love of God

By Steve Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #324 ~


What’s absolutely essential for every Christian is God’s love, which is explained in God’s word. As much as anything, it’s God’s love that has kept me going through all the years – and it’s the Psalms that talk most about His love. This book gives many examples of believers who help us know God’s love, and how it relates to our relationship with God, our purpose, and our spiritual growth. Let’s go over a number of these verses. (A full list of these verses is found in Article 57- The Eternal Love of God).

* “I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation” (Ps. 13:5}. To truly live, we must trust and depend on God’s love. And God shows His love to us by saving and rescuing us from sin, enemies, and our problems.
* “Show the wonder of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand” (Ps. 17:7). It’s good, it’s necessary that you pray and ask God to show you His love, and He will. 

* “The king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High, he will not be shaken” (Ps. 21:17). God’s perfect love drives out any fears. If you are afraid or worried, it’s because you don’t know the love that God has for you. 1 John 4:18
* “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Ps. 23:6). God’s love is following us, and this means that God is chasing after us, is pursuing us with love. There is no way we can escape, no way we can get away from the love that God has for us.

 * “Your love is ever before me, and I will walk continually in Your truth” (Ps. 26:3). God’s love is always before you, and this means it’s right in front of you, it’s present. That His love is always with you, and never leaves you, is most comforting and encouraging.
* “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him” (Ps. 32:10). God’s love is inescapable, it’s all around us, it affects every aspect of our life. 

* “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You” (Ps 33:22). We are to put our hope in God, we are to expect Him and look to Him to cause His love to rest on us and affect every part of every day of our lives. 
* “How priceless is Your unfailing love” (Ps. 36:7). The love of God is precious, costly, extremely valuable, and it’s free, it doesn’t cost a thing. Just believe, just look to God.

* “Continue Your love to those who know you” (Ps 36:10). Only those who are saved, who know God, can really, truly, and personally know His continual love.
* “I do not conceal Your love and Your truth from the great assembly” (Ps. 40:10). The most valuable thing in the world is God’s love, and we must, we must tell others about it, and how it’s only through Jesus Christ that they too can experience it.

* “May Your love and Your truth always protect me” (Ps 40:11). Knowing God’s love and God’s truth is essential to being spiritually protected from sin, the devil, and deception. 
* “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love” (Ps. 48:9). It’s vital to regularly get time with God so you can think about, so you can consider His love. Only as God’s love is in your innermost being can you be a strong and loving Christian. 

* “I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever” (Ps. 52:8). Trusting and depending on God’s love is central, is key to a Christian’s eternal life, in this age and the ages to come.
* “He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends His love and His faithfulness” (Ps 57:3). God’s love is evident when He delivers us from enemies and troubles. Unbeknownst to us is that God often uses angels. Psalm 34:7

* “Great is Your love, reaching to the heavens” (Ps 57:10). This metaphor about the heavens illustrates the greatness, the vastness, the enormity of God’s love for us.
* “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You” (Ps. 63:3). God’s love is better, more needed, more nourishing, more satisfying than anything else in the world, and it results in us loving and worshiping God.

* “Great is Your love towards me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave” (Ps 86:13). The greatest example of love is that Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay for our sins, deliver us from death, and rescue us from hell. Romans 5:8 
* “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to You” (Ps. 86:5). Knowing God and calling out to Him results in receiving an abundant, rich, and plentiful amount of love. 

* “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever” (Ps. 89:1). Experiencing God’s great love will cause us to joyfully and eternally sing praises to Him.
* “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14). This important prayer tells us that God’s love fully satisfies us, makes us spiritually content.

* “He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel, all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Ps. 98:3). This speaks of God’s love for Israel in that God will save a remnant of Jewish people at Christ’s coming.
* “I will sing of Your love and justice, to You, O Lord, I will sing praise” (Ps. 101:1). We sing of God’s love, but we must also sing of His justice, and realize that the reason He can love us is because His justice was satisfied thought Christ. 1 Peter 3:18

* “The Lord is good and His love endures forever” (Ps. 100:5). God loves us during our life on earth, but we must remember that we will only fully know the depth and magnitude of His love when we are in heaven.
* “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:11). Looking at the heavens, at the stars in the night, helps us to understand the greatness, the enormity of God’s love for us. But this is only for those who fear Him, who are humble, who are in awe of God.

* “From everlasting to everlasting, the Lords’ love is with those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:17). It’s hard to imagine the intimate, infinite, and eternal love that God has for those who fear and trust Him, but it’s definitely true.
* “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness” (Ps 115:1). One of the main reasons we should glorify and exalt God is because He greatly, wonderfully, and continually loves us.

* “May your unfailing love come to me, Your salvation according to Your promise” (Ps. 119:41). God’s love is seen when He promises and gives us victories, when He delivers us from our problems.
* “The earth is filled with your love, O Lord” (Ps. 119:64). God’s love is seen in the world around us, in a beautiful sunset, in a pretty flower, in the food we have, in the diversity and wonder of animal life, in being able to sing joyful songs, etc.

* “Preserve my life according to Your love, and I will obey the statutes of Your mouth” (Ps. 119:88). Only as we are revived and kept going by God’s love will we be able to obey God’s word, to keep His commands and fulfill His purposes. 
* “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of Your hands” (Ps. 138:8). A vital connection exists between knowing God’s love, God doing His work in you, and God enabling you to fulfill His purposes.
* “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made” (Ps. 145:17). God is just and loving towards every single person in the world. 

Many writers of end-times’ prophecy focus on the what, who, when, and where, on what will be happening, who it will be affecting, when it occurs, and where it takes place. As you know, I have written many posts and articles on these four areas. But it’s not just what, who, when, and where, it’s how you should live.

Every day, you need to know and experience God’s love. I strongly encourage you to look at these and other verses that talk about the great love of God. And ask God to help you to depend on His love. When times are tough, you must know this love, and especially when the Antichrist comes and greatly persecutes the church.

“Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 20-21

P.S. I can’t say it enough – you need to feed on and be encouraged by the love that God has for you. Here is a post on God’s love – “The Great and Wonderful Love of God”, and a article – “The Love of God.”

 

Troubling Times Are Leading to Christ’s Coming and Great Glory (315)

Troubling Times Are Leading to Christ's Coming and Great Glory

By Steven J. Hogan

~ A Saturday Morning Post #315 ~

Many conflicts, tragedies, and calamities are presently afflicting this earth. In times like these many people become unsettled and afraid, wondering what’s happening, or even if the world is coming to an end. I understand why non-Christians may think like this, but confusion, fear, error, and hopelessness should never be true of Christians. That’s because God has told you all you need to know about the future. Jesus said, “Be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time” (Mk. 13:23). “He made know to us the mystery of His will” (Eph. 1:9). God has told you exactly what He wants you to know – He has told you what you need to know – He has told you the key players and parts of His end-times’ plan for you, the church, Israel, and the world.

God also wants you to know that He is in complete control of all that is and will be happening on this earth. In churches, in the lives of both saved and lost, in states and countries, in governors and presidents, in Israel and Iran, and in you and your family, God is sovereignly, powerfully, righteously, and lovingly working. And He’s not just overseeing the affairs of this world, He is intimately involved in everything that happens. Every single second, God is precisely and wisely carrying out His plans for planet earth and for every person on this earth.

God is continually leading, moving, and bringing you and this entire world closer to the end of this age and the coming of Christ. From God’s perspective, what’s occurring from now to Christ’s coming is like a trillion-piece puzzle, and God is putting all the pieces together. He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” (Eph. 1:11). And this global puzzle, God’s plan for this world, for this present age, will be completed at Christ’s coming.

At this time in history, Rom. 8:28 and Rom. 8:29 is truer than ever before. Rom. 8:28 says, “We know that God causes all thing to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” And what is God’s purpose for you? Rom. 8:29 tells us, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son?” His purpose for you is to be like Jesus, to be perfect, to be powerful, to be immortal, to be glorious. 1 Cor. 15:42-44, Phil. 3:20-21, 1 John 3:2

We often look at Rom. 8:28 microscopically, thinking about the small events of our daily life. But you must see the big picture, you must know where your life is headed, that you will see Jesus, and be like Jesus, that you will be glorified. You must understand Rom. 8:28 in its context, you must connect it to Rom. 8:29 and Rom. 8:30 – “These whom He predestined, He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Do you realize the everlasting , life-changing truth of this last verse? It’s one of the best, big-picture verses in the Bible. In eternity past, God planned out the entirety of your life, your eternal life, from justification to glorification to eternity future. Rom. 11:33-36

Next to knowing and growing in Christ, next to understanding the truth and eternal value of His first coming, you need to understand the truth and eternal value of His 2nd coming, and what’s leading up to Christ’s return to earth. No Christian should be naïve, ignorant, speculating, or worrying about the end-times and the truth of Christ’s 2nd coming. God has told you everything He wants you to know about the future, for He’s convinced it will increase your hope, and your faith, love, and peace (Col. 1:3-5). I pray that you want to know these truths, and then tell others, encouraging the saved and warning the lost. 2 Tim. 4:1-8 

So read, pray, study, and learn what God has planned out for you, the church, Israel, and the world. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it, for the time is near” (Rev. 1:3). I encourage you to take all the time you need to read and understand the book of Revelation, as well as Matt. 24, and Mark 13, and Luke 17:22-37, and Luke 21:5-36, and Rom. 8:18-25, and Rom. 11, and Rom. 13:11-14, and Rom. 15:8-13, and 1 Cor. 15:20-28, and 1 Cor. 15:50-58, and 1 Thess. 4:13-18, and 1 Thess. 5:1-11, and 2 Thess 1:3-12, and 2 Thess. 2:1-12, and Heb. 10:25-31, and Heb. 12:22-29, and James 5:3-11, and 1 Peter 1:3-16, and 2 Peter 3:3-13, and 1 John 2:28-3:3.

In the next post, I will talk about eschatological prophecy, I will describe the key players and parts of God’s plan from now until the millennial kingdom. I will briefly talk about the Jewish people, the nations, the end-times, the birth pains, increasing evil, technology, the peace treaty, the Jewish temple, the Antichrist, great tribulation, the rapture, the day of the Lord, the salvation of the Jews, and the millennial kingdom. Each of these are key parts of God’s perfect plan as it relates to Christ’s coming and to you, the church, Israel, and the world.

“And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rom. 13:11-12). “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

P.S. It’s vitally important that you know what will be taking place before Christ’s coming – and I have talked about it at great length on this blog site. Here are a few other posts on this subject: “Matthew 24 – A Road Map of the End-Times”, “When Is Christ Coming Back?”, and “What Needs to Happen Before Christ’s Return?”