{"id":16486,"date":"2026-05-30T05:50:55","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T09:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/?p=16486"},"modified":"2026-06-06T06:26:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T10:26:35","slug":"knowing-god-today-in-the-end-times-and-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christskingdom.org\/staging\/8402\/knowing-god-today-in-the-end-times-and-forever\/","title":{"rendered":"Knowing God Today, in the End Times, and Forever"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Knowing God Today, in the End Times, and Forever<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"\"By Steven J. Hogan<\/em><\/p>

~ A Saturday Morning Post #366 ~

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Knowing God is most important in your life. And knowing God is knowing who He is, His identity, and what He is like, His character, and what He does, His purpose. <\/strong>God\u2019s word is filled with stories of people who knew God. Enoch knew God\u2019s presence and walked with Him. Abraham knew God\u2019s goodness and trusted Him. Moses knew God\u2019s holiness and obeyed Him. David knew God\u2019s love and worshiped Him. Mary knew God\u2019s mercy and trusted Him. Peter knew Jesus is Lord and lived for Him. Paul knew God\u2019s grace and died for Him. These believers and others like them knew God, and therefore loved Him and served Him. And God wants you to truly know Him, to have a close walk with Him, and to forever do what is good, right, and true. 2 Chron. 31:20-21\u00a0

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A person first knows God\u2019s identity, character, and purpose when he is born again<\/strong>.\u00a0\u201cI count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Phil. 3:8).\u00a0\u201cGod\u2026 is the One who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(2 Cor. 4:6).\u00a0\u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(John 3:16). \u201cThis is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent\u201d <\/em>(John 17:3). Eternal life is an eternal relationship with the living God, is knowing Him personally, spiritually, experientially, and eternally.\u00a0

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Eternal life, knowing God, is not based on the ways of the world, the teachings of men, or the lies of the devil.<\/strong>\u00a0It is not obtained by having money, fame, fun, power, or friends, but by knowing God and having Him fill your life with His love, joy, peace, and purpose. (Luke 6:24-26). Jeremiah says: \u201cLet not a wise man boast of his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast of his might, and let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises love, justice, and righteousness on earth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Jeremiah 9:23-24

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Eternal life, the Christian life, is forever experiencing the life of God.<\/strong>\u00a0Peter tells us,\u00a0\u201cGrace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us\u2026 that\u2026 you may become partakers of the divine nature\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(2 Pet. 1:2-3.) Living the Christian life is being a partaker of this divine life, is knowing God and experiencing His grace, His power.\u00a0\u201cGrow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(2 Pet. 3:18). Make it your goal to know God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. \u00a0

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What does it mean to know God? First, it means you know who He is, His identity.<\/strong>\u00a0You know that God is the\u00a0Creator<\/strong>, the One who made the entire universe and everyone and everything in it. You learn that He is the\u00a0Lord<\/strong>\u00a0of all, of all beings, people, and things. You know He is your spiritual and heavenly\u00a0Father.<\/strong>\u00a0You understand that He is the\u00a0Judge<\/strong>, that He knows every thought, word, and deed, and decides what is right and wrong, and rewards the righteous and punishes the unrighteous. You believe that God is a\u00a0Giver<\/strong>\u00a0of what is good, that He blesses and empowers you for His purposes and glory. Isaiah 43-45

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You know that Jesus is the Lord of all<\/strong>. You know He is the\u00a0Creator<\/strong>. You know He is the Savior<\/strong>, for He saves you from sin. You learn that He is your Redeemer<\/strong>, for by His death, He buys you out of slavery, rescuing you from the devil. You believe that He is the Reconciler<\/strong>, enabling you to be a friend of God. You know He is the\u00a0Head\u00a0<\/strong>of the church, the leader of the church. You understand that He is the\u00a0Judge.\u00a0<\/strong>And you realize He is the King<\/strong>, for He rules His kingdom. 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Heb. 1

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You know that the Holy Spirit is your Helper<\/strong>, for He helps you to live for God. You believe He is the\u00a0Creator.<\/strong>\u00a0You understand that He is your\u00a0Teacher<\/strong>, for He teaches you what you need to know and do. You learn that He is your Leader<\/strong>, guiding you in a godly and purposeful way. You see that He is your Strength<\/strong>, giving you the power to do what is right. You know He is the Sanctifier<\/strong>, for He makes you holy. John 14:16, 16:13; Rom. 8:14

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Second, you know what God is like, His attributes and character.\u00a0<\/strong>You understand that God is\u00a0self-existent<\/strong>, that He never came into being, that He forever exists in and of Himself.\u00a0You realize He is self-sufficient<\/strong>, He does not need anything from anyone; You know that He has all He needs – all power, wisdom, love, etc.\u00a0You understand that He is immutable<\/strong>, never changing in His character or plans, and therefore always dependable and trustworthy.\u00a0You know that He is omnipotent<\/strong>, having all the power to fulfill all His plans, to do whatever He desires.\u00a0You believe He is omniscient<\/strong>, knowing all that can be known about everyone and everything, past, present, and future. Ps. 139

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You know God is omnipresent<\/strong>, He is everywhere, not necessarily in a physical way, but in a spiritual way. You believe\u00a0He is wise<\/strong>, always making the best decisions regarding everyone and everything; He has devised perfect plans and He fulfills them.\u00a0You understand that He is faithful<\/strong>, He never forgets and never fails to do what He has planned, and that\u2019s because He is wise, omniscient, powerful, and sovereign.\u00a0You realize He is just<\/strong>, always doing what is holy, what is in accordance with His word and character; He metes out justice for sin, either by Christ\u2019s atoning death for those who believe in Him, or by eternal wrath in hell for those who reject Him.

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You know God is good<\/strong>, He is kind, benevolent, generous, a blessing to all, especially to believers.\u00a0You know He is merciful\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0forgiving<\/strong>, not giving a person what he deserves.\u00a0You understand that God is gracious<\/strong>, giving to a believer the grace he does not deserve to do whatever He has planned for him to do. You know He is loving, <\/strong>that He is always thinking about His people; that He is always concerned, patient, caring, and available. You believe He is holy\u00a0<\/strong>– He is unique, unlike anyone else; and that He is sinless and perfect, forgiving those who repent and who believe that Jesus died to pay for their sins, and then rose from the dead.

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You know God is eternal<\/strong>, that He has always existed and will never cease to exist.\u00a0You learn that He is incomprehensible<\/strong>, never able to be completely understood, for He never fully reveals Himself.\u00a0You realize that He is transcendent<\/strong>, that He is above all things and exalted above all things; and that He can never be contained or limited by His creation. You believe that He is sovereign<\/strong>, supreme, and has all authority, perfectly ruling the universe so as to carry out His divine will.\u00a0You know that He is glorious<\/strong>, great, majestic, divine, beautiful, magnificent, and awesome, words describing the sum of His attributes and character, and inspiring the glory and praise that is due Him and Him alone.

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Third, you know the purposes and plans of God, the triune God, by knowing that He is Lord<\/strong>, Father, Head, Creator, Giver, Savior, Judge, King, Helper, Teacher, Leader, Sanctifier, etc. And God\u2019s character, His omniscience, power, wisdom, love, justice, sovereignty, glory, etc., enable Him to carry out His purposes and plans.

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Knowing God\u2019s identity, who He is, and His character, what He is like, and His purposes, what He does, is essential if you are to know your identity, if you are to have character, and if you are to fulfill God\u2019s purposes. And I am not talking about head knowledge, but knowing God experientially, knowing Him in a personal way. You can only walk with God, you can only love Him, trust Him, obey Him, and have a good relationship with Him, if you know Him. It was only because Peter knew God that he was a man of God and lived his life for Him. In the very last verse of his very last epistle Peter commands us,\u00a0\u201cGrow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>2 Peter 3:18

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The identity, character, and purpose of God is also illustrated by the word\u00a0\u201cname.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 9:2 –\u00a0\u201cI will sing praise to Your name.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 9:10 –\u00a0\u201cThose who know Your name will put their trust in You.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 20:7 –\u00a0\u201cWe will remember the name of the Lord.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 29:2 –\u00a0\u201cThe glory that is due His name.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 54:1 –\u00a0\u201cSave me, O God, by Your name.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 72:17 – \u201cHis name shall endure forever.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 89:16 –\u00a0\u201cIn Your name shall they rejoice.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 102:21 –\u00a0\u201cDeclare the name of the Lord.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 116:13 –\u00a0\u201cCall upon the name of the Lord.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ps. 124:8 –\u00a0\u201cOur help is in the name of the Lord.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0God\u2019s name, His identity, character, and purpose, is the basis for everything, from praising to preaching to praying. Jesus said,\u00a0\u201cIf you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(John 14:14). So pray\u00a0\u201cin Jesus\u2019 name.\u201d

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One reason a Christian struggles and does not grow, love, and serve God like he should is because he does not truly know God. Hosea rightly and strongly states,\u00a0\u201cMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.\u201d <\/em>(Hos. 4:6). He goes on to say,\u00a0\u201cSo let us know, let us press on to know the Lord\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Hos. 6:3).\u00a0<\/em>Ultimately, it is God Himself who enables us to know Him.\u00a0\u201cI will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord and they will be My people and I will be their God\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Jer. 24:7). Paul prays for the Ephesian believers to grow in knowing God –\u00a0\u201cthat the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Ephesians 1:17

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You can know a gazillion things in this information age, but most importantly, you must know God. You must know He is Lord; you must know His love; and you must know His purpose. This is especially true in this post-Christian culture, in these increasingly lawless times, and in the years leading up Christ\u2019s coming and the rapture of the church. Knowing God in an intimate way in the tough years ahead is what you need more than anything else! But what should you do to grow in your relationship with God, in your experiential knowledge of Him?

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* Determine to know God. Be like Paul who said,\u00a0\u201cI want to know Christ.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Phil. 3:10
* Study God\u2019s word, specifically the stories and truths that reveal His identity, character, and purpose.
* Think about God\u2019s identity, God\u2019s character, and God\u2019s purposes.
* Observe the lives of godly Christians, and get with them, and learn from them.
* Read Christian biographies, and read good books on God\u2019s attributes.
* Pray for yourself and others that you grow in your relationship with God, in your experiential knowledge of Him.

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\u201cI am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own\u00a0know Me<\/strong>\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(Jn. 10:14).\u00a0\u201cLove is from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God<\/strong>\u201d<\/em>\u00a0(1 Jn. 4:7).\u00a0\u201cThe Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so we may\u00a0know Him<\/strong>\u00a0who is true.\u201d<\/em>\u00a01 John 5:20

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P.S. We finished a 9-part series on Matthew 24, a most important chapter that speaks at length about the troublesome days ahead. That\u2019s why I wrote this post, to stress our need for having a good, solid relationship with God. Here is a post about how He will be our strength during the years ahead – \u201cGod Will Keep You Strong to the End.\u201d \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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