The Nations, Israel, Jesus, the Church … the United States … Jesus …
By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #385 ~
We are living in the end-times which means Jesus Christ is returning soon to rapture the church, judge this world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His reign on earth. Today, I want to focus on the big picture, how God has worked with the nations, Israel, Jesus Christ, the Church and now, in these days, is working with the United States, and soon, the coming of the Antichrist and the coming of Christ.
The Nations: God created Adam and Eve, and they sinned again Him. Because of their sin, all people born after them were sinful, as well as nations. We know that God works through nations, and many of them are specifically talked about in the Bible. The nations that came from Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, are described in Gen. 10. “These are the families of the sons of Noah… out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood” (Gen. 10:32). Abraham descended from Shem, and from Abraham came the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. The Bible makes it clear that there are the Gentile nations and the Jewish nation of Israel. Ps. 2, Ps. 47, Ps. 102:12-22
Israel: Israel was, is, and will be the most important nation in the world. “God says: This is Jerusalem; in the center of the nations, I have set her, and countries are round about her” (Ezek. 5:5). God chose Israel to be His special people, to write His word, to receive His law and promises, to carry out temple sacrifices, and to be a witness of His truth, love, and glory. His primary purpose for Israel was to bring forth Jesus Christ, the Savior and King of the world (Rom. 9:3-5). “The Lord said to Abram… I will make you a great nation… in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” Gen. 12:1-3
The nation of Israel was born, was brought forth from Abraham’s descendants when they were in Egypt. They grew to be a great nation, escaped from Egypt around 1445 BC, wandered in the desert for 40 years, then entered the land God had promised them. For the next 800 years Israel was only partially successful in carrying out His purposes. Because of her sin, God punished her through enemy kingdoms like Assyria and Babylon. Then they were exiled from their land for 70 years. He continued to afflict His people through the kingdoms of Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. But God was faithful, for His plan to bring the Savior to earth through the Jews would still be fulfilled. Ps. 22, Ps. 33:10-12
Jesus: Jesus came to earth. But it was a spiritual battle, for the devil hated the Jews, and used the aforementioned kingdoms in an attempt to destroy Israel. During Rome’s rule, he tried to kill Jesus, the Son of God, but he failed. “… The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth, he might devour the child. And she gave birth to a Son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” (Rev. 12:2-5). That Jesus was born of the woman, the Jews, was a significant point in history, for it meant that the God-Man was on earth. His purpose was to save man from sin and death (“She shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” – Matt. 1:21), and eventually be King of the world. Luke 1:30-33
After living a perfect life, after doing all kinds of miracles, after teaching His people, Jesus was crucified, was punished for our sins. So Jesus died and was buried, but He was miraculously raised from the dead. All who repent of their sins and believe in Him are forgiven, are children of God, receive eternal life, and will be glorified, and will not be punished for their sins by spending eternity in the lake of fire (Mk. 1:15, Rev. 20:15). “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 1 Pet. 3:18, John 1:12-13, 2 Cor. 5:21, Eph. 2:8-9
The Church: Shortly after His resurrection, Jesus gave the apostles the authority to make disciples of all the nations (Matt. 28:19-20). He told them that they and all God’s children were to preach the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Then Jesus ascended into heaven where He will remain until the end of this age. Once the gospel is preached to all the nations (Matt. 24:14), then Christ will come back to rapture the church, judge the world, save a remnant of Jews, and begin His 1000-year reign over the world. Acts 1:11; 1 Th. 4:17; Rev. 8-9, 16; Rom. 11:25-27; Rev. 11:15, 20:1-15
So here we are, it’s October, 2026, and the church has been doing Christ’s work for nearly 2,000 years. And we are living in the end-times, and we know this because the Jews miraculously returned to their land. They were exiled from Israel around 70 AD and began coming back in the 1880’s, and it was in May of 1948 that she once again became a nation. That the Jews are in their land is the #1 reason we know we are living in the end-times, and that God has not cancelled His plans for His people, but will faithfully carry them out. And it is the #1 sign to the church that it won’t be long before Christ comes back to take her home to heaven. Jer. 32:37-44, Ezek. 36-37, Luke 21:12-24, 1 Th. 4:15-17, 2 Th. 2:1-10
The United States: The United States is one of the greatest countries ever, and it’s now the #1 power in the world. That’s because God has spiritually and physically blessed her with the result that she has been a great blessing to the world. But for God’s purposes and plans, she must be taken out of the way.
Let me explain: God tells us that the Antichrist and his kingdom will arise and be the #1 power in the world before Christ returns to rapture the church. That means that the United States, along with any other global superpowers that may arise, must be weakened and diminished before the coming of the Antichrist. 2 Th. 2:8; Rev. 13, 16-18
But I want to talk specifically about why the United States, the world’s #1 power, will decline, will lose her first-place position. It relates directly to the fact that God will continue to judge the United States for all her sins. I described this in great detail in five previous posts: #343, #344, #345, #346, #347.
In this post, I will only mention a few things about the sad and sinful state of our country: This country pollutes the world with evil, aborts millions of children, sells killing machines to other countries, is greatly divided, and is increasingly antisemitic. There’s a $40,000,000,000,000 federal debt; churches are teaching lies; families are falling apart; godless leaders, atheistic teachers, and revolutionaries are promoting evil ideologies, and are leading our country astray; people are calling evil good and good evil; and she is being invaded by lawless sinners who hate our churches, our culture, our way of life.
God sees every bit of our sin and He is not mocked, and He’s rightfully judging the United States, just like we read in the prophets! “Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity… I will also turn My hand against you” (Is. 1:4, 25; Nahum 1:1-7). Yes, there are many good preachers and strong Christians in this country. But God is judging us, and I personally don’t believe there will be a country-wide revival, that we will be great like we were in the past. Instead, we will continue to decline, to be weakened, to gradually and / or suddenly, be diminished in power and influence.
In a few weeks we have a critical election, one which will greatly affect this country, Israel, and the world. I encourage everyone to vote for the most moral, trustworthy, truthful, law-abiding person. But I want to know what God will do, for He is sovereign over the votes, the money being spent, the candidates, the speeches being made, the election corruption. “He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan. 2:21). So who will He put in office? Will it be a sign of judgment, mercy, or both? I’m praying Hab. 3:2 – “In wrath, remember mercy.” Might God have mercy on us even though we deserve to be judged. Might He be gracious and give us a reprieve – might He allow us, over the short term, continued peace and freedom to share the gospel and make disciples. 2 Chr. 7:14, 1 Tim. 2:1-6
Jesus: Once our country is weakened, and possibly others as well, then the Antichrist and his kingdom will be ruling the world (Rev. 13). After a few years, or less, of his evil rule, Jesus Christ will visibly, powerfully, and gloriously return to rapture the church. Then Christ will judge the world, will punish unrepentant unbelievers and evil nations. “The Lord is coming to judge the earth” (Ps. 98:9; Rev. 8-9, 16). Then a remnant of Jews will be saved (Rom. 11:25-27). Soon after that, Christ will begin His 1000-year reign on earth. He will rule from Jerusalem, and Israel will be the most powerful nation on earth (Ps. 47, 67, 72). We, along with newly saved Jews and all glorified believers, will be worshiping our Lord and serving with Him in reigning over this earth. “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Rev. 7:12
What are we to do?
– Love God, and love one another. Mark 12:30-31
– Focus on the greatness and glory of God instead of the greatness and glory of your country. 1 Cor. 10:31
– Do your part in these times, do the work God wants you to do. Eph. 2:10, 1 Pet. 4:10-11
– Tell your family, friends, and others what you know about God’s plans for the future.
– Be praying: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10
– Have hope: believe the promises of God about being with Jesus Christ, being in heaven, being in a new body, being with believers, and being rewarded. 1 Th. 4:17, Heb. 12:22-24, 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 1 Cor. 3:8
“‘Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book… Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done… Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:7, 12, 20