Living on
Borrowed Time.....
                                                                                                  By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                                  July 10, 2017
     "The Lord God is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," 2 Peter 3:9.  

     "And account [reckon; regard] that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you," 2 Peter 3:15.  
Introduction
     A few days ago a sister in Christ was speaking to me about the many "signs" that have occurred, and are still occurring, indicative of the end of this present dispensation, and the soon return of the Lord Jesus to resurrect and rapture His Church and people to glory.  As she spoke about the many "signs," she made the statement, "It looks to me like we are already living on borrowed time."  
      As I later meditated on her statement, the truth of it came across loud and clear, and gave me the incentive to write out this brief study.  
The Time Allotted
    In Hosea 6:1-2, this prophet of Israel, was inspired to write of his people, "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us;  He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.  
     After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight."  
     I considered this a good passage in the Old Testament to emphasize the "two days" of this present Dispensation of Grace for the Gentiles. The number "two" is used over and over again in types and shadows to illustrate both the divided Israelite peoples, and also the "two days" or 2,000 years, when Israel would be temporarily set aside to allow for the salvation of the Gentiles.    These "two days" are referred to over and over again in types and shadows, as well as in direct statements, throughout the entire Bible.  What is being referred to here is "two days" in God's Great Week, or as Peter was inspired to explain in 2 Peter 3:8, 2000 years.  In the Lord's overall plan of the Ages, the Lord God allotted 2,000 years to the Gentile peoples of the world, to seek the Lord and be saved. This period of time is known in the Scriptures as The Dispensation of Grace, in which we believers continue to live to this present day.   This truth is portrayed and directly stated over and over again in the Holy Scriptures.  After 2,000 years or "two days" in His Great Week, the Lord will once again turn back to dealing with His covenanted Israelite people.  
     As Scriptural proof of this truth, I suggest our readers carefully STUDY the many, many, passages in the New Testament which refer to "two days."  Carefully notice the context in which these passages are used, and the dispensational truth being set forth in the passage.  .  
      In the account of the "Good Samaritan" given in Luke 10:30-35, don't fail to notice that the Good Samaritan gave "two pence" to the host.  This was two days wages at that time.  But the Good Samaritan also told the host, ".....if thou spendest more [more than two days wages], when I come again, I will repay thee."  Here it is clearly stated that the Good Samaritan intended to return, and the implication is that his return would occur sometime after "two days."   The Good Samaritan in the passage, is of course, a type of Christ.    Also implied is that it might take just a little longer than "two days" [2,000 years] before He returns, and so it has been!      
Living on Borrowed Time  
     Dear readers, according to the Biblical Chronologists, the Lord Jesus was born into the world in Bethlehem in 3 B.C., and was crucified in 30 A.D.   This means that the life span of Christ Jesus was 33 years.  So if we begin with 3 B.C., at the birth of Christ, and count time until this present year of 2017, providing that the calendar is reasonably correct, we come up with a total of 2,020 years.  3 plus 2017 = 2020.  
     What this means is that mankind on the earth is now living twenty years [20] beyond the "two days" allotted for the Gentile Dispensation of Grace.   Another way of looking at this, is that we have borrowed 20 years from Israel and the Jewish people, postponing their redemption by 20 years.  Why?  
Because of God's Mercy and Longsuffering
      Now do some readers begin to grasp the full depth of God's "longsuffering" clearly stated twice in 2 Peter 3:9 and 3:15?  Oh how great and good and merciful is the love of our God for those who are still lost in sin and unbelief!  Praise His Holy Name!
     Dear readers, every man, woman, boy, and girl, living on the Earth today, which includes those who are still lost in sin and unbelief, as well as those who, by the grace of God, have become true believers,  literally are living on borrowed time.  If the Lord God had desired to reconcile His calendar with mankind's calendar, then the resurrection and rapture should have occurred 20 years ago in 1997.  
      But it becomes glaringly obvious that the Lord God is more concerned about the souls of men and women, boys and girls, than He is about reconciling His Plan of the Ages with mankind's calendar.  Now seriously think about it!  God's inspired Word allotted 2,000 years or "two days" in God's Great Week for the Gentile Dispensation of Grace.  Being absolutely precise on this point, this period should have ended 20 years ago in 1997.  But if it had ended 20 years ago, some believers reading this study today would not have been saved by that time.  They would have missed their opportunity!  The Lord God would have already turned the time clock back to the nation and people of Israel.  Indeed we Gentiles have been granted 20 years of time which, according to the dispensational plan set forth, rightfully belonged to Israel.  Indeed we are living today on borrowed time.  God so loved the souls of every human being, whom He continues to create even in the womb today,  so much that He allowed this present Dispensation of Grace for the Gentiles to run twenty years beyond the appointed time for it to run, at least on our present calendar.  Read John 3:16-18 again, and this time read these inspired Scriptures slowly and carefully, allowing the truths stated there to soak into your heart and soul.  Then lift up your heart and voice to the Lord God, and give to Him the praise and honor and glory of which He is worthy.    Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Glory to God!  
But the Time is Up!  
     I have pointed out in previous Bible Studies that this present year of 2017 is the year which correlates exactly with the 120 year warning given in "the days of Noah," Luke 17:26.  The very first modern effort to regather the Jewish people from the ends of the earth was the First Jewish Congress, convened by Theodor Herzl in 1897, exactly 120 years ago.  
     The deliverance of the ancient homeland of the Jewish people from the Ottoman Turks occurred in 1917, exactly 100 years ago.  
     The United Nations voted to end the British Mandate over the Holy Land and allow the Jews to re-establish their own nation again, in 1947, exactly 70 years ago.  "70" is the number in the Bible signifying "the restoration of Israel."  Notice Psalm 90:10.   Israel was re-established as a modern nation the following year, in 1948, and observed their 69th birthday this present year of 2017.  "69" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "to bring to an end; stop; cut off."  Next year Israel will have existed as a modern nation for exactly 70 years, fulfilling Psalm 90:10 to the letter.
     The restoration of the entire city of Jerusalem became a reality during the Six Day War in 1967, exactly 50 years ago.  Carefully study Leviticus 25, noticing especially 25:8-10.  
Conclusion
     Folks, I didn't have to invent any of these time periods.  The Lord God supervised these events in the exact years they occurred.  And now.....it is my firm conviction He is going to finally bring this present Dispensation of Grace to an end this exact year of 2017.  This is it!  We have arrived at the appointed time for the resurrection and rapture of all true New Covenant believers, and it will SOON occur.  Are YOU ready?  If not, what are you waiting for?  The Lord has been showing His "end time signs" for the past 120 years. We are already living on borrowed time!  The time is up!  Hurry!  Rush!  Run!.....to whatever place you choose to bow your head and heart before the Lord Jesus, and ask Him to come into your heart and life and save your soul.  And, if you are sincere in asking, the Lord will save you from sin and give you eternal life, Romans 10:13.  
     I want to meet every reader of this study in Heaven, for that is where I am going when the Lord comes, 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Please don't disappoint me!
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     Dear readers, a personal prayer request.  My hearing has been fading for a year or more.  Just last night in my sleep I lost my hearing completely in my right ear.   I have tried everything I can think of, and it just won't come back.  It is gone!  
      My eyesight has also been fading for over a year.  It is now really fading fast, and if the Lord doesn't come for us real soon, I expect to loose my eyesight in the next few months, week, or even days [?].   When I can no longer see to read God's Word and to write out the great truths of it for God's people, and for lost seeking souls, then the quality of my life will be over, and I would just as soon not live any longer.  
     I truly need the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I am sincerely asking.  Please lift me up to Father God's throne of grace every day and often.  
     All of the information I usually place at the end of a study remains the same.  Consult another study if you need my address or phone number for any reason.  God bless every readers is my prayer.  
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