By
Pastor F. M. Riley
“But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is
in you with meekness and fear,” 1 Peter 3:15.
Your Question…..Why
are you feeling that the time [for the rapture] is so very close?
My Answer…..There
are several reasons why I feel this way, and I will share several of those
reasons with you in a series of studies beginning with this one.
I could mention the many
events that are occurring all over the earth that indicate the soon coming
of the Lord to rapture His people to glory. “…wonders
in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath,” Acts 2:19. But
some today claim that such events have occurred throughout human history,
and therefore are only natural events that are to be expected
to occur from time to time. Therefore, in answering your question let’s
just ignore such events for the moment, and center our attention only on
events that clearly appear to be related to “time elements” set forth in
the inspired Word of God. This should be a very enlightening study. And
let’s start with…..
The Psalms
I am sure you are aware that
J. R. Church [Prophecy in the News] wrote a book entitled, Hidden Prophecies
in the Psalms, which was published in about 1986 or 87. In his book
he set forth the concept that each of the Psalms correlate
with the years of the 20th and 21st centuries. Some
today scoff at such an idea, but their scoffing only reveals that they are
unwilling to seriously study the Psalms to prove or
disprove the concept. Someone once said, “Ignorance is bliss.” That
being true, the most “blissful” people on earth today are surely the scoffers,
2 Peter 3:3-5.
For several years prior to
1987, I had been teaching the Psalms from a prophetic viewpoint.
When J. R. Church then pointed out certain details in the Psalms
that appeared to correlate with certain events that had occurred in certain
years in the 20th century, I was able to grasp the correlation
immediately. Since that time I have continued to study the correlation,
and have taken it far beyond the “glimpses” of it set forth in Brother Church’s
book. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that the correlation
is real, and that it was inspired of God when He gave the Psalms.
Even though the Psalms contain some references to historical
events, they are primarily an inspired prophetic account of God’s
dealings with the Jews and the nations during the 20th and 21st
centuries. I am well prepared to back that statement up with dozens of
examples recorded in the Psalms. The Psalms
are one of the greatest books of prophecy in the entire Bible. Those
who don’t study the Psalms from a prophetic viewpoint are
missing a real blessing. Now having pointed out this truth about the Psalms,
let’s look at…..
Psalm 106
In this Psalm,
which corresponds with this present year, 2006, the inspired
Psalmist [representing the Jewish remnant] begins the Psalm
by praising the Lord for His enduring mercies, 106:1-5. In
verse 4 the Psalmist appeals to the Lord, “Remember
me, O Lord, with the favor [grace] that Thou bearest unto
Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation.” It is obvious from
this statement that the remnant of Israel
are not yet saved, even though they are seeking the Lord.
Then in verses 6
through 46 the Psalmist briefly rehearses the history of Israel
and the mercies of God upon them, even though they had often rebelled against
the Lord.
But then in verse 47
the Psalmist cries out, “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather
us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and
to triumph in Thy praise.” I would point out to our readers
that this verse is definitely prophetic. It couldn’t have been fulfilled
in the lifetime of the Psalmist, for Israel
had not yet been driven from their land and scattered among the nations
when this Psalm was written. Therefore this verse had to
refer to a future time when most of the Jews would be dispersed
among the nations. That is the exact situation today, even though Israel
has been reestablished as a nation. Most of the Jews are still scattered
among the nations.
When I consider this 47th
verse in relation to the present situation in Israel
and the Middle East today, it appears to me that before this year is
over, Israel is going to be
in deep trouble. This verse suggests that a short, but terrible,
conflict [war] is going to break out in the Middle East before the end of
this year [2006]. I suspect that the war will go very badly for Israel,
and that they will suffer such losses that the very existence of the nation
will be hanging in the balance. But then…..the Lord God will intervene
and bring about a miraculous deliverance for Israel,
just as He has done for them in the past. Look at verses 6 through
46 again, and marvel at God’s tender care for Israel
over the centuries. The Lord will again demonstrate His care for them in
bringing about a miraculous deliverance. This is why this Psalm
closes with the people blessing and praising the Lord, verse 48.
Psalm 107
This is also why Psalm
107 [corresponding with 2007] opens with thanksgiving and praise
to the Lord. In verses 2-3 the Psalmist urges the Jewish
people to praise the Lord for having answered the prayer made to Him in
106:47. In verse 2 the Psalmist writes, “Let
the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from
the hand of the enemy.” Note carefully that this verse is
not talking about Israel’s
spiritual redemption. Rather, it plainly states that Israel
has been delivered [“redeemed”] from their enemies.
Then in verse 3
the Psalmist further states that the Lord has also “gathered them
out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and
from the south.” Could this “regathering” be the reason why Israel
is “redeemed” from their enemies during the coming conflict?
When this short, but terrible, conflict breaks out in the Middle East, and
the Israeli military is suffering great losses, to the extent that the very
existence of Israel is at stake, is it possible that hundreds of thousands
of Jews from all over the world will rally to Israel’s defense, rushing
to Israel by every available means to fight for their land, their people,
their “home,” and their God? Is this the miracle that God will work to
“save” Israel “from
the hand of the enemy”?
Conclusion
I don’t know!
And I realize that 2006 is half over. Whatever is going to happen to fulfill
these verses in 106:47 through 107:3 is going
to happen soon. However, I do know that such a scenario perfectly
harmonizes with the prophecy set forth in Daniel 9:27.
For a long
time I have been expecting a short, but terrible war to break out in the
Middle East. This war will involve Israel
and the Muslim nations [Israel’s
bitterest enemies]. The fury of this short war, the weapons used in it,
and the terrible loss of life, will terrify the entire world [Luke
21:26]. World leaders will rush to the “peace table” to draw up
a treaty [covenant; peace agreement]. The predicted Antichrist will then
“confirm the covenant with many” [U.N. – E.U. ?] Daniel
9:27, and the Tribulation will be underway. Israel
will then have 3 ½ years of a “false peace,” just as is predicted in God’s
Word, Ezekiel 38:8-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
Will such a
scenario begin to take place in the last six months of this year [2006],
as suggested in Psalm 106:47? I don’t know, but we
don’t have long to wait to find out. With the world situation as it presently
exists, these two passages, Psalm 106:47-48 and 107:1-3,
certainly suggest that the coming of the Lord to rapture His
people to glory could take place at any moment. Amen?
May the Lord bless His Word.
More later…..
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Last Call Gospel
Ministry
Pastor F. M. Riley
Fmrglbd5@aol.com