Come Before Winter…..
By Pastor F. M. Riley
November 21, 2009
“But
pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath
day:
For then shall be
great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Matthew
24:20-21
Introduction
The above Scripture text for this study
was addressed to the Jewish people, and it is warning them about the last
half of the Tribulation period. In
this Scripture text the Lord Himself used the word “winter” in connection
with the “great tribulation” that is going to come upon the whole lost
world at that time. Was there a special
reason for this? I don’t know! You will have to decide for yourself after
reading this study…..
What I do know is that I have
been highly disturbed by the events occurring all over the world at this
present time; particularly in relation to the “Pneumonic Respiratory Plague”
which is spreading like wildfire. This
disease [and others] threatens the
lives of every person living on this earth, except of course, the wicked NWO
Illuminists who are deliberately spreading it.
They wouldn’t be spreading it if they didn’t have the antidote to
protect themselves. All of humanity upon
the earth is right now staring this disease in the face, hundreds are dying
from it, and the prospect is that THOUSANDS more will die from it as it spreads
all over the world.
I am well aware that many who claim to be
“Christians” don’t believe this and will not believe it, but I am also aware that
many “professing Christians” today do not seriously study God’s Word, seldom if
ever study the prophecies of God’s Word, know next to nothing about the events
prophesied in God’s Word for the end-time, and therefore are Scripturally deficient
and have chosen to be blind and ignorant as to what is even going on in the
world around them today. Read the words
of our Lord again in Revelation 3:15-18, let them soak in,
and then get serious about living for and serving the Lord.
I want to assure our readers
that I do not write about end-time events because I am “afraid” of what is
coming, for “I know in whom I have believed,” and have perfect assurance
that if I die I am going to be with my Savior, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8. But I have lived long enough to know
that “death”
is an enemy of all people, saved and unsaved, and that it is UGLY AND
BRUTAL. I have no desire to see hundreds
or thousands of true believers,
or little children, or even lost people, struck down by this terrible disease
or worse that may follow. This has been
heavy on my mind and heart the last several days and I have spent much time in prayer
asking for God’s mercy upon His people and upon those still lost in sin. Does the Lord answer the prayers of His
people? You decide…..
This very morning I awakened from a
troubled sleep, often waking up during the night and praying earnestly for our
Lord to come and RESCUE His people from what is coming upon the
earth. As I stepped out of bed my mind
was clear and all I was thinking about was putting on the coffee pot and
preparing myself something to eat.
Suddenly for no reason at all, I began crying. I had no idea why. As the tears rolled down my cheeks, just as
suddenly the words from Paul’s epistle began impressing themselves upon my
mind, “…..come before winter…,” “…..come before winter…,” “…..come before
winter….” I was shocked! I have been aware of this passage throughout
my 55 years of ministry, but have never considered it to have any meaning other
than the obvious, literal meaning that Paul was conveying when he wrote these
words to Timothy. Was I hearing from the
Lord? Was the Lord trying to tell me
something? Was the Lord conveying a
deeper truth to me in these words? I
do not know, and make no such claim!
I am only relating what happened to me this very morning. I was so shaken by this experience that I
immediately went to my Concordance and Bible to look up the word, “winter.” [My
coffee and breakfast had to wait].
As I looked at the Scriptures in God’s Word where the word “winter”
occurs, I suddenly saw something that I have never previously
seen. Now I will let our readers decide
for themselves if my experience this morning was from the Lord, or whether you
think it is just “wishful thinking” on my part.
YOU read this study and make up your own mind…..
Scriptural Documentation
The English words “winter,”
“wintered,” and “winterhouse,” occur 16 times
in the Bible, 7 times in the Old Testament and 9 times in the New
Testament. Sixteen is the Bible
number associated with “love” all
through the Scriptures.
For the purposes of this study I am only
going to list the New Testament passages, although I will refer to at least one
passage in the Old Testament. The 9
New Testament passages are as follows: (Emphasis is mine).
The first passage is Matthew
24:20, the Scripture text we used for this study. Read it at the beginning of the study.
“And pray ye that your flight
be not in winter,” Mark 13:18.
“And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it
was winter,” John
10:22.
“And
because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part
advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is a
haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest,” Acts 27:12.
“And after three months we departed in a
ship of Alexandria,
which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux,” Acts
28:11.
“And it may be that I will abide, yea, and
winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go,”
1 Corinthians 16:6.
“Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens, and Linus,
and Claudia, and all the brethren,” 2 Timothy 4:21.
“When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or
Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there
to winter,” Titus 3:12.
The Meanings of the Words
The Greek word translated as “winter”
in Matthew 24:20, Mark 13:18, John 10:22, and 2 Timothy 4:21 is the
word, “cheimon.” This Greek word
literally means, “winter; stormy weather;
foul weather; tempest.” See Thayer’s
Greek Lexicon, page 667, Strong’s No. 5494. This word occurs 6 times in
the New Testament. It is translated as “winter”
4 times, as “foul weather” 1 time, and as
“tempest”
1 time. Six is the
Bible number associated with “man;
Satan’s influence over man” all through the inspired Scriptures.
The Greek word translated as “winter”
1 time in Acts 27:12, as “wintered” 1 time
in Acts
28:11, and as “winter” 1 time each in 1
Corinthians 16:6 and Titus 3:12 is the word, “paracheimazo.” This Greek word literally means, “to spend the winter; with one or at a
place.” See Thayer’s Greek Lexicon,
page 487, Strong’s No. 3914. This word
occurs only these 4 times in the New Testament. Four is the Bible number associated
with “the flesh; the natural man; the
creation; humanity; mankind; the nations” all through the inspired Word of
God.
Another Greek word also translated as “winter”
in Acts 27:12 is the word, “paracheimasia.” This word literally means, “spending the winter; a passing the winter;
wintering in.” See Thayer’s Greek
Lexicon, page 487, Strong’s No. 3915.
This word only occurs 1 time in the New Testament. One is the Bible number associated
with “unity;
to be united with” all through God’s inspired Word.
If you are paying close attention to what
you are reading, these three related Greek words occur a total of 11
times in the New Testament. Eleven
is the Bible number associated with “judgment;
to bring judgment; to finish or bring to completion.”
Now that we have looked
at the meaning of these Greek words and the significance of the number of times
they occur, let’s look at…….
The Numerical Documentation
I want to make this
point very clear to my readers…….I DO NOT believe that Strong’s
Concordance is inspired of God and is therefore to be regarded as Scripture in
any sense of the Word. Is that stated
clearly enough?
However, after using the Strong’s
Concordance for the past 55 years and studying Bible Numerics for the same
length of time, I am personally convinced that our Lord who knows the end from
the beginning knew the important role that Strong’s Concordance would have in
serious Bible study among His people in the end-time. I DO BELIEVE that our Lord then “superintended” the assignment of
the numbers in Strong’s Concordance to the various Hebrew and Greek words
listed. I say this without apology to
anyone, so if any reader doesn’t believe this then don’t waste your time and
mine trying to “straighten me out.” Just
read what I have to say about these numbers in this study, and then if you
still don’t believe our God is able to do such a thing you are certainly free
to believe or disbelieve as you choose.
5494…….This is the number assigned by
Strong’s to the Greek word, “cheimon.” I do not know the meaning of 94
in God’s Word. But 54 is the
Bible number associated with the “the
security of the believer; eternal security” throughout the Scriptures. Then as we add each of these numerals
together, 5 + 4 + 9 + 4, the sum is 22. 22
is the Bible number which means “to see;
to discern; to be enlightened; to understand.”
3914…….The number assigned by Strong’s to the Greek word, “paracheimazo,” is 3914. 39 is the Bible number associated with
“Truth” all through the Scriptures,
and 14 is the Bible number associated with “salvation; deliverance” all through God’s Word. Again, as you add each of these numbers
together, 3 + 9 + 1 + 4, the sum is 17. 17
is the Bible number associated with“Victory”
all through the inspired Word.
Praise the Lord!
3915…….This
is the number assigned by Strong’s to the Greek word, “paracheimasia.” As already
pointed out, 39 is the Bible number associated with “Truth” throughout the Scriptures.
Now notice number 15. This
is the Bible number associated with “rest;
spiritual rest; rest in Christ; millennial rest,” throughout the Bible.
But what is it which presently
prevents all humanity from entering into and enjoying the “rest” [Hebrews 4:5; 4:8-11] that the Lord has
prepared for those who love Him? Add
each of these numerals together, 3 + 9 + 1 + 5 and the sum is 18. 18 is the Bible number associated with
“bondage,” especially as it relates
to the “sin nature” of man, and to the bondage which is to be imposed by
the coming Antichrist upon all humanity left on earth during the Tribulation. 18 is a multiple of three sixes; 666.
3533…….Here is one more
number assigned by Strong’s that I want to call to the attention of our
readers. This number is assigned to the
Greek word, “nikopolis.” This Greek word only occurs twice in the
New Testament and is translated into English both times as “Nicopolis.” Here I want
to point out that the number 35 in God’s Word is associated with “hope” [the hope of the resurrection…Titus 2:13] all through the
Bible. The number 33 is
associated with “promise” all through
the Scriptures. It is our Lord who has promised His people, John
14:1-3. Glory to God! Now when you add up each of the numerals, 3 +
5 + 3 + 3, the sum is 14. 14 is
the Bible number associated with “salvation
and deliverance” all through the Scriptures. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
These numbers go together and work together in perfect harmony. Remember these numbers and their meanings
and I will give our readers the literal meaning of this Greek word at the end
of this study.
Now that we have looked at the meaning of
these Greek words and the numerical significance attached to them in the
Scriptures and also in Strong’s Concordance, let’s look at the spiritual significance of what
these words MAY be setting forth in
type as they are used in the New Testament.
The Biblical Type of “Winter”
I have already pointed out how the Lord
Himself connected “winter” with the Tribulation in Matthew 24:20-21. The same truth is set forth a second
time in Mark 13:18-19. It
appears in these passages that the season of “winter” could very well typify the time of Tribulation
judgment coming upon Israel. Are there other passages in God’s inspired
Word which might suggest this same truth?
How about Jeremiah 8:20? In this passage the Jewish people are
heard crying out, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not
saved.” This passage very
plainly and explicitly connects the salvation of Israel with the “harvest”
which in this verse is already past.
It clearly states that “the summer is ended.” Okay, maybe
I’m not very smart, but it appears to me that this statement clearly places unbelieving
Israel
in the fall of the year. Folks,
the harvest is over at the end of summer.
In Israel
the end of the harvest season is officially observed beginning with Rosh
HaShanah and extending through the Feast of Tabernacles. This then places Israel in the “fall season” of the
year. Since they clearly state in this
passage that they haven’t been saved, then spiritually
they are facing the bleakness of “winter” in a lost and unsaved
condition. Is this too hard a spiritual picture for some of our readers to
see? Well…?? Based on this passage, it appears that spiritually the “winter”
they are facing is the bitter Tribulation period, the very
period which the Lord Himself connected with Israel’s time of “great
tribulation.”
Then there is also John 9 - 10. These are the chapters where the Lord
Himself in chapter 9 gave sight to a man who was born blind and then in chapter 10
gave to Israel
the Parable of the Sheepfold.
The
man who was born blind is obviously a
type of a remnant of the Jews who even today are believing on the Lord,
even while being persecuted and reviled by the majority of the unbelieving
Jewish people. Read the account for
yourself in John 9.
Then in John 10 the Lord set
before those same unbelieving Jews the Parable
of the Sheepfold. In this parable He
made it plain that the Jews DID NOT and DO NOT have an exclusive claim on the Kingdom of God. The Lord told them plainly that He had “other
sheep” which were not of the “fold” of Israel, and that He would bring
them to Himself and there would “be one fold, and one shepherd.” This statement of the Lord infuriated those Jews, for they knew He was
referring to bringing Gentiles into the Kingdom of God. They were so prejudiced against the Gentiles
that even the thought of Gentiles being saved caused some of those Jews to fly
into a rage and accuse the Lord of being possessed by a demon. Sadly, the nature of the unbelieving Jewish
people hasn’t changed much over the past 2,000 years. Many Jews today still fly into a rage when
the Lord Jesus Christ is lifted up as the Messiah and Savior of Israel and of
lost humanity. God have mercy on those
caught up in such wickedness!
But WHEN did all of this take place? The Scriptures explicitly state, “And
it was at Jerusalem
the feast of dedication, and it was winter.” Folks, here is an explicit time
marker. The healing of that Jew who was
born blind took place on Hanukkah, “the feast of dedication” [or feast of lights as it is sometimes called]
during the “winter.”
The Lord then told those unbelieving Jews
plainly, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand,”
10:27-28. Compare this statement
with 1
Corinthians 15:49-53. All true believers are going to be
“clothed upon” with “eternal life” at the resurrection and rapture. Praise the Lord! Will it be at Hanukkah just before or during
the “winter”? Think about it!
The Possible Types set forth in Paul’s Writings
Every serious Bible student knows that the
life of the Apostle Paul is filled with Bible types, especially in relation to
the salvation, sealing, and sending forth of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists
during the coming Tribulation period. If
you have never studied this then request my study on The Salvation, Sealing, and Ministry of the 144,000. It will be sent free upon receiving your
request.
Are there then other types set forth in
the life of Paul? I think there very
well may be. But you decide as we
continue this study…..
In Acts 27:12 the Apostle Paul and
those with him were seeking a “haven” of safety to abide in during the “winter.” Remember that the Greek word
translated as “winter” in this verse means “stormy weather; foul weather; tempest.” Is this not suggestive of the coming
Tribulation, which the Lord Himself connected it with in Matthew 24:20 and Mark
13:18? Is that not what all true believers are seeking
today? A “haven” from the terrible
“storm” of the coming Tribulation? You
know it is! Read Luke 21:36 again and let
the words and warning of our Lord in that verse soak in.
The Scriptures then tell us that the ship
that was carrying Paul and his companions was wrecked and lost to the sea, but
Paul and his companions were cast on to an island where they spent the “winter”
in safety, warmth, comfort, and even with honor. Read the account yourself in Acts
28:1-10. Could this be a type or shadow of the place of
safety in glory for New Testament believers, while the terrible “winter”
of the Tribulation is raging on the earth?
In
verse 11 the Scripture tells us explicitly that when Paul and his
companions left the island some three months later, they sailed in a ship whose
“sign”
was “Castor
and Pollux.” This is the sign in
the Zodiac of “Gemini; the Twins.” Those who have seriously studied the Gospel in the Stars will recognize this
as the “sign” which represents the Lord Jesus Christ in His two
natures; Son of God and Son of Man. See
E. W. Bullinger’s book, Witness in the
Stars, and Joseph Seiss’s book, The
Gospel in the Stars. When God’s resurrected
and raptured glorified saints leave our “haven” of safety in Heaven itself
after the “winter” of the Tribulation on earth, we will be led by our
glorious Kinsman Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We will be returning with Him to establish
His righteous Millennial
Kingdom upon this earth.
Read about it in Revelation 19:11-21. Glory
to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
In the passage in 1 Corinthians 16:6 it is
obvious that Paul had a desire to spend the “winter” with the Lord’s
church. Shouldn’t that be the desire of
all true believers; that is, to spend the “winter”
of the Tribulation with the Lord and His bride in Heaven itself? Yes!
Praise the Lord!
In 2 Timothy 4:21 Paul is admonishing
Timothy to be “diligent” “to come before winter.” If the “winter” in these
passages we have examined is indeed a
type of the Tribulation that is coming upon the earth, shouldn’t Paul’s
desire also be the desire of every true
believer for their lost friends, neighbors, and loved ones; “come
before winter.” Or in other
words, come to Christ before the terrible “winter” of the Tribulation begins
on earth.
Is there a possible literal Application?
I don’t know! That is an emphatic statement. This entire study is just my own “thinking
out loud” in order to share my thoughts with God’s people who are serious about
diligently studying the Scriptures.
What I do know at this point is that the
Jewish holy day of Hanukkah this year begins on December 12, 2009. Hanukkah is an 8 day observance. 8 is the Bible number associated with “the new birth; new beginning; new things;
renewal; change” all through the Scriptures. Remember that this holy day was honored by
the Lord Himself in John 10 by the healing of a Jew who was born blind, and the
Lord’s promise to give “eternal life” to His “sheep.”
Now
look at your calendar. The observance of
these eight Jewish holy days beginning on December 12th would
mean that the 8th day of the observance would be completed on December 19th. Count them for yourself. December 19th is exactly two
days before the Winter Solstice which falls on December 21st. 2 is the Bible number associated with “separation; division; to divide or
separate.” I cannot even visualize a
greater separation than that which is going to occur at the resurrection and
rapture of God’s people as the Lord comes to “deliver us from this present
evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,” Galatians 1:4.
Therefore if the resurrection and
rapture should occur on or during Hanukkah this year, it would occur 2
days before the beginning of “winter.”
Think about it!
Conclusion
Have I set before God’s people a whole new way
of looking at these “winter” Scriptures in God’s inspired Word? Are you reeling in disbelief? Are you thinking right now that Pastor Riley
has totally gone off the deep end on this one, and is teaching something that
you just can’t believe? Dear readers, I
am not asking you to accept what I have written in this study just because I am
writing it. God forbid! Just think about
what I have written, study it, and ask the Lord for guidance. Yet I do have one final point for you to
consider in this study about “winter.”
Here it is…..
In the last passage in the New Testament
in which the word “winter” is used, Paul stated to Titus, “…be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis:
for I have determined there to winter,” Titus 3:12. Folks, in view of what I have set
before our readers in this study, is it then just coincidence that the Greek
word translated as “Nicopolis” literally means, “Victory city” or “City of Victory?” Well…??
Look up the word yourself. You
will find it in Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, page 426, Strong’s No. 3533. Glory to God!
Now tell me, all of you dear readers who
claim to be “Christians,” true
believers…….where do you want to spend the “winter” of the
Tribulation? On this earth with the
silly split rapturists, partial rapturists, pre-wrathers, post-tribulationists,
and other Scripture deniers and perverters going through the terrible “storms”
and “tempests” and outright WRATH that the inspired Word plainly predicts is
going to occur upon the earth during the Tribulation? Is that what you want? Really?
Remember the meaning of the word “winter.”
Is this earth really where you want to spend the “winter”
of the Tribulation?
I don’t!
And I won’t! I can say with the
Apostle Paul that “I have determined….” to spend the terrible “winter”
of the Tribulation with my Lord and Savior and his people in the New
Jerusalem in Heaven; VICTORY CITY! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Glory to God!
Hallelujah to the Lamb of God! New Jerusalem…..Victory City! “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ,” 1 Corinthians 15:57. The Lord has spoken and I have believed
His Word, Revelation 3:10. I am
going “home” to New Jerusalem [Victory City]
before the terrible “winter” of the Tribulation begins
on this earth. Won’t you, dear reader, “make
your calling and election sure” [2
Peter 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:5] and come along with me? Please dear reader. Don’t delay!
Don’t put off the salvation of your soul. Please…..
“Do
thy diligence to come before winter.”
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NOTICE:
Permission is granted to any true
believer or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study
to share with others, or to quote from it in
context as written.
All comments, questions, and
correspondence should be addressed to: Pastor F. M. Riley, Last Call Gospel
Ministry, 184 County Road
108, Harrisburg, MO 65256-9370.
I can be contacted by
email at: fmrglbd5@yahoo.com
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