More Insight Into This Present
Amazing Month of
August
                                                                                            By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                            August 10, 2017
     "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
     For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night,"  1 Thessalonians 5:1-2.  
Introduction
     As I write today, here in Missouri it is pouring down rain and the temperature is in the sixties.  I am now 83 years of age, and in all of the years of my life, I cannot remember an August like this one has been so far this month.  All of my life, the month of August has always been the hottest month of the year.  As a child growing up, I dreaded the month of August because of the extreme heat.  I have actually experienced the heat of August hovering in the 90 to nearly 100 degree range at night, making for a miserable night while trying to sleep.   So far, here in Missouri, these first ten days of August have been unseasonably cool.  
     Is the Lord giving advance warning to mankind, that things are not normal, and even stranger things are about to happen?   I will let our readers decide for themselves.  Read on.......
The Month of August
     August is the eighth month on our Gentile calendar.  "8" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "a change; a new beginning; new birth; new things."  So what kind of "change" are we going to see this month?  I don't know, but today we are only eleven days from.....
The 21st Day of August
      The Solar Eclipse coming on August 21st is certainly not something that we believers living today have ever seen.  Will it  bring "a change" to what is considered the "normal" course of mankind's activities upon the earth?  We don't have long to wait to find out!
     Twenty-one  ["21"] is the number in the Bible which signifies, "the exceeding sinfulness of sin."  Every serious Bible student knows that there are 21 judgments of God to be poured out against the sins of  unbelieving mankind during the swiftly approaching seven year Tribulation period.  Will the Tribulation period then begin on August 21st?  I do not know, and do not make any claim to knowing, however I do know that with the Lord God, all things are possible, Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27.  
     However, the number, "21." is composed of two numbers, a "2" and a "1."  These two numbers add up to "3," which is the number in the Bible signifying, "the resurrection; the rapture."  Is this just "coincidence?"  Again, I do not know!  But the numbers are certainly interesting.  
     Also by adding the numbers 8 + 2 + 1, we get the number, "11."  This is the number in the Bible which signifies, "judgment; to judge; to exercise judgment."  Does this mean that the judgment of the wicked left behind on the earth following the resurrection and rapture will begin on August 21st?   Again, I do not know, but the "possibility" is present.  
     Now let's take the number, "8," as first mentioned above, and add it to this number, "21."   8 + 21 = 29.   Now isn't this interesting?   "29" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "to depart; to leave; to go out."  So is this an indication that the resurrection and rapture of all true believers is going to occur on August 21st?  Again, I do not know!  But the significance of the numbers involved is certainly interesting.    Is the Lord trying to tell us something about August 21st?   You decide!   
The Seventeenth Year of the Century
     We are living in 2017, the 17th year of this present century.  "17" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "Victory; to be or become victorious."  And exactly what is the true believers victory?  We are explicitly told in 1 Corinthians 15:54, "So when this corruptible [body] shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."  Oh, glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord Jesus!  
     Dear readers, our "victory" in Christ, will become a reality when we receive our new "glorified" bodies, ".....fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself," Philippians 3:21.
     But did you notice that "17" is composed of the numbers, "1" and "7," which add up to "8."  So it is possible to set forth these numbers as 8 + 21 + 8, meaning that the number "8" could occur twice in the arrangement.  I learned many years ago, in serious study of God's Word, that when a thing is repeated twice in the Scriptures, it is because it is established by God.  However, we are not dealing here with Scriptures, but rather with numbers, so I am not being dogmatic on anything.   
     But now let's take all of the numbers involved thus far and add them  up to see what we find.  8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 7 = 19.  "19" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "faith."  
     Men and women, boys and girls, need to place their "faith" in Christ Jesus, in order to overcome "the second death."  And what is the Bible number which signifies "the second death."  I'm so glad you asked.
     Let's take all of the numbers involved and simply add them up just as they occur this year and this month.  8 + 21 + 17 = 46.  "46" is the Bible number which signifies, "the second death."   In other words, being eternally lost and spending eternity in Hell, Revelation 20:14.  No one wants that!  So how do we escape it?  By placing our faith [19] in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our eternal soul, Ephesians 2:8-
10; John 3:16-18.
     Conclusion
     This study is just a few thoughts that have been running through my mind as we contemplate the Solar Eclipse that is going to occur this month on August 21st.  As I write, this event is only eleven days away, and here in Missouri things are getting "crazy."  
     The Solar Eclipse will pass directly over the state of Missouri, and thousands of people are already pouring into Missouri, because they want to be directly under where the Solar Eclipse passes.   It was actually reported on the TV World News that a huge parking lot in St. Joseph Missouri has been rented out for a million dollars.  No, I am not joking.  This was an actual news report.  The man or group who rented the lot expect to park from a 1000 to 2500 cars on the lot during the actual eclipse, charging as much as $25 per car.  Like I said, "crazy!"  
      The city of Rolla, where I now live is about 70 miles south of where the eclipse will pass, and I expect to view it long distance from my own yard.   I have no plans to join in the traffic jam which will occur during the eclipse and after it passes.   
      And if the resurrection and rapture should occur during the Solar Eclipse, by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, I am ready to pass into the heavens and the sweet presence of my Lord.  Are YOU?    
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     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.  
      Thank you beloved brothers and sisters in Christ for your prayers and your gifts.  Both are appreciated so very much.  I am still physically able to get around and take care of myself, although my body is often wracked with pain from acute arthritis, and my eyesight is still slowly fading.   I am certainly looking forward to my new body in glory.  
     Please carefully note my mailing address as being, Pastor F. M. (or Francis) Riley, 14275 County Road 8120, Rolla, Missouri 65401.  All comments, questions and correspondence should be sent only to this address.  
     My phone number, for those who want to call, remains 573-201-0491.  Due to not always receiving a signal from the tower, sometimes my phone will ring, and sometimes it won't.  Sometimes I have service and sometimes I don't!   Just keep trying!
      May the blessings of our Heavenly Father rest upon every reader is my prayer.  Pray for me.  
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