‘confirmation”

                                                                        By Pastor F. M. Riley

                                                                         December 16, 2021

    “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh: go ye out to meet Him,” Matthew 25:6. 

INTRODUCTION

    Serious Bible students should know that every truth set forth in God’s Word, is repeated elsewhere in God’s Word, thereby confirming the truth.  We are told in the Bible that  every Word is to be established  (confirmed) “in the mouth of two or three witnesses,” Deuteronomy 19:15, 2 Corinthians 13: 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28.  God practices what He preaches!  Every truth set forth in God’s Word is set forth one or more times elsewhere in God’s Word. thereby confirming it as Biblical truth.  No exceptions!

THE DAYS OF NOAH

    The Lord Jesus Himself clearly stated twice that when He comes back to resurrect and rapture His church and believing people, world conditions will be like they were in “the days of Noah” preceding the flood, Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:26.  “…as it was, so shall it be…” Luke 17:26. 

    So what about the “days of Noah?”  There were two times  in those days, that God Himself gave a warning to man.   These two

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times were the 120 year warning given to all mankind living  on the earth at that time, and then the seven day warning given only to Noah.  Since Christ Himself clearly stated that “the days of Noah” would be repeated as this present Dispensation of Grace draws to an end, these two warnings are, or should be,  of utmost importance to any reader who seriously studies Bible prophecy.  

THE 120 YEAR WARNING

    God first gave a 120 year warning to all of pre-flood humanity, Genesis 6:3.  Noah faithfully preached that warning while building the ark, Genesis 14:16; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5.

    It is not just “coincidence” that such a 120 year warning was given again exactly 120 years ago as of this current year; 2021. 

    The regathering of the Jewish people in these “last days” began in 1897 when Theodor Herzl convened the First Jewish Congress, for the stated purpose of finding a homeland for his “wandering” Jewish people, so they could reestablish their own nation.  That year, 1897, marked the beginning of the regathering of the Jewish people, exactly as prophesied several times in the Book of Jeremiah, and other OT prophecies. 

    Then five years later in 1901 the count began for the fulfillment of the 120 years.  Why five years later?  Because “5” is the Bible number signifying THE GRACE OF GOD.  God began to  mercifully move to fulfill the longing in the hearts and minds of

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the Jewish people for their own land and nation again.   Now begin with 1901 and count 120 years, and your count will end with this

present year of 2021.  Is this just “coincidence?”  Well…?? 

      That first 120 year period ended with the great flood coming upon the whole earth, and bringing to an end the lifespan of pre-flood humanity, exactly as prophesied by God Himself in Genesis 6:3.

    The Lord God did say that He would never destroy ALL of mankind again with a flood, Genesis 9:11.  Yet it is an established truth, that at the end of that 120 years the JUDGMENT OF GOD did come upon ALL  of  unbelieving  mankind.   Only “righteous” Noah and his family were saved, Genesis 7:1.  So what should we living today expect will happen at the end of this present 120 years?  Think about it!   

THE SEVEN DAY WARNING

    Notice in 7:1  that the Lord God began speaking directly to Noah, who had been faithfully preaching to mankind God’s Word and warning, throughout those last 120 years, Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5.  Genesis 7:4 makes it quite clear that God spoke to Noah 7 days before the end of the 120^th year, followed by the   JUDGMENT of the flood.    

    Therefore in this repetition of “the days of Noah,”  should not God’s people expect such a warning would be given to us?  The

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Lord Himself said, “…..as it was, so shall it be…,” Luke 17:26.

    Will such a seven day warning be given?  Well, our text Scripture for this study, Matthew 25:6, plainly states that a warning will be given BEFORE “the bridegroom” arrives.  I am

personally convinced that this will be the warning correlating

with the seven day warning given to Noah in Genesis 7:4.  We believers today are  living in a repetition of “the days of Noah,” Matthew 24:38-39.  So such a seven day warning should be expected. 

       Keep in mind that this seven day warning was not given to  unbelieving, lost, mankind.  It was only given to Noah, a “righteous” believer.  So whatever the warning will be, it will be given ONLY to true believers who are “accounted worthy” to escape the terrible JUDGMENT of the tribulation period, Luke 21:36.  It is ONLY true believers who have been given the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and thereby spiritual discernment, John 16:13;  1 Corinthians 2:14.

    Notice in our Scripture text for this study, “a cry” was made.  The Greek word translated as “cry” in this Scripture literally means, “to make a loud noise; scream; shriek; cry out; shout.”

    So this seven day warning may very well be an audible sound; perhaps a ”shout” from the Lord Himself, or from one of His angels, 1 Thess 4:16. This causes me to wonder if this “cry” could be the “shout” calling  deceased believers to come forth from

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their graves, seven days prior to the end of this year?  We do know that when Christ was resurrected, believers came out of their graves, and even went into the city of Jerusalem and appeared to many people BEFORE they were then taken up into

Heaven.  Read it for yourself in Matthew 27:51-53.  Is this going to be repeated seven days before the end of this year?  Will this be the seven day warning the Lord gives to His people before the end of this 120^th year? I do not know!

    However, it is obvious from 1 Thess 4:16-17,  that the dead in Christ will be resurrected BEFORE living believers are “caught up” (harpazo...raptured).  Will the resurrected dead in Christ then appear to many people on the earth during the last seven days of this year, and then the rapture will occur exactly at the end of this 120^th year? Read Romans 6:5.  If this is the way it is going to happen, it would certainly fulfill “in the  likeness of His resurrection” to the letter.   I do not know that the seven day warning will be the resurrection of the dead in Christ.  I am only sharing thoughts with our readers which I have meditated on.  Readers are free to draw their own conclusions.

    Our text Scripture for this study says that the “cry,” warning that “the bridegroom” was coming, took place at “midnight.”  Then will this seven day warning be given at midnight on December 24^th, or at midnight on December 25^th?  Again, I do not knowI   

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    I do think that it is more than “coincidence” that the deliverance of ancient Israel from bondage in Egypt, BEGAN at midnight, Exodus 11:4; 12:29.  Today, the deliverance of Israel will take place again during the seven year tribulation period.  Does it begin on Christmas day, December 25^th?  Think about it!     

     True believer will not have  long to wait to find out how the warning will be given.  As I write it is only nine days until Christmas Day, December 25^th, which is exactly  seven days before the end of this 120^th year.   Ho  boy!  Glory to God!  Our Lord Jesus is coming for us, exactly as He promised in John 14:3, and we will be going home!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!      

CONCLUSION

    I personally do believe that all the “signs” the Lord told His disciples to “watch” for, and which are still happening as I write,  clearly CONFIRM the coming of the Lord by the end of this month and year.  Read and pray about what has been presented in this study, and reach  your own conclusions.  But hurry!  I don’t want any reader to miss the rapture.  By God’s saving grace, I am ready.  R U? 

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Pastor F. M. Riley    rileyfrancis76@gmail.com

14275 Co. Rd. 8120   Rolla, MO 65401   

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