"A Little Leaven".....
                                                                                          By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                          February 14, 2019
     "Another parable speake He unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened," Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21.  

     "Your glorying is not good.  Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9.  
Introduction
     "Leaven" is similar to what we today refer to as "Yeast."  In ancient times, it was used for baking bread, just as "yeast" is used by some today.  Just a little  "yeast" placed in a lump of dough, and it will spread throughout the lump, causing the dough to rise in preparation for baking.   "Leaven" is then a perfect example of the spread of sin and wickedness throughout the human race, in preparation for wicked, unbelieving, Christ rejecting, mankind being baked in the fires of judgment during the soon coming Tribulation Period.  See Malachi 4:1.      
     The Parable of the Leaven  was a prophetic parable given by the Lord Jesus Christ as He spoke to the multitudes at His first coming, as recorded in Matthew 13:33, and again in Luke 13:21.  The fact that this parable is recorded twice in the inspired Word is evidence that the Lord God practices what He preaches.  Read 2 Corinthians 13:1, and many similar Scriptures throughout God's Word.  Every doctrinal truth and teaching set forth in God's Word, is repeated at least once some other place in the inspired Word, and often many times.
     Now let's examine one of the truths of this parable which has come to pass in the world we live in today.......
The Work of the Woman
     What Christ was referring to when He gave the Parable of the Leaven to the multitude was the development and wickedness of the old  Babylonian whore religion.  In this parable, and also elsewhere in the Bible, that wicked false religion is  characterized as a woman.  This  wicked woman referred to by the Lord, who "hid leaven" in "three measures of meal" is none other than the old Babylonian whore religious system, which was adopted by the Roman Empire, and which is  described in Revelation 17.
     Those of our readers who have never carefully studied the history and development of Christianity, may not be aware that the Lord's Church suffered two or more "splits" even before the New Testament was completed.  Each time there was a group who had "professed" to be Christian believers, who departed from the Lord's churches, because they just could not, or would not, submit to the pure doctrines and teachings of the Word of the  Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles.  For Scriptural verification of this historical  truth read 1 John 2:18-19.  
      Yet after splitting away from the true churches of the Lord, these "false apostles"  [2 Corinthians 11:12-13]  continued to call themselves "Christians," claiming that they were followers of Christ.  Sic!  
     Then in the third century ["three measures of meal"],  just like the Lord stated in the parable, these apostates who had departed from the Lord's churches, convinced the government of the Roman Empire to establish "Christianity" [their idea of it, of courset] as the official religion of the Roman Empire.  So in 313 A.D. a council of  "Christian" churches was convened in the city of Nice, for the express purpose of forming an official religion for the Roman Empire.  
     A good description of what transpired in that council is set forth in the history written by Eusebius.  He plainly records that the pastors of the true churches of the Lord refused to go to the council, or have any part in it.  Nevertheless, at that council, a religious organization was established, calling itself "Christian."  With the official approval of the Roman Empire, that religious organization, right from it's beginning, began to persecute true believers and the true churches of the Lord.   That persecution lasted until the 1500's, when Martin Luther nailed his "99 Thesis" to the door of the Catholic Church in Wittenburg, Germany.  That period of time is today referred to by Historians as "the Dark Ages."  See the Lord's own commentary on that evil woman, and her deeds, in the Lord's letter to His Church at Thyatira, Revelation 2:18-29.
The Doctrines and Teachings of the Woman
     Some of the wickedest teachings adopted by the woman was the absolute celibacy of priests and nuns in their "religion."  This meant that they were forbidden to marry.  They were, supposedly, married to Christ.  But what the doctrine of celibacy does is deprive those whom it is forced from any decent and natural of sexual fulfillment.    
     What the imposing of celeibacy  on their priests and nuns  actually led to illicit fornication, and babies born out of wedlock.  To avoid scandal, these babies born from illicit relations between priests and nuns, were then secretly killed.
      Before any reader starts railing against me for attacking their "religion," I would suggest that they obtain a copy of the book,  Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and read it for yourself.  Through the past 1,700 years of this present dispensation, time after time, the remains of babies have been found buried under the floors of church buildings, monasteries, and convents.  
     So what, or whom, was responsible for originating the modern practice of the abortion of the innocent unborn?  Hello!
Fast Forward to the Twentieth Century
     I was born during what historians now refer to as the worst year of the Great Depression; 1934.  By the "Grace of God" I was born to Christian parents, and brought up in a Christian home.  The economic conditions were very bad back then, nevertheless our home was always filled with lots of love; true love flowing forth from my parent's personal knowlege of the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  My Mom and Dad loved every one of us children, and would have fought and died to protect us.  We were always taken to a Bible believing Church, and there learned about God and our Lord Jesus, and the way of salvation at an early age.  Praise the Lord!  
     Back then, during those depression years, abortion of a child was unheard of.   About the time the Second World War ended, when I was probably ten or twelve years old, was the first time I ever hear of such a terrible thing taking place.  And back then, the man, woman, and/or doctor involved in such a crime was charged with murdering an innocent child, and sent to  prison, and a few even received the death penalty.
     But when the Second World War ended, moral values began to change for the worse, and they have never stopped getting worse and worse  right to this present hour, 2 Timothy 3:12-13.   
     1973 and Roe vs Wade
     Ever since I was a young boy, I have tried to keep up with the news of what is going  on in the world.  This "habit" of listening to the news on the radio, or later on TV, I have never given up.  As a faithful child of God, I want to know what is going on in the world around me.  .  
     Therefore, I well remember when it was announced by the news media, that the Supreme Court of the United States of America had ruled in favor of "legalized abortion" of the innocent unborn.  I cried that day!  I love babies and little children, and consider them a gift from God to a duly married couple.  I could hardly believe that a court of our government had "legalized" the killing of such innocent babies.  
     Then I also thought of the outright utter HYPOCRISY of such wickedness on the part of the justices on the Supreme Court.  Were they going to apoligize to all the people in the past who had aborted babies, and then been charged with a crime and sent to prison, or even executed for killing a baby?  Were they going to commute the sentences of those who were in prison for committing  such a crime?   Of course not!  If these HYPOCRITICAL "justices" ever did such a thing, I sure   never heard of it!   "Justices?"  Where is the "justice" for the innocent baby being killed?   Well...??  
     It was such a simple transition.......One day it was MURDER to kill a baby, born or unborn.  The next day it was "legal" to abort the innocent unborn, for the convenience of those who really did not want children.  Sexual intercourse, within or without being married,  had suddenly become RECREATION rather than procreation, and if a "slip up" occurred,  JUST KILL THE RESULT.   
The Change in America
     America, the great shining moral example for the whole world; America, the land of the free, and the home of the brave!  Yet, with the stroke of the pen of those nine Supreme Court Justices, this nation was  suddenly transformed into a nation of profligate, wicked, baby killers.   Injustice against the innocent and helpless unborn, had become "legal;" the law of the land.  And it has only gotten worse since then.  "A little leaven, leaventh the whole lump," 1 Corinthians 5:6.  
     What began with a wicked woman "hiding leaven in three measures of meal" 1700 years ago, has now resulted in some 5,000 innocent unborn babies being slaughtered in America every single day.  This amounts to nearly two million babies every year.  Those who keep the statistics on such wickedness, estimate that some 65 million innocent unborn babies have been callously MURDERED in this country of America since Roe vs Wade "legalized" abortion in 1973.  Doesn't this make our readers feel PROUD to be an American?  
The Change in the Whole World
     But those babies killed in America are only the "tip of the iceberg."  Due to America being a moral example for the nations of the whole world for over 200 years,  nation after nation followed America's   example, and "legalized" the cold-blooded killing of the innocent unborn in their own nations and countries.  MILLIONS of innocent, unborn babies, in nations all over the earth, have been slaughtered since America set the wicked example for the whole world to follow in 1973.  
     Now how many readers want to celebrate such great "progress" for our country, by singing Kate Smith's "God Bless America" as you have read thus far in  this study?   Well...???  
Has America Learned Anything?  
     Sure! Our nation and people have learned.....
     [1]   That life is cheap, and who really cares about the innocent babies being killed in the slaughter houses [Abortion Clinics...Sic!] of this country every single day?  
     [2]    How to kill the babies more effieciently, and thereby safeguard the life of the "mother" [barf!].  
     [3]    Why stop with the innocent unborn?  Why not rid the country
of babies which, after being born, their birth parent's later decide the babies are just too much  trouble and expense?   Why not "legalize"  the killing of such living babies?    
The Glaring Truth
     Some readers may think that I am clear out in left field.  "Why preacher, you know that the government would never "legalize" the killing of living babies and children!   
     Oh, is that  so?   Those readers who believe this, must not be keeping up with the news.  
     The legislature of the state of New York,  has now "legalized" post-birth abortion.  I haven't been able to learn all of the details, but this has been reported on the news media, and  what I have been told about it, is that parents who don't want a new born baby, can now kill it, or have it put to death by a doctor, up to three weeks [?] after the baby is born.  
     Why, every reader knows such wickedness will never be accepted by the American people!  Is that right?  
      Then perhaps some of our readers would like to tell me why the state of Virginia has just approved the same kind of law as New York state, and three other states are already considering following the example of New York and Virginia.  Well...???  ".....a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump," 1 Corinthians 5:6.  
The Future of America...??
     America, as a nation and people, has no future!  None!
     The Lord spoke to and about ancient Israel in Isaiah 59.  Reader, do yourself a favor and read the whole chapter.  
     Ancient Israel became very wicked and rebellious against the Lord, even to the extent of sacrificing their innocent babies and little children to false gods.   Such is the wickedness of  mankind who have no time nor intention of looking to the Lord God for salvation from their fallen "sin nature."  
     In Isaiah 59 the Lord God describes the wickedness of ancient Israel in the days of Isaiah.  In 59:7, the Lord said,
     "Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood: Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, Wasting and destruction are in their paths."  
     Dear readers, this Scripture about ancient Israel perfectly describes  America today, I don 't know where one would find a better description.  Shall not God judge America for such wickedness and evil?  He brought judgment upon His own "chosen people" for such wickedness. The Lord God destroyed their whole nation, and scattered those who survived all over the earth, where thousands of the Jewish people remain today.  If our righteous Lord brought such terrible judgment upon His own "chosen" people, what makes any reader think He will not bring such judgment upon America, or upon the whole Christ rejecting world?       
     There are several thousands of the exiled  Jewish people living in America today.  And what did God say about the nations into which He scattered the Jewish people.  Listen carefully, and believe what God says,
     "For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee:   Though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, Yet will I not make a full end of thee:  But I will correct thee in measure,  And will not leave thee altogether unpunished," Jeremiah 30:11.  
     Dear readers, there are more of the Jewish people living in and around New York City today, than the entire population of modern Israel.  And Almighty God explicitly says that He will make a full end of all the nations into which He has scattered the Jewish people.  
     Therefore, America doesn't have a snow ball's chance in Hell of surviving as a nation.  This nation will be utterly destroyed as a nation and people.  Sadly, we have watched people in other nations become refugees, fleeing from their countries, trying desperately to get to America.   But now tell me, to what nation or country are the American refugees going to flee?   Well...???
The Remnant and the Rescue
     I love that dear old prophet Elijah, so let's briefly study a little about him.  
     Elijah was a faithful and fearless "man of God," so much so that he rebuked wicked King Ahab, and his equally wicked wife, Jezebel.  Jezebel then hired wicked men to hunt down and kill Elijah.  Elijah then fled to a cave in the wilderness in order to save his life.  
     There in the wilderness, the Lord God spoke to Elijah in a still small  "voice."   Elijah answered the Lord God by telling Him that all Israel had departed from serving the Lord, and that he alone was still true to God.  But the Lord informed Elijah that He had a "remnant" of 7,000 of the Jewish people, who were still serving Him.   
     Likewise, by the grace of God, there is a "remnant" left in America today, and also in other nations, which believe in, love, and serve the Lord, just as there was in ancient Israel, 1 Kings 19:18.
     The Lord God then provided  a way of escape for His prophet, Elijah, from the wrath and wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel, and from apostate Israel.  Now there is a beautiful type here, whether some readers have ever realized it or not.  
     All true believers in America today, and also in other nations of the world, are under imminent threat of death, at the hands of the wicked.    Whether some readers are aware of it or not, there is a strong movement among the governments of the world, to totally remove Christians, Christianity, and the Holy Bible, from off the face of the earth.    The Muslim nations, in particular, want this to happen, along with the removal of Israel and the Jewish people.
      So Bible believing Christians today, are under the imminent threat of death at the hands of fanatical religionists, whether some readers are aware of it or not.  
      But true believers should not allow this news to disturb you, or keep you from loving and serving the Lord as long as we are here.  Remember the Lord's promise  to His Church at Thyatira, which had just emerged from   the terrible persecution heaped on true believers during the "Dark Ages."  Revelation 2:24.  We who are true Christian believers, are not going back under the kind of persecution and death, that came upon God's people in the "Dark Ages."   Why not?  Because the Lord God has provided a "way of escape," exactly like He provided for Elijah so many centuries ago.  Praise the Lord!          
     Elijah's way of escape was that he  "went  up into heaven" in a whirlwind, 2 Kings 2:1; 2:11.  In other words, Elijah was "caught up" [raptured] into heaven.  And such is to be the way of the "remnant" of God's people today, who truly love the Lord, and seek to live for and serve Him.   We may or may not see "a chariot of fire" as we are "caught up" to heaven, but we most certainly are going to see the Lord Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-15; Philippians 3:20-21.
     Don't fail to notice that the apostate Jewish people were seeking to kill Elijah, at the time he was "taken up" to heaven, exactly like the wicked are planning to kill Christians today.   The account of Elijah is a wonderful type for God's people today.  
The Present Situation  
     I would remind our readers that it is just a small step for the present day "baby killers" to go from killing babies and little children to killing
adults; "fundamental Bible believing  Christians."  Through killing millions of innocent unborn babies, human life has become "cheap" to the wicked of this world, and the wicked have become calloused to killing.   There are some living today, even in our government, who want to be rid of God's Word and God's believing people.  Remember, "...a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," 1 Corinthians 5:6.  
       Just trust the Lord, and don't let this situation frighten you.   The rescue of God's people is right at the doors, Matthew 24:32-33.  
How Soon?  
    Dear readers, there is an abundance of Scriptural "signs" the Lord Himself told us to "watch" for, which have been happening over the past few years, and which also continue to happen even as I write.  All of these "signs" are pointing to the coming of the Lord to resurrect and rapture His believing children to glory in this present year of 2019.
     But when?  The Song of Solomon 2:8-13, clearly prophesies TWICE,
a resurrection and rapture taking place in the Spring of the year.  
     Are our readers aware that on the calendar God gave to Israel to observe in Exodus 12 [which rebellious Israel has never observed], the new year of Abib begins on April 7th.  Then the Festival of Passover is just 14 days later on April 20th.  I am told that the  "new moon" for the Jewish month of Abib also  begins on April 7th.   Perfect harmony with God's calendar.  Then on the night of April 19th-20th, there will be a full moon in the night sky above the earth.  I have not been able to verify this, but some claim that the full moon that night will be another "super moon" in eclipse.  Read what the Lord said in Luke 21:25.  
     Dear readers, it appears to me that we who are true believers have only somewhere around SIXTY DAYS until the time our precious Lord and Savior is coming to rapture His believing saints to glory.  
     Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Glory to God!  ARE YOU READY?
     And may our gracious Lord God add His blessings to this Bible Study is my prayer.  
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     I thank each beloved reader of my Bible Studies for your letters, cards, gifts, and prayers for me and for this Bible Study ministry.  I have been in this Bible Study ministry for now ten years.  I have also been in the Lord's ministry for 65 years.  I will be 85 years of age on the 19th day of this month.   I am looking forward to meeting each reader personally in Heaven in just a few more weeks [or days].  Please don't disappoint me!   
     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL.........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE.......573-202-6493  
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