Where We Are!.....
                                                                                 By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                 February 18, 2019
     "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring'
     Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are comingon the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken,
     And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
     And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and life up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh,"
                                                                                         Luke 21:25-28
Introduction
     Any true believer who is really aware of what is going on in the world around is today, should have no problem belieiving this inspired prophecy given by our Lord Jesus Himself.  While the end of the prophecy is clearly speaking of the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation Period, the Lord did warn His disciples to "look up, and lift up your heads" [be encouraged] at the time that these things "begin to come to pass."   Well dear readers, they are here!  And in this study I want to disect these Scriptures for the knowledge and encouragement of God's people.....
The Signs
     "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;"   
     No true believer who is really studying the prophetic Scriptures, and keeping themselves aware of what is going on in the world around us today, should have any problem realizing that there has been many "signs" in the heavens over the past several years.   As the inspired Word says in other prophetic Scriptures, the Sun has "becn darkened," there has been a whole series of blood red moons, and more are on the horizon, and the stars and constellations have been moved into position to fulfill the prophecy of Revelation 12 at the appointed time.  The whole "stage is set" for the Tribulation Period to begin on the earth.  
    "When these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up.......
Distress of Nations
     And what do we see among the nations today?  ".....wars, and rumours of war," Matthew 24:6.  As I write, a war has been going on between Syria and Israel  for more than two years, with no end in sight. Iran, a Muslim nation, hates Israel, and has threatened to set the entire Middle East ablaze in war.  Likely, the only thing that has held them back thus far is the threat of having to fight the United States, if they attack Israel.  Turkey, also a Muslim nation, is champing at the bit to go to war against Israel, but they too have been deterred by the threat of having to fight the U.S.   Russia has supplied weapons and some men to Syria, and bluntly told the U.S. not to attack their men, or shoot down their planes.  North Koria, a Communist nation, has continued to manufacture nuclear rockets and warheads, in spite of having told the U.S., that they would stop their nuclear program.  China, also a Communist nation and an ally of North Korea,  has warned the U.S. not to move against North Korea in any way.   .......upon the earth distress of nations....."  
With Perplexity
      The Greek word translated as "perplexity" in this Scripture, literally means, "no way out; no solution; at a loss mentally; no answer to the problem."  This is where and to what, the spiritually lost, unbelieving, political leaders of the nations,  have brought mankind.   To the very brink or precipice of imminent, all out, world war.  Sleep well tonight!
".....with perplexity....."   
The Sea and the Waves Roaring
     I am well are that hurricanes have always existed throughout human history.  However, when I was a young boy growing up, we hardly ever heard of a hurricane.  They were very rare, with one occurring only every several years.  But look at the situation today.  Now the weather bureau freely speaks of the "hurricane season," and there is one or two, or three, or more hurricanes every year.  Plus the fact that there are under sea volcanoes that are now shaking and sometime erupting, and causing tidal waves.  Truly, "......the sea and the waves roaring."  
Men's Hearts Failing Them
     Heart failure has become the No. 1 cause of death among mankind here in America.  Heart disease used to be almost limited to the elderly, but not anymore.  Now it is claiming the lives of many younger people.  Why?   Because of the proliferation of drugs and alcohol.  Because of the soaring crime rates.  Because of so many failed marriages and broken homes.  Because of the increase of school shootings, and outright murders.  Because of failing economic conditions.  Because of the very stress of every day life and living.   And because of fear of the future.  Many young people today can see no positive future ahead for themselves or anyone else.  As a result, suicide rates are also steadily rising each year.  Many feel that they just have no future.  ".......hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming....."    
The Powers of Heaven Shaken
     Even as I write, there are reports from astronomers of huge asteroids flying through the solar system, some of which, according to the astronomers are headed towards the earth.  It has actually been suggested that one or more nations send up rockets armed with nuclear war heads to blast these asteroids to pieces before they reach the earth.  Man's logic!  Then instead of having one huge asteroid smashing into the earth, there could easily be hundreds, or even thousands, of smaller pieces hit the earth.  Wouldn't that be great?   Just think about sitting down to eat a meal with your family and have one or more chunks of rock come flying through your roof, possibly hurting or even killing a member of your family?  Idiocy!  ".....the powers of heaven shall be shaken."   
Begin to Come to Pass
     Dear readers, these things have begun to come to pass.  Such things have been occurring now for seversal years.  Mankind has arrived at the very time the Lord was speaking about, and the worse is yet to come!  
     So what do we do?   Well, if the reader is a true believer, then they need to "look up, and lift up your heads," for the peace and encouragement you need to live your life trusting the Lord to keep  you
and your saved loved ones safe, until the Lord Himself appears to resurrect and rapture His children to glory, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-15.  Our Savior and Lord is coming very SOON!
     On the other hand, if the reader is not saved, or even has doubts about their salvation, or if you have loved ones who are not saved, then you need to be bombarding heaven's door with prayer for God's mercy upon you and your loved ones.  Read again Luke 21:36,  John 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, 14:6, and 2 Peter 1:10-11.    
     And may our gracious and merciful Lord God add His blessings to this message is my prayer.  
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     Please, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for my daughter in whose home I am presently living.  She is in the hospital and seriously ill with lung problems.  Please pray for her healing.
     And please remember me in prayer when you go to Father's throne of Grace.  Tomorrow I will be 85 years of age, much older than I ever expected to live.  I am still well enough to get around, but suffer from arthritis and just plain old age.  My desire is to keep on writing and sending out the great truths of God's Word to His people until the Lord comes for us all, or until He calls me home.  I will appreciate your prayers.   
     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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