THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS

IS HAPPENING NOW…! 

                                                       By Pastor F. M. Riley

                                                       February 5, 2021                     

 

         “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places

    All these are the beginning of sorrows,” Matthew 24:7-8.

 

    “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,” Luke 21:25.

INTRODUCTION

       It is the seven year Tribulation period which is the time of “sorrows,” due to the terrible JUDGMENTS which will be poured out upon Christ rejecting mankind LEFT BEHIND on the earth during that time.     

      However, the Lord God has graciously preceded this time of sorrows with a time of warning for mankind.    Some of our readers may have forgotten, or perhaps never knew, that the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, Ezekiel 18:23; 18:32; 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9..  The Lord God is very reluctant to go from mercy and grace to JUDGMENT.  Read Revelation 8:1. The Lord God always gives mankind a warning before proceeding to judgment. 

     What we are seeing happening in the world today is the Lord’s warning that judgment is coming; “the beginning of sorrows.”    Take heed!

    Now let’s examine closely the Scriptures in our text….. 

“For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom…..”

     This actually began 107 years ago in 1914; the beginning of the first World War.  Since that time fighting between the nations has rarely ceased.  War has been going on somewhere in the world ever since that time.  As I write it appears that the whole world is right on the brink of exploding into all out war.

 

“and there shall be famines…..”

    War is always followed by famines.  When a country has been devastated by war, it takes time for the land to be farmed again to produce the food needed by the people. 

    But there is also the devastation of the land by insects.  In the past several years plagues of locusts have devoured every green thing in several parts of the world, and the people are suffering from famine.   One of the methods used by the Communists to subdue the people in a nation is to deprive the people of food.  In the Communist take over of Russia in the early 1900’s, the food supplies in the Ukraine were seized by the Communist, and some 35 million people were deliberately starved to death.  Look at North Korea today, where there is widespread famine.  Many of the “third world” countries today are suffering from famine.    And in the present political and economic upheaval in America today, shortages of food and other consumer goods is already developing.  This was reported by the news media this very week.  Famine will soon be coming to America right on schedule with “the beginning of sorrows.” 

 

“and pestilences…..”    

    The definition of this word in the dictionary is “contagious diseases.”  Have our readers ever heard of Covid 19, or the

 

Coronavirus?  Only on every news broadcast every day since last March.  This is in addition to the other contagious diseases that exist in the world today.  Need more be said?  Well…??

 

“and earthquakes in divers places…..”

    There have always been earthquakes since the earth was divided in the days of Peleg, after the flood, Genesis 10:25.  However, earthquakes have been increasing in the past few years in both frequency and intensity.  Today, there is not a day goes by that there is not one or more earthquakes taking place somewhere in the earth.  The entire earth is trembling daily.  Verification of this truth can be obtained by any reader from the U.S. Geological daily earthquake report on the Internet. 

    Beginning when Christ was crucified, and when He arose from the dead, there was a great earthquake, Matthew 27:50-54.  Many of the deceased saints in Jerusalem were resurrected  from their graves at that time, as the “firstfruits of the resurrection.” 1 Corinthians 15:20.    

     Folks, there is soon to be a resurrection of every true believer who has lived during this present Dispensation of Grace.  That will mean thousands (or millions) of graves will be opened all over the earth.  Ever hear of a “great earthquake?”  Well one is coming greater in intensity than any ever previously- seen by modern man, and in view of world conditions today, it could happen now at any minute of any day.   Are you ready?  2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10-11. 

    The Lord Jesus Himself clearly stated, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  Hello! 

 

    It was also the Lord Jesus who gave us the “signs” that would be occurring in the heavens and on the earth when He comes again to resurrect and rapture His church and believing people.  Let’s take a careful look at them…..

 

“And there shall be signs in the sun…..”

     Astronomers who study the heavens tell us that there has been strange things happening to the sun over the past several years. 

    In 2018 the Sun suddenly went black for about two seconds.  That was during the day here in Missouri, and it was very similar to the electric power going off for an instant, and then coming right back on.  Right in broad daylight suddenly there was pitch darkness, and then in a second bright daylight again.  Strange!

    Again, astronomers think the Sun is fixing to go into a Nova.  In a Nova the Sun supposedly explodes to the extent it becomes totally dark for…..how long?  Then the darkness fades away, and the Sun shines again.  However, as the Sun emerges from the Nova, it is much hotter and brighter.  Now read Revelation 6:12, Isaiah 30;26, and Malachi 4:1.  Signs in the Sun!  Are you “watching?” 

 

“and in the moon…..” 

    In the past few years there has been what astronomers refer to as “blood moons.”  At least four of them, and more are expected to come.  Some of the same Scriptures about the Sun, also speak about the Moon, so I won’t repeat them. 

    Several months ago NASA reported that their satellites had deteted WATER on the surface of the Moon.  The surface of the Moon is totally barren and dead.  No form of life presently exists on the Moon.  So why would there be water there?  Is the Lord God preparing the Moon for future life forms?  I do not know!  But even as strange things are happening on the Sun, it appears that strange things are also happening on the Moon.  Are our readers “watching” as the Lord commanded, Mark 13:36-37? 

 

“and in the stars.....”

     The Greek word usually translated as “stars” in the New Testament is the word, “aster.”  See  Strong’s No. 792.  It is from this Greek word that we derive our English word, “asteroid.” 

     Asteroids are ROCKS flying through space.  They can be small pebbes, or they can be giant boulders.  They fly through space at thousands of miles per hour.  Such asteroids have been reported flying past the earth for several years.  However, most of them were small, spotted only by the astronomers with their huge infra-red telescopes. 

    But just as with the earthquakes, these asteroids coming past the earth are increasing, in both frequency and size.  Astronmers recently showed a photo of an asteroid which flew past the earth that was as large as a house.  It was estimated to weigh a million tons.  Read what the Lord said in Matthew 24:29, and also read  2 Peter 3:10.  However, all of these asteroids will not “pass by” the earth.  Rather, some of them will score a direct hit upon the earth.  Read it for yourself in Revelation 6:13 and 8:8-9.  Readers, are some of you sure you want to be here for the Tribulation?  Seek the Lord for salvation and assurance NOW, while you still have time to be saved before the rapture. Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:8-13. 

    Significantly, on January 20^th, the day the new president was supposedly inaugurated, three huge asteroids came flying past the earth.   This WAS NOT reported by the news media.  The news media can’t get their minds off Covid 19 long enough to report

any world news anymore.  But it was reported by astronomers on the Internet.  “signs in the stars.” 

 

“and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity…..”

      In a few more days I will be 87 years old, and in my entire lifetime, I have never  previously seen America, and the whole world,  in the chaotic mess it is in today.  Democrats against Republicans, white against black, women against men, homosexuals against heterosexuals, children against their parents, and Satanists against Christians.    

   The Lord explicitly said that every nation divided against itself shall not stand, Matthew 12:25; Mark 3:24-25.  America, and many other nations of the world, are divided against themselves, like never before in their history.  In the past two weeks, thousands of protestors were in the streets in Russia trying to get rid of Putin.  Similar protests were also occurring in the Netherlands, in England, in a small Islamic nation, and on and on.  I don’t have to mention the violent protests which occurred in Washington D.C. on January 4^th.  And violent protests and demonstrations are still occurring in America and in many other nations even as I write. 

     Oh yes, the “perplexity” part.  This literally means, “no solution; no answer; no way out.”  Nations are going to fall, borders are going to change, lives are going to be disrupted…..all in preparation for the “sorrows” which are going to come upon the earth during the Tribulation period. 

     I am well aware that Americans have had it so good for so long, that many think it will never end, and many are working feverishly to see that America will never cease to exist.  Hogwash!  Psalm 9:17 is still in the Bible, even though some who claim to be Christians don’t seem to believe it.  America, as a nation and people, has become one of the wickedest nations on the earth, and yet some think this country will never be destroyed.  There was a time when America was a shining example of moral guidance for the whole world.  Not anymore!  America is still setting an example for the nations, but now it is an example of corruption, depravity, crimes, violence, and outright sin in departing from the Lord God.  Nothing is going to save this country from the well deserved JUDGMENT OF GOD. Nothing!   Those readers who really are true believers ought to be spending their time in witnessing to their lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors, and yes, praying for the Lord’s coming, rather than trying to save a country which has “legalized” the murder of the innocent unborn, “legalized” homosexuality, and homosexual marriage, and only God knows what is coming next.  Read Leviticus, chapters 18 and 20. 

    The only way out of this chaotic mess is straight up.  Will you be ready when the Lord comes for His church and believing people? 

 

“the sea and the waves roaring…..”

     This past fall there were more hurricanes than in any previous year.  Violent hurricanes that caused great destruction when they hit the coasts and blew inland.  Plus, there are earthquakes occurring beneath the surface of the seas and oceans, causing tidal waves and tsunamis.  God’s Word even pronounces a “Woe” upon those who live along the coastal areas.  If I owned a house or business on some coastal area,, I’d be moving QUICKLY.  There is no need for one to pray for God to spare their home or business on the coast, when His inspired Word has already pronounced a “Woe” upon the coasts of the earth.  Are you listening to the Word? 

CONCLUSION

    Dear readers,, every one of these “SIGNS” the Lord prophesied in our text Scriptures are happening RIGHT NOW.  This should make it glaringly obvious to every honest reader that the coming of Christ for His church and His believing people is “right at the doors,” Matthew 24:32-33. 

     I’d like to meet every reader in Heaven when the rapture occurs.  If you are a lost unbeliever, please seek the Lord as your Savior right now BEFORE the rapture occurs.  John 3:3-18 and 5:24 are still in the Bible.  Read and act upon them, and may God grant you repentance, and faith to believe, Ephesians 2:8-10. 

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     I will be 87 years old on February 19^th. just a few more days.  What a joy and blessing it would be if the Lord would come on, or before, my birthday.  I do not know when the Lord is coming.  I only know His coming is near, and that we today are living in “the beginning of sorrows.”    I do not expect to see my 88^th birthday in this evil world, Galatians 1:4.  Praise the Lord! 

     Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401

    Email  francismriley34@gmail.com

    For personal consultation  1-573-202-6493

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