What’s wrong with God’s Time Line??? Part IV
By Pastor F. M. Riley
June 13, 2011
“Howl ye: for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty,” Isaiah 13:6.
PART FOUR
The Numbers Psalms…….Wandering
Psalms 90 – 106
This fourth division of The Book of Psalms serves as a prelude to Israel’s time of spiritual redemption and entering their promised kingdom, just as the 40 years of ancient Israel’s wandering in the wilderness served as a prelude to their actual entering into the “promised land.” Almost every Psalm in this division is filled with warnings of judgment and wrath that is soon to come upon Israel and the Gentile nations as this present age draws to an end. However, each of these Psalms are also filled with promises of the blessings which the Lord has in store for Israel and the nations following the judgment and wrath of the Tribulation. Study each of these Psalms carefully.
Psalm 90…….This Psalm correlates with 1990. This is the introductory Psalm for this fourth division. It is a prophetic Psalm, actually a prayer uttered by Moses some 3,400 years ago, yet how very relevant it is to events of the end-time, some of which at this present time [2011] have already occurred and some which are yet to occur.
90:1-2…..”Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” In these Scriptures Moses acknowledged the eternal existence of Almighty God, and His position as a sanctuary for Israel. The Lord was God from eternity past before the creation [John 1:1-3], and He will continue to be God into the eternal future.
90:3…..”Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.” In contrast to the eternal permanence of the Lord, it is obvious that the existence of fallen and rebellious mankind upon the earth is fragile and temporary. Notice that this Scripture is written in the present tense. The year 1990 was a “time marker.” 1990 was the year that the Lord God gave notice to mankind that “the beginning of the end” had arrived. Remember that it is the Lord God who has “determined the times before appointed, and the bounds [boundaries; limits] of their habitation,” Acts 17:26. In 1990 the Lord God permitted the wicked rulers of the earth [Psalm 2:1-3…Illuminists] to begin destroying mankind and themselves upon the earth. Both the Scriptures and history PROVE this to be true.
Scriptural Proof…….90:4…..”For [because] a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” This Scripture sets forth the reason the Lord God picked this particular year to begin turning mankind to destruction. The Lord didn’t just pick a random date or year. Because He knew “the end from the beginning” [Isaiah 46:9-
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10], He “determined” in eternity past the exact year and date which would best serve His purpose in giving a final warning to mankind of impending judgment and wrath. But being the merciful God that He is, even in giving this warning He appealed to men to take heed and “return” to Him to find mercy and salvation.
Notice that Moses emphasized “a thousand years” in this inspired Scripture. It is recorded seven times in God’s Word, “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” Exodus 20:9-10. See also Exodus 23:12, 31:15, 34:21, 35:2, Leviticus 23:3, and Deuteronomy 5:13-14. The “six days” of the week symbolize the 6,000 years of human history that the Lord God has allotted mankind to do all their work upon the earth. This is undeniable if the Bible is accepted at face value as literal truth. The Apostle Peter set forth the exact same truth in his epistle when he was inspired to write, “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,” 2 Peter 3:8. Both of these inspired passages teach that the six days of the week prophetically represent or typify the 6,000 years of human history. There was no one at work during the six days of Genesis 1 except the Lord God Himself. Those six days then symbolized the 6,000 years of human history or six days in God’s Great Week, for Peter explicitly stated that the Lord God regards “a thousand years as one day.”
Psalm 90:4 sets forth the exact same truth stated by Peter. If one carefully studies Bible Chronology, from the creation of Adam to the birth of Abraham was 2008 years or two days in God’s Great Week. With the birth of Abraham after the flood, the Lord God made a new beginning with mankind. Therefore that period of 2,000 years preceding the birth of Abraham is now Scripturally “yesterday when it is past.”
But notice also the latter part of 90:4, “…and as a watch in the night.” A thousand years are also regarded by the Lord as “a watch in the night.” At the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world, the Roman Empire was ruling the known world. The Romans divided the 12 hours of the night into four watches. This perfectly harmonizes with Psalm 90:4. From the birth of Abraham to the dedication of Solomon’s Temple was 1,000 years or one watch in the night. From the dedication of the Temple to the first coming of Christ was another 1,000 years or the second watch in the night. From the first coming of Christ to 1000 A.D. was the third watch in the night. From 1000 A.D. to the present time has been another 1,000 years. We believers today are living in the fourth watch of the night at the very end of 6,000 years of human history. So Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 are in perfect harmony, both setting forth the same truth.
Notice also that Psalm 90:3-4 are grammatically connected. It is because of the near fulfillment of this present final 1,000 year period that the Lord chose 1990 as the year in which He graciously warned mankind that “the beginning of the end” had arrived.
In view of these truths, I would also remind our readers that mankind on the earth is living in the night time of human history and is approaching “the day of the Lord.” See Romans 13:11-14 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-7. In fact, the final two darkest hours of this present world’s night are just about to come upon unbelieving and Christ rejecting mankind. When these final two hours have been fulfilled, then the glorious “day of God” will finally dawn upon redeemed mankind. Request my study entitled “The Two Hours” for more details.
Historical Proof…….Those readers who seriously study Bible prophecy and faithfully “watch” world events should easily remember that on August 2, 1990 the armies of Saddam Hussein, dictator of Iraq at that time [ancient Babylon], invaded Kuwait setting off the entire chain of events in the Middle East which has continued right to this present hour. What was the significance of this particular date? I’m so glad you asked! August 2, 1990 on our Gentile calendar was also “Destruction Day,” the 9th day of Av on the Jewish calendar. Check it out for yourself.
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In Psalm 90:3-4, the Psalm which correlates with 1990, it is explicitly stated that the Lord “turnest man to destruction,” and in that exact year on the exact day the Jews regard as “Destruction Day” a chain of terrible events began which is still going on right to this present hour. Is the Lord God of Heaven awesome or what? Is His Word relevant to the times in which we live or not? Be careful how you answer! The Lord God is listening! It is then obvious that both Scripture and history PROVE that in 1990 the Lord begin to remove His restraining power from the wicked and rebellious rulers of the nations, allowing them to begin destroying themselves and the masses of mankind.
90:5-6…….”Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.” These verses are just more confirmation of what Moses was inspired to explicitly state about the end-times some 3,400 years in advance. From 1990 to this present hour great destruction has come upon mankind, destruction which Moses described as being similar to “a flood.” But who is paying attention? If one omits the italicized “a” in verse 5 [added by the translators but not in the Hebrew text], here is the one place in all of God’s Word that I am aware of where the Lord God Himself inspired Moses to say, “They are a sleep.” Many serious Christians today use this expression when speaking of the lost world in general, totally unaware that it is a Scriptural statement, placed in God’s inspired Word right here in 90:5. The lost world [and sadly, many “professing Christians”] doesn’t have a clue about what is really going on in God’s Great Plan of the Ages, or where humanity is at in that plan. “They are a sleep.”
Yet one major catastrophe after another has occurred since 1990, cutting down thousands upon thousands of people in various nations just like one cuts down “grass.” It is not just “coincidence” that the inspired Word prophesied 3,400 years in advance exactly what we believers who are seriously studying and watching have seen come to pass in these past 21 years. Oh by the way, “21” is the Bible number associated over and over again with the 21 judgments of the Tribulation period. Is the Lord trying to tell mankind something?
90:7-8…….”For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath we are troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” Notice again that this statement is written in the present tense. In other words, it was in 1990 that the “iniquities” [perversity; depravity] and “secret sins” of Israel and the nations were brought before the Supreme Judge of the Universe for final disposition. What is pictured here is a court room scene in which the Judge hands down a decision on how to deal with the unbelief, sin, and rebellion of Israel and the nations. This decision of Almighty God then began to be carried out. Now think again about everything that has happened since 1990. God have mercy!
Any true believer KNOWS that the seven year Tribulation is the appointed time of judgment for the sins of Israel [Daniel 9:24-27], and that the Lord God will also judge the wickedness of the Gentiles during that same period of time. The end of the Tribulation will occur in 2018. So where does that indicate the resurrection and pre-tribulation rapture of New Testament believers as occurring? Think about it! From 1990 to 2018 is 28 years. “28” is the Bible number for “eternal life.” At the end of this 28 year period in 2018, which has been in progress since 1990, a believing Jewish “remnant” will turn to the Lord with their whole heart and soul and will be “redeemed,” Jeremiah 29:13; 24:7. Likewise for the Gentiles who have survived the Tribulation. Then He who is “the desire of all nations shall come,” Haggai 2:7. At last there will finally be true “peace on earth, good will toward men,” Luke 2:14. Praise the Lord!
90:9-12…….”For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of Thine anger? Even according to Thy fear, so is Thy wrath.
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So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
In these Scriptures it is the “days” and “years” of Israel’s existence as a people and nation in the 20th and 21st centuries that is under consideration. This 10th verse is not speaking of the life span of mankind upon the earth, regardless of how many times this silly assumption has been embraced and repeated. The context clearly indicates that it is Israel and the Jewish people who are under consideration in these verses; not mankind in general. It can be illustrated three ways that these verses apply to Israel and the Jews, and have nothing to do with the life span of mankind upon the earth.
First, deduct 70 years [threescore and ten] from 1990, the year correlating with this 90th Psalm. This would take us back to 1920, the first year Jews were legally allowed to immigrate back to their ancient homeland under the British Mandate. Is this just “coincidence”? I think not!
Second, Moses the ancient leader of the nation of Israel, was inspired to write, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten…” Now add up the years since Israel was reestablished as a nation in 1948. The sum is 63 years. Israel began her 64th year as a nation on May 15, 2011. This means that Israel will complete 70 years as a nation in 2018. It is no “coincidence” that “70” is the Bible number which signifies “the restoration of Israel.” Again, does this tell our readers something about how close we are to the resurrection and rapture of God’s people? Since Israel has now began her 64th year of existence as a nation, the only logical and Scriptural reason why the rapture has not already occurred is because the Lord God Himself said that He would “shorten the days” of the Tribulation, Matthew 24:21-22. Folks, we believers today are living on “borrowed time” whether some want to believe it or not. Look up! Our Lord is coming!
Third, those of our readers who are carefully studying the prophecies of God’s Word should remember that 1990 was the year “the controversy over Jerusalem” began [Zechariah 12;2-3] between the Jews and the so-called “Palestinians,” a controversy which continues right to this day. Notice in verse 10 that Moses stated that even adding an additional 10 years to the 70 would only result in more “labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Are the last three words of this Scripture a veiled reference to the rapture of true Jewish believers? If so, then the verse obviously places the rapture as occurring sometime after the beginning of the 21st century. In view of all this Moses then appealed to the Lord, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.”
90:13…….”Return, O Lord, how long? And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants.” Notice that this question is asked immediately following the request for the Lord to teach the Jews to “number their days.” This question is asked 17 times in the Psalms. Here in 90:13 is the 14th time the question is asked. Notice also that the question is posed, “Return, O Lord, how long?” This makes it obvious that at least some of the Jews recognize that the Lord has already been here previously, and they are asking Him “how long” before He returns. Glory to God!
90:14-17…….O satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.”
This hearts cry of Israel and the Jews for “mercy” makes it evident that many of the Jewish people living today now understand that they sinned against God as a nation and a people, and well deserved the affliction that they have been under for these past 1,981 years since they rejected and crucified their Messiah. In these Scriptures they are crying out to the Lord God for mercy, redemption, restoration, and a renewed relationship as God’s chosen people. Praise the Lord! May the Lord hasten the redemption of His and our Jewish brethren.
Now let’s move forward to…..
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Psalm 91…….This Psalm correlates with 1991. This entire Psalm speaks about the Lord’s protection upon His people during a time of war, pestilence, plagues, and destruction.
Notice that this Psalm immediately follows the 90th Psalm which correlates with 1990, the year in which the Lord turned “mankind to destruction.” Any student of history knows that after the armies of Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, the U.S. military and their allies invaded Kuwait and Iraq in January of 1991 beginning the Desert Storm War. The Iraqi forces began firing Scud missiles and other types of missiles at the invading troops, and at Israel. Some of the missiles they fired were actually called “Arrow” missiles. Isn’t this interesting in the light of 91:5.
Some of the missiles fired by the Iraqi military were armed with nerve gas [pestilence; plagues], 91:3; 91:6; 91:10. Even though U.S. military officials deny it to this day, we know this to be so because in the aftermath of the missile explosions many of the U.S. troops became seriously ill and continue to suffer right to this day from all kinds of illnesses which they never had prior to their service in the Desert Storm War. Plain enough?
However there were positive effects that came out of that war which the liberal New World Order news media never bothered to mention to the American public. I have no idea who first began passing around copies of Psalm 91 among the U.S. [and other] troops. But I do know that the 91st Psalm was printed and reprinted and even hand written copies of it were passed from tent to tent and soldier to soldier during the Desert Storm War. Hundreds of young men [and women] in the military came to a saving knowledge of Christ during the Desert Storm War. I know this to be true because I received numerous reports of it when it was happening and have since talked to many who served in that war. A true spiritual revival occurred among those serving in the U.S. military in Iraq at that time, with the 91st Psalm serving as the basis for it. The “seed” of the Word always bears fruit to the glory of God, Isaiah 55:10-11. Praise the Lord!
As I began this series of studies I pointed out that the Psalms literally sets before the serious Bible student an account of the Jewish people from the beginning of the 20th century in Psalm 1 right through the 20th and 21st centuries. These inspired Psalms deal with the Jewish Holocaust, the reestablishment of Israel as a nation, and right on to the spiritual redemption of the Jewish “remnant,” restoring them to their right spiritual relationship with their Lord and Savior by the end of the Tribulation. Glory to God! That this is not just a figment of my overactive imagination is repeatedly PROVEN by a careful study of each of the Psalms. Psalm 91 is certainly not an exception…..
The Desert Storm War was a short war. It began in January, 1991, and ended on the Jewish Holy Day of Purim in 1991. If that wasn’t enough of a “coincidence” [???], then consider the Jewish Rabbi in Jerusalem…..
It is a documented fact that the armies of Saddam Hussein fired 39 Scud Missiles at Israel during the Desert Storm War. When the 39th missile landed in Israel, a Rabbi in Jerusalem publicly announced that the war was over! His announcement was made 8 hours BEFORE the U.S. Command in Iraq announced that all of the Iraqi forces had surrendered and the war was over. How could this have been? What made the Rabbi in Jerusalem so certain? I’m so glad you asked!
Read Deuteronomy 25:1-3. It is a fact that some of the Jewish Rabbis living today have come to believe that the suffering of Israel and the Jewish people through the centuries has been due to their sin in turning away from the God of Israel. That Jewish Rabbi knew that God’s Law only allows 39 stripes to be laid upon the back of “the wicked man.” Therefore when the 39th missile landed in Israel, the Rabbi had absolute FAITH IN GOD’S WORD that the Desert Storm War was over. Glory to God! Hallelujah! Do our readers have this much faith in God’s Word? Well…?? Now read Psalm 91:14-16 and give glory to God. What an awesome God we serve!
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Now let’s go to…….
Psalm 93…….This Psalm correlates with 1993. This short Psalm of only five verses contains an amazing and powerful message. This is my reason for including it in this study.
93:1-2…….”The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting.”
In these two Scriptures the inspired Psalmist is assuring God’s people that the Lord God of Heaven is still in full charge and control. This assurance was apparently given in view of what had happened in the past, what was going on right then, and what was yet to come. Notice that no matter how bad things get in this world, the world system [civilization; mankind upon the earth] will never cease to exist. The Lord God Himself established civilization upon the earth as an unshakeable entity to endure forever. In the light of this Scripture read John 3:16 and Hebrews 12:25-29.
93:3…….”The floods have lifted up; O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.”
If our readers will remember, it was in 1993 that massive floods began occurring all over the earth. Here in Missouri it began raining during the summer months and never stopped until late September or October. The meteorologists referred to the floods along the Mississippi River that year as “a 500 year flood.” In other words, the extent of the flooding that year was normally expected to occur only about every 500 years. The Mississippi River, which normally is less than half a mile wide in most places, spread out in some areas more than 20 miles in width.
The inspired Psalmist explicitly states that “the floods have lifted up their voice.” In other words, in 1993 the Lord God was using the floods to speak to mankind. Were those floods a warning? If so, who was listening? Notice that the first two parts of this Scripture are given in the past tense, the last part of the Scripture is given in the present tense. In other words, “the floods” which began in 1993 were to continue to “lift up their waves.” Hello! It is more than “coincidence” that since 1993 massive floods have been occurring somewhere in the world nearly every single month of every single year without fail. Check it out for yourself. Seems like I remember the Lord saying something about “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the coming of the Son of man,” Luke 17:26. Was there a flood “in the days of Noah”? Our readers know the answer!
93:4-5…….”The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, for ever.” After speaking of the terrible floods which began in 1993 and continue right to this day, the Lord gives assurance to His people that He is still in control. Read Mark 4:39.
This entire 93rd Psalm, written some 3,000 years ago, clearly predicted “the floods” that came on the earth in 1993 and which continue right to this day. Another “coincidence”? Well…??
Now let’s move forward again to…..
Psalm 94…….This Psalm correlates with 1994. This 94th Psalm makes it evident that the unbelieving, lost, “wicked” on the earth not only refused to pay any attention to “the voice” of the floods in 1993, but rather they increased their wickedness on the earth. Study this Psalm carefully and pay attention to what you read.
94:1-7…….”O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show Thyself.
Lift up Thyself, Thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
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They break in pieces Thy people, O Lord, and afflict Thine heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.”
In these opening verses the prospective Jewish “remnant” [and others of like mind] are crying out for “vengeance” upon the “proud.” I am certain that the religious Jews had [and have] in mind the proud hearted, arrogant, so-called “Palestinians” who called for the first Intifada against Israel and the Jewish people in December, 1987, and which by 1994 were responsible for hundreds of deaths and much suffering among the Jewish people. It is ironic; more than “coincidence,” that these verses written some 3,000 years ago describe in exact detail the wickedness done in Israel [and other places] to the Jewish people by the so-called “Palestinians” from 1987 to 1994. However, if one wants to know the full identity of the “proud” then read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 and let the truth stated there soak in. All of the unsaved are guilty!
There does come a time when decent, God fearing people, have had enough of the world’s wickedness and begin crying out to the Lord to come and take “vengeance,” and put a stop to “the wickedness of the wicked, Psalm 7:9. That time appears to have arrived in 1994 when not only the Jews, but decent God fearing people all over the earth began crying out to the Lord God of Heaven to come and pour out “vengeance” upon the wicked. Did the Lord God hear their cry? It certainly appears that He did! This question, “how long,” is asked 17 times in the Psalms beginning in 4:2. The first time the question is asked it is the Lord God inquiring of mankind. The other 16 times it is the prospective Jewish “remnant” inquiring of the Lord God. Here in 94:3 is the last time this question ever occurs in the Psalms. The Jews never asked it again. So did the Lord answer the Jews in 1994? Read again 90:12-13 and think about it.
It is certainly a historical fact that in 1994 the Lord began restoring the “signs” that He has always used in communicating His divine message to Israel and the Jewish people. What do I mean? I’m so glad you asked!
It was in the early 1990’s that two Jews, Mr. Shoemaker and Mr. Levy, discovered the Shoemaker-Levy Comet in orbit around the Planet Jupiter. It was later calculated that the comet had likely been captured by Jupiter’s gravitational field over a 100 years earlier, but had never been detected because comets are dark cold bodies which do not emit light of their own. The reason it was discovered was because in its orbit around Jupiter it had gradually been drawn so close to Jupiter that it was “heating up and glowing” due to the difference in the electro-magnetic fields between the two heavenly bodies. As Shoemaker-Levy continued to orbit Jupiter, gradually drawing closer and closer, the difference in gravitational pressure between gigantic Jupiter and the comet caused Shoemaker-Levy to break up into 21 pieces. These 21 pieces took on the appearance of a lovely glowing necklace in space as they continued to orbit. But finally on July 16, 1994 the first of the 21 pieces crashed into the surface of Jupiter as the whole world watched the scene unfold on television. What was significant about this date? Three things…..
First…….July 16, 1994 was the 9th day of Av; “Destruction Day” on the Jewish calendar, and the day that ended the 21 days of mourning for the Jews which had begun on the 17th day of Tammuz. It took exactly 7 days for all 21 pieces of the comet to crash into Jupiter. Was this a “sign” and a warning to Israel and the lost world of the approaching 21 judgments to be poured out upon unbelieving humanity during the 7 year Tribulation? Think about it!
Second…….July 16, 1994 was exactly 49 years to the day from the explosion of the first Atomic Bomb on the floor of the desert near Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945. It is likely that many of our readers are not aware that the early Spanish explorers back in the 1500’s named the high desert in New Mexico “Jornado del Muerto.” This expression literally means, “the journey of death.” It should be obvious to every reader that the development and subsequent explosion of the Atomic Bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan introduced the whole world
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to the most diabolic weapon of mass destruction and death ever conceived in the depraved minds of fallen men. “49” is also the Bible number for “wrath; anger; fury” throughout the Scriptures.
Third…….While the date on our Gentile calendar was different in 1994, remember that it was the 9th day of Av, August 2, 1990, when the Lord God of Heaven used the armies of Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait and began “turning man to destruction;” [90:3] a chain of events which is still going on to this present hour.
Are all of these things just mere “coincidence”? Or…..was the Lord God of Heaven clearly warning lost, unbelieving, humanity of the judgments which are right now staring mankind in the face?
Speaking of warning humanity, let me remind our readers that in Matthew 24:3 four Jewish disciples asked the Lord Jesus Christ, “…..and what shall be the sign of Thy coming [parousia], and of the end of the world [aion…age]?” Those Jewish disciples were asking for a specific “sign” which would indicate that the Lord God was about to return for His people at the resurrection and rapture [the parousia], and that the end of the age would shortly follow. They obviously expected the “sign” to precede both events, since the “sign” being asked for was to serve as an indicator that these events were about to occur. Is it possible that the “sign” those Jewish disciples asked for has already been given?
Did the Lord God set before the whole world in 1994 the “sign of Thy coming [parousia], and of the end of the world [aion…age], the same “sign” which was asked for by the Lord’s disciples some 2,000 years ago in Matthew 24:3? I am not saying that He did! But I am also not denying the possibility that the Shoemaker-Levy Comet was that “sign.” I do find it interesting that the last time the Jews asked the Lord, “how long?” occurs in this 94th Psalm which correlates with 1994. The question is never asked again in the Psalms! Think about it!
94:8-11…….”Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?
He that chastiseth the heathen [nations; Gentiles], shall He not correct? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not He know?
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”
In the chronological order of prophecy these Scriptures deal with the “falling away” [apostasy] that has become so apparent over these past 17 years since 1994. The Lord assures mankind that they are really getting by with nothing! The Lord God hears, He sees, He corrects, He teaches, and HE KNOWS! Note that these verses follow the Jews having asked the Lord “how long” and having pointed out the wickedness being perpetrated by mankind on the earth. In these Scriptures the Lord gives assurance to His people that He is well aware of what men are doing even though some think that no one sees or knows. It is nothing but gross ignorance for created beings to believe they can fool or deceive their own Creator!
94:12-13…….”Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest; O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law;
that Thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.”
What follows the “falling away” [apostasy] in prophetic chronological order in the end-time? Isn’t it the pre-tribulation rapture of God’s people, immediately followed by the seven year Tribulation upon the earth? True believers know it is! What do these Scriptures explicitly speak about? They speak about chastening coming upon some [Jew and Gentile believers…Hebrews 12:5-8] in order that those chastened may be given “rest from the days of adversity” while or “until the pit be digged for the wicked.” Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! These verses are clearly an Old Testament reference to the “birth pains” going on right now just
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preceding the rapture of all true New Testament believers, Jews and Gentiles. The rapture will precede the seven years “of adversity” upon the incorrigible wicked. Compare these verses with Revelation 3:10 and give glory to the Lord. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Thank you Lord Jesus!
Notice that “the man” who is being taught here is being taught “out of” God’s law. Galatians 3:24-25 explicitly states that “the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The unbelieving Jews today [including some “Messianic Jews”] claim that we Christian believers have no use for their Torah [Law]. They couldn’t be more wrong! I have a high respect and high regard for the Law of God, but God’s own inspired Word also makes it clear that I am not “justified” by it. The Law taught me about the reality of sin, and showed me that I was a guilty sinner standing in need of the grace of God. God’s Law was indeed my “schoolmaster” to bring me to Christ where I was “justified by faith.” Having been “justified” I now live and walk “by faith,” Romans 1:17; 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 3:11. I was also given the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who became my new “schoolmaster” to “guide me into all truth,” John 16:12-15. 1 John 2:27 explicitly states, “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” Glory to God! Hallelujah!
94:14-15…….”For the Lord will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance.
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.”
What occurs after the rapture of God’s people? The Lord once again renews His covenant with Israel and the Jewish people and the seven final years prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27 begins. These verses give assurance to Israel and the Jewish people that the Lord has not and will not cast them away. The Lord God made an “everlasting covenant” with Abraham and his seed after him, and that covenant will be fulfilled whether some today want to believe it or not, Genesis 15:18-21; 17:1-8.
94:16-19…….”Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.”
In exact prophetic chronological order, these verses set forth prophetically the suffering and trials the Jewish people will face during the Tribulation period. But they also point out that the Lord will be their “help” and will hold them up so that they will not be overcome. Glory to God!
94:20-23…….”Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
But the Lord is my defense: and my God is the rock of my refuge.
And He shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.”
Still in exact chronological order the end of the Tribulation is prophesied in these verses in the 94th Psalm. The Lord God will rescue Israel and the Jewish people, bringing them to a saving knowledge of Himself. He will also destroy “the throne of iniquity,” and “cut off” all of the incorrigible wicked from the earth. Compare Psalm 37:1-2 and 37:9-11. Glory to God! Praise the Lord!
Again, is it just “coincidence” that these exact details of the end-time were written in this 94th Psalm, even in the chronological order in which the events will occur, some 3,000 years ago?
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True believers know this isn’t “coincidence.” Lift up your voice in praise and give glory to God!
TO BE CONTINUED…….
Pointing out the precious truths in these first five Psalms in this fourth division of the Psalms has required much more space than what I anticipated. I have carefully reviewed what has been set forth, and have tried to make the study as concise as possible while still retaining Scriptural truths that I feel would be of benefit to God’s people. After much prayer and seeking the leadership of the Lord, I have decided to divide this study up into two separate articles.
Therefore I am sending out this first article with a prayer that the Lord will use it to bless the hearts of His people. I will be sending out the second article on this fourth division of the Psalms in the near future, the Lord permitting. May the Lord bless His Word to the hearts of every reader is my prayer.
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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.
All comments, questions, and correspondence should be addressed to: Pastor F. M. Riley, Last Call Gospel Ministry, 184 County Road 108, Harrisburg, Missouri 65256, or via email at:
fmrglbd5@yahoo.com or fmr7sngn@centurylink.net
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