Thoughts!
                                                                                         By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                         June 3, 2017
     "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true; whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8.  
Introduction
     The title of this article says it all!  What follows is "thoughts" which I have, or have had, about the things of the Lord, especially in regards to His SOON coming.  Read on.......
He has done it again!
     When I wrote and sent out my Final Warning study, emphasizing that this Pentecost, this year, is the "appointed time" for the Lord to come to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant saints and Church to Himself, as set forth in I Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4,..........
     I was well aware that some receiving the study would do no more than toss the study in the trash and vilify and ridicule me.  Sure enough, this is exactly what some have done, and what some are probably doing right now.  Some are likely saying or thinking right now, "He has set "the date" for the Lord's coming  before, and was wrong each time.  So why should we believe him now?"   
    Because I was aware in advance that this would be the attitude of some people receiving my study, I could easily have set the study aside and not sent it out.  But I thought about it, and prayed earnestly about it, and sent it out anyway.  Why?  
     [1]  Because protecting myself from ridicule is not why the Lord saved me, and called me into His ministry.  The Bible itself bears witness that men of God throughout human history have always been vilified and ridiculed, and worse.  When I know I am in the Lord's will, in what I am doing,  I cannot help what others think of me.   
     [2]   And because today, some who received the study are rejoicing and waiting for the Lord to call us home to glory on Pentecost, or in relation to Pentecost.   By the way, tomorrow just happens to be Pentecost.  If I am correct this time, and you are wrong in your assesment and ridicule of me and my study, will you be ready to meet the Lord?    
    [3]  Folks, by the grace of God, when the Lord saved me and called me into His ministry, He did not save and call a "quitter."  When I start something I want to see it through to the finish.  When I started studying Bible Prophecy, the "blessed hope" of our Lord's coming welled up in my heart, and has never left me, Titus 2:11-15.  
     Indeed I did start studying about the coming of the Lord Jesus for His people many years ago, thinking surely the Lord God would not bring such an event to pass without forewarning His own people.  That is when I began searching for the timing of the Lord's coming to rapture His people to glory.  And no, I have never "quit" searching.  
      Folks, anyone can "quit."  Quitting requires no education, no dedication to the Lord, no zeal for His cause, no love for Him nor His Word, no serious study of His Word, no real knowledge of His Word, and no desire to share the great truths of His Word with others.  Just anyone can "quit!"
      Sadly, many "professing Christians" today are highly qualified as "quitters," when it comes to the Lord God and His Word.   That is why we see such apostasy in the churches and the ranks of Christianity today, and yes, even in the pulpits of many churches today.  Too many have never "stayed the course" of what they once "professed."  Instead, they just set their walk with the Lord on the shelf, and "QUIT!"  
The Timing of the Lord's Coming
     I am quite familiar with Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only."  
     I should be familiar with this Scripture, for I have had it quoted to me [throwed in my face], time and time again by those who just don't want to study or hear anything about the timing of the Lord's coming.
     Nevertheless, I kept right on searching the Scriptures anyway, and the Lord graciously showed me a few things that most of those who have nothing but criticism for me and others like me, don't know or even want to know.   Nevertheless, I fully intend to share these Scriptures with my readers.  
     First, Matthew 24:36 was spoken in the present tense.  In other words, the Lord Jesus used the word, "knoweth," [knows] in this Scripture, clearly indicating that at the time the Lord was speaking, no man knew "the day and hour" of the Lord's coming.  I believe this Scripture spoken by my Lord wholeheartedly.  At that time no man knew or had any knowledge of when the Lord would come.  
     However, the Lord Jesus did not say that no man could never know, or that it would be impossible for a true believer to discern the timing of the Lord's coming in the future.  I am not stretching the Scripture here at all to defend myself.  My "position" is to take the Scriptures at face value, in context, for what they actually and literally say and teach.  So what do the inspired Scripture say and teach in reference to knowing the timing of the Lord's coming?   I'm so glad you asked!  
     In Matthew 13 the Lord spoke the Parables of the Kingdom to "great multitudes" of the Jewish people, 13:1-2.  During His discourse, His own disciples came to Him, asking Him, "Why speakest Thou to them in parables?"  The Lord's answer to His own believing disciples was, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given," 13:11.  Do our readers believe, as literal truth, what the Lord said?  His own disciples were given spiritual discernment, to the extent they were to "know" [be enabled to discern] the mysteries which the Lord was teaching.  
     Now in these parables, do any of them have to do with the coming again of the Lord, as the end of this present age approaches?   They sure do!  Look at the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, 13:24-30.  Look at the Parable of the Dragnet, 13:47-50.  Both of these parables mention the end of this present age when the Lord comes again.  And the disciples, when asked of the Lord if they had understood, immediately answered, "Yea, Lord," 13:51.  The Lord's disciples had been given spiritual discernment to understand the teachings of the Lord, even though the multitudes did not understand the truths the Lord was proclaiming to them, 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.  
     Then in 1 Thessalonians 5, the Apostle Paul, speaking by Divine Inspiration [2 Timothy 3:16-17], clearly stated to the Lord's Churches, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief," 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6.  
     Dear readers, how much plainer could it be stated that the Lord's Churches and people are not supposed to be "in darkness" concerning the timing of the return of the Lord?  Hello!  
     My study then, on the Final Warning, which I just sent out to a large number of God's people over the Internet, I have no apology to make to any reader for pointing out the Day of Pentecost this year as the time when the Lord is coming to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant believing people to glory.  If any reader receiving these "Thoughts," has not read this study, just send me a correct email address and I will send it right out to you. The inspired Word says that the resurrection and rapture of all true believers, is one of the reasons for which Christ Jesus came into the world, Galatians 1:4; "that He might deliver us from this present evil world."
     Dear readers, I have lived now 83 years in this world, and I have never previously seen such outright wickedness and evil in the world, as I am seeing today.  It is time for our Lord to come and deliver us out "of this present evil world."  Yes!  Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," Revelation 22:20.  
    Tomorrow, Sunday, June 4th is the Day of Pentecost, and I am truly looking for and expecting our precious Lord and Savior to come and rapture all of His New Covenant believing people to glory.  If it turns out that the Lord Jesus does not come tomorrow, no reader will be physically harmed by my error, but if the Lord does come tomorrow, a lot of Christ rejecting unbelievers are going to wish they had listened to God's Word and received Christ as their own personal Savior.  For all of those left behind at the rapture, will shortly have reason to think that Hell has been turned loose on the earth, Matthew 24:21-22.  
     Conclusion
     I feel fairly certain that I will not have time to put any more of my "thoughts" into print for my readers.  May our gracious Lord impress the truth of  these thoughts on every reader.  Please meet me in glory when the rapture occurs.   May the Lord God bless every reader, with whatever GRACE is needed is my prayer.  
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