More on the Lord's coming

It is time for those who claim to be God's people to awaken

out of their spiritual stupor, and receive what God's Word

actually and literally says, Romans 13:11, 1 Cor. 15:34, Ephesians 5:14.

Share these truths with others, and "Prepare to meet thy God."

Pastor F. M. Riley

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,” Romans 6:5.

The words “likeness” and “so shall it be” are derived from the same root word in the Greek text. See Strong’s No. 3667 and 3668. In other words they mean the same thing; something very similar. in this Scripture text, a “likeness” of the death of Christ, and the resurrection of Christ. Read the Scriptures that follow; Romans 6:6-11.

We believers living today know that a repetition of all the wickedness, sin, violence, and evil, which was taking place in the days of Noah, and of Lot, is being repeated today right before our eyes. The Lord Jesus Himself made the connection with all this wickedness and evil, by saying, “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed,” Luke 17:30. Then the Lord Jesus went on in the following Scriptures [Luke 17:31-37] to describe both the Tribulation that is to come upon a Christ rejecting world, and the “harpazo” [rapture] which will mark the beginning of the Tribulation. From the Lord’s statements here, we believers living today can know that our resurrection and rapture is in close proximity to the beginning of the Tribulation, just as Revelation 4:1-2 also sets forth this same truth. Glory to God!

However, the similarity doesn’t stop with this prophecy of the coming Tribulation given by the Lord. The Apostle Paul was inspired of God to say that we believers will be raised [resurrected and raptured] in His “likeness.” Now let’s see the literal truth of Paul’s statement in Romans 6:5…….

Then in examining these inspired statements, as they relate to the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord, what do we find?

The Lord Jesus Christ, according to Jewish custom, began His public ministry at the age of thirty. No Jewish man could serve as a Rabbi [teacher in spiritual matters] until he became thirty years old, for the Jewish people would not listen to what he had to say, until he was at least thirty years of age. So the Lord Jesus began His public ministry when He was thirty years of age, Luke 3:23.

The Lord then presented Himself as the long awaited Messiah of Israel, Deuteronomy 18:15-19. He spent the next three years preaching to the Jewish people, and showing the “signs” of the Messiah; miracles, raising the dead, giving sight to the blind, healing the sick, and foretelling the future.

But the wicked religious leaders of Israel refused to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah of Israel, and conspired together to put Christ to death. The most holy Day of Passover was at hand, and the wicked priests did not want the Lord Jesus killed on Passover. Neverthelessr, Christ Jesus was, and is, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” John 1:29. Therefore, there was no other day He could be killed, for Passover was the day appointed by God for the people of Israel to sacrifice a lamb. That day had been foreordained by God as the day that Christ would be sacrificed to pay for the sins of Israel, and of all mankind, that those who believe on Him may have “everlasting life,” John 3:16. Glory to God. And so Christ Jesus was crucified

On Passover, the 14^th day of Abib in 30 A.D. That day was Wednesday, the 4^th day of the

week. After His crucifixion the Lord’s disciples requested, and were given, the Lord’s body. They anointed His body and placed His body in the tomb before the day of Passover ended at 6:00 p.m that evening. The body of Christ was then in the burial tomb, the night and day of Thursday the 15^th. the night and day of Friday, the 16^th, and the night and day of Saturday the 17^th.

Significantly, the 15^th of Abib was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Leviticus 23:6. Dear readers, Christ Jesus Himself is the sinless Son of God, therefore He is “the bread of life” for everyone who will receive and partake of Him. John 6:31-35.

The 17^thday of Abib was Saturday, the 7^th day of the week, and the Jewish Sabbath Day. Just as that day ended at sundown, and Sunday, the first day of the new week began, Father God raised up the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, Matthew 28:1-6; Romans 8:11. . Christ’s body had been in the tomb for three days and three nights; exactly 72 hours. The “sign of Jonah” had been literally fulfilled, Matthew 12:38-41.

Those readers who seriously study the Scriptures should notice that in the Greek text there are exactly 72 Greek words used in Matthew 12:38-41, where Christ was setting forth “the sign of Jonah.” Is ou Lordr God great or what? Be careful how you answer. God is listening, Matthew 12:36-37.

Dear readers, this is “As it was” in 30 A.D. Christ crucified on Passover, then raised three nights and days later at the end of the Jewish Sabbath, and the beginning of Sunday, the first day of the week. So now let’s look at…….

warning. “20” is the number in the Bible signifying “redemption.” “3” is the number in the Bible signifying “resurrection; or rapture.” The Jewish year is 5708, which adds up to “20.” This sum of the Jewish year, along with the number of our Gentile year, makes THREE “20,s” all in connection with this present year. Is it possible that our gracious Lord is trying to impress upon

His believing people, that this is the year we believers will be “redeemed” out of this present evil world? Is that a possibility? Is the Lord graciously giving His people advance warning, so that we will be obediently “watching” when He comes? Luke 12:37. Well consider this…….

When Christ was crucified in 30 A.D., it was in the Spring of the year, Abib 14, and the day of the week was Wednesday. The three days that followed were Thursday, the 15^th, Friday, the 16^th, and Saturday, the 17^th.

Today as I write the first day of Spring is just days away. Read about the “rising, and the “coming away” which Solomon said would take place in

This year PASSOVER, Abib 14, comes on Wednesday, April 8^th, on our Gentile calendar. The three days following, will then be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th of April on our calendar, but the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th days of Abib on the Jewish calendar. Now do I have to draw some readers a picture? The days of the week this year are in the exact same order or arrangement as they were in 30 A.D. when the Lord was crucified, and then three days later arose from the dead. Is this just “coincidence,” or is the Lord trying to give His people advance warning of what is about to happen?

And what would that be? It will be the resurrection of “the dead in Christ,” and the “CHANGE” of the “living in Christ,” and the rapture of all true

believers. The Scriptures plainly state that the resurrection of all true believers will be “in His likeness” therefore it certainly appears that the resurrection and rapture will occur three days and nights, or 72 hours, after PASSOVER. Christ will come as a great FLASH OF LIGHT [Matthew 24:27-28], and likely there will be a great earthquake at that same time, Matthew 27:50-54. The graves of all who died “in the faith,” will be opened, and they shall come forth in their new bodies, very much alive. At the same time all true believers living will be changed, and we shall all be “caught up together with them [with those resurrected] in the clouds, to meet the lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord,” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

This is the “blessed hope” of every true believer. I am now looking for it to be fulfilled at some point within the next 32 days. That will be Passover plus three days and nights. Are you ready? Really ready? Are you truly saved? Do you really believe God’s Word? Read 2 Peter 1:10-11 and “make your calling and election sure.” Our Lord is coming in just a few more days.

Glory Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Thank you, dear Lord, for the “blessed hope” which you have given your people.