The
"The War to End All Wars".....
Overlooked
                                                "The Great War".....
               Anniversary
                                                                                                  By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                                  April 30, 2018
     "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
     Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong," Joel 3:9-10.
Introduction
     In the first month of this present year, I wrote and posted a Bible study on the Internet, emphasizing in that study that 2018 is the year when the Lord Jesus will come to resurrect and rapture all true New Covenant believers to glory.  In that study I plainly set forth the reasons, both Scriptural and logical, why 2018 will be the year of the Lord's coming.  Some of my readers told me that they were encouraged and built up in the faith when they read that study.  There are a lot of God's people, who are plain sick of this present evil world, and eagerly look forward to leaving it when our Lord comes at the time of the rapture.
A Sinful Teaching   
      However, not all!  As usual, when Bible prophecy is being discussed, there are some who insist that the Lord will not come yet for several more years.  Oh, is that so?  No!  It is not so!
     Many years ago I read in Matthew 24:48, and again in Luke 12:45, what the Lord Jesus Himself thinks of those believers who "say in their heart, My Lord delayeth His coming." I purposed in my heart many years ago that I would never be guilty of the sin of saying, "My Lord delayeth His coming."  Even before the Lord left this world some 2,000 years ago, He commanded His disciples to live in a state of expectancy, and to be  "watching,"  Mark 13:35-37.  
     Yes, I am quite familiar with Matthew 24:36.  I should be, for I have had it throwed in my face many times, for no other reason than that I have been obedient to the Lord in "watching," and trying to warn fellow believers and lost seeking souls, Luke 21:28.
     However, my critics should carefully read Matthew 24:36 for themselves, and let the truth stated "soak in."  That inspired statement of our Lord refers to a certain "day and hour" for the Lord's return.  The Lord never said that His people could not or would not be able to discern the year or the general time of His coming again.  In fact, during His personal ministry, the Lord rebuked the Pharisees and the Saducees [the religious leaders of the Jewish people], for not being able to "discern the signs of the times," Matthew 16:1-3.   How many "professing Christians" are guilty of this same SIN today?  Well...??
The Time is Up!
     Numerous inspired Scriptures make it very clear that the Lord Jesus would be away from His people for 2,000 years, or two days in God's great week, 2 Peter 3:8.   Those 2,000 years are up!  This year is 2018, or another way of expressing it, is that in the passing of human history,  this year is 6018.  It is time for our Lord to come for His people, whether some want to believe it or not, and He is coming this year.  
Overlooked Significance
     In my study early in this year, setting forth various "signs" why this is the year of the Lord's coming again, I totally overlooked a significant year date; the year the First World War ended in 1918, exactly 100 years ago.  This present year of 2018 is the 100th Anniversary year  of the end of the First World War.  "100" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "to choose; to be chosen; elect or to be elected."  Now who is the Lord Jesus coming back to receive to Himself by the resurrection and rapture?  His own elect, or those New Covenant believers chosen to salvation by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, Ephesians 1:3-7.   Glory to God!  
     And when the Lord's Gentile church and people are removed from this present evil world by the rapture, then who is the Lord going to begin dealing with once again?  His own "chosen people" of Israel!  
The First World War
     The First World War was highly significant in God's great plan of the ages.  That war involved more nations and people than any previous war in human history.  That is why it was labeled as "the First World War."  
     And it was a terrible war!  That war involved the use of mustard gas, which killed thousands.  It was the first war in human history which involved airplanes, used to terrify the superstitious people who had never seen an airplane, and who thought the planes were angels of God's wrath.  Due to the use of airplanes,  it was the first war in human history in which explosive bombs were dropped from the sky.  
     Most of Europe and parts of northern Africa were devastated during the First World War.   The destruction and death was so bad, that those living at that time came up with the slogans, "The Great War," "The War to End All Wars."  Some people back then really believed that the First World War was so terrible, that mankind would never fight another war.  How very mistaken they were!  
      Only twenty years later Adolph Hitler of Germany, and his Nazi Storm Troops invaded other countries in Europe and began the Second World War.  Throughout this 100 year period, exactly as Joel was inspired to prophesy, there has been war after war fought in and between various nations all over the earth.  I have to believe that this past 100 years have been the literal fulfillment of Joel's prophecy.  Why?  Because as a young boy living during the Second World War I literally saw farmers in my community bring their older farm equipment to collection points, to be melted down and turned into weapons of war.  Isn't that exactly what Joel pointed out in speaking to the Gentile nations in Joel 3:9-10?  
The Next World War  
     Now even as I write the whole world is once again a powder keg, just waiting to explode into more war.  And they will, Revelation 6:3-4.  Even the little nation of North Korea [let the weak say, I am strong] has threatened to attack this huge nation of America.  And Russia has warned America not to attack North Korea. It literally appears that the nations of the world are right on the brink of another "world war" even as I write.  
     However, the next world war will not be fought in this present dispensation.  This present Dispensation of Grace will end at any minute now with the resurrection and rapture of all true believers off the face of the earth, as the Lord comes to take us "home" to glory.  Praise the Lord!
Conclusion  
     It will be during the seven year Tribulation period, following the resurrection and rapture that the next world war will break out.  Thank God, we who are true believers will not be here to see it or be harmed by it.  But all lost unbelievers left behind at the rapture will go into and experience the most horrible time of sin, corruption, war, and death in human history.  If any reader of this study is an unsaved, still lost in  sin, unbeliever, why don't you seek the Lord in prayer right now, and ask Him to come into your heart and save your soul?   
     Turn in a Bible and read for yourself God's way of salvation, then ask the Lord Jesus with an humble heart to save you, while there is still time and opportunity for you to be saved.  
     In your Bible read and believe, John 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 2:38, 4:12, 10:43, 16:30-31, Romans 10:8-13, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Ephesians 2:8-10, Hebrews 9:22, 9:28, and 12:1.  
     Let me know when you receive Christ Jesus as your own personal Savior, so that I may rejoice with you.  
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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.  
     Those readers who would like to contact me personally, should choose one of the following methods:
     Postal:     Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 County Road 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
     Email:      francismriley34@gmail.com
     Phone:    573-202-6493
     Please remember me and this ministry in prayer.  May the Lord God graciously bless every reader.  I want to meet you in glory when the Lord comes.  
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