No!  I have not changed my mind
nor my conviction, that
2017
is the year of the Lord's coming.....
                                                                                                   By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                                   October 7, 2017
     "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
     They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."
                                                                                     Luke 17:26-27
Introduction
     In January of this present year I wrote three Bible Studies, each of them emphasizing that 2017 is a very special year in relation to Bible prophecy and the end-times.  These three Bible Studies were entitled,
     [1]  Welcome to 2017, posted on January 8th.  
     [2]  The Ten Year Cycles of Change, posted on January 22nd.
     [3]  Another "Coincidence" Pointing to 2017, posted on February 12th.
     If any of our readers did not receive these three studies, and would like to read any of them, just request the ones you want, and I will be glad to send them to you via email, or postal mail if you prefer.     
     In each of these studies I pointed out the reasons why 2017 would be the year when the Lord Jesus Christ will "appear" in the heavens, to resurrect and rapture His Church and His New Covenant people to Himself, John 14:1-3; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
     Now here it is the month of October, and the Lord has not yet come for His Bride and His people.   So I have had one or two remind me that I have been wrong before in setting forth any kind of "date" for the Lord's coming; and that such "wild speculation" should never be engaged in by any of God's people.
       Oh, is that so!  The last time I checked my Bible, the Apostle Paul was still telling the Lord's church, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief," 1 Thessalonians 5:4.  This statement certainly appears to mean that the believers in the Lord's church are supposed to know the "time frame" of the Lord's coming again, even if they don't know the exact day.  Or was the  Apostle Paul just "wildly speculating?"   Now do our readers believe all of God's Word, or do they just "pick and choose" what parts of it they want to believe?  Well...???
     I am well aware that this is the month of October on our calendar, and the Lord hasn't come yet.  S-o-o-o!  By God's grace, I can count too!  As I write it is still nearly three months until the end of this present year.  That means ninety more days left in the year, any day on which our Lord may come for us.  Any good mariner can tell you that one doesn't abandon ship, until the boat is going down.  So far the prophecies of the Lord's coming are still awaiting fulfillment.  
Where we are at Right Now!    
      As I write, we are in the month of Tishri, and in the observance of Succoth [the Feast of Tabernacles] on the Jewish calendar.  According to Leviticus 23:34-36, this is an eight day observance.  At some point over the centuries the Jewish people added yet a ninth day called Simchat Torah, in which the Jews re-institute the Jewish Law for the new year which begins each year on Rosh HaShanah.   
     Is it possible that the Lord Jesus will come for His New Testament Church bride and people before this Jewish Feast of Tabernacles has run it's course?   I don't know!    But think about it!
Defining The Days of Noah  
     As set forth in our Scripture text for this Bible Study, the Lord Jesus Himself explicitly stated that His coming would be "as it was in the days of Noah."  So let's define the "days of Noah" preceding the flood.
     The "days of Noah" were a very special period of time which preceded the flood.  The entire period from Adam to the flood was a period of 1,656 years.  But that whole period of time was not "the days of Noah."  It could not have been, for Noah was not even born until 1,056 years after the creation of Adam.  Count the years up for yourself in Genesis 5.  
     Staying then strictly with what the inspired Word says,  "the days of Noah" were a special 600 year period, from the birth of Noah in 1056 until the flood came upon the world in 1656.  Since the Lord Jesus Christ Himself clearly indicated that there would be a repetition of "the days of Noah" at the end of this present age, then it is reasonable to believe that there would be another 600 year period of time which will precede the Lord's "appearing" and will bring this present dispensation to an end, Titus 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
     Now it doesn't take a great deal of intelligence to understand that if 2017 is indeed the year when the Lord is coming, then this final 600 year period began back in 1417.  This means that the correlating 600 years in our time would then  extend from the year, 1417, to this present year of 2017.
These Last 600 Years
     Now isn't this fascinating?  Humanity on the earth, after the flood,  continued to multiply, and spread across Europe, Asia, and Africa, for centuries.  During that time mankind developed primitive tools and lived basically in the same primitive manner, with very little change or advancement in human knowledge.
      Then in the 1400's of this modern era, great changes began to occur among mankind upon the earth.  It was in the 1400's when men finally dared to venture out upon the great Atlantic Ocean, sailing their ships westward from Europe to discover and open up a part of the world that had previously been completely unknown to most of mankind.   Was this just "coincidence," or was it by Divine Design?   "14" just happens to be the number in the Bible which signifies "salvation and/or deliverance."   Think about it!
Examining the Days of Noah
     Since the Lord Jesus Himself said that there would be a repetition of "the days of Noah" at the time He comes in these end-times, let's just carefully look at "the days of Noah," and see if we can find a parallel between these two 600 year periods.
     In Genesis 6:1, it is specifically stated that "...men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them."  Right
there is where the trouble started.  It was at that time when Satan and his fallen angels came in among mankind, influencing and corrupting, and introducing all kinds of evil into the world.  This provoked the Lord to say in Genesis 6:3, "...My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."  
     If this statement applies to the length of time left to mankind on the earth preceding the flood, then the statement was made in the year, 1536 a.c.a. [after the creation of Adam]. The flood came in the year, 1656 a.c.a.  1536 + 120 = 1656.  Significantly,  there has been a corresponding 120 years in the 600 year period in which we are living today.      
      The Regathering of Israel
     Every serious Bible student knows that the Lord God made an "everlasting covenant" with Abraham, choosing his "seed" as His special people "for ever."  This covenant was then confirmed with the nation of Israel and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.  See Genesis 17:1-8 and Exodus 19:5-6; 31:16-18.  
     But due to Israel's apostasy from the Lord, the nation of Israel was destroyed and the Jewish people were temporarily scattered all over the earth.  The Lord God had every intention of regathering the Jewish people back to their ancient homeland again, and this is repeatedly stated in many prophetic Scriptures throughout the Bible.  
The Regathering
     1897.......In "the days of Noah" preceding the flood the Lord God gave to mankind a 120 year warning, Genesis 6:3.  Is it then just "coincidence" that in 1897 Theodor Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland, for the stated purpose of seeking out a national homeland for the "wandering Jew?"  This definitely marked the beginning of the regathering of the Jewish people back to their land.  
     1897 + 120 years ends exactly in 2017.  
     1917.......Up to the First World War the ancient land of Israel had been occupied by the Ottoman Turks for 400 years, and during that time, the Turks would not allow a single Jew to enter the Holy Land.  But the last of the Ottoman Turks were driven from the Holy Land, with the end of the First World War in 1917.  
     The League of Nations, the forerunner of the United Nations, then voted to place the Holy Land under British Mandate.   Significantly, it was also in 1917 that Great Britain published the Balfour Declaration,  opening up the Holy Land to Jewish immigration, and the Jews began returning to their ancient homeland.  This was exactly 100 years ago.
     1917 + 100 = 2017.  
     1947.......When Theodor Herzel convened the First Zionist Congress in 1897, he publicly stated that "Israel will be re-established as a nation within fifty years.  
     1897 + 50 = 1947.
     Then in 1947 the United Nations voted to end the British Mandate over the Holy Land, and Jewish leaders were given permission to establish their own country [nation] upon that land.  Those Jewish leaders started working immediately to bring that to pass.  That was 70 years ago.  "70" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "the restoration of Israel."  
     1947 + 70 = 2017.  
      1948.......The nation of Israel was reestablished on May 14-15, 1948.  Immediately the enemies of Israel attacked the new nation, and Israel was  forced  to  fight  their war of Independence.  Their war of Independence finally ended in 1949 with Israel being victorious over their enemies.   Even some Christian believers do not realize that Psalm 48 - 49 describe this war in detail.  Read it and marvel at the power and majesty of Almighty God who gave us His inspired Word long before Israel was reestablished as a nation.  
     Over the following 18 years Israel was forced to fight the Suez Canal War, the Yom Kippur war, and finally the Six Day war.  They won every war they fought, for they were reestablished as a nation, exactly as the inspired Word prophesied they would be, and Israel is here to stay.  Sadly, some of Israel's enemies are dull witted and slow to learn.
     1967.......This was the year Israel was forced to fight what is today called the Six Day War, for the whole war was won by Israel in just six days.  During this war Israel recovered all of Jerusalem, their beloved Capitol city, the [so called] Temple Mount, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank.   Hoping to gain political favor, Israel gave the Temple Mount, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights back to their enemies.  Even to this day, Israel has not yet learned that they need the approval of no one other than the Lord God of Heaven.  
     This Six Day War was fought exactly 50 years ago this year.  "50" is the number in the Bible signifying "the Jubilee."  See Leviticus 25.
      I don't think it was just "coincidence" that this Six Day war was fought exactly 50 years, one Jubilee, after the Balfour Declaration in 1917.  From 1917 to 1967 would have then been the first Jubilee year for the regathered and restored people of Israel.  
      During a 50th Jubilee year, all land was returned to it's rightful owners, and they were to take possession of it.  All slaves were set free,  and liberty was proclaimed throughout the land.  And now this is the 50th year again, the second Jubilee for the regathered and restored Jewish people.  
     Do our readers suppose it is possible that this may be the Jubilee year when we New Covenant believers are set free from this present evil world by the coming of our Lord at the rapture, Galatians 1:4?  
     1967 + 50 = 2017.
     1987.......In 1987 the Palestinians began their "Intifada" [uprising] against Israel.  This was 30 years ago.  "30" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "blood; the shedding of blood."   And this Palestinian Intifada has continued right to this present day.  It will SOON end with the coming of our Lord, and the terrible Tribulation period coming upon the Palestinians and all others on earth LEFT BEHIND when the rapture occurs.  
     1987 + 30 = 2017.   
More Significant Events
     In the past several months we have seen four blood moons occur, which according to past records, rarely occur only every several hundred years apart.  And in the past occurances, there was always some significant event which occurred in close connection with their appearance.  
     There has also been asteroids, eclipses, and strange movements in the heavens, huge earthquakes and hurricanes on the earth, strange storms, and unusual changes in climate and weather.  On August 21st  of this year there was a solar eclipse, which had not occurred in some 400 years.  In September, the constellations had shifted in the heavens to begin forming the "sign" clearly prophesied to occur during the coming Tribulaion period in Revelation 12.  All of these things ought to tell the true Bible believer that we are living in the end of this age, and the next great prophetic event will be the coming of the Lord Jesus to take His New Covenant Church and people home to glory.  Praise the Lord!  
Is This All Just "Coincidence?"
     Now is it just "coincidence" that this year of 2017 has been exactly 120 years since Theodor Herzl convened the First Zionist Congress in 1897 for the stated purpose of seeking out a national homeland for the  Jewish people?  "120" is the number in the Bible signifying "organization or infrastructure."   1897 + 120 = 2017.
     Is it just "coincidence" that in 1917 the Ottoman Turks were driven from the Holy Land, which they had occupied for 400 years, making it possible for the Jewish people to begin returning to their ancient homeland?  And also in 1917 the Balfour Declaration was written, declaring that the British government was favorable to Jewish immigration back to their ancient homeland.   These events occurred exactly 100 years ago.  "100" is the number in the Bible signifying "the chosen; to choose or elect."  1917 + 100 = 2017.  
     Is it just "coincidence" that in 1947 the United Nations voted to end the British Mandate over the Holy Land, and the Jewish people were given the right to establish their own state again?  That was 70 years ago!  "70" is the number in the Bible signifying "restoration; to restore."   1947 + 70 = 2017.  
     Israel then fought four wars, their war of independence in 1948-49, the Suez Canal war in 1956, the Six Day war in 1967, and the Yom Kippur war in 1973, and won them all.  Is it just "coincidence" that in  the Six Day war in 1967, Israel completely recovered her beloved Capitol City of Jerusalem.  "50" is the number in the Bible signifying "liberty; to set free; Jubilee."  That was exactly 50 years ago.  1967 + 50 = 2017.  
     Is it just "coincidence" that in 1977 the President of Egypt flew into Israel for the specific purpose of making peace with Israel?  Israel  signed her first peace treaty with the nation of Egypt exactly 40 years ago.  "40" is the number in the Bible signifying "testing; trial; a period of testing."   1977 + 40 = 2017.    
     Is it just "coincidence" that in 1987 the Palestinian Intifada began in Israel?  This intifada still continues today between Israel and the so-called Palestinians.  That was exactly 30 years ago.  "30" is the number in the Bible which signifies "blood; the shedding of blood."  1987 + 30 = 2017.   
Conclusion
     I have just listed six years in the modern history of Israel, which all point to a culmination in 2017.   Does this then make this present year of 2017 important in the fulfillment of end-time prophecy, or does it not?   Think about it!  
      Is it then even remotely possible that the seventh event in this series of events, could be the coming of Christ in this present year of 2017, to resurrect and rapture His Church and New Covenant believers to glory?   Every honest reader should be willing to admit that this is certainly possible.  
     "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," Revelation 22:20.  
     Yes, I am still looking for the very SOON coming of our Lord to take His believing people "home" to Heaven.  I have no apology to make to anyone for continuing to believe that the rapture will occur in this present year of 2017.  
     Yes, I could be wrong!  But just in case I am not wrong, are you ready to meet the Lord?  Are you truly saved?  Read Ephesians 2:8-10.  And as Peter says in his epistle, ".....make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall," 2 Peter 1:10-11.  
     May our gracious Lord bless 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.
     Please continue to hold me and this Bible Study ministry up in prayer.  I truly feel the need of the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ.  My health continues to deteriorate.  I am praying the Lord will keep me alive to take part in the glorious rapture of His people.  I thank each of you from my heart, for your prayers and for your gifts.    
     Please address all comments, questions, or correspondence to: Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 County Road 8120, Rolla, Missouri 65401, or email me at fmr7glrybd@yahoo.com.  
     May the Lord's blessings rest upon every reader is my prayer.  
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