The Signs of the Times by Pastor Riley

The “Signs of the Times” UPDATE…..
                                                                  By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                           February 7, 2016
    “…..O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”  Matthew 16:3.
 
    “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins,” Isaiah 58:1.

    “This know also, that in the last days perilous [hard; grevious; difficult; challenging; dangerous ] times shall come,” 2 Timothy 3:1. 
Introduction
    In this study I purpose to inform my readers of current events which even many true believers do not want to hear, yet the knowledge of these events are needful, in order to motivate our readers to prepare themselves spiritually and physically to face what is here and what is yet coming.   This statement is the nearest thing to an apology for my writing this study that any reader is going to get.  Understood?
    I first wrote on this subject back in 2007, pointing out in that study what was going on at the time, and that “7” is the Bible number signifying “completion; fulfillment; to complete or bring to fulfillment.”  In that previous study I also pointed out that “8” is the Bible number signifying “new things; new birth; new beginning; to change or begin anew.”  On that basis I pointed out that life was going to change in 2008 in this nation, and likely around the whole world.  And change it did!
    All of the “signs” of change were there in 2007, and in 2008 the change began in this country with the collapse of the housing market.  Remember?  In 2008 America began its slide into recession, and worse, and it has been downhill in this country from that day until the present.
    I want our readers to understand that I am not tooting my own horn.  I would never have known any of this, except by serious study of the Word of God, and being guided into this knowledge by the Holy Spirit of God, John 16:13.  Therefore, unto God be all the glory for letting me know what was about to happen and allowing me to share it with my readers.  . 
    Now let’s turn our attention to the current “signs of the times” to see what is happening and what we can learn…..

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The Imminent Collapse of the Economic System
    With the average person, the economy [the dollar] is the bottom line, so how is our economy doing?  Terrible!  And here is the proof…..
Medicare and Social Security
   The Constitutionally illegitimate President of the United States has publicly expressed his desire on numerous occasions to rid the nation of the expense of Medicare and Social Security by abolishing both of these government programs.  Well guess what?
    On May 1, 2016 Social Security, by Executive Order of course, will begin to undergo a complete overhaul by Congress.  Obama has wanted to totally abolish the SS program, but his advisors feared outright revolution against the government if this was done.  So they chose instead to dismantle the program bit by bit.  God only knows what will happen when the Demon-crats and Re-publicans get their shot at our present Social Secuirity system.  But I personally do not believe what will come out of it will be good for the elderly citizens of America, many of whom  are depending on their Social Security checks just to survive.
     This brings up another truth that the government and the liberal news media has carefully hidden from the people..  Why does Obama want to allow the so-called refugees fleeing from the wars in the Middle East to come to the United States?  Isn’t it glaringly obvious that most of these refugees are Muslims?  And that Mr. Obama is a Muslim?  And what hasn’t been publicized by the news media, is that as soon as one of these refugees and their families arrive in this county, they are immediately placed on Social Security and Medicare at no cost to them.  And who is paying the costs for this travesty?  The dumbed down American taxpayers!  Hello! 
     Folks, May 1st is only a little more than 60 days away, and then the chaos in Social Security begins.  What can or will the poor, the elderly, and the retiree be able to do about it?  I’m so glad you asked!    
The American and World Economy
    As I write, I have laying on my desk an article written by a man who is regarded as one of the world’s leading economist..  The bottom line in writing his article was to give a warning to the American people to RIGHT NOW get their money out of the banks, and out of their retirement accounts before the collapse comes and there is a run on the banks.  This man bluntly says without any reservation, that the whole world and American is teetering on the edge of imminent economic collapse, and
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that the collapse WILL COME at any time now.    When it occurs, the entire banking system in America and the world will totally collapse.  The economic collapse that caused the Great Depression which began in 1929, began in Germany.  When the economic system of Germany collapsed, it dragged down the banking system in the rest of the world.  Today, this same scenario is being repeated, but the country this time which is going to drag down the rest of the economy of the world is very likely the United States of America.  When this happens, the people will run to the banks to withdraw whatever money they have in them.  This world known economist is predicting that in the first two days of the collapse, there will be $15 Billion dollars per hour withdrawn from the banks.  After that first two days all of the banks across America will close for a “banking holiday” and no one will be able to withdraw even one red cent of their money.  You have been warned!
    One more historical note of interest…..on the day in 1929 when the American stock market collapsed, and the Great Depression began, more than 300 stock market investors on Wall Street committed suicide that very day, for they had lost “their god” and had nothing left to live for. Police and ambulances in New York city were kept busy all that day picking up the bodies of the ex-millionaires and ex-billionaires who had jumped out of their skyscraper offices on Wall Street.  Folks, this is documented history.  It really did happen!  I thought this was fascinating history, due to the fact that the number, “300,” is prominent in God’s Word.  How many soldiers did Gideon use to defeat the vast army of the Midianites which came against him?  Well…??   I am made to wonder how many ex-millionaires or ex-billionaires on Wall Street are going to commit suicide when the collapse comes this time?????
The Oil Industry
    As I write, the price of gasoline to fuel our automobiles is now down to $1.45 cents a gallon here in Missouri.  This has fallen in the past few months from a high of over $4.00 per gallon in many places in the U.S.  It is predicted that the price will drop even lower in the next few weeks, due to their being a glut of oil on the world market.  The Muslim nations of the Middle East were so greedy for western dollars that they didn’t have  enough economic sense to limit their production.  Now their chickens have come home to roost, and the entire oil industry is suffering for it and about to collapse.  Another link in the chain of events leading up to the beginning of the time of world tribulation, Matthew 24:21. 
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The Weather Systems
    It should be glaringly obvious to every reader that the weather systems this year are totally out of sync with what they have been in the past.  We here in Missouri are experiencing the strangest winter that I can even remember in my entire lifetime, and in a few days I will be 82 years young. All of this winter we have experienced extreme differences in temperature from day to day.  One day it will be balmy and sunny and very pleansant.  The next day it will be bitter cold.  As I write today, the temperature will be nearly 60 degrees.  This is over 20 degrees higher than the average for this time of year.  But tomorrow the high temperature is predicted to be 30 degrees with a “dusting” of snow. Then the day after tomorrow it is predicted to drop even lower, around 27 or 28 degrees.  And the day after that…..in the 50 degree range.  However, unlike what is happening on the East Coast, we are receiving very little serious snowfall.  This means that we are not receiving the moisture that we need to water the land and grow the food and other crops needed to feed the multitudes of people in this state and throughout America. 
World Food Supplies
     What is happening?   Whether some want to believe it or not, God’s judgment is coming upon America, and yes upon the rest of the world too..  Folks, such weather extremes from one day to the next are not at all in harmony with past weather records, and are already causing all kinds of problems with the agriculture in this country.  However, this unusual weather is not limited to this country.  These extremes in weather are happening in countries all over the world.   Many of the major food producing nations of the world have suffered extreme drought over the past several years, and continue to suffer drought.  Rivers and lakes and water reserves are drying up, and the land is not producing.  Food shortages are developing in countries all over the world.  The only reason we have not already felt these shortages in America is because other countries want our American dollars.  But these shortages are swiftly coming to America, and the “signs” of them coming are already on the horizon.
    I would remind my readers to carefully study the opening of the third seal in Revelation 6:5-6.  This will occur shortly after the beginning of the Tribulation period.  By the time the third seal is opened, there will be such a world wide shortage of food, that “a measure of wheat” will be selling for “a penny” [a denarion ].  A measure of wheat was about a quart
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of wheat, approximately enough to bake one loaf of bread, and the denarion was one days wages for the average worker, Matthew 20:2. In essence, the food shortage is going to become so bad that it will cost a full days wages to buy even a single loaf of bread, and millions of people will be out of work and not able to buy.  Therefore, millions will starve to death due to world food shortages and famine, Revelation 6:8.. Our readers might also notice that world wide food rationing will be imposed upon the nations, as indicated by the rider on the black horse holding a pair of scales in his hand.  For what reason?  In the context, it is obvious that he is weighing out only a certain amount of food as a daily [or weekly?] ration, but only for those who are able to buy it.  Total control of the world food supply by the world government.   
    Dear readers, I am not speaking about events 20 or 30 years down the road, or even 2 or 3 years away.  I am speaking about events to come in   months, or even weeks,  from RIGHT NOW.       
    A Warning to readers…..Folks, DO NOT HOARD FOOD!  If the reader is a true believer in our Savior and Lord, Philippians 4:19 is still in the Bible, and the Word of our Lord is still faithful and true.  However, do have enough good sense to prepare for your family, and while you are preparing, PRAY for the coming of our Lord to deliver His people out of “this present evil world,” Galatians 1:4.  If the reader is not a true believer, then seek the Lord Jesus for salvation RIGHT NOW!  Plain enough?
The American Political Situation
    As I write a red hot political campaign is underway in this country, and almost all other news is sidelined by the news media to give preference to the “great political” campaigns being waged by those “wanna be’s”  who desire to be our next President.
     But hey!  Who said Obama has any plans to leave office?  No, I am not being asinine in asking this question!  I do know that the Obama administration has made plans to swiftly deal with an expected uprising among the American people [for what reason? ] by training special military troops to come in and assist the local police forces in maintaining civil order, in the event of such an uprising. . I also have what I consider to be reliable information that an Executive Order has been signed by Obama, and approved by our gullible Congress, granting Obama the right to declare “Martial Law” in the event of such an uprising.  Folks, under “Martial Law” all liberties guaranteed by the Constitution are suspended, and the American people are placed solely at the “mercies” of the
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government.  You know, like a baby rabbit at the mercy of a rattlesnake.  
    Folks, this is almost a step by step re-play of how Adolph Hitler became the Dictator of Nazi Germany.  Hello! 
    So, if this plan is carried out, who can honestly say with assurance, that there will be a Presidential election in November, and that Obama will leave office?  Are you listening?
The One-World Government
    However, Mr. Obama might decide to leave his present position if he could obtain an even higher office.  The only thing that might tempt him to give up his position as President of the United States, is if he could become the General Secretary [ruler] of the United Nations.  Whether that happens or not is totally in the hands of Almighty God, Daniel 2:20-21; 4:17.  Some “prophecy teachers” do claim to believe that Obama is the prophesied anti-christ, and that he is in the process of setting up the one-world government, with himself as the head.  
    I want to make it very clear to my readers that I am not one who is teaching this theory about Obama.  I have found no Scriptural proof which causes me to believe that Obama is the prophesied anti-christ.  But we will wait and see what yet happens, for we sure don’t have long to wait.  There are spiritually ignorant people in high positions all over the world today who are clamoring for a one-world government to be established.  So such a one-world government is definitely already in the minds and plans of many of the present world leaders. 
The One-World Religion  
    Likely foremost among them is Pope Francis, the present Pope and spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic religious system.  No, I did not use the word “church.”  Roman Catholicism, despite it’s claims, is not a “church” of the Lord Jesus Christ, never has been, and never will be.  Rather, it is just another false religion founded by the Roman Emperor, Constantine, in 313 A.D.  This was more than three centuries after Christ Jesus had already ascended back to the Father in heaven.  So how could any reasonably intelligent person even believe that the old “Roman whore” religious system was found by Christ Himself during His personal ministry?  Sic!
    Pope Francis is the name of the present leader of this pagan, idolatrous, religious cult, and he has come out publicly and strongly in favor of a one-world government, and a one-world religious system.  In the past several years since becoming Pope, Francis has already met with a
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number of the leaders of the various denominations who “profess” to be followers of Christ and Christianity.  I have received reports of him meeting with leaders of the Mormon cult, the Lutherans, the Pentecostals, the Methodists, the Greek Orthodox, and even the Muslims.  Discussions have been held between Francis and these leaders in an effort to bring them all “home,” placing them all under the umbrella of the Roman religion.  Pope Francis is busy, busy, busy, building the one-world religious system, which is already, or soon will be, under the control of  the prophesied anti-christ.   
    Right now, even as I write, a public announcement has been made  this past week about a meeting between Pope Francis and the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Catholic religious system.  These two groups split over a thousand years ago, and now they are scheduled to talk about reuniting into one world Catholic religious group, led, of course, by the Pope in Rome.  Hello!   The one-world religion is closer to reality than even many true believers today realize. 
     And where do our readers think that will leave true believers?  Folks, we look back and call them “the Dark Ages” because of the bitter persecution, suffering, and death that was brought upon the true churches and believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word during that period of time for refusing to compromise with the Roman whore religion.  Would it be any different now if true churches and Christian believers refused once again to compromise with “Mama Babylon?”  Not according to the inspired text of the Book of Revelation.  Carefully study the Lord’s letter to the church at Thyatira, Revelation 2:18-29.  This old Roman whore religious system, under the rule of the anti-christ during the coming Tribulation period, is not through shedding the blood of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Read it for yourself in Revelation 13:1-18, 17:6,18:20 and 18:24.   And further…..
The Criminal Element
    Folks, I was born in 1934, during the year that historians call the worst year of the Great Depression.  Of course, the little farming community in which I was born and grew up, was crime free.  It was the large cities which were suffering crime at the hands of the Mafia during the Depression.  Times were indeed bad.  I could write a small book on what I personally saw and experienced growing up during those Depression years.  Yet in my little town there was no crime.  Sometime back in the 1800’s the town had built a fine brick jail.  The only time I can even
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remember that jail being used was to lock up someone who got drunk and wanted to fight.  As far as stealing and robbing and lootimg and raping and killing,, such as goes on today, it was non-existent in my little home town.
In the seventeen years from my birth until I left that little town to go  into public work elsewhere, there was only one murder committed in our town in all those years, and it was done by an outsider coming in.   All the people in town knew one another personally, and looked out for the welfare of one another.  They were kind and courteous and respectful towards one another, and shared what little they had with one another during those hard Depression years. 
    Now contrast this with what you see today in our American society.  Sure, we still have good people in our communities and nation, but they are so far outnumbered by the evil, wicked, greedy, grasping, people that it is pathetic and frightening. 
    Folks, when [not if] the economy collapses in this country, there will be robbing, looting, raping, burning, killing, and every kind of vicious crime imaginable committed by those struggling to survive.  It will truly be a “me first and to hades with you” type of situation.  “Oh, surely it will not be that bad.  The police will protect us.”  Fellow, or lady, what have you been smoking, or are you just living in your own little fantasy world?   Under such conditions, law enforcement and the rule of law will totally break down, and it will be up to each individual or family to protect themselves or suffer the consequences. 
     There is no question in my mind that this is why the Lord Jesus Himself explicitly stated, “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be,” Mark 13:19.  These are the inspired words of the Lord Himself.  Take heed! 
Glorious Deliverance!  
    I thank God for every reader who has been given the GRACE to read this far.  I hope no reader is unduly overcome with discouragement about what is JUST AHEAD, looming on the horizon even as I write.  So now as I bring this study to a close, I want once again to remind all true believers, that in this very period of time, we have a “blessed hope” to look to and be encouraged by, Titus 2:11-15. 
    Our Savior and Lord is coming for us, even during these times of affliction and heartache that we are experiencing RIGHT NOW.  The passage I have referenced and quoted many times in my studies is still in
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the inspired Word and still says what it means, and means what it says,
    “Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,” Galatians 1:3-4. 
    In this passage, don’t fail to notice the statement, “from this present evil world.”  Look it up in your own Concordance or Greek Lexicon.  The Greek word in this Scripture which is translated as “world” is literally the word “aion,”  literally meaning “age; dispensation; time period.”  Notice that the Scripture explicitly specifies “this present” age, dispensation, or time period.  We are not to be delivered in the age or time period in which the Tribulation occurs.  We New Covenant believers are to be delivered in  or “from this present evil” time period or age.  Glory to God! 
    Yes, this Scripture alone teaches a Pre-Tribulation Rapture for all true New Covenant believers.  But this Scripture is not alone.  There are many more which teach the same truth.  The immoveable, unshakable, words of the Lord Himself state the same truth in Revelation 3:10. 
    Dear readers, just any day now, or in the next 60 to 70 days, I personally expect to hear the Trumpet of Michael, the arch-angel,  releasing the bodies of  “the dead in Christ” from their graves, and the “shout” of our Lord calling all of His New Covenant family to come “home” to glory, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  I truly hope and pray that every reader of this study is ready to go…..
     When the Lord God gave instructions to Israel to eat the first Passover supper, they were to eat it with their shoes on their feet, their clothes on their backs, and their staffs in ther hand, READY to leave Egypt.  Dear readers, if you are not READY to leave “this present evil world,” then  run, don’t walk, RUN to wherever you want to make your altar and cry out to the Lord God for mercy and faith and salvation.  Read John 3:36 and please meet me in Heaven.  
    You dear readers have the message the Lord laid on my heart today.  Your response to it is now your own choice!  May God grant to each of you mercy and faith for today and for all eternity to come. 

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         Pastor F. M. Riley, 184 County Road 108, Harrisburg, MO 65256