Intro
Welcome again to another podcast. I am once again Dreamwalker1960
Today we will continue to look into the Olivet Discourse, which continued into the 25th chapter of Matthew.
SPECIAL NOTE: Now as I have established before. These studies of the end times have an influence from the John F Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries. In these four books Dr. Walvoord, who taught at a Baptist Seminary, covered all the angles at which we humans approach the return of Jesus Christ and the Tribulation.
I have taken this honey comb of knowledge as well as reading the Bible itself and studying it as is required of all who calls themselves “Christian” to do. Then squeezed out the honey of all the sources through prayer and supplication and am presenting to you the listeners and readers a condensed version of all this knowledge. To help you in your own pursuit of coming to know God more personally in your own lives.
This is not just me spouting out my own personal theories, but the condensed knowledge of thousands of scholars over nearly two thousand years of study and speculation.
Now on with today’s study.
Discussion
A change of topics
Now that Jesus has answered the two questions posed to Him by the apostles. Jesus continues the discourse into a deeper teaching that He wanted the disciples to hear before He could not teach them. Here again He starts this teaching with a parable.
The parable of the ten virgins
Matthew 25:1-13 – “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
This parable deals with the Rapture. Within it is a very complex imagery of belief and preparedness, as well as Christ stating He may be delayed. Let’s try and look at imagery presented here.
First off we have the bridesmaids. The word “bridesmaids” is in itself extremely important to understand for within it is referring to salvation itself. In other books within the Bible Jesus Christ is referred to as the “bridegroom” and the Christian peoples are the “bridesmaids.” Just as the Jewish people are called the bride to God Himself.
Now note how wording is done in the first verse of this chapter. In the KJV it is this way:
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.”
“Went forth to meet.” This is humanity using their free-will to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and journeying forth to learn more about Him through pray and reading of the Bible. This is signified with the statement “which took their lamps.” The lamps are lit, which again points to acceptance of Christ and salvation and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
“And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”
NOTE: It must be said that throughout the Bible. Oil is used for anointing those chosen by God. It is seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So all are filled with the Holy Ghost for their lamps are lit and have oil. Thus this is talking exclusively of only those who can truly call of themselves as “Christians,” in the literal sense.
Now if the lamps are to stay lit it shows we must be prepared. This is accomplished through reading the Bible and seeking to understand it. Since we do not know when the groom will appear we must stay within the Word of God and live our lives accordingly. We must live our lives in agreement with the Bible every day for we do not know when Jesus will come. Thus having an active part in our relationship with God though Jesus Christ with the aid of the Holy Spirit.
However, as is shown in the parable there are those that do not. They live their lives in and of the world and so are not prepared for His return. These are the foolish. These are the lukewarm. However note this next verse:
“While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.”
Jesus makes it clear that in our eyes, the bridegroom, Jesus, will tarry, will delay.
We also see that in those words that all that accepted Christ will fall asleep. We all wonder and become distracted. This has been the case for well over one hundred years. For all of Christendom has fallen into a sleep in which most do not live a righteous life. But a life which is more associated with the world than with God and the teachings of the Bible.
“And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”
The “cry” is the warning signs that we are taught to look for, which at this very time are being seen and heard throughout the entire world. So the virgins, the bridesmaids are instructed to go to meet the bridegroom. We are instructed to fix our lives and get back on track and to return to our path of faith and obedience to the Word of God, and a rejection of all that is of the world, even down to our possessions.
“Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.”
Those that did not see the signs and did not prepare or “trimmed their lamps” soon enough find they are not prepared. Also note that their lamps were no longer lit. Meaning they were no longer filled with the Holy Ghost. They had foolishly ignored it. So they turn to those that are prepare for the return of Christ. So they tell those not ready to go and read the Bible and learn the truth and get their lives in order. Now remember this parable is speaking only of the “Kingdom of Heaven.” This is only talking about those that say they are “Christian,” and were saved.
Then Christ returns and the rapture occurs and those not prepared are left on the earth. Those on earth scream up to the heavens and say “Here we are Lord we are ready for you!” and per the Bible Christ’s reply will be:
“Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
Which I have established in a past podcast (Who are the “lukewarm?” part 3) is a Jewish legalist response, which does not mean those He is talking to were never saved. It means they are not worthy of being welcomed into the wedding feast.
They are left here to suffer the torments that are to follow for the next three and a half years. They must now accept Christ’s decision to leave them and refill their oil, then preach His Word. They must suffer insult and injury as well as persecution. They will be offered the mark of the beast and many will accept the mark. While those that do not will accept their fate and suffer pain and agony as they are beheaded. They will become the martyrs of the Tribulation and will number in the billions. Many can not accept this view. However, it is not me they are having issue with. These are not my words. This is the way the Bible was written, with all the verses taken into consideration. They are taken in context and do not add too or take away. As we are instructed to learn and follow per Galatians 1.
So let us look at Revelation chapter seven
Revelation 7:9-17 – After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
God through Jesus Christ never abandons us. It is always humanity that falls short. And so due to this billions will finally see the light and come to know Christ and allow themselves to become martyrs.
Parable of the three servants and the talents or silver
Matthew 25:14-30 – “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. 16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. 19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ 21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ 23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ 24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ 26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ 28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This parable deals within not just salvation but of spreading the Word of God to others. So that they too can partake of the wonders and glory that are to be given unto all that are faithful in the eternal life to come. Those that are faithful to the Word of God and spread it faithfully and accurately are blessed and given more responsibilities. While those that receive their salvation and hide it and do not share unto the world the teachings of Jesus Christ are not welcome in the house of the Lord and are cast into the pit “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Do not hide your faith and belief in God and His Son Jesus Christ. Do not defame the Word and the teachings that are within the Bible. Most importantly share your faith to the world. Do not hide away the fact that you are Christian.
God Bless
dreamwalker1960 