Participants:
Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000023S
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00:01 Music...
00:20 Shall we pray? 00:22 "Father in heaven, 00:24 as we near the end of this Series 00:26 and speak about marriage customs in Scripture, 00:31 we need your special wisdom and guidance. 00:35 Marriages in Biblical times 00:38 were different than marriages today, 00:40 so give me the wisdom to explain the Biblical customs. 00:45 Give those who are watching this understanding 00:49 that the lessons we learn might be instrumental 00:52 in our personal walk day to day with Jesus. 00:55 We thank you for hearing our prayer, 00:59 for we ask it in Jesus' name, amen. " 01:02 There's a big difference between eastern weddings 01:07 and western weddings. 01:09 Today we're going to talk about wedding customs as they existed 01:14 in the days of Jesus Christ. 01:17 The customs were very different 01:20 than the customs for weddings today. 01:22 Now, in our next lesson, we are going to study 01:26 about the parable of the ten virgins. 01:29 We're going to dedicate an entire session 01:32 just to that one parable. 01:33 However, today I am going to make reference 01:37 to the parable of the ten virgins 01:39 so that we are introduced to what we are going to study 01:44 more fully tomorrow. 01:46 So, first of all let's go through the process 01:49 of a wedding in the times of Christ 01:53 and in the Old Testament. 01:55 First of all, you have the betrothal or the engagement. 01:59 The engagement between the bride and the groom 02:03 took place at the home of the bride's father 02:08 and at that place, when the engagement was made, 02:12 the groom paid the dowry to the bride's father 02:18 for having the bride. 02:21 Then, after this, 02:23 the groom would return to his father's house 02:27 to prepare a home... a permanent home 02:31 where he and his wife-to-be were to live out their lives. 02:36 During the period of preparation, 02:39 the bride, at her home, also prepared for the wedding. 02:44 Of course, it was necessary to send out invitations 02:48 so that the guests to the wedding would be able to come 02:53 and so invitations were sent out after the engagement 02:58 inviting those who would be guests 03:02 or invitees to the wedding. 03:05 Now, it needed to be determined 03:09 once the people were in the wedding chamber 03:13 who had a right to be there... 03:15 who was a legitimate guest who had received the invitation. 03:20 So, in some cases, 03:22 the groom's father would send out a special wedding garment 03:27 that the invitees had to wear 03:30 in order to be in the wedding chamber officially. 03:34 In a moment we're going to see some examples of this 03:39 and then, the wedding would eventually take place 03:44 in the father of the groom... the father of the groom's home. 03:50 That's where the wedding would actually take place. 03:53 And then of course, following the wedding, 03:56 you had the celebration... you had the wedding reception. 04:00 Now, the parable of the ten virgins 04:03 gives us some idea of what eastern weddings were like. 04:08 The story is found in Matthew chapter 25 04:12 and verses 1 to 13. 04:15 Now, Jesus instructed His individual followers 04:21 to be ready to go in with Him 04:24 to the wedding chamber as invited guests to the wedding. 04:29 In other words, the individuals who were followers of Jesus 04:33 they are invited to be guests at the wedding. 04:36 We'll unpack that further as we move along. 04:40 Now, let's take a look at the parable of the ten virgins. 04:44 All of the ten virgins claimed to be believers 04:48 in Jesus Christ 04:50 but five were genuine believers 04:53 and five were counterfeit believers. 04:56 Now, the virgins were supposed to light the way 05:00 to the wedding chamber. 05:01 This represents the fact that God's people 05:05 who have accepted the invitation to the wedding 05:09 need to lighten the way to the wedding chamber. 05:13 They need to provide light so that other people 05:16 will join in going to the wedding 05:20 and the wedding chamber. 05:21 But you find in the parable of the ten virgins... a delay. 05:26 The groom does not come for the wedding 05:30 as soon as the virgins were expecting 05:34 and so, they slumber. 05:36 But then, when the groom is about to arrive 05:41 to enter the wedding chamber, 05:43 you have what is called the midnight cry. 05:46 There's a cry: Behold the bridegroom commeth, 05:49 prepare to receive Him. 05:52 And so, now, all of the virgins wake up. 05:55 Five of them have extra oil in their vessels 05:59 and five of them had oil in their lamps 06:02 but no provision for extra oil. 06:05 And so, the groom arrives... 06:09 the wise virgins enter the wedding chamber 06:12 and the door is shut. 06:14 Meanwhile, the foolish virgins have gone to try and buy oil 06:20 but when they come back, 06:22 they realize that the door is shut. 06:25 The wedding takes place behind closed doors 06:30 and the foolish are left outside. 06:33 In fact, they are sent into outer darkness 06:37 where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. 06:41 Now, it's very important for us to understand 06:45 that Jesus told His followers to watch 06:49 because they did not know when the groom was coming. 06:52 Now, we need to understand that that is not referring 06:56 to the second coming of Christ. 06:58 That is referring to the moment that Jesus comes to His Father 07:03 to marry His bride or to receive the kingdom. 07:07 In other words, when Jesus says, 07:10 "You know, watch... 07:12 because you don't know when your Lord is coming... " 07:13 it's not talking about His coming to this earth 07:16 in His second coming, 07:17 it's talking about Jesus going to the Father 07:21 for the marriage to His kingdom or to His bride. 07:24 We will unpack this more as we move along. 07:28 Now, another wedding parable that Jesus gave 07:32 is found in Matthew chapter 22 and verses 1 through 14. 07:38 I want to read a short statement from Ellen White, 07:40 Great Controversy page 428 07:43 where Ellen White sets the stage for a very important event 07:47 in this particular parable. 07:48 This quotation says, 07:51 "In the parable of Matthew 22 07:53 the same figure of the marriage is introduced... " 07:56 as in the parable of the ten virgins... that is... 08:01 "and the Investigative Judgment is clearly represented 08:05 as taking place before the marriage. " 08:07 So before the marriage... before Jesus is in the wedding chamber, 08:10 and He marries His bride... or He marries the kingdom 08:13 there is an investigation of the guests 08:16 to see if they have the wedding garment 08:19 and they are actually authorized to be there 08:23 for the wedding. 08:24 So, let's go through this parable in Matthew 22 08:28 verses 1 through 14 08:30 and I'm only going to synthesize... 08:32 we don't have time to go into all of the details... 08:36 I did one entire presentation that lasted an hour 08:39 on every detail of this parable, 08:42 but I'm only going to give you the highlights. 08:43 In the parable, 08:46 a first invitation is given to the Jewish theocracy. 08:50 They reject the invitation. 08:52 Then the fatted cattle are killed... 08:55 a symbol of the death of Christ 08:57 and then a second invitation goes out 09:00 to the same group of people... to the Hebrew theocracy. 09:04 But the Hebrew theocracy rejects the second invitation as well. 09:09 So, then in the year 70, 09:12 God the Father sends His armies... the Roman legions 09:16 and they destroy the city of Jerusalem and the temple 09:19 in the year 70. 09:21 Now, the wedding has not taken place at this point. 09:24 Invitations are being sent out. 09:26 So, because the first two invitations were rejected, 09:30 it's necessary for now the invitations to go more broadly 09:36 and so, now the message... 09:38 the invitation goes to the Gentiles... 09:41 to the uttermost parts of the earth. 09:44 And so, through the lighting of the way to the wedding chamber, 09:48 through the preaching of the gospel, 09:51 many people are accepting the invitation 09:54 to come as guests to the wedding. 09:57 In fact, in Matthew 22 and verse 10, we are told, 10:01 "So those servants went out into the highways, 10:04 and gathered together all whom they found, 10:07 both bad and good: 10:10 and the wedding hall was filled with guests. " 10:14 So, throughout the Christian era... 10:16 throughout the Christian dispensation, 10:19 invitations are being sent out. 10:21 People are accepting the invitations to the wedding 10:25 that will take place later on. 10:27 And now, comes the next event in the parable 10:31 and that is the examination of the garments 10:35 of those who accepted the invitation 10:37 to see if they had the right to be in the wedding chamber 10:40 where the wedding will take place. 10:44 We find in chapter 22 and verses 10... 10:48 actually 11 and 12 the following words. 10:51 "But when the king came in to see the guests... " 10:56 now that word "see" is very interesting. 10:59 There's a common word in Greek for see... 11:02 it's the word "blepo. " 11:04 That is not the word here. 11:05 The word here is "theaomai" which is better translated 11:10 that the king came in to examine or to scrutinize the guests. 11:16 It continues... "The king saw a man there 11:21 who did not have on a wedding garment. " 11:25 In other words, he was in the wedding chamber 11:28 but he didn't have a wedding garment. 11:29 At this point, the wedding has not taken place. 11:32 It's the examination of the guests 11:34 to see if they have the garment for the wedding. 11:37 Verse 12, "So he said to him... " 11:41 the king says to him, "Friend, how did you come in here 11:45 without a wedding garment?" 11:47 And he was speechless. 11:51 You see, the groom's father 11:53 sent out an invitation to the wedding 11:56 with a special garment for each guest. 11:59 Once in the wedding chamber, 12:01 the father examined the garments of the guests 12:07 to determine if each was wearing the wedding garment 12:10 that the father had sent out. 12:12 We find in the book Great Controversy, page 482, 12:17 a very interesting passage explaining the fact 12:23 that the invitation is given during the gospel dispensation. 12:27 The guests who accept the invitation 12:30 are believers during the gospel dispensation. 12:33 However, the wedding... we're going to find 12:36 takes place in heaven 12:37 while the invited guests are still on the earth. 12:41 In other words, their garments are examined 12:44 in a heavenly Investigative Judgment 12:46 because their names are up there... 12:48 their records are up there... 12:50 the records are examined up there 12:52 but believers are here. 12:53 They've gone to the wedding by faith... not physically. 12:58 In other words, the examination of the garments 13:00 does not take place after the second coming of Christ. 13:03 It would be absurd to think that Jesus comes the second time... 13:07 He takes His followers... 13:10 those who had accepted the invitation to heaven 13:12 and then in heaven, the King comes out 13:14 and He finds an individual who doesn't have the wedding garment 13:17 and says, "Sorry Buddy, you got to go back to the earth. " 13:20 That's not what this is talking about. 13:22 You see, the examination comes before the wedding 13:25 and once the examination is finished, 13:27 the wedding takes place in heaven... in the chamber 13:31 Jesus marries His bride... He takes over the kingdom 13:34 but His Followers are on the earth. 13:37 Here's the statement from Ellen White. 13:40 "Those who in the judgment are 'accounted worthy'" 13:43 that is... those who have the wedding garment, 13:46 "will have a part in the resurrection of the just. 13:49 So, those in the examination who are found to be worthy 13:54 because they have the garment, 13:55 will have a part in the resurrection of the just. 13:58 Jesus said... " 14:00 and now she is going to quote Scripture, Luke 20:35 and 36. 14:04 "They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world... " 14:08 that is the world to come... 14:10 "and the resurrection from the dead, 14:11 are equal unto the angels; 14:14 and are the children of God, 14:15 being the children of the resurrection. " 14:19 She continues, "And again... " 14:22 she's going to quote another verse... 14:24 John 5:29... 14:25 "And again He declares that 'they that have done good' 14:28 shall come forth 'unto the resurrection of life. ' 14:32 John 5 verse 29." 14:34 Then she comments, 14:37 "The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment 14:41 at which they are accounted worthy 14:43 of 'the resurrection of life. '" 14:45 In other words, the righteous are not going to resurrect 14:48 until their garments have been examined in heaven 14:52 through their records 14:53 and then, if they are accounted worthy, 14:56 they will resurrect from the dead. 14:58 So, she once again says, 15:01 "The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment 15:03 at which they are accounted worthy 15:05 of 'the resurrection of life. ' 15:07 Hence they will not be present in person 15:11 at the tribunal 15:13 when their records are examined and their cases decided. " 15:16 In other words, they're going be on earth. 15:18 But their cases are examined 15:21 in the pre-Advent Investigative Judgment in heaven 15:25 and so, then the wedding takes place in heaven. 15:27 Jesus marries His kingdom. 15:31 Jesus marries the totality of His people. 15:34 See, the bride is not the individuals... 15:37 the bride are the totality of the saved. 15:40 Those who accepted the invitation and had the garment 15:44 and those individuals who profess Jesus 15:48 but their records show 15:50 that they did not live as followers of Jesus, 15:53 will be cast out into outer darkness 15:57 where there was wailing and gnashing of teeth. 16:01 We find in Matthew 22 verse 13, the following words, 16:06 "Then the king said to the servants, 16:09 'Bind him hand and foot, 16:11 take him away... " 16:13 this is the man without the garment... 16:15 "and cast him into outer darkness; 16:17 there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. " 16:21 So, the wedding takes place in heaven. 16:24 Jesus marries His bride 16:26 which is the totality of saved believers... 16:29 which is the same as Jesus taking over the kingdom 16:32 because His kingdom is complete. 16:35 It's been revealed who are subjects of His kingdom. 16:38 His kingdom are His people. 16:40 His bride are the totality of His people. 16:43 Now, let's notice other enlightening texts 16:47 that help us understand this. 16:49 Go with me to Luke chapter 12 and verses 35 to 37. 16:54 Luke 12:35 to 37. 16:57 Here Jesus tells His disciples... His followers, 17:01 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning... " 17:06 so, the lamps burning connects actually 17:09 with the parable of the ten virgins. 17:11 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 17:14 and you yourselves be like men... " 17:17 now, here's an important point, 17:19 "who wait for their master, 17:21 when he will return from the wedding, 17:24 that when he comes and knocks 17:27 they may open to him immediately. " 17:28 Now, did you notice something interesting here? 17:32 It says that the followers of Jesus are waiting 17:35 for the Master to return from the wedding. 17:38 So, the wedding must take place in a different location. 17:42 The wedding takes place in heaven 17:44 but the individual followers of Jesus are on earth 17:47 and the totality of the followers of Jesus 17:50 are His kingdom or His bride. 17:53 Now, it continues saying in verse 37. 17:57 "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, 18:02 will find watching. " 18:05 And then notice that after this, you have the wedding supper 18:09 or we call it the Reception after the wedding. 18:11 It continues saying, 18:13 "Assuredly, I say to you that he... " that is Jesus... 18:18 "will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, 18:23 and will come and serve them. " 18:26 Now, let's notice another passage in Scripture 18:30 that helps us understand this. 18:31 Daniel chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 and verses 13 and 14. 18:38 Now, I need to give you a little bit of context 18:40 so you understand. 18:42 In Daniel chapter 7, you have a lion 18:45 which represents the kingdom of Babylon. 18:47 You have a bear... Medo-Persia. 18:49 You have a leopard... Greece. 18:51 You have a dragon beast which is the Roman Empire. 18:54 Then, the dragon beast sprouts ten horns 18:58 which means that the Roman Empire was divided 19:00 and the division was complete in the year 476 after Christ. 19:05 And then, among the ten rises a Little Horn 19:09 and rules for 1,260 years. 19:12 That Little Horn represents the Papacy from 538 to 1798 19:18 and after this, you have a judgment scene. 19:22 In other words, the judgment has to take place 19:24 sometime after 1798. 19:27 Notice, Daniel chapter 7:9 and 10, 19:31 after speaking about the 1260 years that the Little Horn 19:34 basically did whatever God allowed it to do, 19:37 we find these words. 19:39 Verses 9 and 10, "I watched till thrones were put in place, 19:43 and the Ancient of Days was seated: 19:46 His garment was white as snow, 19:48 and the hair of His head was like pure wool. 19:52 His throne was a fiery flame, 19:54 it's wheels a burning fire; 19:57 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. 20:00 A thousand thousands ministered to Him; 20:03 ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. 20:06 The court was seated, and the books were opened. " 20:11 That means that the judgment is going to begin 20:14 sometime after 1798 20:16 and it's actually in 1844. 20:19 Now, this doesn't end the story. 20:22 You see, the Father lives in heaven. 20:26 We pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven... " 20:27 So, the Ancient of Days is in heaven. 20:31 He's surrounded by all the angels by 10,000 times 10,000 20:35 and thousands of thousands. 20:37 The angels live in heaven 20:39 and now... once the Father is seated 20:42 and the judgment is to begin, you have another scene 20:46 and that is in verses 13 and 14. 20:50 Here Daniel describes... 20:52 "I was watching in the night visions, 20:55 and behold, One like the Son of Man, 20:57 coming with the clouds of heaven!" 21:00 Now, some people say, 21:02 "Well, yeah, see, that's the second coming... " 21:04 no, it's not the second coming. 21:05 We need to read the text carefully. 21:08 It says, "He came to the ancient of days... " 21:12 The Father is in heaven... He's coming to the Father. 21:15 What is He coming to the Father for? 21:17 Let's continue... 21:19 "He came to the Ancient of Days, 21:20 and they brought Him near before Him... " 21:23 "they" is the angels bring Jesus near before the Father. 21:26 Why does He go there? 21:28 Verse 14, "Then to Him... " that is... to Jesus... 21:31 "was given... " 21:33 and obviously the Father's the one who's giving it, 21:34 "to Him was given dominion and glory 21:38 and a kingdom 21:40 that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. 21:44 His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 21:47 which shall not pass away, 21:49 and His kingdom... the one... which shall not be destroyed. 21:53 So, this is the beginning of the Investigative Judgment. 21:57 The Father sits... the books are opened... 21:59 and now, Jesus Christ moves to the Father 22:02 because Jesus is going to receive His kingdom 22:04 which is the same thing as Jesus marrying His bride. 22:08 Let's notice another text which explains this. 22:13 Luke 19 verses 11 and 12. 22:16 Luke 19:11 and 12. 22:18 This is the parable of the pounds. 22:21 "Now as they heard these things, 22:24 He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem 22:28 and because they thought 22:30 the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 22:32 Therefore He said... " now this is a short parable, 22:35 "Therefore He said, 22:37 'A certain nobleman... '" this is Jesus... 22:40 "went into a far country... " that is heaven... 22:44 "to receive for himself a kingdom... " 22:47 where is he going to receive the kingdom? 22:50 In the far country where he went. 22:52 So, it says, "A certain nobleman went into a far country 22:56 to receive for himself a kingdom... " 22:59 but that doesn't end... 23:00 it says, "to receive a kingdom and to return. " 23:03 So, He receives the kingdom in the far country 23:07 and then He comes... according to this. 23:09 Ellen White understood this very well... 23:11 that the marriage... is Jesus taking over the kingdom. 23:15 The marriage of Jesus with the bride... means 23:17 that all of the garments have been examined. 23:20 It's been revealed who are true subjects of the kingdom... 23:24 Christ's kingdom is complete... 23:25 His bride is complete 23:27 and after the bride is complete, then the door closes... 23:32 as we'll see the time of trouble comes 23:34 and then Jesus will return to pick up His people. 23:38 Ellen White wrote in Early Writings, page 280. 23:42 "Every case had been decided for life or death. " 23:45 This is when Probation closes. 23:47 "While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, 23:51 the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, 23:55 and then for the righteous living. " 23:57 Now, notice this, 23:59 "Christ had received His kingdom, 24:02 having made the atonement for His people 24:05 and blotted out their sins. " 24:06 And now notice what she means by: 24:09 Christ had received the kingdom. 24:11 She explains, "The subjects of the kingdom were made up. " 24:16 So, notice clearly that after the Investigative Judgment, 24:20 the subjects of the kingdom have been made up 24:24 because the judgment has revealed 24:26 who has accepted the invitation to the wedding 24:29 and who is genuine. 24:30 And then, she goes on to say, 24:33 "The subjects of the kingdom were made up. " 24:36 And then, she uses another illustration, 24:38 she says, "The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. " 24:41 So, taking over the kingdom... 24:43 which is the bulk of all His people, 24:45 is the same as Jesus marrying His total people. 24:50 Now, the quotation continues, 24:53 "The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. 24:55 And the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom 24:58 under the whole heaven, 24:59 was given to Jesus and the heirs of salvation, 25:03 and Jesus was to reign as King of kings 25:06 and Lord of lords. " 25:08 Now, the Lamb's bride in the Bible is the New Jerusalem 25:12 which is the capital and symbol of His kingdom. 25:17 So, we know that Jesus marrying the New Jerusalem 25:21 is the same as Jesus taking over the kingdom. 25:25 Notice Revelation chapter 21 and verse 2. 25:29 Here it refers to the New Jerusalem 25:31 as the kingdom of Christ... 25:34 as the bride of Christ. 25:36 It says there in Revelation 21 verse 2, 25:38 "Then I John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 25:43 coming down out of heaven from God, 25:46 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. " 25:49 So, it says here, the New Jerusalem 25:52 is like a bride prepared for her husband. 25:55 What does that mean? 25:57 Is the New Jerusalem just as a physical city 26:01 the bride of Christ? 26:03 Does Jesus marry brick and mortar and gold and silver? 26:09 No... He's marrying the New Jerusalem 26:13 with all of the citizens of the city inside. 26:16 In other words, He's marrying His kingdom... 26:19 His people that are found within the city. 26:23 Notice Luke chapter 19:41 to 44 26:26 where Jesus referred to Jerusalem 26:29 as the people in Jerusalem. 26:30 It says there in verse 41 of Luke 19, 26:33 "Now as he drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 26:38 saying... " 26:39 now, He's talking... He's talking to the city 26:41 as if the city is... is a person. 26:44 "If you have known, even you, 26:46 especially in this your day, 26:48 the things that make for your peace! 26:50 But now they are hidden from your eyes. 26:52 For days will come upon you 26:54 when your enemies will build an embankment around you, 26:57 surround you and close you in on every side, 27:00 and level you... " and now notice what is included, 27:03 "and level you, and your children within you. " 27:07 So, it's not only the city, it's the children in the city. 27:11 "And they will not leave in you one stone upon another, 27:14 because you did not know... " 27:17 that is... the city of Jerusalem 27:18 and, of course, the children within it, 27:21 "you did not know the time of your visitation. " 27:25 So, the city of Jerusalem is not only the physical city... 27:28 it is the people within the city... the kingdom of Jesus... 27:32 the conglomerate of God's people. 27:34 Notice also Matthew 23 and verse 38, 27:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 27:40 the one who kills the prophets... " 27:41 did the physical city of Jerusalem 27:43 the brick and mortar... 27:44 mortar killed the prophets? of course not. 27:46 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets 27:50 and stones those who are sent to her! 27:52 How often I wanted to gather your children... " 27:54 see, the city has the children. 27:56 "How often I wanted to gather your children together, 27:59 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 28:02 but you were not willing!" 28:04 Now, let's talk for a few moments 28:07 about the wedding reception. 28:09 We've talked about the wedding taking place in heaven, 28:11 we've talked about the invited guests individually are on earth 28:16 the totality of God's people on earth are the kingdom 28:21 or the bride... 28:22 whereas the individuals are the invited guests 28:25 to the moment when Jesus marries the totality of His kingdom 28:29 or His bride. 28:31 Revelation 19 verse 9 reads as follows: 28:34 Then he said to me, "Write: 28:37 'Blessed are those who are called 28:39 to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' 28:41 And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God. '" 28:47 So, we find that after the wedding, 28:50 you have the wedding reception or the marriage supper. 28:54 Now, let's put all of these things into perspective. 28:59 Let's look at the composite picture of this. 29:02 I'm going to go through several points here. 29:04 First, those who preach the gospel 29:08 are inviting the guests to the wedding. 29:11 There are many who accept the invitation to the wedding. 29:14 There are genuine believers and counterfeit believers. 29:18 But they all receive an invitation to the wedding 29:21 and they receive a garment. 29:22 But they have to wear the garment 29:24 in order to be accepted as invitees to the wedding. 29:28 So, you have those who preach the gospel 29:32 inviting the guests to come to the wedding 29:34 which will take place near the very end of time. 29:38 Once again, I cannot emphasize enough 29:40 that the bride is the totality of God's people... 29:45 the kingdom is the totality of faithful believers. 29:49 In 1844, Jesus came to His Father... this is in Daniel 7, 29:54 to begin the process that would eventually make it possible 30:00 for Jesus to receive the kingdom 30:03 or to marry His bride... the church as a whole. 30:07 Since 1844, the king has been examining the garments 30:12 of each person individually 30:15 who has accepted the gospel invitation to the wedding 30:19 to determine if they have a right 30:22 to remain in the wedding chamber for the wedding. 30:26 The judgment began with those who first lived upon the earth, 30:30 that is, with Adam... the first being to live on this earth 30:34 and this judgment will end with those who are alive 30:38 just before the close of probation. 30:41 I repeat once again, these persons as individuals 30:46 are the invited guests to the wedding. 30:49 However, the people as a whole, the faithful church of all ages 30:54 in its entirety... 30:56 both those who died and will be resurrected 30:59 and those who are alive at the second coming of Christ, 31:01 they are Christ's kingdom or Christ's bride. 31:07 I want to read a statement that we find 31:10 in Christ's Object Lessons, page 307 31:13 where it explains that the wedding 31:16 is the wedding between Jesus and humanity... 31:19 that is... faithful humanity. 31:21 It says there, "The parable of the wedding garment 31:24 opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. 31:27 By the marriage is represented 31:29 the union of humanity with divinity... 31:32 that is... all of humanity with Jesus Christ. 31:36 "The wedding garment represents the character 31:39 which all must possess who shall be accounted 31:43 fit guests for the wedding. " 31:45 Now, people say, 31:47 "Well, why would Jesus want to do an investigation?" 31:50 Isn't everybody who has accepted Jesus Christ a genuine believer? 31:55 Absolutely not. 31:56 The Bible tells us that in the church 31:58 there are wheat and tares. 32:00 Both the wheat and tares claim Jesus as Savior. 32:03 There is foolish and wise virgins. 32:05 There are those who have a wedding garment 32:08 and those who don't in the wedding chamber 32:10 and there are also those who are good fish and bad fish. 32:15 There are those who have a form of godliness 32:17 and people who have true godliness. 32:20 You see, not everyone who has claimed Jesus Christ 32:23 as Savior and Lord has been true and faithful. 32:26 Those who are found without a wedding garment 32:29 are removed from the book of Life. 32:33 However, God's faithful people 32:36 who have been purged and examined... 32:38 they will be pure and faithful and clean. 32:43 At the time when the probation closes, 32:46 the bride has made herself ready. 32:49 She is complete 32:51 and Jesus will marry His kingdom... 32:54 Jesus will marry His bride. 32:57 After the marriage takes place, 33:00 then, the door of Probation shuts... 33:05 actually before the wedding takes place... 33:07 the door of Probation shuts 33:09 and those who are left out are lost. 33:13 They're cast into outer darkness 33:17 where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. 33:20 So, at the moment when the marriage takes place, 33:24 the marriage is about to take place, 33:27 the door closes... the chamber is shut 33:31 and those who arrive late, are not saved. 33:35 However, after the wedding takes place, 33:39 God's people will still be on earth. 33:42 There will be a time of trouble such as never has been seen 33:46 in the history of the world. 33:47 Matthew chapter 24 verses 21 and 22 tells us 33:52 that it's a worst time of trouble 33:54 in the history of the world. 33:55 We're told that the beast and his image 33:58 will try to impose the Mark of the Beast 34:01 and those who do not comply, 34:03 they will be under death sentence... 34:05 they will not be able to buy or sell. 34:07 But Jesus will come from heaven 34:09 and He will rescue His people 34:12 and when He rescues His people, 34:15 He will gather His elect from the four winds of heaven 34:19 and take them to heaven for the marriage supper of the Lamb. 34:25 Let's notice this quotation from Adventist Home, page 503. 34:32 "To the mind of Jesus, 34:34 the gladness of the wedding festivities 34:37 pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day 34:40 when He shall bring home His bride to the Father's house. " 34:45 The bride is all of His people. 34:48 "And the redeemed with the Redeemer 34:51 shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. " 34:54 So, you notice Jesus goes to His Father... 34:58 does the work of examination... 35:01 those who have the wedding garment, 35:03 they become part of Christ's kingdom... 35:05 permanently Christ marries His kingdom... marries His bride, 35:10 then the time of trouble ensues, 35:13 Jesus returns to this earth and He picks up His bride 35:18 and takes His bride to heaven 35:20 for the celebration of the wedding supper. 35:22 Once again, "to the mind of Jesus, 35:24 to the gladness of the wedding festivities 35:27 pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day 35:29 when He shall bring home His bride to the Father's house, 35:32 and the redeemed with the Redeemer 35:34 shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. " 35:38 We also find in Counsels to the Church, page 36, 35:42 "Soon we heard His lovely voice again, saying, 35:47 'Come, My people, 35:49 you have come out of great tribulation... '" 35:52 this is after they've gone through the time of trouble, 35:54 "and done My will; and suffered for Me; 35:57 come in to supper, 36:00 for I will gird Myself, and serve you. " 36:03 Ellen White who is seeing this in vision says, 36:07 "We shouted, 'Alleluia! glory!' 36:10 and entered into the city. 36:11 And I saw a table of pure silver; 36:15 it was many miles in length, 36:18 yet our eyes could extend over it. " 36:20 Obviously, God is going to fix our eyes 36:23 if we're going to see a table many miles in length 36:26 and our eyes could extend over all the table 36:29 and then she speaks of the fruit that is going to be on the table 36:33 for the marriage supper of the Lamb. 36:35 Most of these products are California products 36:38 because Ellen White retired and died 36:41 in the Napa Valley in California. 36:44 But, she has a caveat... 36:46 she says that there's going to be other kinds of fruit 36:48 besides the ones that she mentions, let me read it, 36:51 "I saw the fruit of the tree of life, 36:55 the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, 36:59 grapes... " 37:01 and for those who love tropical fruits... 37:03 "and many other kinds of fruits. " 37:05 Perhaps, many of them that Ellen White was not acquainted with. 37:10 Now, we need to solve a potential problem at this point. 37:14 The Bible makes it clear 37:17 that the wedding takes place in heaven 37:20 before Jesus returns to this earth for the second time 37:23 to pick up His bride 37:25 and take His bride to heaven. 37:27 However, many modern versions leave the impression 37:32 that Jesus will gather His people 37:35 to take them to heaven 37:37 after the wedding supper has taken place. 37:40 These translations are confusing 37:43 because other texts as we have noticed 37:46 clearly affirm... that we will literally sit at the table 37:51 at the supper of the Lamb 37:53 and Jesus will serve us. 37:55 So, the question is, 37:57 "When is the marriage supper of the Lamb?" 37:59 Does it take place before Jesus comes 38:02 and He comes after the supper? 38:04 or does it take place 38:05 after He takes His people to heaven 38:09 and they will sit with Him? 38:10 Let me read you two versions of the Bible 38:14 that present different scenarios. 38:16 The New King James Version reads, 38:18 here Jesus is speaking, 38:21 this is Luke 12:35 to 37, 38:24 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 38:27 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, 38:31 when he will return from the wedding... " 38:34 notice... when he will return from the wedding... 38:36 "that when he comes and knocks 38:38 they may open to him immediately. 38:41 Blessed are those servants whom the master, 38:43 when he comes, will find watching. 38:45 Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself 38:48 and have them sit down to eat, 38:50 and will come and serve them. " 38:52 So, you notice... you have here 38:53 the return of Jesus from the wedding 38:56 and then, the redeemed will sit down 38:59 to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. 39:01 The NIV, however, presents it differently. 39:04 Here's what it says, 39:06 "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 39:12 like men waiting for their master 39:14 to return from a wedding banquet, 39:17 so that when he comes and knocks 39:20 they can immediately open the door for him. 39:22 It will be good for those servants 39:24 whose master finds them watching when he comes. 39:27 I tell you the truth, 39:28 he will dress himself to serve, 39:30 will have them recline at the table 39:33 and will come and wait on them. " 39:35 So, it gives the impression 39:36 that there's going to be two marriage suppers. 39:38 One before Jesus comes 39:40 and the one after Jesus takes His people to heaven. 39:43 It will be noticed that the NIV 39:46 and many other contemporary versions, 39:48 Jesus returns to the earth from the heavenly wedding banquet 39:52 to gather His waiting people. 39:54 In other words, the wedding takes place 39:58 in heaven before Jesus comes 40:01 and the wedding supper takes place 40:05 also before Jesus comes. 40:07 The question is: Which translation fits best 40:11 with all of the Biblical evidence? 40:13 We need to understand the use of terms. 40:16 The Greek words used for marriage 40:19 which are gámos and gameó 40:21 include both the wedding and the wedding feast. 40:24 In other words, the Greek words gámos and gameó 40:27 they're used for a marriage... they include both. 40:30 They include the wedding and the wedding feast. 40:33 In our times, we make a distinction between the wedding 40:37 and the wedding feast or the reception. 40:39 However, in Biblical times 40:41 the covenant vow in the marriage lasted very few minutes 40:46 but the celebration of the feast sometimes lasted days 40:51 even months 40:52 and in some rare cases, even years. 40:55 The Greek language does not have a word 40:59 that distinguishes between the wedding and the feast 41:02 as we do today. 41:04 We call it the wedding and the reception. 41:07 The Greek did not have two distinct words 41:09 for these two distinct things 41:11 because people at that time perceived 41:13 that the wedding and the reception 41:16 were actually part of one single event. 41:19 However, there's an interesting detail. 41:22 The Greek does have a word 41:25 that is used only for the feast... 41:27 only for the wedding feast 41:29 and that word is the word deipnon 41:33 and that word is used in Revelation chapter 19 41:37 and verse 9 where it says, 41:38 "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast. " 41:43 So, we know that Jesus will come to receive His people. 41:47 Those invited guests who prove faithful... who had the garment 41:51 and He will take them to heaven for the wedding feast. 41:55 So, this is the process. 41:57 Jesus will marry His kingdom in heaven. 42:00 The church or the kingdom is on earth. 42:03 Then Jesus will return from the wedding in heaven 42:07 and He will take His waiting people from earth to heaven 42:12 where there will be the reception 42:15 at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 42:18 I cannot emphasize enough Folks, 42:21 that the bride is the church or the kingdom as a whole... 42:26 all of the believers... 42:27 while the church members as individuals 42:31 are the guests to the wedding. 42:34 The bride is the New Jerusalem... 42:37 a symbol of Christ's entire kingdom... 42:40 all of His faithful people within the city. 42:44 Ellen White had a remarkable statement 42:46 where she puts everything together. 42:49 See, this woman had two and a half years of Primary education. 42:53 She's criticized by many 42:55 but how precise she was in what she said about 43:01 wedding customs and the processes 43:04 that we've been looking at. 43:05 This statement is long but I'm going to read the entire one 43:08 because it's very significant. 43:11 Great Controversy, 426 and 427. 43:14 "I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. 43:18 An angel with a writer's inkhorn by his side 43:21 returned from the earth 43:23 and reported to Jesus that his work was done 43:25 and the saints were numbered and sealed. " 43:28 So, this is the end of the judgment. 43:30 In other words, all of God's people 43:32 are in the wedding chamber, 43:33 their cases have been examined, they had the garment 43:36 and now the wedding is going take place. 43:38 She continues, "Then I saw Jesus, 43:41 who had been ministering before the ark 43:43 containing the Ten Commandments, 43:45 throw down the censer. " 43:46 In other words, he was using the censer to intercede. 43:49 Now, intercession is ended. 43:51 She continues, "He raised His hands, 43:53 and with a loud voice said, 'It is done. ' 43:57 Then all the angelic host laid off their crowns 44:00 as Jesus made the solemn declaration, 44:03 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; 44:06 and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; 44:08 and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; 44:11 and he that is holy, let him be holy still. '" 44:14 Then she continues, 44:16 "The marriage represents the reception by Christ 44:20 of His kingdom. " 44:22 See it really clear 44:23 but in order to receive the kingdom, 44:26 He has to show beforehand who belongs to the kingdom 44:29 by the Investigative Judgment. 44:30 So, the marriage represents the reception 44:34 by Christ of His kingdom. 44:35 The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, 44:37 which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, 44:42 of course, because all of His people are in it, 44:44 is called 'the bride, the Lamb's wife. ' 44:46 Said the angel to John: 'Come hither, 44:49 I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. ' 44:52 He carried me away in the spirit,' says the prophet, 44:55 'and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, 44:58 descending out of heaven from God. ' 45:01 Clearly, then, the bride represents the Holy City. " 45:05 That is the entirety of God's people in the city, Folks, 45:09 it's not the bare city... 45:11 the physical city of brick and mortar 45:14 if there is such a thing and gold and silver. 45:16 Once again, it says here, "Clearly then, 45:20 the bride represents the Holy City, 45:22 and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom 45:27 are a symbol of the church. " 45:28 That is... of the individuals in the church. 45:31 "In Revelation, the people of God 45:33 are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. 45:36 If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. " 45:42 So, as individuals, they are guests. 45:45 They cannot be represented as individuals as the bride. 45:48 The bride is the totality of Christ's kingdom... 45:51 the totality of His people. 45:53 She continues, 45:55 "Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, 45:58 will receive from the Ancient of Days in heaven, 46:01 'dominion, and glory, and a kingdom. ' 46:04 He will receive the New Jerusalem, 46:07 the capital of His kingdom, 46:09 'prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ' 46:13 Having received the kingdom, He will come in His glory, 46:17 as King of kings and Lord of lords, 46:20 for the redemption of His people, 46:22 who are to 'sit down... '" now comes the wedding feast... 46:25 "who are to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,' 46:29 at His table in His kingdom, 46:32 to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. " 46:36 She continues, 46:38 "The proclamation, 'Behold, the Bridegroom commeth... '" 46:41 she's going back to the parable of the ten virgins, 46:43 "in the summer of 1844, 46:47 led thousands to expect the immediate advent of the Lord. 46:50 At the appointed time the Bridegroom came, 46:55 not to the earth, as the people expected, 46:59 but to the Ancient of Days in heaven, 47:02 to the marriage, the reception of the kingdom. " 47:05 Can't be any clearer... 47:07 Jesus went to the Ancient of Days in heaven... 47:11 to the marriage... 47:12 the reception of the kingdom. 47:14 The marriage is Christ receiving the kingdom. 47:17 She continues, "They that were ready went in with Him 47:21 to the marriage: and the door was shut. ' 47:23 They were not to be present in person at the marriage... " 47:28 so, the guests are not there personally... 47:31 "for it takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. 47:37 The followers of Christ are to 'wait for their Lord, 47:40 when He will return from the wedding. " 47:42 She's quoting Luke 12:36. 47:44 "However, they are to understand His work, 47:48 and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God. 47:53 It is in this sense 47:55 that they are said to go in to the marriage. " 47:57 So, people don't go physically into the marriage chamber... 48:02 they go there by faith 48:04 because the records are in heaven. 48:07 In another statement by Ellen White in Desire of Ages, 48:10 page 151, she wrote, 48:12 "In both the Old and the New Testament, 48:15 the marriage relation is employed to represent 48:18 the tender and sacred union that exists between Christ 48:23 and His people. " 48:24 That is... all of His people. 48:27 She continues, "To the mind of Jesus 48:30 the gladness of the wedding festivities 48:33 pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day 48:36 when He shall bring home His bride. " 48:40 Who is His bride? 48:42 Not individuals... but the entirety of God's people. 48:46 So, it says, once again... 48:49 "To the mind of Jesus 48:50 the gladness of the wedding festivities 48:52 pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day 48:54 when He shall bring His bride to the Father's house... 48:58 that's to heaven 49:00 and the redeemed with the Redeemer 49:02 shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. " 49:07 It cannot be any clearer than this. 49:10 Well, let me give you another illustration 49:12 that Jesus presented as a parable. 49:14 It's known as the Parable of the Dragnet. 49:18 Let's read Matthew 13 verses 47 to 50, 49:21 this is another way of looking at the same teaching. 49:24 Matthew 13 verse 47, 49:27 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet 49:30 that was cast into the sea 49:33 and gathered some of every kind, 49:36 which, when it was full, they drew to the shore; 49:40 and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, 49:44 but threw the bad away. " 49:46 And now comes the comparison. 49:48 So it will be at the end of the age. 49:51 Angels will come forth, 49:53 separate the wicked from among the just, 49:56 and cast them into the furnace of fire. " 49:58 And now, notice... 50:00 There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. " 50:04 Now, what does the "sea" in this parable represent? 50:08 The "sea" represents all the inhabitants of the world. 50:12 The "fish" in the sea represent 50:15 the individual members of humanity. 50:18 Individual persons... 50:20 the fisherman are those who proclaim the gospel... 50:25 those who have accepted the invitation 50:26 and proclaimed the gospel to others. 50:29 They are fishers of men according to Jesus. 50:32 The "net" is the gospel message. 50:36 The casting of the net 50:39 means the preaching of the gospel message 50:42 to catch the fish. 50:44 The boat represents the church. 50:50 The separation of the good fish from the bad fish 50:52 is the Investigative Judgment 50:55 and the casting out of the bad fish 50:58 and the gathering of the good fish 51:01 represents the execution of the judgment 51:04 when God's people will be received into the kingdom 51:08 and share in the marriage supper of the Lamb. 51:12 In Matthew chapter 4 verses 18 through 20, Jesus wrote... 51:16 Jesus said... Matthew wrote... 51:19 "And Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee, 51:22 saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, 51:26 and Andrew his brother, 51:28 casting a net into the sea; 51:30 for they were fishermen. 51:32 Then He said to them, 'Follow Me, 51:35 and I will make you fishers of men. '" 51:38 So, there's going to be a separation 51:41 of the good fish from the bad fish 51:44 just like there would be a separation 51:46 of the wheat from the tares... 51:47 a separation of the wise virgins from the foolish virgins... 51:52 a separation of those who have a form of godliness 51:54 from those who have true godliness 51:56 and we could go on. 51:59 Many parables of Jesus 52:01 speak of this idea of an Investigative Judgment 52:04 to determine if an individual 52:06 deserved to remain within the wedding chamber for the wedding. 52:10 The Bible is clear on this point. 52:13 Now, if there is one doctrine 52:16 that the Christian world rejects 52:19 that the Seventh-day Adventist church holds, 52:21 is the idea of a pre-Advent Investigative Judgment. 52:26 They say, "Why would Jesus have to make 52:28 an Investigative Judgment in heaven? 52:30 To examine all those who have professed His name. 52:32 Well, I think the answer is obvious after we've studied. 52:36 In the church, there are true and counterfeit believers. 52:39 So, the judgment has to determine 52:42 who is counterfeit and who is genuine 52:44 before Jesus comes to give His reward. 52:47 See, the Christian world... the problem is 52:51 that they believe that a person's situation... 52:54 a person's Sentence takes place when a person dies. 52:58 You know, the basic teaching is that when a person... 53:02 person dies... 53:04 person that accepted Jesus Christ... 53:07 well, they immediately... their soul flies off to heaven. 53:10 If the person did not receive Jesus Christ as Savior 53:14 and was considered a wicked person, 53:17 that person then goes... at the moment of death 53:20 to burn in the fires of hell. 53:22 So, in other words, 53:24 judgment has taken place when the person died. 53:27 Because if the person's soul goes to heaven when they died, 53:30 their case is decided. 53:31 If a wicked person goes to hell when they died, 53:34 their case is decided. 53:35 So, why would there be 53:37 a pre-Advent Investigative Judgment 53:40 that begins in 1844 in heaven, 53:42 if everybody's case is decided when they died? 53:45 Many Christians also believe 53:48 that the judgment is when Jesus comes. 53:50 You know, the Creed says 53:52 that He will come to judge the living and the dead. 53:55 Well, if He's coming to judge the living and the dead, 53:58 that means that their cases are going to be decided 54:00 when Jesus comes. 54:01 But the Bible does not teach that. 54:04 The Bible teaches that we go out and preach the gospel. 54:08 Those who hear the gospel accept the invitation. 54:11 Their names are written in the book of Life. 54:13 Then, a moment comes in history, 1844 where the judgment begins, 54:19 the examination of each person who professed Jesus. 54:21 It begins with those who first lived... beginning with Adam... 54:26 each successive generation... 54:28 ends with those who are alive 54:30 before the door of probation closes. 54:33 When every case has been decided, 54:35 the kingdom of Jesus is complete. 54:37 The bride is complete 54:39 and now, Jesus marries His kingdom... 54:43 marries His bride in heaven 54:46 while the members of his bride are here on the earth. 54:50 And then after the severe time of trouble 54:53 such as never has been seen in the history of the world, 54:55 Jesus... at the end of the tribulation... 54:58 when His beautiful bride is about to be destroyed 55:03 by the powers of the earth, 55:04 Jesus will come to the rescue. 55:06 Not one of God's individual people 55:08 will die during the time of trouble... 55:10 His entire bride... 55:13 His entire kingdom will remain alive 55:16 during the time of trouble 55:17 except for those, of course, who died in Christ 55:20 which will resurrect when Jesus comes 55:21 and then, Jesus... 55:24 as 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 tells us, 55:27 He will call forth the dead from the grave 55:30 and they will resurrect. 55:32 Those who are alive... He will catch up together 55:34 with those who die and resurrect 55:36 and He... they'll be caught up in the clouds 55:38 to meet the Lord in the air 55:40 and then, Jesus will take them to heaven 55:42 for the marriage supper of the Lamb. 55:45 And God's people will be there for a thousand years 55:49 and they will examine the cases of those who were left behind... 55:53 those individuals who were wicked... 55:55 who were found to be wanting, 55:57 they will remain on earth dead 55:59 and during the thousand years, 56:01 judgment will be committed to God's people 56:03 to do an Investigative Judgment of the wicked. 56:06 Their cases will be examined to see why they were excluded 56:11 from being in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 56:14 And then, after the thousand years, 56:16 the wicked will see their cases above the holy city. 56:21 Even God will convince them that He was right 56:24 in leaving them outside the holy city. 56:27 And after they see their cases, 56:30 they say, "Just and true are Your ways, O God. " 56:34 And then, of course, 56:36 the execution of the judgment takes place... 56:39 the judgment that was determined by the examination 56:42 of the records in heaven during the 1,000 years 56:45 and before the wicked... after the 1,000 years, 56:48 then the execution of the Sentence takes place 56:51 and God's people are secure in the city... 56:55 the wicked are destroyed... 56:56 and God makes a new heavens and a new earth 56:59 where righteousness dwells. 57:01 Now, one final point. 57:03 Our case... if we are alive will be decided 57:07 when Probation closes. 57:09 There is a close of Probation... 57:11 what I call the Corporate Close of Probation 57:13 at the end of time 57:15 where the door will be closed... no one can be saved. 57:18 This is right before the tribulation 57:21 and before the second coming. 57:22 But there's another close of Probation 57:24 and that's the individual close of Probation. 57:27 You see, if I should die 57:29 and not have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, 57:32 my case is decided. 57:34 It only remains for my case to be examined 57:38 and to find that I'm found wanting. 57:41 This is the reason why I should always watch... 57:44 I should always pray... 57:46 I should always occupy... 57:48 I should always be awake. 57:50 My relationship with Jesus must be strong 57:53 because if I should die, 57:55 my Probation is closed. 57:56 I trust that God will bless us and keep us 58:00 and make us one of those who are ready 58:03 for the wedding supper. |
Revised 2021-10-13