Participants:
Series Code: MAT
Program Code: MAT000024S
|
00:01 Music...
00:20 Let's pray... 00:21 "Father in heaven, as we study our last topic 00:27 during this Series, 00:28 we ask as we have before, 00:31 that You will be present in our midst. 00:34 Give me a clear mind, 00:36 humble heart 00:38 and give all of those who are watching this Presentation 00:42 the willingness to follow Your will. 00:45 We thank you for the privilege of prayer 00:48 that we can approach the throne of the King of the Universe. 00:52 We know that You have heard this prayer 00:54 and You will answer 00:55 because we ask it in Jesus' most precious name, amen. " 01:01 As I mentioned in my prayer, this is the last Presentation 01:07 in this Series on Matthew chapter 24. 01:10 This is actually Presentation Number 24 01:14 and we want to begin by reading Matthew 25 01:18 and verses 1 to 13. 01:20 It's the famous parable of the ten virgins. 01:23 Now, as I read this parable, 01:26 I would ask you to try and place yourself 01:29 in the environment where this parable took place. 01:33 It's not only a parable... 01:37 Jesus actually told the parable 01:39 when He was observing the details before His very eyes. 01:43 There was a wedding about to take place. 01:46 So, I'm going to begin at Matthew 25 and verse 1. 01:50 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins 01:55 who took their lamps 01:57 and went out to meet the bridegroom. 02:01 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 02:07 Those who were foolish took their lamps 02:10 and took no oil with them, 02:13 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 02:18 But while the bridegroom was delayed, 02:21 they all slumbered and slept. 02:24 And at midnight a cry was heard: 02:27 'Behold the bridegroom is coming; 02:30 go out to meet him!' 02:32 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 02:36 And the foolish said to the wise, 02:39 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. ' 02:44 But the wise answered, saying, 02:46 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; 02:51 but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. ' 02:57 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, 03:01 and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; 03:06 and the door was shut. " 03:10 Verse on screen. 03:32 Now, the coming of the bridegroom in this parable 03:37 is not the second coming of Jesus Christ. 03:41 We studied this in our previous presentation 03:44 on wedding customs in the times of Christ. 03:48 The context makes it absolutely clear 03:51 that the bridegroom comes to the wedding chamber 03:55 for the wedding 03:56 and that this wedding takes place in heaven 04:00 where Jesus will receive from His Father... the kingdom 04:04 and Jesus will marry His bride 04:07 which represents the totality of faithful believers. 04:12 We must link the parable of the ten virgins 04:16 with the previous context 04:18 at the end of Matthew chapter 24 04:21 and verses 36 to 44. 04:24 So, let's read those verses now 04:26 which is the context that appears immediately before 04:31 the parable of the ten virgins. 04:33 Matthew 24 verse 36, 04:35 "But of that day and hour no one knows, 04:40 not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. " 04:44 And now comes an example of this idea 04:48 that the wedding takes place in heaven 04:51 and then afterwards, 04:53 Jesus will come to take His bride to heaven. 04:55 It says in verse 37, "But as the days of Noah were, 05:00 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 05:04 For as in days before the flood... " 05:07 notice... "as in the days before the flood, 05:12 they were eating and drinking, 05:14 marrying and giving in marriage, 05:16 until... " this is the first until... 05:19 "until the day that Noah entered the ark, 05:22 and did not know... " 05:25 that is... those who were outside... 05:26 "did not know until the flood came and took them all away, 05:31 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. " 05:36 So, there's a coming here... 05:38 which is at the closing of the door 05:40 and there's a coming when actually Jesus comes 05:45 and the wicked are destroyed 05:46 and the righteous are spared inside the ark. 05:50 We find in verse 40 the following words, 05:54 "Then two men will be in the field: 05:57 one will be taken and the other left. 06:00 Two women will be grinding at the mill: 06:03 one will be taken and the other left. 06:07 Watch therefore, 06:09 for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. " 06:14 This is not the coming at the second coming... 06:17 this is the coming of Jesus to the Father 06:20 to marry His kingdom... to marry His bride 06:23 when the door of probation closes. 06:26 Verse 43, "But know this, 06:29 that if the master of the house had known 06:32 what hour the thief would come, 06:34 he would have watched 06:36 and not allowed his house to be broken into. 06:39 Therefore you also be ready, 06:43 for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. " 06:46 So, it compares the coming of Jesus for the wedding 06:50 with the coming of a thief. 06:52 Now, as I've mentioned before, 06:54 the coming of the thief has two specific points of time. 06:57 One... is when the thief actually comes. 07:01 Everybody's sleeping and doesn't know that the thief 07:05 has come 07:06 and then the people wake up in the morning 07:09 and they realize that the thief has come... but it's too late. 07:12 When Jesus comes to take His kingdom... 07:14 when Jesus comes to marry His bride 07:17 which is the totality of His faithful people, 07:20 people will be oblivious 07:23 that the wedding has taken place in heaven... 07:25 that the door of mercy has closed. 07:28 People will not know that the door has closed 07:32 until Jesus comes to receive His saints 07:36 to take them take them to the heavenly reception 07:38 and the wicked are destroyed. 07:41 So, the previous context indicates that this coming 07:46 is not the second coming of Jesus to the earth 07:50 but the coming of Jesus to His Father 07:53 for the marriage to His kingdom. 07:55 This is why these verses compare the coming of Jesus 08:00 to the coming of a thief. 08:03 So, you have a comparison between the days of Noah 08:07 and the parable of the ten virgins 08:10 and the close of probation. 08:11 So, let's draw a few parallels between the days of Noah 08:17 and the coming of the Son of Man to the Father 08:21 to receive the kingdom 08:22 and then, the ensuing destruction afterwards. 08:25 So, here are the parallels. 08:27 If we remember the closing of the door of the ark 08:31 and the destruction of the wicked 08:34 and the saving, of course, of God's people during the flood, 08:38 were two related but separate events. 08:41 In a similar way, 08:43 the closing of the door of Probation for the world 08:47 is related to the second coming of Christ 08:51 but they are two separate events. 08:54 The door closes and then after that 08:57 comes the second coming of Christ to the earth. 09:01 Second, the preaching of Noah 09:05 under the power of the Holy Spirit 09:07 inviting people to gather into the ark to be saved 09:13 is represented by the five... by the ten virgins 09:19 lighting the way to the bridal chamber 09:22 which symbolizes the preaching of the gospel 09:25 under the power of the Holy Spirit 09:27 inviting people to come as guests to the wedding. 09:31 Number 3: The midnight cry 09:35 represents Noah's last call at the door of the ark 09:39 for people to come into the ark. 09:42 The midnight cry in the parable of the ten virgins, 09:46 represents the final call to the living 09:49 to accept the invitation into the wedding chamber. 09:55 Number 4: The closing of the door of the ark 10:00 represents the close of probation. 10:01 The closing of the door in the parable of the ten virgins 10:06 represents the closing of the door of probation 10:09 for the world. 10:10 Five: When the door of the ark closed, 10:14 the kingdom of the faithful was complete, 10:17 Noah and his family... the saved were inside 10:21 whereas the wicked were outside. 10:25 In other words, 10:26 Noah's preaching divided the world into two groups. 10:29 Those who were saved and those who were lost... 10:32 those who were inside the ark 10:34 and those who were outside the ark. 10:37 Likewise, when the door of probation closes for the world, 10:42 the righteous will be inside the wedding chamber 10:45 whereas the wicked will be outside the wedding chamber. 10:49 Pause... 10:52 Next: Number 6... 10:53 The time of trouble for Noah and his family in the ark 10:57 which lasted seven days 10:59 represents the time of trouble 11:01 that God's people will go through 11:03 during the time of Jacob's trouble 11:05 before the second coming of Christ 11:08 and after the close of probation. 11:10 And finally, the return of Jesus from the wedding 11:14 to take His subjects to the wedding reception in heaven 11:19 is represented in Matthew 24 11:22 by the angels coming and receiving the elect... 11:26 catching up the elect into the clouds 11:29 to take them to heaven for the reception. 11:32 So, you'll notice that there's a parallel between what happened 11:36 in the days of Noah and the parable of the ten virgins. 11:38 And the coming of the groom to marry his bride 11:44 represents the coming of Jesus to His Father in heaven 11:48 to receive the kingdom... 11:49 to receive His bride... 11:51 to be married to His bride 11:52 the totality of His faithful people 11:55 after which, the door of probation closes... 11:58 the tribulation comes 12:00 and then Jesus comes for the second time... 12:03 takes His bride to heaven for a thousand years 12:06 and then brings His bride back to the earth 12:09 for the permanent home 12:10 in a new heavens and a new earth. 12:12 Now, let's take a look at the symbols of the parable. 12:17 We have ten virgins. 12:19 They represent those who profess to have accepted Jesus Christ 12:25 as Savior and Lord. 12:27 All of them accepted the gospel invitation to be guests 12:32 to the wedding. 12:33 The lamps represent the Scriptures. 12:37 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet 12:41 and a light unto my path. " Psalm 119:105. 12:45 The oil that they have in their lamps represents the Holy Spirit 12:50 according to Zechariah chapter 4. 12:53 The lighting of the way to the wedding chamber 12:57 with the lamps that have the oil 12:59 represent the preaching of the gospel 13:01 in a dark world 13:03 inviting sinners to come to the wedding chamber 13:08 and be inside for the wedding. 13:10 The wise virgins represent the genuine followers of Jesus. 13:15 The foolish virgins represent superficial followers of Jesus. 13:21 They had oil in their lamps 13:24 but they did not have an extra supply of oil in their vessels. 13:28 They are represented in the parable of the sower 13:32 by the stony-ground hearers. 13:35 The stony-ground hearers started well. 13:39 The plant sprouted and began to grow. 13:42 However, when the sun rose... 13:45 which represents tribulation and persecution... 13:48 the plant dried up 13:51 which means that these are fair-weather Christians. 13:54 When everything goes well, they follow Jesus 13:57 but when a delay comes and trial comes, 14:01 they fall away. 14:03 The bridegroom in the parable represents Jesus 14:07 and the bride represents the totality of the believers 14:13 in Jesus Christ. 14:15 What does the extra supply of oil in the vessels represent? 14:20 Well, those who have accepted Jesus as Savior 14:25 receive the early rain 14:26 but if you do not persevere in the Lord, 14:31 you will not receive the latter rain. 14:34 In other words, the five foolish virgins 14:37 started well 14:38 but the delay in the coming of the groom for the wedding 14:44 discouraged them. 14:46 They allowed the early-rain experience to die 14:50 and the latter rain could not benefit them. 14:55 When the plant dies 14:57 it's no avail for the latter rain to fall on the plant. 15:02 The delay in the parable represents the coming of Jesus 15:06 to the wedding in heaven which delayed longer than expected. 15:13 The slumbering represents the length of time that passes 15:18 where God's people are expecting the groom to come to the wedding 15:23 but he delays in his coming to the wedding. 15:26 The midnight cry is the clarion call 15:29 for the beginning of the judgment 15:33 first of the dead in 1844 15:36 and then, the judgment of the living 15:38 shortly before probation closes. 15:41 The request for oil on the part of the foolish virgins 15:45 from the wise 15:47 represents the fact that character cannot be shared. 15:52 The character that is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit 15:56 by the oil cannot be shared with others... 15:59 they must develop their own. 16:01 The coming of the bridegroom 16:04 represents Jesus going to His Father in the Most Holy Place 16:08 to receive the kingdom or to marry His bride. 16:12 Now, this happens in two stages. 16:14 The first stage was in 1844. 16:17 When Jesus moved to the Most Holy Place 16:20 to begin the judgment of the dead. 16:24 The second is the return of Jesus to His Father 16:28 after placing the sins on the head of the scapegoat. 16:33 This is very important in the Court. 16:35 So, Jesus goes to the Court, 16:38 places the sins on the head of the scapegoat 16:41 that had been cleansed from the sanctuary 16:43 and then He returns to the Father 16:46 for the final wedding 16:48 because both the dead and the living have been judged. 16:52 The sins have been placed on the head of the scapegoat 16:55 in the Court... and now Jesus returns to His Father 16:58 for the wedding. 17:00 The wedding represents the moment when Jesus receives 17:04 the kingdom from His Father in heaven 17:07 when the judgment concludes. 17:09 The number of His people is complete. 17:12 His kingdom is complete. 17:14 His bride which is all believers 17:17 is complete. 17:18 Those who were ready go into the wedding chamber 17:22 for the wedding. 17:23 I want to underline once again that the totality of believers 17:27 is the bride or the kingdom 17:30 whereas the individual believers 17:32 are the guests to the moment when Jesus marries the totality 17:36 of His kingdom. 17:38 The righteous going into the wedding 17:41 means that even though they are physically unearthed, 17:46 they enter the heavenly chamber for the wedding by faith 17:51 because their records are up there. 17:53 In other words, they are written in the book of Life 17:56 and their deeds are written in the books 17:58 so, even though they are on earth, 18:01 Jesus goes in heaven 18:03 and marries the totality of His people up there 18:06 and then finally, you have the "shut door. " 18:09 The "shut door" represents the moment 18:12 when the wedding is about to take place, 18:16 everybody's case is decided. 18:19 When the five foolish virgins go to try and get oil, 18:24 that is during the time of trouble 18:28 when many will go from east to north 18:31 and they will seek for the Word of God 18:33 but it's going to be too late... 18:35 the Lord is going to say, "I never knew you. " 18:37 Amos chapter 8 verses 11 and 12 expresses this moment. 18:42 Verse on screen... 19:04 In other words, they're going to try and find 19:06 the... the... the oil for the lamp... 19:08 it's not going to be available because probation has closed. 19:11 Ellen White described professed Christians 19:14 in the time of trouble that are found unready. 19:18 In Great Controversy page 620 she wrote, 19:21 on screen... 19:50 The voice: I do not know you 19:53 is to those who have not prepared a character 19:58 fit for heaven before the close of probation. 20:02 "To be ready" in the parable means: 20:06 to pray... to watch... to occupy... to invest... 20:11 to work... and to reveal the love of Jesus. 20:16 Now, this parable has a three-fold application. 20:21 The first application is to the literal Jewish nation. 20:26 The second application is to the great Advent Movement of 1844 20:32 and the third application 20:35 is to the period of the loud cry of the remnant 20:38 just before the close of human probation. 20:41 Now, if we had the time, I would read a lengthy chapter 20:48 from the book Early Writings 20:49 where Ellen White compares the messages of John the Baptist, 20:55 Jesus and Peter... with the Advent Movement of 1884. 21:00 Unfortunately, we don't have the time to do that 21:04 but I would encourage those who are watching this Presentation 21:07 to go to the book: Early Writings, 21:10 pages 259 to 261 21:14 where Ellen White draws a parallel 21:16 between the message of John the Baptist... 21:19 the message of Jesus 21:21 and the message of Peter on the day of Pentecost 21:24 and the first, second and third angels' messages 21:29 that were given between the year 1840 and 1844. 21:33 It will be an enriching experience for you 21:36 to read that particular chapter, Early Writings, 259 to 261. 21:42 But then, let's talk about the fulfillment of this parable 21:47 with the Millerites in the 1840s. 21:51 I want to read a statement that we find 21:54 in Great Controversy, 393. 21:56 By the way, I would suggest that you read the entire chapter 21:59 I'm only sharing certain details... 22:02 Great Controversy, 391 through 408. 22:04 Ellen White wrote on page 393, 22:08 Chapter 25 opens with the words: 22:11 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened 22:15 unto ten virgins. " 22:16 Then she writes, "Here is brought to view 22:21 the church living in the last days, 22:23 the same that is pointed out in the close of chapter 24. 22:28 In this parable experience... their experience is illustrated 22:34 by the incidents of an Eastern marriage. " 22:37 So, the word "Then" that begins chapter 25, 22:41 connects with chapter 24. 22:42 So, we need to read the last verses of chapter 24 22:46 to understand the connection with chapter 25. 22:50 We have the going forth of the virgins. 22:53 In the 1840s, this represents the Reformation 22:58 under the proclamation of the first angel's message 23:02 announcing that the hour of God's judgment had come. 23:06 That's preaching on Daniel chapter 8 and verse 14. 23:11 Ellen White wrote in Great Controversy, 393 and 394, 23:15 on screen. 23:25 So, the coming of the bridegroom 23:27 is an announcement of the first angel's message 23:30 that the bridegroom is going to come for the wedding 23:32 and He's going to begin the judgment of the dead... 23:35 then afterward the judgment of the living 23:37 and then, His kingdom will be complete 23:40 and He will marry it. 23:42 So the going forth of the virgins represents 23:44 the Reformation under the proclamation 23:47 of the first angel's message. 23:48 The announcement that the hour of God's judgment had come. 23:52 Now, all who joined this Millerite Movement 23:56 claimed to follow the Bible and to have the Holy Spirit. 24:00 Ellen White wrote in Great Controversy, 394, 24:04 on screen. 24:13 Now, the error that they committed was 24:16 that they believed that the coming of the bridegroom 24:19 was that Jesus was going to come to the earth... 24:21 He was going to destroy the earth with fire 24:23 and He was going to take His bride to heaven. 24:26 They misunderstood the event... 24:28 they thought that the coming of the bridegroom 24:30 was the second coming of Jesus. 24:32 All of them claimed to be followers of Jesus Christ. 24:36 We also notice that the wise virgins 24:40 had a profound experience with the Lord 24:43 and longed for the coming of Jesus. 24:46 Ellen White wrote about this group of believers in the 1840s, 24:51 Great Controversy, 394, the following words. 24:54 On screen... 25:29 In other words, they had a genuine connection 25:32 with Jesus Christ... that is... the wise virgins. 25:35 What about the foolish virgins? 25:37 What about the foolish Millerites, if you please. 25:41 Well, they had a superficial emotional, impulsive, 25:45 fearful relationship with the Lord. 25:48 In Great Controversy page 394, Ellen White wrote, 25:53 "They had moved from impulse. 25:56 Their fears had been excited by the solemn message, 25:59 but they had depended upon the faith of their brethren... " 26:03 in other words, their brethren were all excited 26:05 so they got excited too. 26:06 She continues, 26:08 "once again, their fears had been excited 26:10 by the solemn message, 26:12 but they had depended upon the faith of their brethren, 26:16 satisfied with the flickering light of good emotions, 26:20 without a thorough understanding of the truth 26:23 or a genuine work of grace in the heart. 26:26 These had gone forth to meet the Lord, 26:29 full of hope in the prospect of immediate reward; 26:34 but they were not prepared for delay and disappointment. " 26:37 In other words, when the delay and the disappointment came, 26:40 they lost their faith 26:42 because they were not deeply rooted 26:44 in their relationship with Jesus Christ. 26:46 So, then there was a tarrying time or a delay. 26:50 What does that represent? 26:52 It represents the fact 26:54 that the Millerites believed that Jesus was going to come 26:56 to pick up His bride in the spring of 1844. 27:01 However, Jesus, of course, did not come to earth 27:06 as they expected in the spring of 1844... 27:08 in fact, He did not even go 27:11 to the Father for the wedding in heaven 27:14 in the spring of 1844 27:16 because the Day of Atonement was in the fall 27:19 and so, they had not taken into account 27:22 that the decree of Artaxerxes was given in 457 in the fall, 27:26 therefore, the end of the 2300 days 27:29 had to be also in the fall. 27:31 So, they were wrong about the season of the year. 27:34 During this tarrying time, 27:36 the superficial and the impulsive Millerites 27:41 fell by the wayside. 27:43 In Great Controversy, 394, Ellen White wrote, 27:46 On screen... 27:59 Both groups slumbered 28:01 but one group gave up their faith 28:05 and the other group did not. 28:07 Ellen White wrote in Great Controversy, page 394, 28:11 "They all slumbered and slept;" 28:13 one class in unconcern and abandonment of their faith... " 28:20 that is... the foolish virgins... 28:21 and then she says, 28:23 "the other class patiently waiting 28:26 till clearer light should be given. 28:29 In another statement, 28:31 we find in Great Controversy, 395, 28:34 "In this time of uncertainty, 28:36 the interest of the superficial and halfhearted 28:40 soon began to waver, 28:43 and their efforts to relax; 28:45 but those whose faith was based on a personal knowledge 28:49 of the Bible 28:51 had a rock beneath their feet, 28:54 which the waves of disappointment 28:56 could not wash away. " 28:59 On page 395, Ellen White also wrote, 29:02 on screen... 29:12 Ellen White also wrote that during this period, 29:16 between the spring of 1844 and the fall of 1844, 29:20 fanaticism arose among the waiting ones. 29:24 In Great Controversy, 395, 29:26 she says that many of those who had embraced the idea 29:29 that Jesus was going to come in the spring of 1844, 29:33 they then turned against those who were slumbering 29:36 but who had not lost their faith. 29:39 She wrote in Great Controversy, 395, 29:41 about these enemies of God's people, 29:44 "They feared it might be true" that is... the coming of Jesus, 29:48 "yet hoped it was not, 29:50 and this was the secret of their warfare 29:53 against Adventists and their faith. " 29:55 On the same page, Ellen White wrote 29:57 "About this time, 29:59 fanaticism began to appear. 30:01 Some who had professed to be zealous believers in the message 30:05 rejected the word of God as the one infallible guide 30:09 and, claiming to be led by the Spirit, 30:12 gave themselves up to the control of their own feelings, 30:16 impressions, and imaginations. " 30:19 But in the summer of 1844, 30:22 a man by the name of Samuel Snow... 30:25 this is known as the Seventh-month Movement 30:28 discovered the mistake that they had made. 30:31 No, Jesus was not going to come in the spring of 1844, 30:35 He was going to come in the fall of 1844 30:38 on the Day of Atonement that is mentioned in Leviticus 23 30:42 which fell October 22, 1844 in that particular year 30:47 and so, now there was a great revival. 30:51 Let me read Great Controversy, 398 30:53 where Ellen White described this discovery. 30:55 On screen... 31:16 In other words, the preachers used this expression in 1844... 31:20 in the summer... "Behold the bridegroom cometh" 31:24 and so, the slumbering at that time woke up 31:27 and there was a great religious revival. 31:31 They had kind of been in suspended animation, 31:34 if you please, there after the first disappointment. 31:36 They hadn't lost their faith 31:38 but they... they were looking for additional light. 31:41 So, now there's this great revival. 31:43 The printing presses rolled again 31:45 and there was powerful prophetic preaching 31:48 that instructed the people 31:50 the bridegroom was going to come back to the earth 31:54 to pick up His bride on October 22, 1844. 31:57 Ellen White wrote about this revival 32:00 in Great Controversy page 400. 32:02 "Like a tidal wave the movement swept over the land. 32:07 From city to city, from village to village, 32:09 and into remote country places it went, 32:12 until the waiting people of God were fully aroused. " 32:16 In other words, now they wake up. 32:17 "Fanaticism disappeared... " this is from... from the summer 32:21 from the time that the loud cry is being... 32:23 or the midnight cry is being given. 32:25 "Fanaticism disappeared before this proclamation 32:28 like the early frost before the rising sun. 32:30 Believers saw their doubt and perplexity removed, 32:34 and hope and courage animated their hearts. 32:37 There was little ecstatic joy, 32:40 but rather deep searching of heart, 32:42 confession of sin, 32:43 and forsaking of the world. 32:46 A preparation to meet the Lord 32:47 was the burden of agonizing spirits. 32:52 There was persevering prayer 32:54 and an unreserved consecration to God. " 32:57 Ellen White described this revival... 33:00 by the way, Folks, 33:01 Ellen White was an eyewitness to all of this. 33:03 So, she's not just writing as a historian 33:05 who is writing several years later about the experience 33:09 that some people went through. 33:10 She went through this experience... 33:12 what she's describing was her experience. 33:15 In another place, Great Controversy, 401, 33:18 Ellen White wrote, 33:19 on screen... 33:48 The people during this period 33:50 received an abundant portion of the Holy Spirit. 33:54 Those who had lost their faith... 33:55 who had a superficial knowledge... 33:57 they did not have the extra supply of oil... 34:01 they did not have that intimate relationship with Jesus. 34:04 It was a superficial relationship. 34:06 But those who had a relationship with Christ 34:10 after the first disappointment in the spring of 1844, 34:14 they did not lose that connection with Jesus. 34:16 We find in Great Controversy, 402 and 403, these words, 34:20 on screen... 34:46 on page 403, she wrote, 34:49 on screen... 35:30 But Jesus... instead of coming to the earth 35:33 to marry His bride here and take her to heaven... 35:36 Jesus actually moved from the Holy to the Most Holy Place 35:41 to begin the process of examining the garments 35:44 to determine who are subjects of His kingdom... 35:48 who belongs to the bride... in other words. 35:51 In Great Controversy page 427 Ellen White wrote, 35:55 on screen... 36:31 Was there a "shut door" in 1844? 36:35 Yes, there was... 36:38 the door shut for those who were superficial 36:41 and did not follow Jesus into the Most Holy Place. 36:44 You see, those individuals who had been superficial 36:48 when the faithful Millerites said, 36:51 "Well, Jesus went into the Most Holy Place 36:54 to examine the garments... 36:56 to then, after the process is finished, 36:58 to marry His bride or to take over the kingdom. 37:01 They said, "Ah, that's just a face-saving re-invention 37:03 on your part... " they lost faith. 37:05 The superficial did not follow Jesus into the Most Holy Place. 37:09 They remained in the Holy Place 37:12 and Ellen White describes vividly 37:14 how they received a counterfeit gift of the Holy Spirit 37:18 breathed on them by Satan 37:20 and they were left in total darkness. 37:23 You can read Early Writings page 54 to 56. 37:26 Ellen White wrote in Selected Messages 37:29 volume one page 63, 37:30 on screen... 38:05 So, the superficial class 38:07 represented by the foolish virgins 38:09 and those who did not accept the messages from the get-go... 38:15 these individuals... their door of probation was closed. 38:20 "When Jesus shut the door in 1844 38:23 those who had rejected the first two messages 38:26 found themselves in total darkness. " 38:28 Most of the Christian world, however, 38:31 kept worshipping in the Holy place, 38:33 thinking that Jesus was there, 38:36 oblivious that Jesus had entered the Most Holy Place 38:40 to establish who will be a subject of His kingdom 38:44 and Satan then took control of those who rejected the messages. 38:50 Once, Jesus the King has examined every case 38:55 and has determined who is a subject of His kingdom, 38:58 after the time of trouble, Jesus will come 39:01 to pick up His members of His kingdom or His bride. 39:05 Now, when Jesus comes to get His bride, 39:08 He will take His bride to heaven 39:11 and there the reception... 39:14 the wedding reception will take place. 39:17 The wedding reception includes the bride 39:21 which is the totality of God's people 39:24 whereas the individuals at the wedding 39:27 represent the individual persons 39:30 who are followers of Jesus Christ. 39:32 So, Jesus will take His people to heaven... 39:35 the wedding reception will take place there 39:38 and then, God's people will be in heaven for a 1,000 years. 39:42 I like to think that this is the honeymoon 39:44 and then, Jesus will bring His bride back to the earth... 39:48 the New Jerusalem with all of the redeemed in it 39:52 and this will be the permanent home 39:54 of the bride with the groom... 39:56 this place where there will be a new heaven and a new earth. 40:00 Now, this parable also has an application 40:03 to events immediately before the second coming 40:07 not only to 1844. 40:09 Let me read you a passage where Ellen White describes 40:12 the parable of the ten virgins vividly. 40:15 This is found in the book, 40:19 Christ's Object Lessons, 405 and 406. 40:21 On screen... 42:18 "As Christ sat looking upon the party 42:22 that waited for the bridegroom, 42:23 He told His disciples the story of the ten virgins... " 42:27 and now notice, 42:28 "by their experience illustrating the experience 42:31 of the church that shall live just before the second coming. " 42:36 So, this parable not only applies 42:39 to the Millerite Movement, 42:40 it also applies to those who will be alive 42:43 when the door of probation closes. 42:45 Now, let's take a look at the end-time fulfillment 42:50 of the parable of the ten virgins. 42:52 First of all, the virgins... 42:54 who are the virgins? 42:56 Christ's Object Lessons, page 406... Ellen White wrote, 43:02 on screen... 43:15 Incidentally, this is what the Apostle Paul wrote 43:18 in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verse 2 43:20 when he wrote to the Corinthians these words, 43:23 on screen... 43:36 So, the virgins are those 43:38 who profess to have a pure and true faith. 43:41 Now, both groups of virgins 43:44 had many characteristics in common. 43:47 They all went out... 43:49 they all had lamps... 43:51 they all had oil in their lamps... 43:53 they all slumbered when there was a delay. 43:56 All claim to be waiting for the bridegroom. 43:59 What do the lamps represent? 44:02 The lamps represent the Word of God. 44:06 You have Psalm 119:105 where it says, 44:10 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet 44:11 and a light unto my path. " 44:13 Ellen White in Christ's Object Lessons page 406 wrote, 44:16 "By the lamps is represented the word of God. " 44:19 What does it mean to light the way to the wedding chamber? 44:25 It simply means, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ 44:29 through the power of the Holy Spirit 44:31 because the oil represents the Holy Spirit. 44:34 In Christ's Object Lessons, page 406, Ellen White wrote, 44:38 "The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. " 44:41 So, basically, the lamp with the oil 44:44 that gives light represents God's people 44:47 enlightening the way to the wedding chamber 44:50 and encouraging people to come 44:52 and go into the wedding chamber. 44:54 In Matthew 5 and verse 16, Jesus said, 44:58 "Let your light so shine before men, 45:01 that they may see your good works 45:04 and glorify your Father who is in heaven. " 45:07 And we read previously, Luke 12:35 and 36 45:10 where Jesus says to His followers, 45:13 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning... " 45:16 see, this connects with the parable of the ten virgins. 45:19 He says, "Let our waist be girded 45:21 and your lamps burning; 45:22 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, 45:26 when he will return from the wedding... " 45:28 so, God's people don't actually physically go to the wedding, 45:32 they wait for the Master to return from the wedding, 45:36 and it ends by saying, 45:37 "that when he comes and knocks 45:39 they may open to him immediately. " 45:42 Now, what does the extra oil represent? 45:46 That is the primary distinction between the wise virgins 45:50 and the foolish virgins. 45:51 What is represented by the extra oil in the flagons? 45:54 The wise had extra oil in their flagon 45:59 and when the bridegroom delayed, 46:02 well, the oil in their lamps began to be scarce 46:05 but when they woke up, 46:07 they had extra oil that they could put in their lamps. 46:10 The wise virgins... as we noticed, 46:12 had a deep relationship with Christ. 46:15 A relationship that could not be broken 46:18 by delay or disappointment. 46:20 The extra oil represents that they had formed a character 46:25 that was in close connection with Jesus Christ. 46:29 On the other hand, 46:30 the foolish virgins, as we've noticed, 46:33 were superficial Christians. 46:35 They were like the stony-ground hearers 46:38 that started growing well 46:40 but then, there was a foundation of stone 46:43 and the roots could not go beyond a certain direction 46:47 and when the sun came out 46:48 the plant that had started to grow... died. 46:51 Ellen White wrote in Christ's Object Lessons page 408 46:56 in the parable of the ten virgins... 46:59 "In the parable, all the ten virgins 47:02 went out to meet the bridegroom. 47:05 All had lamps and vessels for oil. 47:08 For a time there was seen no difference between them. " 47:10 Now, comes the comparison, 47:12 "So with the church that lives 47:14 just before Christ's second coming. 47:17 All have a knowledge of the Scriptures. 47:19 All have heard the message of Christ's near approach, 47:23 and confidently expect His appearing. 47:26 However, as in the parable, 47:29 so it is now. 47:30 A time of waiting intervenes, 47:33 faith is tried; 47:34 and when the cry is heard, 47:36 'Behold the Bridegroom cometh; 47:38 go ye out to meet Him,' 47:39 many are unready. 47:41 They have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. 47:45 They are destitute of the Holy Spirit. " 47:48 They have perhaps received the early rain at conversion 47:51 but they had not received the latter rain 47:54 which will allow them to go through the time of trouble. 47:58 So, what does the delay represent? 48:01 Well, people expected Jesus to come to the wedding 48:05 long before He has. 48:07 They expected Him to come in the second coming 48:10 long before He has come. 48:11 In 2nd Peter chapter 3 verses 3 and 4, 48:15 we find these words, 48:16 on screen... 48:33 But there is going to be a midnight cry. 48:37 What is the midnight cry at the end of time? 48:40 Revelation chapter 18 explains it, 48:43 it's called the loud cry of the 4th angel. 48:47 This angel is going to announce 48:50 not that Jesus is coming to the Most Holy Place 48:53 to judge those who died, 48:56 but Jesus is now coming into the chamber 49:00 to judge those who are alive at the very end of time. 49:04 This is the judgment of the living. 49:07 Now, I want you to notice what Ellen White has to say 49:11 about the coming of the midnight cry at midnight. 49:16 She says in Christ's Object Lessons page 414 and 415, 49:21 on screen... 49:44 You see, when Babylon is filled with every evil spirit 49:48 according to Revelation chapter 18, 49:50 there will be a loud cry saying, 49:52 "Come out of Babylon My people. " 49:55 Multitudes will come out of the apostate churches 49:58 and join God's remnant 50:00 and when all the decisions have been made 50:04 either for the Lord or to stay where people are, 50:06 then, the door will close and Jesus will marry His kingdom 50:12 because all of the subjects of His kingdom 50:15 have been made up. 50:18 What is meant by the refusal to share the oil 50:22 on the part of the wise virgins? 50:23 Ellen White wrote in the book Christ's Object Lessons, 50:27 page 412, 50:28 "No man can receive the Spirit for another. 50:32 No man can impart to another the character 50:35 which is the fruit of the Spirit's working. " 50:38 And then she quotes Ezekiel 14 verse 20, 50:42 "Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it... " 50:44 that is in the land... 50:46 "as I live, saith the Lord... 50:49 they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; 50:51 they shall but deliver their own souls 50:54 by their righteousness. " 50:56 In Christ's Object Lessons, 412, Ellen White wrote, 50:59 on screen... 51:27 So, the "shut door" at the end of time 51:31 comes when Christ's kingdom is complete. 51:34 He has judged those who died in the Lord... 51:38 He's judged those who are alive 51:40 right before the close of probation... 51:42 people have made their decisions to be on the Lord's side 51:46 or on Satan's side 51:48 and then the door will close. 51:51 In Great Controversy page 428 Ellen White wrote, 51:55 on screen... 52:33 You remember, the foolish virgins 52:36 had a superficial relationship with the Lord. 52:39 At the very end... this is a very important point now, 52:43 at the very end of His Most-Holy-Place ministry, 52:47 after Jesus has cleansed the Most Holy Place, 52:51 the Holy Place and the Court of the sanctuary, 52:55 you can read this in Leviticus 16, 52:57 Jesus will place the sins of all of His faithful followers 53:02 on the head of the scapegoat in the Court 53:05 and then, He will return to His Father 53:09 in the Most Holy Place... 53:10 change His garments 53:13 and put on His garments of a King. 53:17 He will take off His High-Priestly garments 53:19 because His intercession is finished 53:22 and He will put on His Kingly garments 53:24 because He is now going to come 53:26 as King of kings and Lord of lords 53:28 to rescue His bride from the earth. 53:31 It's obvious that Jesus could not come 53:34 to the Father for the final judgment of the living 53:37 if He is already with the Father. 53:39 So, Jesus goes from the Most Holy Place 53:42 where He studied the cases of the righteous dead 53:47 and then, He takes all of the sins 53:49 of those who died in the Lord... 53:52 of those who are alive when the door of probation closes, 53:55 takes all of those sins... 53:56 places them on the head of the scapegoat 53:59 and then He comes to the Father 54:01 for the final wedding. 54:04 How terrible are the words for the superficial virgins! 54:09 "I know you not. " 54:13 In Early Writings page 281, 54:16 we find these words of Ellen White. 54:17 On screen... 54:53 In Great Controversy, 620... a statement that I already read, 54:57 "Those professed Christians 54:59 who come up to the last fearful conflict unprepared, 55:03 will, in their despair, 55:05 confess their sins in words of burning anguish... " 55:09 they'll say, "Let us in Lord... " 55:11 pause... 55:14 but the answer will be, "I know you not... " 55:16 so, those professed Christians 55:17 who come up to that last fearful conflict unprepared 55:20 will, in their despair, confess their sins 55:23 in words of burning anguish 55:24 while the wicked exalt over their distress. 55:27 These confessions are of the same character 55:31 as was that of Esau or of Judas. 55:33 Those who make them, 55:35 lament the result of transgression, 55:37 but not its guilt. " 55:39 And so then Jesus, at the end of the tribulation 55:43 will come to rescue His bride from the death decree 55:47 and then, He will take them to heaven 55:50 for the great celebration 55:52 of the marriage supper of the Lamb 55:55 and that will be in person. 55:57 So, you notice that the wedding takes place in heaven 56:00 while God's people are on earth. 56:02 Jesus takes over the kingdom... He marries His bride... 56:06 the totality of His people. 56:08 The individuals who have been found faithful... 56:11 they are the guests to the wedding but they're on earth. 56:15 They go to the wedding by faith 56:16 but then, after the wedding takes place 56:20 and after... at the very end of the time of trouble, 56:24 Jesus will come to empirically pick up His bride 56:27 to take her to the New Jerusalem 56:30 and the New Jerusalem will be filled with the guests 56:34 or the corporate totality with the bride 56:38 and then, will take place... the reception. 56:41 What a reception it will be! 56:44 All of the redeemed together... the bride... all together... 56:48 the individuals at the table... the guests... 56:51 to this glorious wedding supper of the Lamb 56:54 and God's people will sit at that table 56:57 which Ellen White says is many miles in length 57:00 but their eyes will be able to embrace all of it. 57:02 There will be wonderful fruit there 57:04 and here is the amazing thing. 57:06 Jesus is actually going to gird Himself 57:09 and He is going to be the waiter. 57:12 God's people will be sitting at the table 57:14 and Jesus will wait on them... 57:16 Jesus will actually serve them... 57:18 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses... 57:20 all the great heroes of history will be there at the table. 57:24 Every person who has ever joined Christ's kingdom... 57:27 who has ever become part of Christ's bride will be there 57:30 and so then, the wedding supper will take place... 57:33 a thousand years will go by 57:36 and at the end of the 1,000 years, 57:38 the New Jerusalem with all of the inhabitants of the city... 57:41 all of Christ's kingdom... His bride 57:43 will be brought back to the earth 57:45 and the New Jerusalem will settle upon the Mount of Olives 57:50 that has been split by the feet of Jesus 57:53 and Jesus will create a new heavens and a new earth 57:57 which will be His eternal home of Jesus with His bride. 58:01 What a day that will be! 58:03 Don't miss it for anything. |
Revised 2021-10-20