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Monday, June 24, 2024

After the Heathen Rage, What's Next? - Part 3


 Dennis Edwards

To go back to Part 1.

The Parable of the Ten Brides

Matthew 25:1-5 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Matthew 25:6-9 “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Matthew 25:10-13 “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.”

The parable seems to indicate that not all of the so-called “church” of believers will get into the marriage feast. Will ½ of the “church” miss the marriage feast? If they missed the marriage feast, did they miss the Rapture that preceded it?

In the scripture “oil” is representative of the Holy Spirit. David was anointed with oil by Samuel to become King of Israel over his brethren, because his heart was right with God. When King Saul was anointed with oil, he was soon baptised with the Holy Spirit and prophesized and spent time at the school of the prophets. It was said in that time, “Has Saul become one of the prophets?” In the book of Acts we are told that the Lord gives His Holy Spirit to those that obey Him. It’s the obedient that are filled with the Holy Spirit and have oil in their lamps.

What then does it mean they didn’t have oil in their lamps? Why did that cause them to be locked out of the marriage ceremony, and the Lord to say to them, “I do not know you?” Did they lose their salvation? Were they never in relationship with Jesus in the first place?

Some of these questions are hard to answer. If we believe, once saved always saved, we have to conclude these must have not been saved. And yet, in the parable they seem to be expecting the Lord’s return and had some oil in their lamps for some time. Therefore, it seems they had been in relationship with the Lord, but that relationship had cooled off. Did they lose their salvation, or did they lose their rewards? For Jesus to say to them, “I don’t know you,” sounds like some pretty strong language.

In the parable we notice that some of the virgins waiting for the groom were wise, while some were foolish. By looking at an earlier parable we may get a clearer picture.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

By comparing the two parables together, it may be that the wise virgins were those who heard and obeyed the will of the Father, while the foolish virgins were those that heard what the will of the Father was, but didn’t do it. Did they therefore lose their salvation, or simply not have any celestial rewards, or were they not saved in the first place? Were they false believers? Whatever the case may be, they don’t get into the marriage feast.

Matthew 7:21-23Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Those who were in the ministry for personal gain, like money, power, or fame, and not really for Jesus, will be exposed on that day. Jesus calls them workers of iniquity. Apostle Paul calls them grievous wolves.

Acts 20:29-30 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”

Apostle Peter, also, addresses the problem.

2 Peter 2:1-3a “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.”

In the Old Testament God calls out the same problem in the leadership of His flock.

Isaiah 56:10-12 “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”

Jeremiah 6:13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely.”

Ezekiel 34:2-5 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus, says the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

In the New Testament, Apostle Paul gives the requirements for a true shepherd.

1 Timothy 3:2-7 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he falls into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he falls into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

God has warned us over and over again to be diligent about His Father’s business, to be good shepherds. He has told us to warn “the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14.

To go to Part 4.

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