Introduction:
A Over the last four weeks we have taken an aerial view of the life and times of Jesus.
1 Bethlehem, Nazareth, Cross, and Mount of Ascension (Mt. of Olives.)
a We know He’s coming back (We don’t know hour, day; Matt.24.36)
b We are not totally in the dark either.
aa Hearing of wars & rumors of war (Matt 24.6)
bb Famines & earthquakes (Matt. 24.7)
cc These things are not the end, but are precursors of the second coming of the Son of Man (Matt. 24.9; Contractions that occur before God births something new!)
2 Matt. 24.32-33; We may not know hour/day but we can be sensitive and in tune to the season of His return.
a Matt. 24 & 25 is what is known as the Olivet Discourse.
aa This Jesus’ major sermon preached on the Mount of Olives.
bb Apocalyptic in substance (Addresses the end of the age, destruction of Jerusalem, also His reappearing)
b These two chapters among the most debated, controversial passages in Scripture.
aa Some refers to the destruction of Jerusalem by Roman General Titus in A.D. 70 (Temple destruction; City destroyed) while also pointing to parousia (Second Coming)
bb Parousia (Matt.24.3; 1 Thess. 2.19) is translated “coming.” Literally means “presence.”
cc Parousia refers to the prospect of the physical arrival of that person, especially the visit of a royal or official personage (VIP.)
c Ch. 24/25, are all about the events surrounding to the leading up to the end of the Temple/Jerusalem and the end of this present age (Matt. 24.3, 13, 14.)
B I believe it is important I do some teaching from the deeper end of the theological pool for a moment.
1 The rapture and the second coming of Christ are often confused.
a The rapture and second coming are similar but separate events.
b Both involve Jesus returning. Both are end-times events. DIFFERENT
c The rapture is the return of Christ in the clouds to remove all believers from the earth before the time of God’’s wrath. The second coming is the return of Christ to the earth to bring the tribulation to an end and to defeat the Antichrist and his evil world empire, and establish His millennial kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16).
aa The rapture (1 Thess. 4.13-18; 1 Cor. 15.50-54) is when Jesus Christ returns to remove the church (all believers in Christ) from the earth.
bb Two men will be walking down the road and one will be taken; Two women will be at the mall and one will be taken.
cc Believers who have died will have their bodies resurrected and, along with believers who are still living, will meet the Lord in the air. This will all occur in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye.
2 The important differences between the rapture and second coming are as follows: (Kelsee, this information would make a wonderful two column slide differentiating the distinctives between the rapture & second coming.)
a At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the
second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth (Revelation 19:14).
b The rapture occurs before the tribulation (1 Thessalonians 5:9;
Revelation 3:10). The second coming occurs after the great and terrible tribulation (Revelation chapters 6––19).
c The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 5:9). The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment (Matthew 24:40-41).
d The rapture will be secret and instant (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). The second coming will be visible to all (Revelation 1:7; Matthew 24:29-30).
e The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment (Titus 2:13). The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-30; Revelation chapters 6––18).
3 It is tragic (and will be disastrous catastrophic) that less is known about Jesus Second Coming than His first coming.
a You’ve heard dozens of sermons on the manger, no room in the inn, shepherds, wise men (Good, not a bad thing.)
b Knowing trivia about His first parousia/coming isn’t going to help you for the next event.
aa His first coming had been clearly and repeatedly predicted in the OT prophets but was not accepted even though He met their expectations (Born in Bethlehem, son of a virgin, in the line of David. Minister in Galilee of the Gentiles, operated in the miraculous power, never the less when “He came to His own, . . . those who were His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).
bb Being ready for His Second Coming is more important than it was to be ready for the first advent.
cc Why? After the incarnation they still had opportunity to be saved as long as they were alive.
c When Christ comes again there will no such continued oppurtunity.
C Today I’m going to give you a 10 for 1 special: Instead of focusing on the Virgin Mary I’m going to talk about 10 virgins Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25.1-13.
1 The wedding ceremony in the ANE had three distinct stages: engagement, betrothal, wedding feast.
a Engagement was the ancient equivalent to the “intent to sign”, contract. (The boy & girl usually didn’t have much say as it was typically arranged by the kid’s parents)
b Betrothal was a marriage ceremony (vows exchanged under a tallit) in front of family & friends.
aa Legally married but didn’t live together, nor consummated the marriage.
bb The betrothal could last from several months to a year.
cc During this period the husband was preparing a place for his bride and him to live; establishing a way to provide for his wife (farming, raising cattle, some trade).
c Wedding Feast (Matt. 25.10) The wait is over, preparations had been completed.
aa This stage began by the groom leaving his house (accompanied by his groomsmen) and going to the bride’s house where she and here bridesmaids were waiting with her for his arrival. (Wedding at Cana)
bb Upon arrival, the bride/groom/attendants would parade the streets proclaiming the wedding feast was about to begin (Usually done @ night, torches/lamps to light the way AND to draw attention of the event) back at the groom’s house. No lamp, garments /no entry.
cc After a week of feasting, the best man would put the hand of the bride in the hand of the groom & the couple would be alone for the first time. (The bride & groom remained hidden away for 7 days, not seen. Marriage was consummated and begin their new life together as husband & wife.)
dd It was this third part of the marriage rite that Jesus used as the framework of the parable of the ten virgins/bridesmaids.
2 Jesus uses this parable to teach some simple truths that help us understand about His appearing.
a He’s coming, judge sinners, reward the righteous, be ready, His coming is going to be unexpected.
b The heart of the matter is that once He has arrived, there will be no second chance and the opportunity for salvation will be gone forever.
D We see 10 bridesmaids decked out in wedding attire, lamps in hand waiting for the groom.
1 5 were foolish, 5 were wise. (5 are litigimate guests at the wedding feast & 5 will prove to be wedding crashers).
a The deciding factor between the foolish & wise wasn’t clothing, lamp, sleep . . . but oil.
aa Usually, oil represents the Spirit of God.
bb The wise bridesmaids brought extra oil just in case.
cc W/O fuel their lamps were worthless, useless, unable to produce light.
b The wise bridesmaids were able to sleep because they knew they were ready for the groom; the foolish slept because of false confidence.
2 The groom comes @ midnight (Ex. 12.29).
a It’s at his parousia we see why the wise are wise and the foolish are foolish.
aa Prior to the grooms arrival everybody had the right garments, proper lamps, and were at the right place.
bb When the groom comes he see who’s really ready.
b Anyone can make a profession of faith and not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
aa Some think associating with the things and people of God makes them apart of Christ’s true church.
bb Some think being born into a Christian family makes them members of the family of God.
cc Some think their good works assures them a place at the feast, Matt. 7.22-23.
c The wise bridesmaids had oil to put in their lamps: their outward professions were substantiated by inward possession(Grace/Holy Spirit).
3 The Lord can look down on any group of bridesmaids and judge them as foolish or wise, but you may not be able to tell.
a When He does appear in power & glory @ His Second Coming, the difference will bee seen by all.
b The torches of true believers will shine . . . unbelievers will not even burn.
Conclusion:
A The thing that I never got about this parable was why didn’t the wise bridesmaids share their oil?
1 In the parade to the wedding feast everyone was expected to carry their own torch (Individual responsibility.)
a Everyone in this room is responsible for their own spiritual condition: Our relationship with God must be our own. (Non-transferable)
b Can’t buy it/borrow it at the last minute; The saved cannot become saviors.
2 The troubling truth of this parable is that not every professing Christian will enter heaven, for some really have not trusted Jesus Christ sincerely. (W/O His Spirit there can be no salvation.)
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