Monday, February 15, 2016

Matthew 25 - Parables of the Coming Judgment

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 cometh. Matthew 25:11-13. 

After Jesus gave the signs of the end of that Jewish age (which occurred in 70 AD), He then proceeds to give His disciples several parables to explain how the spiritual kingdom would arrive. First, He compared it to a wedding festivity where the bridegroom sounds the alarm and ten sleepy bridesmaids (virgins) wake up to meet their future husband. Unfortunately, half of the virgins had let their lamps darken so that by the time they purchased oil for their lamps (representing the Holy Spirit), they were shut out of the marriage supper.

What did this parable mean? It was a warning that, as the second coming delayed (40 years from 30 AD to 70 AD), the temptation would be there to shrink back from this new faith and return to the temple/sacrificial system. Those Jewish people of that end time generation who had tasted the goodness of God and had received the Holy Spirit would be shut out of the kingdom if they gave up on their faith. When the bridegroom, Jesus, came, a judgment would occur and there would be a great and devastating penalty for reverting back to the temple sacrifices.

Today, in the new covenant age, people must believe and receive Jesus Christ in order to be born again and come into the kingdom - just like during the first century. Those who do not receive Jesus will be forever lost and will live eternally in the lake of fire once they pass from this life to the next. That is why it is so important for us to share the goodness of the Gospel.

Links:
https://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/unheeded-or-misinterpreted-signs-the-destruction-of-jerusalem-70ad/

http://bible.christiansunite.com/jos/warindex.shtml

http://www.allthingsfulfilled.com/

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/haggadah.html