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And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Jesus enters into to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and says in Matt 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Jesus prophesies against the city of Jerusalem. This city and it’s people were responsible for killing the prophets. Historically when we consider the scriptures, Jerusalem did in fact reject and kill it’s prophets. The prophets preached repentance......the prophets preached turning from evil and wrong-doing and turning to God. The people rejected what was being preached to them, they did evil to God’s chosen vessels.
Now Jesus, being another prophet himself, he was the Messiah, and once again history would repeat its self. Days later, Jesus would be crucified.......Jerusalem was going to claim another prophet....but this time it was going to cost them.
Jesus says, “You will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!”
Now think about this, right now Jerusalem still rejects Jesus. Many still do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and they despise the name. But Jesus says here, that there will come a day when all that will change. Soon, there will come a day that the inhabitants of this city will say “Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!”
Things are going to get so bad in this world that people are going to want the Lord Jesus Christ to come. I can understand why John writes in Revelation 22:20 in the back portion of this verse “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”
I said a couple of weeks ago that the book of Revelation was written in a way to give the saints in the early church encouragement. The saints in the early church suffered great persecution and one of the things that helped them to get through it is that the Lord was soon to come. Now let me degress....yes that was over 1987 years ago and the saints of God are still waiting but let me remind you of what Peter the Apostle writes in 2 Peter 3:8:
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
We are still living in the last days. God told Adam, the day you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall surely die.....but yet Adam lived 930 years and then he died. God does not number days the same as we number them. God does not operate on a 24 hour, 7 day, 365 days of the year like we operate.....matter of fact, he made time and isn’t restricted by time. If God’s word says we are living in the last days then we are in fact living in the last days.
The countdown for the last days began on Pentecost. Joel says:
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Peter under the anointing of the Holy Ghost himself says in his sermon on the day of Pentecost:
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The fact remains and must be stated and articulated that we are living in the last days! It doesn’t matter if the end of the world comes next year or if it comes thousands of years from now......our time here on this Earth is short and short-lived and tomorrow is not promised to us and if God were to call your name, if life was taken from your body, we must ask ourselves......”Am I ready to see Jesus.”
I find it puzzling that God still has me preaching on this, I find it puzzling that 2 days ago Elder Berry preached on the same text God gave me, and it is evident that we aren’t really listening! We say “you know I’ve heard this before or Pastor preached that last week, or Elder Berry frequents this passage often, no......God is trying to give you a friendly reminder that our flight is about to take place!
When we consider the passages that follow Jesus’ statement, Jesus lays out a clear, precise guideline to the end times for his disciples to go by.
Jesus disciples (Matt 24:1-2) begin to point out to Jesus the various temple buildings, probably things that they noticed. Jesus replies “See ye not all these things.......look at all these buildings......I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another! Now this was an astonishing statement because last time this happened.....the Jews got drugged off to Babylon for their idol worship.
Later on, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and his disciples came to him privately and asked him “When will all this happen and what shall be the sign of your coming, and the end of the world. See there were still thinking that Jesus was going to take a trip into a distant land and come back at a later time.....they had no idea that Jesus was literally going to leave this Earth and thousands of years later return.
Jesus then begins to lay out the signs:
Jesus lays out the signs in three stages:
The temple being destroyed.
The signs of His coming.
The end of the world.
Jesus tells his disciples that the temple and its building were going to be demolished and destroyed.......When? Let me give you a history lesson:
70 AD A roman general by the name of Titus Caesar Vespasian and his army marched in to Jerusalem to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. Titus would march in destroy Jerusalem and the Temple and would stand in the Holy Place therefore bringing forth the abomination of desecration that Jesus spoke of to his disciples (verse 24:15). Jesus told his disciples when you see this happening.....this invasion.....(see you gotta put the scriptures together) “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath day.
Now Jesus says “For then shall be a great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be, and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Okay so this is one section. Now here is another section......then (time-lapse).
So first of all Jesus addresses what? When the temple would be destroyed and the abomination of desolation happens. Now, I know this is messing with some people’s theology or eschatology because you’ve been reading books that says in order for Jesus to come back there has to be a third temple built. I’m not here to speak on that......but there is no scripture that supports a 3rd temple. Is it possible that a 3rd temple can be built.....yeah.....a lot of obstacles are going to have to be removed for that to happen. But don’t base the Lord’s return off of what someone else has said.....base it off what the scriptures says.....and the scriptures say that his coming will be sudden and his coming is interment.
So the next section Jesus begins to lay out some scenarios concerning his coming:
False-Messiahs
False Prophets and perform great signs and wonders and deceive many.
As lightning flashes in the east and shines in the west so will it be when the Son of Man comes......SUDDEN!
Jesus gives more indicators:
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”
We’ve seen the sun darkened, we’ve seen the moon not give her light. Now I know that the doubters will say....well that’s normal it’s been happening.....well according to Jesus no it had not been happening, but because we are living in the last days and have been so for some time now.....it appears to be a normal occurence. Stars are falling....they are dying....falling into blackholes.....suns that have been in existence for some time now are dying in other galaxies. It should late you know that this universe.....the heavens is in its last stages.
(Verse 30)
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Watch this next part: “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Do yall see that? Notice Jesus doesn’t say “earth”.......it isn’t just limited to earth......but from one end of heaven to the other! Now here it is you were thinking the rapture was a Pauline epistle phenomenon.
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Jesus gives an additional set of prerequisites for his coming:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Don’t be going after these people who are trying to predict when Jesus is coming....no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, even Jesus himself doesn’t know! Only the Father knows.
The people during Noah’s time were so busy caught up living and enjoying life, partying and having a good time. No regard for righteous living, living out of the will of God, living in sin, eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. Now.....eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage is not a sin unless you use those things outside of God’s will. What Jesus is pointing out is that the people were so engrossed in having a good time in life and living life. Then here was Noah....who forwent the pleasures of this life and began to work on his salvation! While everybody else was having a good time, God warned and told him that judgement was coming, it was going to rain, and you need to work on salvation in order to save yourself and your family! You need to work on your salvation! You need to work on the ark.....that ark is going to be your salvation. When God delivers you, when God saves you and forgives your sins, when God fills you with the Holy Ghost you’re stepping in the ark.....but you gotta stay in it to be saved! Jesus said people didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away....don’t be so caught up in life that the day of the Lord catches you unaware!
Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke’s gospel says two in the bed.....one left and the other taken. Can you imagine that? So what do we need to do? The Lord says “Watch therefore”. Be alert......don’t be drunk with this world, don’t be drunk with the deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this life, don’t be drunk with this world, and drunk in sin.......but “WATCH”.....therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Jesus uses an illustration:
If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. In other-words a burglar is one who is bent on getting your stuff....and in the process will do whatever it takes to get it.....that means they are going to do you harm. So if you know that a burglar was coming to your house.....and listen....they didn’t have 911 back then and they were coming to rob you and do you bodily harm....maybe even kill you....you’d be up waiting for them with a fry pan, with a staff, with a slingshot......I’m trying to be nice here.....I’m talking about Jesus time now. In the same way......Jesus says “be ye also ready....you too must be ready at all times.....for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Man.....I’m sorry we done went vintage on yall this morning. This is the stuff that some of you all use to hear Bishop Jones preach, Elder Ingram, Elder McGill, Elder Elmer Hardy.....and we would hear it and think on our ways.....and if we weren’t right we’d run to the altar and get right! We don’t here this kind of preaching much anymore.....BUT IT IS STILL RIGHT.....IT IS STILL RELEVANT.....AND IF JESUS SAID IT.....IT MAKES IT RIGHT! WE GOTTA BE RIGHT! Elder Berry said Friday.....not getting ready.....BE READY!
The scripture here (verses 42 & 44) isn’t suggesting that we be on constant watch because in the next verse....Jesus tells his disciples how to watch:
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
You make yourself ready by being faithful to God, you make yourself ready by being a wise servant. (Faithful and Wise), (Faithful and Wise), (Faithful and Wise).
Faithful, one who is true, one who is reliable, one who is trustworthy, one who is faithful in executing commands, one who is trustworthy to do the right thing, one who is able to maintain. In the text, one who is faithful in living and upholding, and adhering to the word of God.
Wise, intelligent, considerate, prudent, discreet,
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
A faithful and wise servant is a ready servant. A foolish servant, a foolish worker is one who doesn’t do their job. (neighbor we have a job to do.....God didn’t save us just for us to sit around and twiddle our thumbs.....we’ve got to advance the kingdom of God). This bad servant said in his heart “my master won’t be back for awhile” and then he begins to abuse those whom the master entrusted with his care, then the servant parties, gets drunk, and has a good time.....and while all this is happening the master shows up unannounced and unexpected and cuts the servant to pieces and assigns him a place with the hypocrites and in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Conclussion:
Conclussion:
Jesus continues his conversation with his disciples:
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. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; 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. 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 cometh.
Three points here:
Ten virgins, ten bridesmaids and took their lamps with them to meet the bridegroom. Five were wise and five were foolish.
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
Five foolish virgins only took their lamps with them, but they didn’t carry extra oil. But there were five wise virgins, that took extra oil with them. The foolish thought that they would be alright......but they didn’t have enough oil to go out when the bridegroom came. But the three wise virgins, had extra oil for their lamps. It is not enough to just have oil......it’s not enough to just have the oil....you better make sure the oil don’t run out! You better make sure you have extra oil......you better make sure you have extra anointing! When the darkness comes......that extra oil will keep you in the darkness! When the darkness comes that extra oil will help you see in the darkness! First you better make sure you got the oil! Make sure you have the Holy Ghost! Secondly, you better make sure you are filled! It’s not enough to have a little bit of Holy Ghost, it is not enough to just have a good feeling.....you better be sure you are filled! You ought to pray this pray....Lord fill me up! Fill me, till I walk right.....Fill me till I talk right.....Fill me till I see right.....Fill me till I see right.....Fill me till I love right.....Fill me till I treat my neighbor right.....Fill me till I treat my family right!!!
The bridegroom delayed his coming and they all became drowsy and fell asleep and while they all slept the lamps kept burning. At midnight, they were waken up by the shout “Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!” All of the virgins got up and prepared their lamps, but then the five foolish ones asked the five ones “please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.” You got to get the oil for yourself.....you can’t go off of someone else’s anointing.....you can’t go off of someone else’s service or relationship to God....you need to have your own! The five said “we don’t have enough for all of us, to to a shop and buy some for yourselves.....but while they went to buy.....while they went to get ready....the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later on, when the other five foolish virgins returned, they stood outside, calling, Lord! Lord! Open the door for us! But he called back, believe me, I don’t know you! You better make sure the LORD knows who you are! You better make sure you got oil in your lamp! You gotta keep watch! For you do not know the day or our of my return.