End of the Age Closing Soon, Part 2 - by Pastor Mike Taylor -
"3 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? " (Matthew 24:3).
In our last message about this subject, we discussed Jesus teaching what the signs for the end of the age would be and who would be the recipients of these signs. Jesus speaks of a great apostasy, or falling away from the true faith in the Living God, wars and rumors of wars, and the sign of the abomination of desolation. All this leads up to the coming Tribulation. Then suddenly He turns His attention to one group of people that will be His focus to bring them to the recognition of their Messiah by persecution and being refined as silver is refined in the fire....namely the nation of Israel.
2 "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." (Malachi 3:2-4)
If you need a refresher course in what was established in Part I, then I invite you to read that message first here on Prophecy Update or on my blog, as we are moving on to the next chapter of Matthew 25 that is directly connected to chapter 24 and further reveals signs that point to what is coming prior to Jesus coming in power and great glory to rule and reign for 1000 years.
Parable of the Ten Virgins
25:1 " Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish." (Matthew 25:1-2)
Some erroneously take this passage as speaking of the church, not as a whole, but individuals. Notice they are waiting for the bridegroom. They are virgins, meaning they follow after no false god, or have allegiance to the "anti-Christ" who will demand worship during the tribulation period, but notice what becomes of them?
25:3 " They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." (Matthew 25:3-5)
WHY DO THEY SLEEP?
Oil in their lamps is a sign of the Holy Spirit. While enduring the period known as the tribulation, they became weary. What does the above passage mean? During the period known as "Jacobs troubles" or the Great Tribulation, many will fall by the wayside and loose out with God, as they do not keep the Spirit of God fresh in their lives. While the foolish are busy trying to get their spiritual lives in order at the last minute, Christ comes to take the wise, and the doors to the marriage feast are shut . Only those virgins who have a regular supply of oil and combine it with the lamp of God, the Bible, can hear the true voice of their Shepherd calling to them through His God's chosen, the 144,000 Jewish evangelist, including the Two Witnesses. The foolish virgins will at first scoff at these two men and ignore their warnings. But when the Two Witnesses begin performing miracles, the wise virgins will start to wake from their deep sleep; they will begin to repent and ask God for His Spirit. Unlike the Age of Grace when the church had been sealed with an irrevocable sign of redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ and a deposit of the Holy Spirit was given to their spirit to dwell in life as His children till their redemption, the Holy Spirit has been withdrawn to Pre-Pentecostal times as noted in 2nd Thessalonians:
2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (God's Holy Spirit) will let, until he be taken out of the way.(drawn back)
2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:" (2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8)
The fullness of God's Holy Spirit to hold back the rampage of evil from this earth that will overtake all who live, has been removed in its full power along with the Church. Satan will now have full sway to attempt to destroy all of mankind, but while he's at it, seek worship for himself from fallen and evil men. All through the Age of Grace, for nigh 2000 years, God's Holy Spirit can only be the power that keeps Satan and his evil intent at bay, but when the Spirit of God is pulled back in its fullness, (then the church will be removed at that time as well as each of us have the Holy Spirit as a deposit of our future glory), and Satan will have unimpeded ability to deceive and destroy.
Notice what happens while these virgins are waiting for the bridegroom?
25:6 "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out." (Matthew 25:6-8)
These five foolish virgins had lost the Holy Spirit in their lives. They have let the troubles, the persecution, and the evil around them rob them of staying faithful to God. Will it be possible for a person who has accepted Jesus Christ during this time to loose out with Him? According to these verses, it will take all the faith and diligence to stay true to God's Word, and half of these virgins fail in that attempt. So during the tribulation, it will be possible to loose out with God as they have to be true to God's Spirit leading them and not succumb to the evil in this world. Back to what Jesus said in the previous chapter:
24:11 "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."(Matthew 24:11-14)
As mentioned, some believe that this is part of the church. They are not. How do I know? Because of the verses that follow them frantically trying to find oil for their lamp.
25:10 "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.
25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."(Matthew 25:10-12)
Note that the gift of God's Holy Spirit is just that, "a gift" as it can not be bought or secured by man's attempts to buy with any work that he can do. These who are not ready, attempt to buy God's Spirit by either works, or personal endeavors to give them what they had lost.
Also note, these virgins were guest. Five were included, five were denied access, as they were not recognized by the bridegroom for entrance to the feast. The church has already been redeemed approximately 7 years earlier and here Jesus, the bridegroom is presenting her to the world for a wedding feast. These virgin guests were not the bride.
It seems that the wedding guests are the ones who will take part in the 1000 year reign (apart from the Church because she is the Bride). They are the "saints" of the Old Testament (they died before the Church came into existence), the 144,000 Jews, the people who were martyred during the reign of the Beast (because they would not worship the Beast/Antichrist and the image of the Beast), the remnant of Israel, and the nations that treated Israel with respect during the Great Tribulation.
Note what it says in this passage in Revelation:
19:9 "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:9)
Looking at the Amplified Bible explains better what is being said here in the KJV and it behooves us to compare the two. I know, some will say KJV only, but explanation is needed for the passage to become clear:
19:8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people).
19:9 Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God." (Revelation 19:8-9, Amplified Bible)
I believe that there is definite break in Revelation 19:8 and the following in verse 19 and sometimes missed in comparison to this passage. Those called tribulation saints to the wedding feast which comes directly after the consummation of the marriage covenant between husband and wife are guest, not the bride. The marriage covenant between Jesus Christ and His church is one aspect completed in glory, but the wedding feast is upon the arrival of our Lord in chapter 19 with His bride riding on white horses and clothed with fine linen, clean and white which is a sign of the saints.
When you turn back your focus to the foolish virgins as they beat on the door asking entrance into God's presence and the wedding feast, Jesus as the bridegroom, says that He did not know them, as they are not invited as guest and have not a proper attire, the Holy Spirit's indwelling to be admitted.
The bride is already inside. The bridegroom does not invite His bride to the wedding. She is the FOCUS of the wedding. She receives no invitation except being covered in the blood of Jesus Christ as a requirement for being part of the Bride of Christ and that covenant has been completed in heaven's realm. So what this parable is talking about is Tribulation Saints who endure to the end of a most horrible time of persecution and possible martyrdom and will not give into denying their Lord, or being deceived by the spirit of anti-Christ, but each can loose what they had due to their lack of faith and perseverance to be faithful till the end of the age as represented by the five foolish virgins.
Parable of the Talents
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." (Matthew 25:14-15)
This is another way of our Lord presenting those from the Tribulation period who some will win, and some will lose. These servants are delivered talents to be used in the work of their Master, and to receive a return on His investment. The Master expects production. Production of what?
In ancient times, the talent was a measure of solid gold. It was the most valuable of metals during this time. Jesus is presenting to His servants something that is most valuable to Him. Since God does not need gold, as everything belongs to Him already, what is Jesus talking about? I believe He speaks of His Word! Why am I convinced of this? Let's turn to Mark chapter 4. Jesus speaks of the parable of the sower of seed.
4:14 "The sower soweth the word.
4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." (Mark 4:14-20)
Who is the sower? The Holy Spirit plants the Word, but we are His instruments, His servants. We sow based on the leading of the Holy Spirit and God gives the increase. As noted further on in Mark 4:
4:24 "And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
4:26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
4:27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
4:29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." (Mark 4:24-29)
In both Matthew and Luke, a master puts his servants in charge of his goods while he is away on a trip. Upon his return, the master assesses the stewardship of his servants. He evaluates them according to how faithful each was in making wise investments of his goods to obtain a profit. It is clear that the master sought some profit from the servants' oversight. A gain indicated faithfulness on the part of the servants. The master rewards his servants according to how each has handled his stewardship. He judges two servants as having been "faithful" and gives them a positive reward. To the single unfaithful servant, who "played it safe", a negative compensation is given.
To each of His servants during this time, as with the foolish virgins, God gives each of these servants something that they must hold onto. As you read, you see that each of the servants use that talent, God's Word, to use in the production of winning souls for Jesus Christ. It depends on the measure of understanding and ability. But each must use each in the service of their Lord. To do otherwise, is like the unprofitable servant who hid His Masters, money/Word away from doing anything useful to further the coming Kingdom of God. During this time, there will be a famine in the land...famine of food? No, famine of the Word of God.
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it." (Amos 8:11-12)
During this time, the Word of God will be most precious, as it will be hard to find, as evil and idolatry has filled the land. Those who are given the gift of God's Word, must share that Word with others. Only by sharing the Word of Truth with their neighbor, be he Jew or Gentile, will there be a return of people receiving salvation. It could be as simple as sharing a hidden bible with your neighbor and risking being reported. To do so will in most likelihood be filled with danger to even speak the Word of God to anybody. Those that hide His Word, and follow not His command will likely loose out in the end, just as the five foolish virgins did and wasted away their chance to keep their salvation. So what happens to the foolish servant who hid His Master's money/Word in the ground and did not proclaim the Gospel that he had?
25:30 "And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30) (synonymous with hell)
Parable of the Sheep and Goat Judgment
25:31 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (Matthew 25:31-33)
This is yet another parable of the tribulation period of how people will treat one another. Who are the people that are in prison, hungry, thirsty, or naked?
25:40 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these "my brethren", ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40) (emphasis mine)
Who are the brethren Jesus speaks of? During the time of the tribulation, to be Hebrew of the nation of Israel, Jewish by convenience of terms, is to have a death sentence riding over you. Satan hates the nation of Israel and wants them dead. He will attempt to eradicate them and make God out a liar. As if Satan can destroy Israel and the Jewish people, then he can make God's Word out to be a lie and possibly prevent his ultimate fate in the lake of fire that he knows is coming.
As it was in the days of the Nazi Germany, to be Jewish, or to help a Jew in any fashion, is to be marked for death. During this time, the Anti-Christ will make Hitler look like a beginner, as he marches across the middle east and the greater portion of this earth looking for anyone and every one who is Jewish by birth, or ancestry. To hide an Israeli, or give him drink, food, clothe him, or do anything to preserve his/her life, is taking your own life into your hands. Those that have empowered or hidden away their neighbor, the Jew, will be the sheep on God's right hand. Those that have handed their neighbor over to the authorities to save their own skin, will be on His left hand and will have lost out to being in God's Kingdom. These will cry out in dismay and objection to this condemnation, and Jesus will say:
25:44 "Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:44-46)
The sheep and goat judgment occurs on earth just before the 1,000 year reign of Christ. Scripture teaches that there are three judgments: Bema Seat Judgment, Sheep and Goat Judgment, and the Great White Throne Judgment. The Bema Judgment is rewards given for building on the foundation which is Jesus Christ and given to all true Christians. The Goat and Sheep judgment separates the living saints from those who are not. The saints enter the Kingdom both those who were resurrected and those who were still living at the end of the Tribulation. The Great White Throne judgment is for all dead non-Christians.
During this time of great tribulation, those who persevere and hold onto their crown will be led into the joy of their Lord. Those who miss the mark and loose their salvation through deceit of the evil one, or the powers that be, will be as each of the parables speak of, losers of the blessing to enter the Kingdom of God. During this time the verse that speaks of the love of many growing cold cannot be more dramatic than at this time of the history of the world. Repeating what Jesus spoke in the previous chapter of Matthew 24:
24:12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:12-14)
The true love of God is seen in the sheep. As the sheep respond to their Jewish brother's need, they are united in their distress and at the same time unwittingly, unconsciously, without hypocrisy, align themselves with Christ. Apparently, they are not even aware of what they were doing. This is a kind of love that cannot be faked or put on.
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
There is coming a day and it is imminent, when to be a Christian will be more dangerous than it is even today. Christians are persecuted in some form in some part of the world in this so called "modern age". But when this time of Jacobs trouble comes upon this earth, the next seven years will be the most horrific period in all of man's history on earth and it will come to every man, woman and child that has the unfortunate aspect of being alive on this earth at that time.
The chances of you making God's Kingdom and eternal life, to those who are reading this, and have not accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior, NOW, will most likelihood will not have a chance to do so. But if you do, it will be fraught with so much danger and fear, that the weak of spirit will succumb to the powers who make you choose, Jesus Christ or your head. Many who at first hear the Good News with gladness will be like the seed that was sown on rocky ground, as spoken of in the Parable of the Seed Sower, when persecution comes, they have no root and whither away. Many will loose their life, their soul, and their eternal reward, because they have no ability to stand. Those who don't care will have a deceiving spirit that they will believe a lie as Paul wrote 2nd Thessalonians:
9 "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Each of these two chapters of Matthew 24 and 25 are focused on one group of people upon earth, the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Each of these are examples of what they and the unfortunate Gentile that is left upon this earth when Jesus comes and cries with a loud Trumpet call, "come up hither".
50" Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1st Corinthians 15:50-55)
THE END OF THIS AGE
The signs of the end of the age is all around us. We await for the next crisis that will usher in a man with a great speaking voice. A man with a charismatic personality, a man with a narcissistic arrogance, and a man who speaks soft words to deceive. When that man comes to power, and the signs that I spoke of in the first part of this two part series, then my reader, you will be tested beyond what is being tested now in this Age of Grace. Mercy is still available for the asking. This side of Jesus coming for His Church takes only a simple prayer of childlike belief. To be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise is to rid yourself of the weight of what is coming. My reader, make no mistake, it is coming. All who live today and read these words, know in their gut, something major is about to happen. Every human with half a brain knows that this world cannot continue this way. They sense it, they smell it, and they see it. It assaults all of your five God given senses. To wait longer than a sudden crisis that takes the world by surprise will most likely spell your doom, the removal of the church, some call the Rapture. Please do yourself this one act that can preserve you for all eternity. 2nd Corinthians:
6:2 "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2nd Corinthians 6:2)
Today is the day for anyone who needs Jesus, and realize that they are doomed to a devil's hell, must make that decision to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. Note that none of us are promised even tomorrow. Even the young, who think they are invincible, can suddenly meet their fate of dying at an early age, so time is not on any of our sides. Death could come in the next breath or heartbeat of each individual. The Holy Spirit, I pray, is using these words to prick your conscience that you are not right with God, that you are lost in your sins, and that you are bound for eternal separation from God. Don't let that happen. Take the next step and realize that God made a way that none who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will endure any of what Jesus spoke of in these two chapters of Matthew.
16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
Realize this in your heart and soul, and call out to God for forgiveness of your sins and believing that Jesus died for your sins, and mine.
35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John 6:35-39)
Realize your spiritual condition and confess with you mouth to others around you, that you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, and God will welcome you into His family.
8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:8-13)
So my reader, there you have it, In two chapters coming from God Almighty in the flesh, Jesus spoke of something you do NOT want to see in your mortal flesh, the Signs of the End of the Age. Make that decision for Jesus Christ, as time is running out as Jesus could come at any moment.
So come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen, and amen.
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