Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Increasing tensions between USA and North Korea
• Imagine what could happen
• We live in an uncertain world
• For the Christian - the world is not uncertain
• God is upon His throne
• We are told things will worsen
• We are to be expecting the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
• The man of sin is coming
• The world is not out of control
• Matt 25: the Parable of the Ten Virgins
• Jesus is in the middle of the Mount of Olives discourse
• Starting at 24:3
• Jesus speaks of a terrible tribulation
• The coming of Jesus - 24:36-51
• 25:1-13
• The Parable focuses on the coming of the bridegroom
• 5 wise and 5 foolish maid servants
• 5 are prepared and 5 are unprepared
• The bridegroom suddenly comes
• Some are gathered into the wedding and the door shut, some are kept out of the wedding
• Message in v13 - "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
• Overview:
• All is not equal
• The Bridegroom is coming
• There are two destinations

All is not equal

• Jesus is giving an illustration - the 3rd stage of a Jewish wedding
• 1st stage - a contractual arrangement between the two fathers
• 2nd stage - a formal engagement
• 3rd stage - the bridegroom prepares a place for his wife (over 1 year) and the collects her
  • Explanation
• All is not equal
• Initially, the bridesmaids look the same
• Same dress, same function
• 5 are wise, 5 are foolish
• Something different about their characters
• 5 are carefree, 5 are diligent
• Jesus often provides a contrast in his teaching
• Examples: The wise and foolish builder, the sheep and goats, the good and bad fish, the wheat and tares, the narrow and wide path
• The bridesmaids - a picture of the church (not so much the world)
• They are waiting for the coming of the bridegroom
• Examples of those in the church
• The passage is a call to examine yourself
• Are you in the faith?
• Not 50% who are saved and  50% who are not - not literal numbers
• Consider the parable of the sower
• cf 2 Tim 3:5 - there are those who appear outwardly as Christians, but are not
• Last weeks sermon - not wearing the wedding garment (Christ's righteousnesses)
• Rev 19 - the garment is Christ's righteousnesses and describes our sanctification
• Let us examine ourselves [are you saved?]

The Bridegroom is coming

• Consider the bridesmaids - 5 had their priorities right and 5 had their priorities wrong
• What is the thing that really matters in our live?
• Can we say 'for me to live is Christ'?
• Jesus' coming will be sudden – 24:37-39
• Examples
• His coming may be any time of day - unexpected
• The whole emphasis is be ready
• 24:40-41 - One is taken and one is left
• 24:42 - "Watch therefore, for you do know what hour your Lord is coming"
• 24:43-44 – An unexpected hour
• 25 - the emphasis is on 'doing' - are you living for Christ
• Are you ready for the coming of Christ?

There are two destinations

• Contrast between inside and outside
• The 5 wise virgins belong to Christ
• They shall be eternally safe and with the Lord
• They shall be in His presence
• The hope of the Christian
• The 5 foolish virgins
• Jesus does not recognise them - 25:12
• It is too late to enter
• cf Luke 13:22-30
• What will keep you out of heaven?
• There are no second chances
• You must make the decision now
• Those who are shut out are shut our because of their unbelief
• God sometimes gives people second chances in life
• We should not take our life for granted
• Sometimes people mock Christianity - but God will not be mocked
• Consider the example of Noah
• There are only two destinations in life: heaven and hell
• Which is it for you?

Closing Remarks