Matthew 24 and 25 is called the Olivet Discourse. It takes place on the Mount of Olives, and His disciples ask Him what the end times will look like. Chapters 24 and 25 are Jesus’ explanation of the end times and His second coming. What is interesting is that He spends the last half of chapter 24 and the first half of 25 telling parables of how we should be living at that time. Fully half of His end-times discourse focuses on how we should live. That is VERY telling.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is one of those end-times parables. In it, 10 virgins were waiting for the coming of the groom. Paul describes the church as the bride of Christ, Jesus as the Groom, and then Revelation confirms this at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in Revelation chapter 19. So they are waiting for the bridegroom to come, but when He comes, 5 were ready, and 5 were not. The parable ends with a chilling statement, and let’s read that now from Matthew 25:10-13: “And…the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
As I go around talking to Christians, a lot of them feel, sense that Jesus is coming soon. My question to them is, what are you doing to get ready? You see, Jesus is coming for a Bride that has made itself ready. Are you growing your relationship with Jesus? Going to His Word and letting the Holy Spirit convict and grow you? Or are you spending your days worrying about the bills, inflation, your 401 K, or your kid’s future spouse? IF JESUS IS COMING SOON, and I believe He is, then WE NEED TO GET READY! I beg you, please don’t be in that group that is not ready and has the door shut on them. Thankfully, Jesus does not leave us clueless. In Revelation, He shares an end-times message to His end-times church on EXACTLY how he wants us to be when He comes. He lays out what we are doing wrong, what we are doing right, and what He wants us to change to get that relationship back to where it needs to be. It’s a relationship. It is important. DO NOT BE THE FOOLISH VIRGIN AND HEAR “I NEVER KNEW YOU”.
Over the next 8 weeks, I will be starting a series breaking down EXACTLY what Jesus wants us to be doing during these times. I beg you to come, you will get challenged, you will get clarity, you will grow closer to Jesus, and you WILL BE GETTING READY. This Sunday, August 24th, at 10:30 a.m. at 900 Cripple Creek Dr in Lawrenceville, the message will begin. Possibly the most important message you hear all year. Please come and bring anyone you care about. It is going to be awesome. You will be changed over the next 8 weeks, and that will benefit all who know you. I hope to see you there….
Brian
P.S. Jesus is coming soon. It’s time to start getting ready! This Sunday, August 24th, at 10:30 a.m. at 900 Cripple Creek Dr., the most important series you will hear all year will begin. There is NO downside to getting ready; these next 8 weeks will grow you to be more like Jesus, and that will benefit all who know you. I hope you can make it as my personal guest. If you live too far away, it will be posted the following day on our website, www.thegreatawarenesschurch.org. Check it out, and let’s get ready for the Master’s coming. Be blessed!