10 virgins thank you Jesus this is intense

The 10 Virgins Bible Study from Matthew 25 Table of Contents 1. 2 Sets of Virgins - Wise and Foolish 2. Watch and Pray Always 3. The Midnight Cry 4. Half are Ready and Half are Lukewarm 5. The Catching Away and the Shutting of the Door This is a very intense look at the 10 Virgins and the catching away of the church according to Jesus Christ. It will go against many traditional viewpoints, but it is totally biblical. You can agree or not agree, but I ask you to to read it and pray about it and allow the Holy Spirit speak to you. These are warnings to the church out of the New Testament. They are all warning the same thing... and none says it quite like the main text in Matthew 25. If you have ears to hear, listen and just let God speak through His Word. Main Text Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV) " 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. 3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 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. 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. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Lets explore verse by verse...The 10 Virgins Bible Study from Matthew 25 PART 1 2 Sets of Virgins - Wise and Foolish Click to listen to Realplayer Audio Study Session #1 Matthew 25:1 " Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. " This is not a parable about the world... it is about the Kingdom of Heaven. This is about Jesus' kingdom on the earth that right now exists in the children or sons of God. But someday that kingdom will rest physically on the earth and Jesus be here returned the 2nd time. But right now, the kingdom is in the hearts of God's people. Keep that in mind. The Kingdom itself is likened unto 10 Virgins. DEFINITION: THE 10 VIRGINS "ARE" THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. This has nothing to do with lost folks or the world, this is the body of Christ. The virgins themselves are given the definition by Jesus as being the church... those who are part of God's Kingdom. Right in this one verse, the idea that half are not Christians or pseudo-Christians or tares is undone. For they are the Kingdom... we are kings and priests unto God through the blood of Jesus Christ. They are virgins. Greek parthenos, a marriageable maiden... one who is pure and untouched sexually. There is only one way that they can be virgins, and that is the purity that comes through the blood of Jesus Christ... they are guiltless before God. That is not an outward appearance, but that is an inward cleanness that can only come through Jesus Christ spiritually. 1 Peter 1:2-3 " 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, " Romans 3:23-25 " 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; " Ephesians 5:25-27 " 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. " They had lamps and had a light. In fact, when they all heard the midnight cry, the five foolish trimmed their wicks fully expecting to go as well since they had a light. They took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. They were going to meet the bridegroom. I don't think that I need to go into the imagery of Jesus being the bridegroom and the Marriage Supper and the church being His bride along with New Jerusalem. But I will give this along those lines: Revelation 19:4-9 " 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 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. " 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 " 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. " "2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. " Half and half... I think that this is probably why the number 10 was used so that it could be so clearly seen. Remember, the virgins "are" the Kingdom of Heaven. We are talking about the church... the body of Christ of which Jesus is the chief cornerstone. 1 Peter 2:4-10 " 4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. " Wisdom and foolishness are discussed in a very serious way by Jesus here. Lets talk about that for a moment. The fear of the Lord is the "beginning of wisdom". The fool has said in his heart that there is no God. I put it to you that many of God's own people live like there is no God. They might believe that God is real and have Jesus in their lives, but they are so lukewarm and compromised with the world that they feel like that they can live like the world with no chastening or even judgment from the Lord. They live foolishly... like the fool... as if God is not real. The reality of God has become shallow in their lives. Psalm 53:1 " To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good. " Proverbs 9:10 " The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding. " Ephesians 5:11-20 " 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. [u]15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].[/u] 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; " Colossians 4:5-6 " 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. " Galatians 5:16 " [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. " Galatians 3:1-5 " 1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? " 1 Corinthians 1:30 " But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: " Please understand what the TEXT is saying. Its not this bible student, and its not a commentary, but its what Jesus said. He said that the 10 Virgins are the Kingdom of Heaven and that half were foolish and half were wise. This is a very interesting point. That means that half of the same people... virgins... pure before God... forgiven... part of the body of Christ was foolish and half were wise. THIS HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH IF THEY WERE SAVED OR NOT. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NEW BIRTH. IT HAS TO DO WITH THEIR WALK AT THE "TIME" OF THE CATCHING AWAY OF THE CHURCH. Click to leave your comments on the Warriors of God Last Days Forum for this study. Return to Index PART 2 Watch and Pray Always Click here to listen to Realplayer Audio Study Session #2 There is a reason that Jesus said what He did. Luke 21:34-36 " 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. " This is the end of Luke's version of Matthew's chapter 24 discourse of the Tribulation. There is a promise given here to them... that if they watched and prayed always, that they might be accounted "worthy" to escape all of the things coming to pass. This has nothing to do with soul salvation, but has to do with the catching away of the church and the removal of the authority of the church out of this earth so that Hell can be unleashed unfettered. That is why you see Saints being overcome in the Tribulation, and yet Jesus promised that the gates of Hell would not prevail against the "Church". The body of Christ... the authority of the church shall leave, but saved people... saints will remain. Hold on... its about to get a bit in-depth: Matthew 16:18-19 " 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. " - PROMISE TO THE CHURCH 1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 " 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, - PROMISE TO THE CHURCH 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. " YET, the saints of God are definitely overcome during the 70th Week of Daniel... the Tribulation. The Bible is very, very clear about that. Daniel 7:25-27 " 25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. " Revelation 6:9-11 " 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled. " Revelation 7:12-17 " 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. " Lets look at two examples in Revelation 3 of two last days churches (actually, there are three there, but the church at Sardis belongs more with a discussion of 2 Peter instead of Matthew 25). The two last days kinds of church... Philadelphia the faithful church, and Laodicea the backslidden church. The two ways that Jesus discusses them and gives the revelation of what is going to happen with them says much. The faithful church: Revelation 3:7-11 " 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. " 1. They had been faithful over that which they had been given. They were not super-spiritual giants, but they loved the Lord and had been faithful and were promised an open door of opportunity. 2. The persecution that they suffered would be reversed some day. 3. THE PROMISE IS GIVEN TO THIS CHURCH THAT THEY WOULD BE KEPT FROM THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION THAT WOULD COME ON THE WHOLE EARTH... THIS IS TRIBULATION. They are promised that they would be kept from it. This is they that obeys Jesus in saying that they are to watch and pray always. This is the 5 wise virgins that took care to walk in the Spirit and have enough of the Spirit of God in their lives to let their lights shine. 4. The warning is given to hold fast what they have that nobody take their crown. Which crown? Is it just a crown of reward or the stephanos... crown of victory that the elders get in the next chapter? If so, then they must have that crown of victory if they are caught up just before the opening of the Seals... so that they can cast it at the feet of Yahweh, the Father. The lukewarm church: Revelation 3:14-20 " 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. " 1. This church thinks that its okay, but Jesus is knocking trying to get in. They are not cold really, and they are not fervent with the fire of God and passion for Jesus, but they are room temperature, and as some piece of food that is supposed to be hot when you put it into your mouth and its just a weak warm, God spits it back up. Actually the word literally means to throw up. It makes God sick and He rejects them. 2. They are told to repent. In other words, turn back and get true spiritual riches instead of the flash and material wealth that they have been counting as spiritual gain. 3. They are spiritually blind but think that they are so wise... but they are foolish. 4. They were Christians for God was chastening them. He only chastens those that He loves and counts as a child. They are being chastened and Jesus is wanting back inside because they have pushed him out through their compromise with sin. There is no fellowship anymore. That does not mean that they are lost... it means that they are like the prodigal son away from God. But God will reject them... they must repent and get enough oil to get the fire burning again. If not, they will be rejected. This is a view of the 5 foolish virgins. " 3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. :" They all had lamps... they all had vessels, but the difference was in wisdom in that the wise had their oil fresh and enough of it to keep their fires burning. The foolish was going and walking in the flesh. They did not take time with God... as Laodicea, they were being chastened, but not doing anything about it when the time came. See, the thing is, we just don't know when the time comes. We know when the seasons are here (1 Thessalonians 5), and I for one believe that we are in the season and in that generation. Yet, so many are living like Jesus will take another 1000 years before He catches us away. So many are walking unawares just like the world. They aren't the world... they aren't lost, but they act like it as a foolish rebellious child. What is the oil? The anointing... the presence of God. Jesus was the Christ... the Messiah... the anointed one, and He anoints us with the Spirit of God. Now understand... the virgins can only be virgins if they have been born again and that means that they have the Spirit of God in them that brings the new birth. But the anointing shows the covering... the flowing of the Spirit. Its more than just salvation, but it is the Holy Spirit actively moving in our lives. The anointing brings the works of God. Romans 8:9-13 " 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. " If we are born again, then the Spirit is there. But like the example of the vessel or glass of water... or lets say "oil". Is there a little oil, or a lot of oil? Is it overflowing with oil, or is there just enough to bring salvation? See, when you read Romans 8 there, there is a call to mortify the deeds of the body so that you shall live. There is the promise of that Spirit raising up your mortal bodies... and that we are debtors to live after the Spirit and not the flesh. How about those who are born again, but do not walk in the Spirit and stay in constant chastening? It happens. In fact, much of the American church is there today... like Laodicea, increased with goods but has become spiritually blind and empty. They are in the hog's pen and do not know it. They do not have enough to keep their lamps burning which is why they wanted the others to share what they had with them. The others had been filled with the Spirit and walked that way sufficiently... watched and prayed always and when the cry was made, their lamps burned and the Spirit raised them up. Many problems arise when people take this part and that part and do not explore the verses that the use in context with other ideas that are there as well that go together. HALF AND HALF... when you consider that the greatest revivals going on right now are in 3rd world countries, where do you suppose the lukewarm, foolish half of the church lives? Barnes had an interesting notation. He said that the 5 foolish virgins probably expected that there would be no delay and did not prepare for it and did not take extra oil. I think that this is probably an interesting point here. Many times, Christians start very motivated and on fire, but after a while allow the things of the world to overtake them and entrap them. They grow weary of constantly being weary, and a kind of spiritual laziness sets in as they tend more to the flesh than to the spirit. This is a trap however, and if you have fallen to it at the critical time, you will be left behind. Click to leave your comments on the Warriors of God Last Days Forum for this study. Return to Index The 10 Virgins Bible Study from Matthew 25 PART 3 The Midnight Cry Click here to listen to Realplayer Audio Study Session #3 Now continuing with verses 5-7, " 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. " What I find interesting is that all the virgins heard Him and arose, but only half were allowed to go in... for only half had made themselves ready. Only half had walked in the Spirit to keep the Spirit moving in them over the long haul. So many... half in fact had not prepared for what they had to deal with and the oil ran out. They did not seek God enough consistently to keep the supply of oil moving in their lives, so they became more room temperature... lukewarm as they lost fuel for their fire. Too many lose that zeal over time. Once again, lets look at what Jesus is talking about. He is describing the "Kingdom of Heaven" or those who are part of that Kingdom as 10 Virgins. The 10 Virgins themselves are the Kingdom... the church actually. They are actual virgins or clean and without sin. How can people be without sin? Through justification through faith in the blood and works of Jesus Christ on the cross. In other words, these are saints... they are saved. So, this has nothing to do with their spiritual salvation... if they are born again or not, but it does have a lot to do with their destiny in coming events as their walk or lack of walk with God will change their personal destinies. 10 is probably used because it is easily divisible and seen... half and half which is interesting in and of itself. Spiritual wisdom is seen by having oil in their vessels sufficient to keep their lights shining. They all had lights... they all had oil, but not all had "enough" in their vessels to keep the lamp lit. In fact, they all trimmed their lamps as if they all expected to go. They were all together and doing the same thing which takes us to these verses. THE BRIDEGROOM TARRIED. He has tarried and not come when the church (as we shall address the virgins from this point onward) thought that He would come. The fully expected to go, but they thought that He would have already come... but He tarried and while they waited, they fell asleep... all of them. This is not exactly what we are supposed to be doing when the time for Jesus to make that catching up call comes, but it is what Jesus predicted that we would be doing. For whatever the reason, we will be slumbering. Slumbering and then slept... they nodded off and finally fell completely asleep. I wonder if we are actually asleep yet? I am reminded of the inner 3 of the disciples... Peter, James, and John falling asleep as Jesus agonized before they came to take him. He came down and roused them saying, "could you not tarry one hour?" They were supposed to be praying, but it was as if some supernatural sleep had taken them. Some today have compromised... and some have become discouraged... and some have just gotten busy with busy work or the affairs of life, but all are at least slumbering... not aware as they should be. Paul said this : 1 Thessalonians 5:3-10 " 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. " Here Paul tells us not to sleep as the world is asleep that the day should not take us unawares. It amazes me thinking back to the preaching on the "rapture" when I was a young child in church where people walked around with the idea of "Maranatha" in their hearts... living as if the Lord could call them out any day and working in the Kingdom. This is a rare thing today. Oh, there is a lot of activity in churches today (this is from an American vantage point), but the burden to reach the lost... to work the harvest and live and watch believing that Jesus could call us out at any moment is simply not there very much... not much at all. It is as if, as we see the pieces of the puzzle falling into place in our generation... right before our eyes, people who have known the truth and once lived like they believed it have become numb to the message and think that the return is many years hence. We are slumbering and the Holy Spirit has been almost shouting at me lately to WAKE UP and shake off the thing that have distracted me... to tell others and be a voice of the watchman crying out the alarm. It burns in me right now, but I am aware in myself despite that the warfare over me in my thoughts as so many things come to distract me. It is a perilous time. WE are to put on the whole armour of God for we are not appointed to wrath as the world is. THE WORLD HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE WRATH OF GOD WHEN THE SEALS ARE BROKEN, BUT WE HAVE AN INVITATION TO A MARRIAGE FEAST! WHICH DO YOU WANT? There is more to the 1 Thessalonians 5 scriptures as well... a deeper truth to get to, but that is for another study. Lets back to the Midnight Cry! AT MIDNIGHT THE CRY WAS MADE! What cry? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 " 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the [b]Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:[/b] and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. " The Shout of the Lord... the Voice of the Archangel... the Shofar of God... this is the cry that is made at MIDNIGHT! Midnight... that part of the night where most people are getting good and asleep and expect things to be quiet. Suddenly (I like those biblical suddenlies), it isn't quiet anymore, but everything changes in an instant... in a moment... in the twinkling of an eye. The New American Standard says, Matthew 25:5-7 (NASB) " 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and [began] to sleep. 6 "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet [him.'] 7 "Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. " The Greek says literally in the middle of the night... translated midnight in a number of translations. This is a night for the church. Think about this... there has been especially in the past 100 years or so more darkness poured out even on lands that did have that much spiritual darkness before. From Islam (though in a lot of lands that has been going on for a long, long time) to Communism the past century to Fascism, to the darkness in America and Canada and western Europe from the weight of their own sin and iniquity... from the drug and sexual explosion from the 60's to 80's to the gothic and occult revivals we see now. Its getting dark... the middle of the night and the time is getting harder and harder to get through... the pressure to not be as vigilant and fight as hard is here. It is midnight spiritually RIGHT NOW! BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOM... folks, the church and Old Covenant Saints along with New Jerusalem is the bride, and this is the Marriage Supper that we are going to during the Tribulation that brings such blessing if you are there! Revelation 19:4-9 " 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 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. " ON A PERSONAL JOURNEY NOTE: I find the wording here very interesting, for even the 5 foolish virgins were called... they heard the cry, but were not allowed to go because their lights did not shine sufficiently. I wonder if the martyrs in the first half of the Tribulation has part of this blessing because they were at least called to go in though they could not. This is debatable and I am debating it right now to myself. I am not really clear about it. One clear thing though, if you were one of the 5 foolish, you might have been called, but you were not able to go and the door was shut to you from entering into the supper. That's sad. ALL 10 HEARD THE CALL AND ROSE TO TRIM THEIR LAMPS, which is what you would do at midnight to go out. Jesus told us to let our lights so shine in the world. Could it be that there is an inherent blessing in doing this, and an inherent warning in not? Matthew 5:14-16 " 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. " THEY WERE BEING CALLED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB! HERE IS WHERE THEY GO... IT IS VITAL THAT YOU ARE READY, FOR IF YOU ARE NOT READY WHEN THAT CALL IS GIVEN, YOU SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED IN. THE MARRIAGE SUPPER IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED DOCTRINE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Jesus Christ is the groom and the church (and from Revelation 21, New Jerusalem our future home with it) is the bride. There is a mystery here... a spiritual connection and bond through this New Covenant with Jesus Christ and the church. Matthew 22:10-14 " 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen. " Ephesians 5:25-27 " 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. " 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 " 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or [if] ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with [him]. " Revelation 3:20 " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. " Now, the world is in darkness... drunken and asleep and unaware and will not hear this midnight cry at all. They do not expect to go, and we are not discussing sinners here. Some would say, ah... but these are the tares come up with the wheat. In Matthew 13, you read how the Lord has His Kingdom through the planting of the seed of the Word of God... the saved Church comes up and good harvest, but among them are tares... poisonous plants that looks just like wheat when they first come up planted by the Devil amongst us. There are tares in the church... people that Satan has planted among us to cause problems and discord, etc. and aren't saved at all. But a tare is poisonous by nature... it is corrupt that appears holy. Its like putting clean clothes over nasty ones. This does not connect to the example of Matthew 25 though because all of the 10 Virgins were actually Virgins. They were not half virgins and half false-virgins secretly corrupt. They were all clean... you cannot make anything else of the Greek in that passage in Matthew 25. They are pure... clean, and the only way that we humans can get that way is through the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ. But half took time in their walk with God to walk in the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit to have fuel for their own fires... their own light. Half were lukewarm... they were not false ones... they are not wolves in sheep's clothing, they are actually virgins. They even have lights... lamps. They have had oil, but there is no flow of oil now... their vessels have been allowed to run dry. They are carnal Christians. It isn't that God will say, depart from me I never knew you... that's to the tares, folks. Jesus has known them and does know them, but they did not do what Jesus commanded them to do and because of that they were not ready when the midnight cry came. Luke 21:36 " Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. " THE CRY IS GIVEN TO GO OUT AND BEHOLD THE LAMB... THE 5 WISE GO AND STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN, BUT THE 5 FOOLISH HEAR THE CRY AND GO OUT BUT CANNOT STAND BEFORE HIM OR GO TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER. THE DOOR IS CLOSED TO THEM. Revelation 16:15 " Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. " This sheds new light on this scripture. If you then reference back to the church at Laodicea, then it becomes even more apparent. Matthew 25:8-9 " 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 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. " WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS? Boy, this will preach... when I do the audio segment, I will have to strain to keep it teaching and not get into preaching. See, everyone will bear his own burden or weight or responsibility of his own works. We reap what we sow. There is a little confusion sometimes with the KJV rendering of the text because two different words having 2 different meanings are both translated burden which can be confusing since they are put together. Galatians 6:2-5 (KJV) " 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:2-5 (NASB) " 2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have [reason for] boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. " We bear the burdens... the heaviness of one another in love. When our brothers and sisters have fallen in a fault or are hurting through one way or another, through the love of God that He has given us... we share that burden with them... we help them get through it in love. But, as far as our walk goes and the works (if they be works of God from God, or carnal works of the flesh to sin), then we have to bear those ourselves and that is why we are to prove them. We must examine our own works and not think that we are on a spiritual level higher than we are and so become spiritually lazy and arrogant as Laodicea. See, we reap what we sow. Mommy and/or daddy cannot through their spirituality get you into that Marriage Supper. Your husband or wife cannot get you into that Marriage Supper. Your church might be spiritually on fire, but if you are there among the fire but lukewarm yourself, He will spue you out of His mouth. Revelation 3:15-16 " 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [u]16 So then because thou art lukewarm,[/u] and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. " Your church, your pastor, your family, your friends, your denomination or lack of one, your own righteousness even cannot get you into that Marriage Supper. Only having a vessel full of oil that will light your own spiritual light bright will get you there. This is the difference in spiritual wisdom and foolishness within the church. There are those who are so talented, but talent won't do it. It is if the fresh oil is flowing in your life or not. Religiosity surely won't do it... you have to have a "flow" of the Spirit to where your vessel is filled with the Holy Spirit. When we talk about being filled with the Spirit, please don't think that because you had an experience of the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" years ago that you are still walking daily filled with the Spirit. I see so much arrogance sometimes among those who will talk about a spiritual experience that they had 20 years ago and they themselves are stagnant now and at best lukewarm. God wake us up. Walk in the Spirit that you not fulfill the lusts of the flesh! GIVE US YOUR OIL... NO WAY GUYS! GET YOUR OWN! WE GOT OUR OWN AND YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR OWN! I have seen people in church try to get "second-hand blessing" by getting close to where God was blessing and moving on certain ones who had been seeking Him. And instead of seeking God themselves, they would go from revival to revival trying to get their "fix" and the next week they would be just as shallow as ever, because they had not denied themselves... prayed and taken up their own cross and followed Jesus. These are they that followed Jesus for the fishes and loaves, but when the true discipleship started, they went away from Him. Click to leave your comments on the Warriors of God Last Days Forum for this study. Return to Index The 10 Virgins Bible Study from Matthew 25 PART 4 Half are Ready and Half are Lukewarm Click here to listen to Realplayer Audio Study Session #4 Continuing with Matthew 25:8-9 Matthew 25:8-9 " 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 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. " HEY... THESE ARE NOT TARES... THEIR LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT... THEY HAD BEEN LIT. THEY HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HE HAD LIT THEIR FIRES. BUT THEY HAVE QUENCHED THE HOLY SPIRIT SO MUCH AND HAVE BEEN SO LUKEWARM AND CARNAL THAT NOW THEY SPIRIT IS GRIEVED AND NOT FLOWING IN THEIR LIVES AND NOW THE FLAME IS GONE OUT! 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (KJV) " 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. " 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NASB) " 6 And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. " Fan the flame... stir up the gift... don't let it grow lukewarm, but fan that flame that the ashes ignite again... get the flow of God going again so that the fires burn in you! Jesus is the light of the world... He is the light of life, but through the Holy Spirit, He makes us lights. We are light in this world of darkness. But sometimes the people of the light get snagged by the darkness again and the lukewarmness of their spirits lets the light grow dim to where there is no seeming difference between them and the world. The light once burned (sorry, I have read a lot of commentators trying their level best to explain away this scripture, but its wrong to try and do this. Just because it does not fit your view of scriptures is no reason to throw it away. Instead pray and seek God and change your view to include it instead of trying to explain it away as they had a worldly light, etc. It just doesn't work, and it is dishonest to the Bible to try and make it so), but it burns no longer. The sad thing is that they thought that they had enough light except when the midnight cry came, they just did not have it available to them. They trimmed with wicks as though the light was still there, but was so dry that the flame would not come. This is so sad. There is not enough for you and we also... we have what God has given to us, and you must get yours the same way... from God. We need our own for us. Not so! They say to go buy for yourselves, which is remarkably similar to what Jesus Christ told the church at Laodicea. See, this is the age of Laodicea. I truly believe that the 3 last days churches are found in Revelation 3... I think that all groups and individual members of the church are either one of Sardis, Philadelpia, or Laodicea. We won't even go into Sardis in this study. But Laodicea is the lukewarm church. Revelation 3:14-22 " 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. " Here, Jesus told them to buy true spiritual gold from Himself... tried in the fire and pure... so that they can have true riches instead of a material wealth which they equated with spirituality (sounds kind of familiar if you have ever watched very much Christian television... not all, mind you but a lot). Get that white raiment because they were literally in shame and naked before God. And if they did not repent, everyone would some day see this. Get the anointing of the eyesalve (Laodicea was renown for its eyesalve produced there) so that you start seeing again. The lukewarmness and compromise had blinded you to the truth. The anointing brings life and cleansing again... it comes through repentance. They say to the 5 foolish Virgins... go buy some more oil... who has it? God does! The thing is to do this before the Midnight Cry. Because afterward, you can still get the oil back and get REVIVAL, but there will be a difference, because the door of the Marriage Supper will be closed and you will be stuck here for what is coming. Once again, the urgency in the words of Jesus about watching and praying "always" that you may be accounted worthy to escape all of these things! WE NEED REVIVAL NOW... TODAY WITH NO WASTING OF TIME. IF WE WAIT UNTIL THE CRY IS GIVEN, THEN IT IS TOO LATE FOR US TO BE CAUGHT UP! Ephesians 5:14-20 " 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; " The days are evil... folks, it is approaching MIDNIGHT... the middle of the night! IT is time to understand the will of God and let Him give us light... give us the flow of annointing to keep our lights shining brightly through the night. If your light is already burning, then you don't have to worry if you are going to go or now. I had this wonderful black spiritual group come and play and sing for us when I pastored the Totz Church of God. That's just about my favorite kind of Christian music, and boy could they sing... and they sang with such an anointing. I think that they were from this Baptist Church up around Cumberland somewhere. I was having kind of a sharing session with one of their older singers... and we were just enjoying the Lord testifying with one another in the intermission, and he said, "I just want to be doing the works of God when Jesus comes back so that there's no question if I go or not!" I liked that... Folks, all the virgins were saved as far as it goes. All were part of the body of Christ... that spiritual entity of Christ's authority that He called the church. But only half were ready at the catching away (or rapture if you wish). Are you ready? Am I ready? We need to prove our own works... examine ourselves... and walk in the Spirit fulfilling the will of the Lord! We need to walk REVIVED! Click to leave your comments on the Warriors of God Last Days Forum for this study. Return to Index The 10 Virgins Bible Study from Matthew 25 PART 5 The Catching Away and the Shutting of the Door Click here to listen to Realplayer Audio Study Session #5 Matthew 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. " I recognize that this will occur in a moment... in a twinkling of an eye. That is made clear in other scriptures about this event. But the door is shut when they go to pray and get the oil for themselves. The BRIDEGROOM or Jesus Christ has already appeared and taken the bride away as they go and pray and buy the oil. AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT! This is the saddest scripture in here. The door was shut. It reminds one of Yahweh shutting the door of the Ark of Noah when the rain started. God shut the door and that was it! There was now no more chance for any other living thing, for what was coming would now come and the door of safety was shut to those without. I believe that the imagery is deliberately the same. The door is shut, and although they went to buy more oil... repent and seek God that the Spirit start flowing and cease to be grieved in them, the door is shut for Jesus came and left... and now they are stuck on the Earth for what is coming. They that were "READY"... not just saved... not just born again... but ready. How? Jesus said to watch and pray always that you may be accounted "WORTHY". We looked at Philadelphia and the promise to be kept from the hour of temptation that would come on the whole earth. I know that many including me have talked about the door of opportunity that God would open for this faithful church. But perhaps in context with the rest of that prophecy to them, that this door is being referenced... the door that would be shut on the 5 foolish. Philadelphia is the 5 wise that will be able to go through the door to the Marriage Supper before it is closed by God. THEY GOT REVIVED. REMEMBER, THERE WILL BE SAINTS IN THE TRIBULATION... SAVED FOLKS WHO ON THE MOST PART WILL BE SLAUGHTERED AS MARTYRS FOR JESUS CHRIST EN MASSE. BUT THE CHURCH AS THE AUTHORITY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IS GONE... OPENING THE FLOODGATES BY TAKING THAT WHICH NOW WITHOLDS AWAY. THESE 5 FOOLISH WILL GET REVIVED AND GET MORE OIL, BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN THAT DOOR INTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER IN HEAVEN TO THEM. They now have a different destiny. They will not be part of that 24 elders that turns into a great number that no man could number that turns into a group out of every nation and kindred and tongue and people. They will instead be the martyrs that you see under the throne of God receiving white robes and waiting for the last of them to be slaughtered. THE FIVE WISE VIRGIN'S DESTINY : Revelation 5:8-9 " 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; " THE FIVE FOOLISH VIRGIN'S DESTINY : Revelation 6:9-11 " 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled. " Revelation 7:9-17 " 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. " Now, the aftermath of being left behind when the Lord catches away the church at the first resurrection. Matthew 25:11-13 " 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. " After the catching away of the church and the first resurrection of the saved, the 5 foolish virgins goes to the Lord and asks for Him to open up. How do they do this? By prayer... they pray for deliverance, but it is too late for that. They have their oil and they are ready now, but the time has passed. He syas at the door, I don't know you... then you say, they weren't ever really Christians! Actually, they were... that's pretty established up to this point. They even got an invitation, but the door has been closed and their relationship to God has now changed. They have not lost their salvation... they are not tares that He says, I never knew you to... for He did... but they have lost their chance to "know the Lord" as the bride of Christ. The martyrs have a different destiny which you can read about from the 24 elders or those taken in the catching away (12 for the Old and 12 for the New Covenants). Does that mean that they aren't saved? No... but they are the ones who serve God the Father day and night and will never see the sun again... they are blessed mind you, but do not have part of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and do not reign with Christ. They are servants of Yahweh the Father forever in the 3rd Heaven. They are saints, but they will never know the Lord as the "church" does. They were not ready. The wedding guests and bride has already arrived, and there is now no reason for Him to open up to them. This is profoundly sad. THE FINAL EXHORTATION FROM JESUS HERE... Watch... be ready! You do not know the day or the hour. Paul said that the seasons, the church would know, but not the day or the hour. Here, Jesus says to stay ready which I shall reiterate. Be ready, for you do not know the day or the hour that He shall come... just stay ready in Jesus' name. MARANATHA!